RANT- The Death of the Record Store? 

And, I specifically didn't mention Amazon here, who have basically taken over as the 'online record store' for most. They do a great job and have basically everything, delivered to your door in a few days, but it's still not quite the same experience.

Physical media is the only way to go, I like the cover art, I also like to read the credits on albums, you can never have enough knowledge about your favorite bands. Also for me that's what being a fan is all about, the emotional connection and financial investment in your favorite artists. I just laugh when people tell me that they're a fan of so and so, but don't actually have any of they're physical albums.

Great rant Pete! You're "spot-on"

Free music removes the emotional investment. I would/still do- go to a record store and flip through hundreds of covers to pick the 1or 3 I will taking home. The anticipation as I open the cd/record put it on the stereo and sit down and listen. Flip through the art work, read along with the lyrics or just stare out into space and just absorb the sound. It has just as much to do with the journey as it does the music.

I miss record stores more than just about anything in my life now. I would spend a lot of time at Sound Warehouse going through everything in the rock section from A to Z. Also, every time I went to the mall I had to go to the record store, in some cases there were two. Now I order CD's on Amazon or the band's label. I never want to give up physical Cd's or albums. I want to experience everything with the release, not just some stupid download like most kids do now. The artwork, the lyrics, the band members, even the way a new album smells when you first open it. Hopefully, we will always have physical media.

I used to spend hours at Tower Records on Sunset Blvd in Hollywood.... I sooooo miss that!!!

Agree with you wholeheartedly Pete, even in the U.K it was always great to support independent music stores for that 121 experience and meeting like minded folk. Sadly the big man squeezes the small man and the supermarkets took over. Now they don't even sell anything. For all the streaming and downloading you cannot beat a hard copy. For that reason I still buy cds. Thanks to your influential experience my collection continues to grow. Cheers Pete 👍

Been ranting about that on my site as well. I really miss going to record stores. It is sad.

Proud to say growing up in this digital age I have always bought physical albums and I always will. I'm 30 now and love my collection I'm building. Last week I bought 8 albums. Exodus, Darkthrone, Annihilator, Vektor, White Wizzard, Amorphis to name some. Loving this channel, motivates me to keep my love for metal going.

Great RANT Pete...you can call me Wiz from OKC. We're about the same age.When I was 16, I worked in an "Empire Records"/"High Fidelity" type Vinyl record store back in '77 called Wilcox Records. To work there you had to have a passion,as well as a broad knowledge of All artists or most of ALL Genres. Do you remember the BIG YELLOW BOOK,The Phonolog was Our Reference source...NO GOOGLE searches back then. VINYL MUSIC was such an intimate way of DISCOVERING NEW MUSIC. Like you were saying...it was as much about the music but also my ritual of buying it,taking it home to listen on my classic AKAI QUADROPHONIC SYSTEM with my Shue V15type 4 cartridge.Of course,upon opening of say...The Cars first album on Elektra...it was such a pleasant surprise when All the Lyrics were included!Oh,and Yes...that magnificent Cover Art such as the Roxy Music albums,Quadrophenia with big Album Program,Die-cut albums such as Physical Graffiti,From The Inside...so many and I haven't even referenced Beatles-Revolver or ALL the Hipnogsis Cover Art for the Pink Floyd Album covers,not to forget Roger Deans fantastic "YES" bands cover art.And then there was the Occasional RARE SURPRISE like getting TWO copies of same album(Flesh&Blood-Roxy Music)or buying Schools Out,5 years after it release,only to find that RARE PAIR OF PAPER PANTIES inside. I still have my BIG BAMBOO-CHEECH&CHONG with the original Giant Rolling Paper! It's been Fun reminiscing...I purchased a lot of French & English pressings...Far Superior vinyl,cleaner sound and quality. Pete,keep on,keeping on...Peace Later,Wiz

Fabulous Pete! Your rants are therapy. So much appreciated!

I miss record stores so much. The internet has ruined music in my opinion.

