We probably sghould have surveyed readers to learn how many of you have a turntable and play vinyl LPs, but we can do that at another time. More and more bands are making their releases available in LP (sometimes even before the CD comes out), so if you've been thinking about adding a turntable and integrated amplifier to your system, this might be a good time.
Not only are artists such as Van Morrison, Neil Young, Joni Mitchell, Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen and the estate of Jimi Hendrix releasing heavy, high-quality pressings of older albums, but current bands such as Wilco and The Black Keys are releasing their work in LP format (often with a free CD or free mp3 download thrown in). And many small, independent labels get the credit for keeping LPs alive during the CD onslaught.
But you don't have to spend the bigger dollars to buy remastered Bob Dylan on 180 gram or 200 gram virgin vinyl -- and until you get a handle on LPs you probably shouldn't. But there are dozens of places to buy vinyl in the Chicago area, and dozens more online. Here is just a sampling of where you can look to buy good ol' regular original records, new and used. These aren't "collectors" stores where you pay big bucks for the first pressing (though many do offer that service). They are just regular old regular or virtual record stores that enable you to get a good start on an LP collection. (All sites are hyperlinked even though they don't look like it.)
www.acousticsounds.com (new LPs but specializing in reissued, remastered vinyl)
www.backtoblackvinyl.com
www.becausesoundmatters.com (the Warner Brothers affiliate site that does a great job)
www.elusivedisc.com (new, used, or just plain hard-to-find records)
www.musicdirect.com (vinyl reissues, usually of audiophile quality)
www.soundstagedirect.com (thousands of titles in stock)
www.vinyl-records.biz (used records, lots of them)
And in Chicago:
Dave's Records Chicago (The door says it all: "No CDs! Never Had 'Em! Never Will!"),
2604 N. Clark, Chicago
Reckless Records (new and used), Several Chicago locations
2nd Hand Tunes (just what they say), 800 Dempster St., Evanston
Dusty Groove America (jazz, funk, soul, hip-hop, Brazil, latin...more), online only
Jazz Record Mart (don't miss the back room), 27 East Illinois, Chicago
Laurie's Planet of Sound (check out the website but don't e-mail-- they prefer dealing with people), 4639 N. Lincoln
Beverly Records (tons and tons of variety), 11612 S. Western
No comments:
Post a Comment