Greatest record store of your youth?

I'll speak only of Toronto in the early 80's and late 70's (in my teens, rather than "youth")..; I did visit Montreal and Brussels, but had no fave hang-outs

My fave hang-out was Vortex Records (College & Jarvis)... a fantastic second-hand shop with excellent prizes for VG++ or mints >> still exists, but on Yonge & Eglinton

Record Peddler (Queen East and Jarvis) >> best (and one of three) import shop ... but expensive as hell

Vinyl Museum (Yonge and Dundas) way toooooo expensive (location) and not always VG++ for the price... but the choice...

Records On Wheels (Dundas, Mississauga) >> excellent recommandations




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In Brussels, I've lost my three or four faves over the last five or six years... Music Emporium, Music United, Music Room and Metrophone


But two shops still hve survived ....Veals & Geeks (a new arriver on the scene) and Caroline Records





Edited by Sean Trane - March 17 2013 at 06:52

When I was a teenager there weren't any 'record shops' per se....but at college in '69 at IU Bloomington IN there was a place called Karma records that was decent and plenty of 'head shops' that also carried vinyl and back home in northern Indiana there was a hole in the wall called Hegwish Records that had a decent collection  of import vinyl.

When I was a teen there was a small, family-owned store in a strip center located about a quarter mile from my house.  The older lady that was there the most often was knowledgeable about all kinds of genres and I'd have many intelligent discussions about rock & roll groups with her.  They had a "listening booth" that allowed me to check out singles from unknown bands and I just remember it as being a special, relaxed place where I could indulge in my fascination with music at leisure.  Too bad places like that are gone forevermore.

There used to be 3 great shops in Middlesbrough back in the days of vinyl - Hamiltons, Alan Fearnley's and Austin's Records. Austin's didn't carry as much stock as the other 2 but he was a really nice guy who'd recommend and order stuff for you with a nice personal touch. Sadly, now all gone.

SoundscapeMN wrote: Cheapo was and still is the best record store in Minnesota and possibly the Midwest US. The only store I've been to that I prefer is Amoeba Records, preferably the Northern California locations.

The shops I used to frequent here in MN were
Oar Folkjokeopus
Hot Licks
Northern Lights
Optic Nerve
Electric Fetus

Roadrunner came later and actually had a Prog section.


Midland Records was the one in my nearby suburban mall and where I have the most vivid memories of discovery in my 'tweens when I wandered away from my mom. I especially loved looking at the Frank Zappa records.

Hot Poop Records & Tapes in Walla Walla, WA.  The owner is Jim McGuinn, very honest, very cool guy, never let me push the limits of my budget, knowing I was in high school.  I wanted everything listed in those JEM Record catalogs (remember those?) from 77, 78, and 79.

Apex Records.

Charlie Brown, proprietor.

Corner of State Street and Broadway, now a Christian bookstore.

He it was who brought back from distant shores for me the likes of Robert Fripp and Brian Eno No Pussyfooting and Gentle Giant In A Glass House.

Great memories, thanks for the thread and bless you, Mr.Brown, wherever you may be now.