So this morning I popped SoT up on my big screen while having my morning coffee. While doing so I stumbled upon this older episode which I've never seen. Lord, Pete! You really hit the nail on the head!! I could literally close my eyes and it sounded exactly like me talking to some younger folk in my office. Every point, on the money!! Man, do I miss those days!! Spending from 10 till 4:30 most Saturday's in record stores was a passion I miss like none other. The thrill of the hunt; the surprise at stumbling upon a release you didn't know existed, record shopping out of town!!! Absolutely nothing like it. "Add To Cart" just doesn't do it!!! Pete, we are on the exact same plain, my friend. If we lived near one another, we would be great friends; especially the PROG banter and friendly (but dissimilar) battles when discussing early 80's metal. It would be a blast!!! We have Zia Records over here, and they are fantastic!! The closest thing to reliving the old days that's still available within driving distance. There were a few other local shops that were amazing (like 'Stinkweeds') but sadly, they recently closed shop. FYE? Dog-Meat!!! Never cared much for them. Was always a fan of Tower and Peaches. Still have a small handful of those 'cabbage crate' record holders, but they're on their last legs. LOVE THIS TOPIC!!! GREAT JOB, PETE!!!

We had Range Music in Virginia, Minnesota. It was THE place to go for music. The manager Jim looked like the heavy metal Gallagher minus the watermelons. Everything that came out was "their heaviest yet, man." I bought a lot of shit music off that guy and some good stuff, too. It closed down a few year ago out of nowhere. I ran into Jim sometime after this and he said the boss (I thought he owned it) out of the blue asked how long had he been working there. 22 years, said Jim. The boss said then I imagine you have a lot of shit here then. Clean it out because I'm closing the store today. 😲

thanks for the plug Pete ! some record stores are doing well again Darkside in Poughkeepsie is one that opened within the last few years ! but yeah the big box stores are done !

I'm with you 100% on this topic. I'm fortunate to have a long standing store in my area since 1970! The only way I get my music is through the physical format. I find value in that especially vinyl. No one will ever offer you money for a download but a first press copy of virtually anything on record I can actually pay a bill with! Music then for me was an investment, unfortunetly for the current generation its disposable like almost everything else. Excellent video Pete I'm hooked on your channel. Funny how they say "vinyl is making a comeback", really it never went away for me. Its here to stay and always will, afterall it was here first right?

I manage an FYE in Indiana and you’re not wrong. I get frustrated about new stuff that we don’t get. There’s an amazing independent record store in West Lafayette at Purdue that I don’t get to as often as I’d like.

i hope record stores survive, because looking through records,something might well catch your eye and maybe took a chance. Quite often it paid off for me.Just looking at what other customers are buying you would take note. The staff would let you know if what you were buying was good or great. Holding a record in your hand,can't beat it.Bringing it back home and putting it on your player anticipating the sound coming out. Generally I think the high street is dying because people can't see that buying on the internet is slowly but surely denying people the experience of social contact and when these shops are gone(hope not) People may mourn the passing of this social contact. "You don't what you've lost 'till it's gone".

I'm 15 and love going to record stores

It's disappointing that music stores are virtually nonexistent, more truer in 2020. I miss the early nineties in my teenage years when I could go to a music store a find stacks of cassette tapes and you could find any album from your favorite band and they would have every album in order from the year they came out. I'm routing for that to come back.

I actually did find the new Ozzy CD at Target. I agree 100% on actually owning the CD or LP. I even collect cassette tapes.

Great Rant Pete! I used to live in Germany in my youth and beyond and went to record stores on a regular basis being a huge Metal Fan. I used to buy a lot of vinyl initially until CDs came out more or less friendly priced all back in the 1980s. That was a fun hobby of mine; most of the stuff I bought back then, esp. in the 1980s was great. It was like 80% of what I bought I immediately liked. I used to read metal mags to find the stuff I would buy as there was no internet in those times. Nowadays, everythings changed the record stores I used to go to don't exist anymore, all they have in Germany are these big electronics stores like Saturn or Media Markt and they don't usually have the more lesser known Metal Bands. Ever since I started living in a 3rd world country when I left Germany the only way to get any music is by downloading, as they simple has virtually no stores for Metal music in this part of the world: Sad but True. I just miss those days when records stores were around because as Pete explained it was a whole experience that millennials probably would have a hard time understanding.

