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Where do you buy your vinyl?

Just getting in to this hobby and have a small collection some bought from garage sales and more inherited, but I am beginning to understand the immense difference between a great recording and one that is just ok and as I look to build my collection further, I am thinking of buying some new/unused records. I am not looking for collectibles, only for high quality sound and I am interested in where the best places are and how to figure out which pressing to get.

Here are the outlets I know of so far:

Acoustic Sounds    https://store.acousticsounds.com/
In the Groove    https://www.theingroove.com/
popmarket    https://www.popmarket.com
The Sound of Vinyl    https://thesoundofvinyl.us/

Are there other good places to look? How do I distinguish between versions? Do some stores have better quality s.t. I can rely on them to stock the best copies?

saulh

Showing 3 responses by bdp24

bdp24's avatar
bdp24
10,161 posts
 

 

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.

bdp24's avatar
bdp24
10,161 posts
 

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.

bdp24's avatar
bdp24
10,161 posts
 

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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