[ghostfires]

Anyone have suggestions for record shops in Dallas, TX and Atlanta, GA?

I'll be in Dallas for a few days next week, and will be in Atlanta in three weeks. Would love to hear about any shops you guys have hit that you would recommend!

Thank you!

[strictlywayward]

Dead Wax Records in Carrollton, TX is pretty happening for the sort of musics that are discussed here. A newer store a few minutes closer to Dallas-proper, Josey Records, is supposed to be rather impressive, but I have never been. People also enjoy Bill's (south Dallas-ish), and Good Records. There are several smaller shops around town, but I couldn't tell you anything about them offhand. Happy hunting.

[toosoonjunior]

Atlanta:
I passed through Atlanta a few weeks ago and was very pleased with Criminal Records. They had a pretty deep selection of soundtrack reissues.

Dallas:
Josey Recprds is the new big record store to the area and they have an impressive selection of original issue soundtracks. Near 35/635 interchange.

Good Records on lower Greenville Ave carries primarily new vinyl. Sorted only by artist name, not grouped by genre. They carry lots of soundtrack reissues. That was my go-to spot when I lived in Oak Cliff.

Deadwax Records - I've heard lots of good things about them, but I have yet to make it by there myself for some reason.

Bill's Records - I really dislike this place. Boxes and boxes of unsorted G/VG records. It used to be great when it was on the north side of town. You're more likely to come away with the stench of cigarettes than any gems.

The Half Price Books flagship store on Loop 12 is worth a look as it is massive. Although, sometimes their vinyl prices can be outlandish.

Doc's Records is on the far west edge of Ft. Worth, so it is quite the hike from Dallas, but I visited their a number of times and always enjoyed it. Some new, but mostly used vinyl.

[ghostfires]

Thanks so much for all the DFW suggestions! I guess I should specify that I'm staying in Las Colinas. That doesn't matter too much though, as I'll have a rental car to go where ever I please. I just wanted to try and feel out the best places to hit in case my time becomes very limited.

It sounds like Joseys and Deadwax might be my best two bets.

I'm also going to Austin for two days after DFW...now THAT trip I can't wait for! Finally I'll get to step inside End Of An Ear again! Still my most favorite record shop ever.

[texasvinyl]

I'm not sure what kind of stuff you're looking for, ghost.

You can call Jeff and take a drive out to his storage unit in Plano. I've bought quite a few records from him, I think rock, blues, jazz and soul, but it's been a couple of years since I last stopped by. His ad is here: http://dallas.craigslist.org/dal/emd/4829993243.html I need to go see Jeff and check out what he's got lately.

E-Mart / Entertainmart at the corner of Preston Road & Alpha Road in North Dallas has a respectable used section, though the prices on new vinyl are too high. But I do buy a lot of used wax there.

Half Priced Books' flagship location on Northwest Highway just east of 75/Central Expressway is definitely worth a look with a large section of used vinyl, a lot of bulk 50 cent 45's, and they have great prices on those Spanish WaxTime jazz reissues if you're into those. I occasionally find a good OST there, and that's also where I will waste extra time flipping through all their 45s. That store receives all the 45s that didn't sell or couldn't fit at other stores, I think they told me 2,000-3,000 45's a month go through there.

I'd also go see Randy at Groove Net in Mesquite. 972-270-9898. Just call and make sure he will be there, he keeps weird/limited hours. Mon-Fri: 8am-4pm/Sat: 8am-2pm hours, but not always. And you wont' be able to find it either. But his selection is awesome, top notch, really a dangerous place where you can easily spend a ton on records you just "need" to have.

Josey Records at 635 and Josey is a huge store, not yet developed into whatever it will ultimately be, but there are a lot of used records of all varieties. I went on their soft opening weekend a few months ago and picked through all the OSTs but haven't been since.

Good Records on lower Greenville in Dallas is in a cool area with a lot of bars/restaurants. They carry almost all new vinyl, generally indie stuff but also will stock OSTs and imports.

There's also a place called Shake Rag on Live Oak that I've only read about. The news article says he has 500,000 records and loves rarities. Let me know if you end up checking it out. News story: http://www.dallasnews.com/entertainment ... ecords.ece

There's a bar + record store combo in Deep Ellum called Off The Record. We went a couple months back on a weekend night, it was pretty chill and not crowded, but they had good beers on tap. I didn't buy any records, but the selection was similar to what Good Records would carry. There was a variety/curio shop nearby in Deep Ellum, I can't remember the name, but the guy had a fair amount of vinyl in the back, and some of it was pretty good. I've been meaning to stop back by but don't make it down to Deep Ellum enough.

Anyway, have fun digging, enjoy Dallas. If you go to Deep Ellum go to Pecan Lodge for some BBQ.

[strictlywayward]

I believe that Off The Record actually is under the Good Records umbrella, so it is very much the same stuff. Good Records is a nice, clean store, but the staff has told me that they basically just order whatever's in/on Pitchfork. I used to visit regularly, but now I would only go if my internet was out.
I have never been to a shop in Atlanta, but I wouldn't feel right if I did not at least suggest that you visit Graveface Records & Curiosities there. The label's '\ broad output may or may not be to your taste, but it's a proper store (RSD and all that), and it's full of weird things. Plus, the guy that runs it just started a new media company centered around VHS and off-the-beaten-path soundtracks, so you might find some of that stuff inside, too.

[ghostfires]

@wayward - Thank you for reminding me about Graveface! Yes! I definitely have to swing by there, as I think all the weirdness is right up my alley.

@texasvinyl - I actually grew up in Tyler, TX - only about an hour and forty-five from Dallas...so I'm very familiar with the area, and use to stay on business in and around Mesquite - so I am also, unfortunately, familiar with that area. There was no record shop when I use to stay there though. I assumed with this huge buzz in the industry about vinyl, shops would pop up overnight in Dallas...which is why I asked.

What I'm looking for - definitely not the stuff we typically discuss on this board, simply because I have no need to buy any of these reissued soundtracks when I follow all the labels regularly, and with no shops in Jacksonville, I have to order all my records anyways! So I'm looking for just typical crate digging - especially anyone with the potential to have ambient, new age, psychedelic, space, or krautrock records. I am always on the hunt for krautrock and classic new age/synth/ambient.

I also like to find local stuff whenever possible, though in Dallas from all I can remember...theres an abundance of shitty alt rock and country rock bands, with very little to no electronic music coming out of the area. Hopefully that has changed, but if so I've not seen anything of it lately.

As for the BBQ - I think I'm saving all my BBQ eating until I get to Taylor! Louie Mueller's BBQ in Taylor is absolutely the best BBQ I've ever had in my entire life. Also the most expensive BBQ I've ever had, but it is worth every penny. If I can swing by Pecan Lodge I might get a sampler or something though...I've never heard of it.

I might hit that Shake Rag - but after reading the article - it sounds like it would mostly be for really commercial rock'n'roll, obviously with all the talk about The Beatles and Elvis. I can't quite see that guy caring about much electronic or heavily psychedelic music like I'm looking for.

Again, thank you guys SO much for your input on this...I really hope to get some serious time in on digging around. I've not been able to in a long while, and it feels just that much more special doing so in my home state!

[strictlywayward]

Definitely check out Dead Wax for the kraut/psych/new age/space/etc.

[synthxanderharris]

As far as Electronic music and Dallas, that has changed quite a bit.

Local electronic DFW bands worth checking out.

TX Connect
Hex Cult
Cutter
Nervous Curtains
Pinkish Black (kind of metal-ish as well)
Lily Taylor
Diamond Age
Def Rain
Mannequinz
iill


The music scene there has slowly been getting better and better.