Love the shout-out for Caldor! I purchased “piece of mind” and “number of the beast” there, on the same day in 1984, without ever having heard a single note of either!

Absolutely. A record store was an Aladdin's cave. You rarely got to see a heavy rock band perform live on tv, so the LP/tape was all you had. I remember buying Maiden's Somewhere in Time on it's day of release; looking back, it was the musical equivalent of receiving the tablets of stone on Mt Sinaii!.

Amen Pete. Great rant. I remember browsing a Sam Goody store of all places (I actually hated that store, but I was bored that day), and coming across Uriah Heep's Abominog. That cover just blew me away. I remember people saying that if I liked Black Sabbath, BOC and Deep Purple, then I would like UH. I took a chance and loved it. Then I started to get their back catalog. I also had the same experience with BOC. We would go to the public library after visiting the orthodontist and I would browse their record collection and came across Fire of Unknown Origin. Cool looking cover. Put on the record player as soon as I got home and thought that it was the coolest thing since sliced bread. They are still my #1 band. A buddy of mine was also a music junkie and we would travel to Georgetown and hit Tower Records along with some other independent stores. I remember walking into one store and Candlemass' EPICUS DOOMICUS METALLICUS was playing. A copy of that came home with me that day. Kemp Mill records was a decent store and they would open up a record and play it. I remember doing all the things you did . Read a review in Hit Parader, Circus, Kerrang, etc and then go on the hunt. The hunt was a lot of fun and when you found it, it was a prized possession. Thanks for trip down memory lane, when things were simpler.

It makes me sad too. I live outside of Boston and I would spend most weekends going into Tower or Newbury Comics. Just went to Boston a few weekends ago and stopped at Newbury. It’s a three floor store that now has CDs relegated to one square rack and the most of the store is full of those Pop Em dolls. Terrible. Thankfully there’s still a few used record stores and then there’s Bullmoose in Maine and New Hampshire. Worth the drive...but for how much longer?

I too grew up 70s-80s, born in Chicago, grew up in the city and burbs. We had so many record stores, Recordtown, Rose, Flipside, Appletree were some of the chains, and they all had a metal section. I did the same, picked stuff out I had never heard of by titles and cover art, built a collection of mostly cassettes at the time, most of which I still have and many are now quite rare. I do use the net these days because it's hard to find alot of the metal and other stuff I look for, but sometimes I will have a local independent order it for me, if they can. Gone are the days of record stores, chain and independent, dotting the area like they once did. The vinyl resurgence has helped as there are more small stores than I have seen in many years. Maybe it's a what's old is new again trend that will only continue to grow, we'll see.

I was a teenager in the mid seventies and I love going to record stores. I still have many albums and back then people who worked in these stores knew music. My brother and I lived at Tower Records. I miss those days!!

I’m 21 years old, and I mainly visit record stores. The only times I shop online these days are for rarities

Pete, that was a great rant. Today, anyone under 30 has no concept about the entire purchasing of music experience relating to record stores. In yesteryear, there was a certain charm for the consumer which you detailed quite well. In fact, I can still remember browsing through the racks of music at the record store and seeing on the wall the scary cover of the first King Crimson album. Do you recall the circular cover of the Grand Funk Railroad album E Pluribus Funk? How cool was that to see? Specifically, I am a person that appreciates the cover art, lyrics, and having the physical product such as a cd and not having to deal with skips, scratches, and pops in the records. Without a doubt, there are advantages and disadvantages for consumers of music today. Certainly, it is easier for artists to introduce their music to the public, and the internet is wonderful. Conversely, there is a fast food mentality with the downloading of music which does not work for me (as written above), especially in sound quality. Anyway folks, we are not going back so let us all just enjoy the music!

