The Good Old Days

CraigP · July-24th-2009, 11:25 AM

Like a lot of jazz fans, I buy most of my CDs through mail order, but back in the day (the day being when we actually had things called record stores) I also bought from brick-and-mortar outfits to support their efforts. For example, the Tower store here in Dallas had a surprisingly good jazz section. There was just no substitute for browsing, finding something unexpected, and taking it home that day.

This is surely a case of beating a dead horse, but I find it incredibly sad that I can’t go out on my day off and buy a copy of one of the new ECMs (Parker, Sclavis, Vitous) anywhere in the Dallas/Ft. Worth metroplex. An area of several million people, and no one carries this stuff anymore!

larrycohen · July-24th-2009, 11:49 AM

I know what you mean. I work in midtown Manhattan, and I used to like browsing record stores on my lunch hour. However, I buy most of my stuff online now, usually at Amazon.com. There is no way any brick-and-mortar store can have the selection that an internet site has, unless the store is the size of a stadium. If a CD is in print, chances are an on-line store will have it. I think that makes up for the occasional random discovery. The prices at Amazon aren't bad either, especially if you look for used stuff.

lonely-at-the-top · July-24th-2009, 11:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CraigP

An area of several million people, and no one carries this stuff anymore!

I guess that's what they call an ama (zing) zon(e)

I don't download and still buy most releases in stores coz we still have them and hopefully will and will and will
Ain't nothing better than browsing thru the shelfs of a record store while your your gold status puts wife and kids into rapturous delight on the other side of the mall

I should start downloading and get rid of that haptic quirk of mine....

clinthopson · July-24th-2009, 12:09 PM

Years ago we had a great shop in Costa Mesa, the Music Market, that had a great selection of jazz, far better than Tower. I spent many a happy hour browsing the shelves and chatting with their jazz buyer.

It shut down about a dozen years ago and since than almost all my cds have come from Amazon except when my daughter in law worked for Fantasy in S.F. and later EMI in NYC.

CraigP · July-24th-2009, 12:56 PM

I end up buying most of my stuff from Downtown Music Gallery or Jazz Loft.

me wag · July-24th-2009, 01:52 PM

I used to buy a lot of Tzadik, ecm, world & classical stuff at that Tower so I definitely miss it. Now all that stuff is rather out of sight, out of mind with me especially when it concerns something coming out that I wasn't looking for but interests me because it's in the new release section. I guess I am saving money.

Good Records is about the only new-not-used CD store that is worth anything anymore that I know of around here, but it's not much for jazz.

Squaredancecalling Steve · July-24th-2009, 01:59 PM

The local Borders was pretty good, until about a year ago when they cut the music section in half, and then cut that in half. So I started going to the Borders in San Rafael, which still had a large music section (and was close to my Friday dances in Novato). About a month ago, their section got cut in half!

Fortunately Santa Rosa's The Last Record Store http://www.the-last-record-store.com/ still survives, with the best used section this side of Amoeba.

Now if the San Francisco/ Berkeley stores dry up, then we know we're in real trouble!

Jon Abbey · July-24th-2009, 03:26 PM

If you're interested in supporting the music, it can be argued that (most) record stores disappearing is a good thing. Buy directly from the labels or musicians, they make more that way and it's usually cheaper for you.

Jesse · July-24th-2009, 05:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jon Abbey

If you're interested in supporting the music, it can be argued that (most) record stores disappearing is a good thing. Buy directly from the labels or musicians, they make more that way and it's usually cheaper for you.

+1

CraigP · July-24th-2009, 07:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jon Abbey

If you're interested in supporting the music, it can be argued that (most) record stores disappearing is a good thing. Buy directly from the labels or musicians, they make more that way and it's usually cheaper for you.

Yes, it's hard to stomach $18.95 CD prices at places like Barnes & Noble. Even if you go through a mail order house you're saving money.

Chazro · July-24th-2009, 08:23 PM

I'm ol' school and I definetely miss the old days. Here in Atlanta there's a few brick 'n'mortar type cd/record stores but they cater primarily to the kids which means Rock & Rap. The best, bar none, is Decatur CD where it's truly like walking into a time machine. CD's and Vinyl, old, new, & used, good choice in a variety of genres, just a great shop! Unfortunately, every time I speak to the owner (gray-haired & pony-tailed!) about business I can sense his desperation. His shop isn't some corporate outlet, it's his baby, his pride and joy, and he's barely hangin' on by his fingernails!

Captain Hate · July-24th-2009, 09:07 PM

I like buying at concerts for the reasons Abbey said; the problem is that improv gigs in this pisshole are nearly non-existent.

Mark of Cenla · July-24th-2009, 09:44 PM

I much prefer to buy CDs at a real store and play them as soon as I can. The only place near me that has a good jazz selection is Barnes and Noble, but as already metionned, they are a bit expensive. I have a 10% discount card, which helps. I buy most of my CDs at amazon.com. Peace and goodwill.