Have you noticed that more and more record stores have started carrying less and less old music? I went to several music stores for the past two weekends looking for Donna Summer's "Love To Love You Baby" album. Only one record store had even one Donna Summer CD and it was a greatest hits CD. Finally I special ordered it.

While browsing, I noticed there was no Midnight Star, Skyy, Lakeside, or One Way. All these CDs were in the stores last year. The only CDs I saw for older artists were greatest hits CDs unless you looked for huge stars like Prince or Michael Jackson.

For those of you that live in major cities, you better be glad you have a Tower Records. I check their site out from time to time and they seem to have the biggest selection.

Dude, you should be shopping at the indies anyway. Do you have any in your area?

No, we don't have that store. We have a local record store chain called, Be-Bop Records, which used to have the best selection. We also have the national chains, Best Buy and Camelot, which have nothing. Surprisingly, an electronics store called Circuit City had the best selection in recent years but now they have weeded out most of the old music to make room for the newer stuff.

What area do you live in? Do you have an independent store called Rasputin? They carry ALOT of old music.

vainandy said:

Oh, by "the indies" I mean the independent record stores in your area. I wouldn't know the names because they'd be (by definition) local-only. Basically, any store that primarily sells music should be able to special-order stuff for you. I know, I know, there's always the internet, but it's just not the same as coming across that out-of-print record that you've wanted for years, just sitting there, reasonably priced. Hope something opens up in your town soon!

I'm from Mississippi and we don't have that store either.

[/quote]

We have an independent chain called Be-Bop that used to have the best selection. Now they have the worst selection. They can always special order but of course that means waiting about two weeks and there's nothing like picking up what you want when the mood hits you.

As for vinyl, there is one used record store but you know how that goes...they only have what people have sold to them.

I have so many records from back in the day that it is hard for me to think of something I don't have. It just makes me mad that all the record stores are weeding out all the old stuff. They seem to only buy one copy and when it is sold, they never replace it. You know it's bad when you have to special order something as popular as Van Halen's "1984".

Then do this: get a bunch of friends to call in and special-order good music, then don't buy it. They'll have to shelve it! You'll help stock the store! Consider it a community service.
[Edited 11/9/04 7:51am]

Now that's a good idea!

like thunderbird mentioned, your best bet would be to look towards all the independent, locally-owned record stores wherever you are. all these national chains ain't shit when it comes to huntin for the good stuff.

support your local everything!

Handclapsfingasnapz said:

Yup!

vainandy said:

No. On the contrary. It's nigh on impossible to get the latest electronic releases. You'll have to do online stores for that kind of music these days as the specialist stores are closing down almost as soon as they open. However,there are about billion stores in this area that sell 60s and 70s music. And all of them carry even frickin' vinyl.