Pete, I'm just a few years behind you (born 1970). I gave up on CDs around 5 years ago, since they take up space, my collection is heavy, and they get scratched. I gave up on LPs long before that, since I'm too clumsy to take care of them. I do love the artwork and liner notes, but high-quality downloads are so much more convenient for me. It's been pointed out that Bandcamp is the "new record store" in a sense, as you can still do a lot of browsing and exploring. And, here in Denver, things aren't so bleak in a physical sense. Twist & Shout Records is still around, and still has rack after rack of CDs and LPs to browse. There's also several branches of Angelo's CDs, which like T&S, carry plenty of Metal. The resurgence of LPs has saved these businesses, and LPs are popular with a segment of younger people, so there's reason to believe these stores still have life in them. Today, there's compromises, for certain, but it's like the best of both worlds with widely-available digital files and mail-order, and at least some brick and mortar stores (at least in cities).

I'm about Pete's age. After passing through the Zeppelin, Purple, Aerosmith etc. phase, I got into punk (Pistols, Clash & Ramones) at about 18-19 years old. This would have been around 1979-80. There were record stores around (I'm in Canada), but major differences in what material you could get your hands on. In fact in a typical 'Tower Records' type franchise store, I used to get rid of the sales staff by asking, "Got anything by the Ramones?". "No?, okay thanks, I'll just look around then". Of course today. now that the Ramones members are all dead, it's much easier to find Ramones material, on CD, on download, and in TV commercials! Sure, follow the money. So there's my 2 cents. End of rant!

I remember borrowing friends vinyl records and recording them on cassette

I agree! I miss going into record stores and just taking a chance

I'm 20 and couldn't agree more. I love the physical disc and going through the booklet. Its not the same listening to an album on RU-vid with advertisements. Also, I want the cd in my car so I can really absorb the album. I buy all my cds on amazon for about $5 bucks a piece cant beat it.

Here in Ft.wayne, Indiana we still have 3 Wooden Nickel record stores & another one called Neat, Neat, Neat Records. I feel very privileged to have them because without them I have no idea where I'd purchase Music.

My good friend owned the "Record Store",so I always had the heads-up on the new releases.. Used to love hanging around the "Record Store"... Ya wanna meet some crazy people? Just hang around the record store!!

! agree 100 percent we need to bring back record stores cause being in a record store is my happy place and I could be in a record store for a hour or two.

nice commentary......a 70’s child also......been trying to spread the same info to all the newbees what it was like back then. The bad thing was we would stay local record shopping, and we were limited to only what they brought in. Older brothers of friends are the ones that exposed us to the non mainstream......cheers steve

Good topic. As far as how things have changed, pros: (1) easier to find rare stuff (2) easier to sample music (3) CDs don't cost $18 anymore. Cons: (1) can't pick up the record you want at the local store (2) less of a sense of "discovery" (3) artists aren't making money from records anymore.

I am about Pete's age, in my mid-50s. The only thing I miss about the record stores is seeing posters or tee-shirts up close. Otherwise, I do not miss the record stores and I prefer streaming. I can more easily discover so much more music with streaming and especially the recomendations, etc.. I am contrarian to everyone here, but thanks for the video Pete!

We just got a new record store last year here in downtown Salem, Ohio, It's called State St. Records, they have CD's, cassettes, LP's, 45's, 78's, even 8 Track Tapes. I got giant load of CD's too in my living room, so you're not alone Pete. I'm like that too. I like to own the music too. FYE is my favorite store for music and movies.

I mentioned in one or 2 of your videos, that at the age of 14 and over the next 3 1/2 to 4 years worked in a record store/head shop. Laid Back Records Massillon Ohio. We also sold water beds, and had foosball and pool tables if you wanted to play before or after shopping. Eventually we got Ticketron, needless to say I got go to a lot of big shows in the mid to late 70's. And speaking of promo posters and such. My first apartment was decorated through out I even remember when Iron Maiden released Powerslave the promo display was a cardboard pyramid with these little shelves on each side that would fit about 5 lps each. Well eventually that display was a center piece in my living room and those little shelves was filled with lps from my collection not all Maiden but very cool for the time. Man those were the good old record store days barn wood decor. The boss was usually gone most of the day, and I had the biggest selection of rock to play all day every day. But one big rule was when black people came in I had to put whatever was hot on, in the r n b or Soul.

