New/unused records can also be gotten online from Elusive Disk and Music Direct. Versions and pressings don't matter much with new stuff, IMHO. If you want used, if you're in NJ. I'd suggest going to Princeton and the Princeton Record Exchange, their grading system is pretty good. Also, I think our Agon member Vinylvalet might still have a shop (I last bought from him while he was in Tuscon AZ), he is very knowledgeable and graded his records well. There are a lot of good record shops in major cities like NY, Boston and others as well, I'd suggest Google for that. Finally, if Millercarbon were still posting here he would direct you to online dealer Better Records, which are good at grading records and have ridiculously expensive hot stampers that may or may not be worth the money, but they do seem to know (or have opinions on) which pressings are better than others.
As for which versions to get, there are books, like the one by Sid Marks about the great RCA classical recordings from the 50s and 60s, which can help; for rock, I'm not sure but maybe Michael Fremer's analogplanet site might be helpful, he is a wealth of information in this area (as well as many others). For the most part I am very happy with the reissues from Classic Records, Acoustic Sounds, Speakers Corner and ORG that I have gotten (in the classical vein) versus the originals, but opinions vary as there are people who will say they lack the warmth or other aspects of the originals. Hopefully others will weigh in here.
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Online I mostly buy from Music Direct, Amazon, eBay, or Discogs....
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Acoustic Sounds, Discogs, Jose Record, Amazon, Music Direct, Thrift Stores when traveling find all kinds of great stuff.
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New vinyl from Music Direct, Acoustic Sounds, Tone Poet, etc.
Used vinyl from vendors that appear annually at the Capital Audio Fest, where I can personally inspect the LP before purchase. Never from eBay unless I am "feeling lucky". Or when I am in Tokyo visiting our son. The major LP and CD stores in Tokyo are 100% honorable and the one I use, Disc Union, has a grading system. Their A grade used LPs are like new; no need even to inspect them. B grade are likewise usually impeccable, but I do look at them before purchase. Prices were high in Tokyo last time I was there, a year before the pandemic. I thought it odd that some LPs that would be cheap here are expensive there, and vice-versa. Like Julie London or Chris Connor for $25 seemed high.
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Getting records in Tokyo, now that's stylish. Disc Union, I'll remember, thank you.
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EBay and Discogs! I am not afraid to pay less for a VG LP. These often sound as good as those selling for 2 or 3 times the price! Winning eBay auctions can be tricky! My best recent auction score was a German Atlantic pressing of Led Zeppelin 1 for $23.50 + $5 shipping and 7% sales tax, so about $29. Excellent condition for a 50+ year old LP - the cover had some damage.
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All good suggestions. Another source can be a record label itself, if their artist roster is to your liking. Sign up for email notifications of new releases and label-wide sales, and of course order enough to qualify for free shipping if offered.
I'm signed up with all the audiophile online dealers for reissues (Acoustic Sounds and Speakers Corner two particular favorites), plus a number of labels whose new releases/artist roster are of musical interest to me (New West, Rep Roc, Acony).
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Directly from record label
Plaid Room Records
Merchbar
Acoustic Sounds
Music Direct
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I think the folks above identified plenty of sources. Having a few new clean records is a great idea… so you can understand what a new album sounds like. Also, I would get a couple audiophile recordings. This will help you understand the limits of the format / your system.
I have over 2,000 albums… I am sure 500 are audiophile / special pressings. But the real fun to me, these days is spending time in used record stores. We have a good one where I live. I go down once a month and buy 3 of 4 records. I know how to look at them in reflected light and determine they are in near perfect condition. Then I clean them with my cleaning machine… most of the time they are pristine and noiseless. My average cost is $5 - $8… but from expeditions a couple decades ago I acquired hundreds at $1 to $5… what a rewarding pursuit!
A couple hints. Better turntables, cartridges and phono stages can make vinyl the very best audio source. Dead quiet background, huge soundstage, great dynamics, and natural sound. Also, carefully examined used records can be inexpensive and really rewarding… but a record cleaner really makes this work. At some point it is a good idea,
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I buy new LPs from Acoustic Sounds, Amazon, Elusive Disc, and Music Direct. I occasionally buy used LPs off Discogs but only Mint or Mint minus. If Amazon's price is competitive and the LP is a Prime offering, then I'll buy it there because of the easy no cost return policy.
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Can't go wrong with Amazon. Their no hassle return policy is so important. The number of LP's I have had to return is crazy. Regardless of the manufacturer, the return rate is running 20%. At the cost of LPs today, only perfection is acceptable.
