Might be better to headline it ‘Best Record Stores We’ve Actually Been To.’ Pretty UK-centric. As others have said, odd to not include Amsterdam & Tokyo. Toronto, Montreal, & Mexico City too. South America completely overlooked, as usual.
But definitely some shops here that i’m bookmarking.
London - for mainly new but eclectic stuff, Dreamhouse in Leyton. Also World of Echo on Columbia Road.
In Gothenburg, for generally new jazz, funk, souls and reggae, go to the improbably named Peckham Soul.
Cob is fantastic, but is it getting a free pass nowadays? Last time I was there it did have a bit of the faded glory vibe about it. Saying that, I would love to get back and be proved wrong.
As for jazz shops in London, Ray’s in Foyles was terrific until a couple of years ago, when Frank left and it was moved to a small, windowless corner. A shame.
Honest Jon’s is as good as ever, but is overflowing and could do with bigger premises.
Can I add this place? My favourite shop anywhere. Huge selection of vinyl on the ground floor and compact discs in the basement. Last time I was there I bought about a dozen out-of-print ECM CD’s.
I will take you up on that! I’m planning to visit sometime in June but nothing is booked yet. Will contact you as soon as something is set if that’s ok! 🌞
Surprised to not see any entries for Amsterdam, which has at least half a dozen great second hand shops...Concerto, Record Mania, Record Palace, Black Gold, Zap....and lots of decent small market stalls.
Thanks for sharing though!
Lost me in the first paragraph with"15,000 second-hand vinyls", it's not bloody flooring!
Call me old, call me cranky, I'll take both of those over "vinyls".
Also, why no shops from Japan?
Just reminded me that I didn’t get time for a visit to The Thing when we did a family trip to NYC two years ago.
Only managed Rock and Soul - now an overpriced shadow of its former self for second hand, but I bought a T-shirt and some jazz funk bootleg 12s that I forgot to buy in 2005.
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But definitely some shops here that i’m bookmarking.
In Gothenburg, for generally new jazz, funk, souls and reggae, go to the improbably named Peckham Soul.
As for Third Man, that's surely got to be a joke. I was in and out of there in five minutes flat.
Honest Jon’s is as good as ever, but is overflowing and could do with bigger premises.
Try Idle Moments for jazz.
Another shop I’d add is Mod Lang in Ludlow.
https://modlanguk.com/LUDLOW%20STORE.html
Would love to know about some more provincial shops in the UK to visit
I think it is potentially a golden age for record shops outside of London. So many good ones; new and old.
Thanks for sharing though!
Call me old, call me cranky, I'll take both of those over "vinyls".
Also, why no shops from Japan?
Only managed Rock and Soul - now an overpriced shadow of its former self for second hand, but I bought a T-shirt and some jazz funk bootleg 12s that I forgot to buy in 2005.