Hope it doesn't die. I am 32 soon and visit record stores as often as I can :)

I remember when record stores and bookstores started disappearing. So sad. Two of my fave places falling victim to the internet. Out here in California we do still have Amoeba and Rasputins. Rather big record stores. Hope they can continue to survive.

For everyone on Long Island, be sure to visit Record Stop in Patchogue. They have a wide selection.

I remember when the Metallica black album came out in 91 there was a line up around the block at the HMV mega store here in Toronto, However when Hardwire came out there was nobody in the stores. What a shame.

I miss Tower Records in Seattle. Plus all the indie record stores on "the ave" next to UW. I found a LOT of great bootlegs of Beatles, Kinks, Moody Blues, etc. at those little hole in the wall shops. I feel so lucky to have grown up in the 60's/70's during the golden age of rock/vinyl.

Hi Pete, I agree totally. They were a place where people gathered socially. So much fun! I worked at Record World in the Orange Plaza in the 80's. Saw the transformation of vinyl to CD while I was there. Good news is the record store is back! Darkside Records in Poughkeepsie is one of the largest and the best in the area.

Im from Argentina and my parents used to buy a lot of records back in the late 80s and early 90s so when I was growing up I could listen to a lot of awesome musicians . I also used to go to Tower Records with my dad until they closed. Nowadays is not that easy to buy new fisical albums specialy here where everything is extremely expensive. But its true the feeling of the collector is great I would love to collect some vinyls of classic records

In high school after class we would go to Tower Records on 4th St here in Ny. It was a hang and dare I say part of our culture and lifestyle. Rough Trade in Brooklyn carries on some of that tradition.

My mom owned Budget Tapes &Records back in the 70's and early early 80's so i practically grew up in a record store.

I live in New Orleans and we have a fantastic store called Louisiana Music Factory, mostly all Louisiana artists but its great, jazz , funk, rock, there is a wealth of music in New Orleans, love your site by the way, thought I might see some Dr John on your favorite lists

Sound Exchange helped me be able to complete my Trapeze collection and also get a hold of some Hawkwind which I sure as hell wasn't going to find anywhere else.

There was a cool store back in the 80's called 'the Inner Groove' barely bigger than most living rooms, with a small selection of mostly obscure, collectables and lesser known artists. The owner Derek had a shaved head, goatee and 'stache and always wore black turtlenecks and shades. He had a raspy voice talked like he was from the 50's. I bought a lot of albums from him, so much we became friends and he had my taste in music down to a science. I would walk in and he would get excited "Ah, man! You're just the cat I was mentalizing! i got me this cool disc in and when I saw it I said 'I know that cat who'll dig these vibes, man', so I been saving it just for you" and then he would produce something amazing. Sometimes it be some hard to find Hard Bop from the 40's, other times it would be Prog or Blues, and always a gem. that was awesome to have someone with connections looking for music specifically with me in mind. Besides getting stuff like T.Rex's 'Tanx', in the original shrink wrap I got turned on to bands like Gene Loves Jezebel. There was also a store I hit up whenever I was on road trips for my job, in Sedona, AZ. the owner was a retired guy who didn't really care if he made any money or not because what he had in his store was based on his eclectic tastes. Like Dale, he got to know what I was into and kept a small box under the counter with my name on it where he would set aside music for me. I went in one day and he was really excited because he had gotten in something he couldn't wait for me to hear. He showed it to me and I was intrigued by the hand-drawn, 60's style psycho art. I gave it a listen and bought it and it became part of my daily set. I played it so much my friends would cry and whine they had to listen to it. That album was the first Red Hot Chili Peppers album. I stopped listening to radio a long time ago. Back when I was kid growing up in SoCal the rock stations laying a huge variety of tuneage, not just top 40 rock, so we were exposed to a wide range of genres. I think because of that I have always appreciated musicianship, songwriting and production over whether or not it's popular. When stations became more specialized in genre I stopped listening to the radio. One of the things I discovered early was that most of the time the hit song would lead me to buy an album, and become my least favorite song on the album... 'Smoke on the Water' came out and it lead me to 'Machine Head', 'Sweet Leaf' got me to buy 'Master of Reality' and neither song is my favorite sing on their respective albums. It extends to entire albums also, typically it's not the album everyone else loves that I think is the best... My favorite Deep Purple is 'In Concert 1970/1972', my favorite Queen is 'Innuendo'. I mentioned Gene Loves Jezebel and RHCP because when I was blown away by both bands my friends response was more like a groan of torturous agony, caused variations of the same reasoning. I had a friend with me one night out partying and I had just gotten GLJ's 'Immigrant' cassette. I put on 'Rhinoplasty' a funky, hard rocking song, cranked up to the proper volume... i.e. All The Way Up!! and instead of being blown away his response was 'I don't know these guys, they must be new... Got any Skynyrd?'. With the RHCP, and consecutive albums my friends all hated the band, who wasn't getting any airplay on local stations. A girl told me 'I never heard them on the radio, can we listen to something else... Got any Foreigner?' In both cases the determining factor was whether or not they had ever heard the music before. The one was that he didn't know the band so he didn't want to hear GLJ because he didn't listen to new music and the other was because she had never heard them on the radio so they weren't any good, though she became a huge fan with 'Blood, Sugar, Sex, Magic'. I don't care if you like or dislike something but, damn, come by it naturally, not because of how everyone else feels. Another Great Show!

