Richard C.
Yelp
Buster, Mittoo and Astatke.
In today's era of MP3 blogspot downloads, iTunes one stop shopping and the demise of chain music stores, like Tower Records and Virgin Mega, it's always refreshing to find a "record" store that's still doing it the right way...the old fashioned way. The proverbial icing on the cake is when said record store is still stocking that waxy relic of yesteryear, the vinyl record.
I recently traveled to the beautiful city of St. Louis for a close friend's wedding reception and like I do in every new city I visit, I hit the local record store(s). While both the left and right coasts - Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York City - have myriad record shops, like Amoeba, Atomic, Academy, Bleecker, etc., most of these spots have been picked over by the many collectors that dot these cities. Now, don't get me wrong, I realize collectors travel far and wide looking for that musical holy grail but the further you get from these aforementioned metropolises the better the pickings get...as well as the pricing.
Vintage Vinyl, located on the corner of Delmar Blvd. Blvd. and Leland Avenue, is a record store that "get's it." CD's and vinyl line the walls and fill the bins. Like most record shops, the store is organized by the basic genres of rock, jazz, classical, blues, etc, but Vintage Vinyl takes it one step further and also has sections sub-genres like punk, garage, Jamaican, electronic, metal, etc. A music lovers paradise to say the least. In the short time I had to peruse the sections, I was overwhelmed by all the finds and the great prices. It didn't take long to find myself standing there with an arm load of musical choices and getting to the next step of my record shopping process...whittling down to affordability.
A day later I traveled back to Los Angeles with a Vintage Vinyl bag full of choice cuts. What started out as a weekend full of matrimonial bliss, ended with a happy and fulfilled music fiend. Not only did I get to see Mr. and Mrs. Seiler tie the knot but I was able to add some vinyl to my collection. A successful weekend on all accounts.
I'd be remiss if I didn't mention the staff. The ones I encountered were friendly and knowledgeable and more than willing to research an inquiry. Another Vintage Vinyl notable was that they had a listening station for BOTH CD's and vinyl. Once again, doing it right.
To say that this here Angeleno was impressed with the greatness that is Vintage Vinyl would be an understatement. If anything, yearly trips to "The Lou" just might be in order...