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Besides a few of the names mentioned, I also purchase from MOFI.
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Target right now is running a buy 2 get 1 free promo on all vinyl, (and books, DVDs, Blu-Rays, CDs).
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I always like going to a record store, and search or ask, new or used, have a coffe between, otherwise ebay.
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eil.com (eil.co.uk) especially for original uk releases
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+1 for Luke’s records. He does an excellent job cleaning and grading everything he sells. He is very prompt with communication and shipping. As a bonus, if you are in the US you get the benefit of the exchange rate with Canada.
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eBay, Elusive Disc, music direct, and Amazon, in that order. Also record shops when I find them.
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Another vote for your local record store -- I always go there first, ask if they can get things I want in, then go elsewhere if I have to. I end up paying a little more (store rent in my town is expensive) but it's worth it to have a knowledgeable record store nearby.
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I like the local stores also. Enjoy the used selections and the hunt!
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I hit my local thrift stores. 10/$1.00 .
All good titles, every decade 50s-2000. Wednesday I found 4 original Pink Floyd DSOTM, 3 The Wall, and 2 each of 11 other PF original issues. Lots of Billy Joel, etc., etc. I spent $25, 250 albums. I’ll keep what I want, clean/play/grade/sell the rest.
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I have 2 good record shops the next town over. One is a bit overpriced but has a lot of rare and obscure records, and the owner is an ass. The other is very reasonable, has high inventory turnover, and the owners are great.
My son recently moved to South Brunswick, about 20 minutes outside of Princeton. Three words
Princeton
Record
Exchange
😁
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Best used record store in the universe: Jerry's in Pittsburgh.
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By all means, search out a local Record Store and support small business. Most if not all used record stores can also order you new releases from just about any label. On the occasion that I buy online, I buy direct from the independent labels KScope and InsideOut Records.
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When you talk about “great” vs “ok” recordings, are you referring to the same title released at different times by different labels? For instance, the original release vs one’s done later by Classic Records, etc?
Or are you talking the same musical piece performed by different orchestras on different labels (this mostly in the classical genre)?
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Regarding "best copies". You need to read the forums and familiarize yourself with writing styles that gel with your connection to music. Then seek out the recommended copy
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@jeffrph Thank you for the suggestion. Love that he play grades and includes the country of origin/version!
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@audiodwebe I am talking about different pressings of the same underlying recordings.
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For used records I prefer to buy locally, where I can inspect the disc. Some Discog sellers grade accurately (to my admittedly high standards), some don’t.
For new records I also like to buy locally when possible, to keep my LRS's in business.
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I just found a used record store yesterday 10 minutes from my house. I stop by today and it was running a 50% off everything below $4.99, I got 6 good condition records for $11, and these are audiophile recordings!
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One of my LRS’s now has a rack devoted to $2.99 LP’s. Today I came home with the following, all in Near Mint condition:
- Rickie Lee Jones: Girl At Her Volcano (10").
- Andrew Gold: What’s Wrong With This Picture?
- Difford & Tilbrook (from Squeeze) : s/t.
- Billy Burnette: s/t. Accompanying musicians include Chips Moman---who produced the album, Bobby Emmons, Reggie Young, Spooner Oldham, Dann Penn, Chris Ethredge, and Randy Scruggs. Wow.
- Jerry Lee Lewis: Country Memories, produced by Jerry Kennedy. Sidemen include Harold Bradley, Pete Drake, Kenny Lovelace, Hargus "Pig" Robins, Chip Young, and the great Buddy Harman. Yowsa!
- Harpers Bizarre: Anything Goes, produced by Lenny Waronker, engineered by Lee Herschberg.
- Will (Sexton) & The Kill: s/t, produced by Joe Ely.
- Nicollete Larson: ...Say When, produced by Emory Gordy Jr. and Tony Brown. Accompanying musicians and singers include James Stroud, Richard Bennett, Jerry Douglas, Hank DeVito, Jim Horn, Emmylou Harris, Vince Gill, and Sharon White. Songs include those written by Nicollete, Wendy Waldman, Kevin Welch, Hank DeVito, Steve Goodman, Jesse Winchester, and John Jarvis.
Eight LP’s for less than the price of one new LP!
At a nearby antique mall I found a still-sealed copy of the one Beat Farmers (the L.A. Roots Rock band from the ’80’s, great live) album missing from my shelves: Van Go, produced by Craig Leon. $10.
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