i hope it will make a comeback

my fave Pete video,and the one on how we listen to music today was #2

if your in your late 40s /50s and above ,the only way you found out about bands was through the music press or tv..

My wife does too and gives me the "look" when I come home with more CDs. If I had unlimited funds I'd be buying all the time. My favorite memory was a shop called Flipside. There were several around the area I live in, the suburbs of Chicago. That was back in the 80s maybe even later 70s. They always had cool stuff and the employees were the best. In the 90s we had a great Tower Records that not only had a killer music magazine section, but the absolute best import and metal CD section. Up until a few years ago (which might be 10 or 15!) I used to shop at a CD ship called Impulse Music. Nothing but metal. They were freaking awesome. Always great to talk to. I'd spend an hour or two looking through the selections, and like you Pete, if I saw a cool album cover, I typically bought the CD, rarely ever disappointed. Amazon is great, I've found a ton of great hard to find CDs online, but nothing beats going to a store to not only shop, but talk to other metalheads (or any genre) and get to know the store owners.

I’m wondering how did you feel when Dennis DeYoung left Styx? To me, and maybe I’m making a wrong comparison but it was almost like when Roger Waters left Pink Floyd, and Floyd went on without him. In fact I always sorta drawn a parakeet between Styx and Pink Floyd, while Dennis DeYoung is the “Roger Waters” of Styx, Tommy Shaw is the “David Gilmoure” of Styx (not an original member but when he came in became the band we all know)

In Long Beach CA we still have Fingerprints!! A great store for music and books.

I agree with you for the most part. I think that record stores are losing popularity and have been since before I was born. Most don’t stock nearly as much as they used to, and definitely not as much obscure stuff. Sales at local record stores die down because of sites like Amazon and Ebay, both of which are just more convenient and sometimes cheaper than buying locally. However, with all that in mind, I am extremely happy to say that a record store opened up in my area less than a year ago that deals with very few of those problems I listed. The only normal problem it has is that it doesn’t get a ton of business. But that’s fine because it’s a small store in a relatively small area, and it seems to be a family owned store, so I think they expect less business than other stores. Anyways, they have a pretty wide variety of records there; having stuff as obscure as Grand Funk Railroad, UFO, and Uriah Heep to stuff as well known as Led Zeppelin, The Rolling Stones, and Pink Floyd. They’ve got Rock, Jazz, Country, Pop, New Wave, Blues... If it existed in the 70s or 80s, it’s there. So yeah, I like it a lot and it’s good enough for me just to have a local record store.

