Amoeba Records, definitely. Cake Shop in NYC and Newbury Comics rank up there too.

There are two in my town, but neither one is amazing..Rock and Roll Heaven in Orlando has a decent selection but they're overpriced and the employees aren't too pleasant. Park Ave CD s has great employees and I can always find something I have to buy, but they've allowed books and kitschy items to take up too much space.

EASILY Tower Records! During my college years I'd go in every Tuesday between classes to check out the latest releases or just go to their magazine section and read. Unquestionably the majority of my music library was purchased at Tower! Furthermore, they were open 9:00a to midnight 365 days a year, something virtually unheard of in music retail at the time. Since 12-25-82 until it officially closed in Dec. 2006 ( in my hometown) it was an annual holiday ritual to go to Tower and redeem my gift certificates without fail. Good times! :tramp:

Tom at The Bop Shop in Rochester, NY was my initiation into exquisite vinyl. Bop Arts has been responsible for every jazz act that came to the city for the last 35 years, and they're still going strong.

The staff are genuine article music gurus and provide a wealth of information for those looking to build their libraries of 20th century music. The day Tom learned I hadn't heard Stockhausen he pulled a five-alarm fire and sent a dude running to the DG section for an original press of Kontakte / Gesang der Jünglinge.

http://i.imgur.com/TQLEtnN.jpg

My greatest score ever from the Shop - my legendary Tom Waits haul of nearly every Waits record in NM condition, all original pressings.

I wouldn't have the musical chops I have today without The Bop Shop.

I'll also throw in a good word for Bruised Apple Books & Music in stupidly-expensive Peekskill, NY. Two gents run a cozy little bookstore with a killer used vinyl section with titles like Captain Beefheart's Grow Fins rarities 3-volume set and the self-titled monumental record by The Last Poets. That shop was my lifeline for my time in Peekskill.

http://i.imgur.com/dv5jNkN.jpg

https://www.facebook.com/weirdsvillerecords?ref=br_tf

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Melod...s/259961186281


Weirdsville has a vibe I really dig, they sell a lot of horror collectibles, books and whatnot and really keep up on my preferred subgenres. But a good deal of their **** is new, they're kind of a modern 'hip' record store. Still a sweet place.

Melodies and Memories is a legit store from floor to ceiling in records, stacked up in some corners because they run out of room. Can hardly walk in the place. Also have a much larger used selection.

Easy Street Records' Queen Anne location in Seattle. Massive vinyl and CD selection (mostly used) and several listening stations for both formats. I would spend hours in there on a weekly basis listening to random albums and poring over the clearance racks. After making a stack of 6-10 cheap albums I'd move to the more expensive stuff, but even vinyl editions of LCD Soundsystem's Sound of Silver or Sufjan Stevens' Illinois were like $13.

Coming off their most profitable year in over a decade, the landlord refused to let them renew their lease and booted them in favor of a mother****ing Chase bank. Luckily, they went out in style. During the final night of their massive closing sale, Yo La Tengo played for free in-store, and after the show employees were passing out free beers to people still browsing. I spent about $60 on this haul:

http://i.imgur.com/EVYBPzd.jpg

Silversun Pickups - Pikul EP (12")
Radical Face - Ghost (Clear LP)
Stagnant Pools - Temporary Room (LP)
The Beatles - Revolver (LP)
Yo La Tengo - Fade (CD)
Doves - The Last Broadcast (CD)
The 88 - S/T (CD)
Bis - Intendo (CD)
The Weakerthans - Left & Leaving (CD)
Macklemore & Ryan Lewis - The Heist (CD)
Everything Is Nice: The Matador Records 10th Anniversary Anthology (3CD)
DFA Compilation #2 (3CD)
Erin McKeown - We Will Become Like Birds (CD)
Yo La Tengo Poster
Easy Street Records T-Shirt

And I swiped that "ELECTRONIC" sign from the racks that they were breaking down and tossing in the dumpsters.

It was a beautiful place and I'm still bitter that it's gone. Still haven't found a replacement for it.

I've been in Sound Cellar a couple of times since and I must say I quite liked it. I was even talking to the owner the last time I was in there and he was super friendly and well up for a chat. My only gripe was all the CDs being in glass cabinets, could be more browser friendly.

Tower Records on the south side of Dublin have moved to a newer and more impressive store within the past year and they've also expanded their vinyl selection considerably.

https://www.goldenplec.com/wp-conten...th-2014-14.jpg

https://www.goldenplec.com/wp-conten...th-2014-01.jpg

Freebird (part of the Secret Book and Record Store) is another favourite of mine and is a great place to browse for vinyl and second-hand CDs.

https://img.grouponcdn.com/merchant/...js-600x390.jpg

http://images.ratemyarea.com.s3.amaz...icture=2849307

Blink and you'll miss it.

Vintage Vinyl in St Louis!!!

I really miss that location, it was my favorite record store in Seattle and an anchor for that neighborhood. Nothing draws me there anymore. Even Silver Platters moved. The West Seattle Easy Street is alright but it's just more crammed. Definitely more convenient to my current residence though.