Like you, I took a chance on a lot of records...spent HOURS just looking at them, then would finally spend a few of my precious $$ on them. Listening to the radio told me what to buy. That is, what groups and songs to look for. Because records were so large, that drive album art. There were some great ones like Yes, Led Zep, Rush, ELP, Purple, ELO, Boston, BOC, some of Sabbath's covers and other that tended to have cool covers. Between the size of what holds the music and the advent of the computer and the internet, record stores may never be the same. I remember seeing the movie High Fidelity (John Cusack AND Jack Black) and what I liked the most were the music store scenes. Really took me back to the 70s and 80s (70s mostly though) and what it was like to peruse the albums and talk music with others!

I bought my first record at a record store, and it started my journey through vinyl. I was lucky growing up we had an awesome music store, The Exclusive Company. Wish so many of them weren't closing, lot of fantastic memories for me through them.

"no more record stores or video stores so sad."-🤔..

Support your local record shops, its worth spending a tad more!

Sam The Record Man was a smaller equivalent of Tower Records in Canada. There is still 1 Sam left in Belleville Ontario, but it is just a smaller store, sadly, but when in the Area, still drop by.

When I discovered used record stores my life was forever changed.

We grew up at same time, have same experience growing up. Radio, music mags. and record stores. Tower Records., Sam Goody, Licorice Pizza, The Warehouse. All gone. What's download? Barnes and Noble still has a music area small but there.

Spot on pete,where i live in the midwest not one record store,they are all gone.i am the only one i know that still buys the physical records,cds sct

I bought a CD in the 90s at a record store the band was called Juliett self-titled CD was produced by Frankie Sullivan of survivor. But anyways I didn't know who they were or where they came from but the album cover looked cool and took a chance on it. Turned out to be a great Rock and album.

I agree 100% . I miss the record store experience. I remember learning about bands and personnel just by reading the backs of records in the store and yeah I have bought many just because the gothic art on the cover. Also want to have a physical hard copy that I own. I have downloaded a fair share of stuff but do this day when I like something I want the CD. I own 250+ LP's about 300 Cd's . I admire your taste in Music and your passion

When I was in high school back in the 70’s I would stop in Jerry’s Records on Market Street. It was a record/head shop. One time I walk in and hear this blistering guitar and violin duet . I walk up to the guy behind the counter and ask what’s playing. He tells me, “It’s Mahavishnu Orchestra, man, Inner Mounting Flame.” The test is history. I can’t tell ya how many hours I spent in that damn shop.

Pete, record stores in Venezuela, the country I am from, went long bankrupt, for many reasons: 1. the country´s economic crisis, ever since 2003, 2. the country´s two major record labels-Rodven Discos and Sonografica, owners of Venezuela´s major record stores (Disco Center and Recordland)-also went bankrupt, due to free music downloads, most of them from illegal sources, 3. the people´s lack of interest in investing in legal CD copies, 4. Piracy took over the music business and had virtually swept record stores out of business, all of these propelled by the Chavista Regime, 5. Quantity gained relevance over quality. These "music pirates" basically sell a lot of shitty muzak. Though, quality is not an important issue for them, and 6. Quite a few people subscribed to iTunes can actually have access to everything they have.

I don't know why I didn't see this video of you're thoughts on buying music from stores before, just not paying attention or old age I'm 56 now but the idea of buying from a store at least where I live in Alberta Canada is next to nil in 2021 and I miss the actual feeling you get going into a record store. There is one time that has stuck in my mind since 1976 I was in my teens and starting to build on my collection and I had just gotten all KISS albums up until that point and had now started on AEROSMITH and I just purchased toys in the attic, I paid for it and the clerk asked if I had heard the new album? I said what album? and to be fair it was released that day ROCKS and my brother was more of a die-hard fan of the group than I was as I only had at this time maybe 25 or 30 albums and my brother would never lend me his copies as he felt I left finger marks on his vinyl (and I never did) anyway the album was on sale $4.97 and just had enough left for it. When I got home with my mother my brother wasn't home from school yet so I waited for when he came in the door, his room was next to mine I put the album on and the first track was Back in the saddle, he knew that was Steven Tyler singing but he never heard this song before, not even two minutes later he knocked on my door I had the cover in my hand as he came through the door. For once I had something before he had it and that feeling was something I never forgot just getting that album the day it was released before he could buy it, but that's the kind of feeling I miss just having it in my hands and the cover although black with 5 diamonds on it didn't really register to me right away as I felt the cover on toys in the attic was better but Rocks is the best album of their early period and probably of their whole catalog although permanent vacation is my favorite of their eighties albums but that feeling you just don't get from the internet or downloading it's just not the same but there is a chain of stores now called sunshine records that opened in Canada a few years back and is still open now so maybe there's some hope yet....sorry for this being so long.

To me buying and owning a CD or album it's owning a piece of art ,a piece of history..there is no other way to do it.

Damn. Every time I went to NY in the 70's or LA, I'd do exactly what you said. I would buy a bunch of up's sometimes taking a chance of artists I had no idea who they were. In Mexico we had several record stores, perhaps the most iconic was a place called Hip 70, it was almost a religious experience, specially when you found "rare gems". It was great. That's another thing: the idea that you owned a record no one else had, it gave you street cred, if you know what I mean. Great vid.

I actually did find the latest Opeth at FYE. The CD that has English and Swedish versions. It's on Nuclear Blast.

Tower Records is back in business now but as an online store only. Best Buy doesn't sell music anymore.

During my teenage years, through my 20s, I easily spent hours each week in brick and mortar music stores. Tower Records in Yonkers NY was a mainstay for years! Then I discovered Slipped Disc in Valley Stream NY and would take the 40mile drive there at least 2x/month. My heart broke when it closed its doors.

I miss getting the free poster that would sometimes come with an LP.

I wish these online places would tell you if the cd your buying comes in a Jewel Case or some cardboard cutout

Record stores are dying because of CDs!!!!

Just dropped $100 on records yesterday. Hope it helps the cause

I remember those good old days going down to the local mall to Listening Booth, then later Wall to Wall sound. I knew people who worked there so I had the inside scoop on imports day. They would let me look through all the records before they put them in the racks. Man I miss those days, if they had long hair, leather and spikes and a badass cover it would be in my bag.

I agree with you!

I been lucky enough to have a real record store in my town since the mid 90s or something. Main St. Jukebox in Stroudsburg Pennsylvania. The guy has everything and if he doesn't he will find it and order it for you. He does online business now as well it would be something to check out even if you not from the area

I remember the record stores in the mall back in the late 70s/ early 80s the store windows had large cardboard displays of the latest albums. I still remember in 1983 or '84 the record store had a black and white display of the Beatles that read 'It was 20 years ago today...'

Aside from missing actual record stores, I also miss the staple art work they used to do with the empty album covers on the walls.😟

So right Pete!

The smell of vinyl in a record store is a distant memory.... The hours I spent sifting through endless stacks of records waiting for something to seduce me, or something I was looking for. Buying stuff depending on the credits , the artwork or just the impulse....Great times.....Now sadly gone....we had so many choices in Montreal, a entry level destination for European acts , mostly prog and often the first to obtain stuff that would later hit America (like Supertramp, Genesis, Yes, etc....)

I've probably spent more time in music stores than anywhere else. Lucky to be in San Diego where we have a lot of record stores still.

Check out the Sound Exchange in Wayne, NJ. They got vintage vinyl, cd's and cassettes. Lots of second hand, but a good place to find some hidden gems and kill some time.

I’m watching your record store rant. Going to Rock fantasy this weekend. You probably know of this other store that’s great with prog, metal, prog metal called darkside records in Poughkeepsie. Vinyl and c’ds. A massive selection.

I'd rather support the Independent stores anyway

PooBah Records in Pasadena, CA. I remember walking in around 1979 and they were cranking Powderfinger by Neil Young & Crazy Horse. Bliss.

Been having a tough time finding ANY cds in store where I live. :(

I remember in the late 80s through 2000 that if I exited Tower Records having spent less than $40, it was a “quick trip”.

Hi Pete, Could you talk about your guitars behind you. thank you Tony

I still love vinyl over anything