Music Moments

The Best Record Stores for Shopping Record Store Day 2024

TheRecord Store Day(RSD) concept was sparked by a passion for independent record shops and the culture that they support. There truly is something special about how a great record store can connect people in deep and long-lasting ways.

Lou’s records

San Clemente to San Diego Record StoresYear round great weather, surf and skate culture set the tone for SoCal sounds. Record stores abound in cities along the Pacific Ocean from San Clemente toSan Diego. Bands like Rocket from the Crypt and Drive Like Jehu got their start in SoCal by playing in-stores and releasing 7 inch singles.Lou’s Recordsin Encinitas opened its doors in 1980. Their reputation for having hard-to-find releases makes them a must-shop location and theirin-storeshave been known to shut down streets and get the attention of local police.You can read full interviews with the owners ofMoldy Toesin San Clemente andVinyl Junkiesin San Diego. These stores, in Wrensilva’s backyard, are regular stops for staff and customers alike.Left of the Dialin Orange andM-Theoryin San Diego round out the list of great places to shop in SoCal for vinyl and Record Store Day releases.

Permanent Records.Photo: Jim Newberry/Voyage LA

Los Angeles Record StoresL.A. has seen it all. From Laurel Canyon folk, to the Sunset Strip classic rock, punk and hair-metal, venues like Gazzarri’s, The Roxy, The Whiskey, and The Troubadour launched the careers of local bands like X, the Doors, Beck, Jane’s Addiction, and Van Halen… and record stores were there to get the music straight into the hands of eager listeners. Though the landscape has changed, the community spirit remains at shops like Permanent Records and Amoeba.AmoebaMusic has one of the most expansive music selections in the country. With headquarters in San Francisco, the Hollywood shop was long anticipated. When it opened in 2001, occupying an entire city block on Sunset Blvd., Amoeba Hollywood planned to stock as many as 250,000 titles. The shop quickly became a beacon for music lovers of all genres. Now in a new location, a colored vinyl LP installation welcomes customers at the front door and an original Shepard Fairey mural adorns the stage. The massive floor space includes vinyl, CD and DVD/Blu-ray sections; books and posters; t-shirts; turntables and vinyl accessories; and collectibles.Permanent Records’motto is “Life is short. Buy more records.” This east side shop sells a wide selection of new and used vinyl. Their space has evolved to become the first bar/record store/live venue in Los Angeles with live music AND record shopping til midnight on weekends.

Waterloo Records.Photo: Spectrum News

Austin  Record StoresAustin adopted the nickname of the“Live Music Capital of the World”in 1991. There are more than 200 music venues in the city with live performances every night of the week. Artists like Willie Nelson, Gary Clark Jr, and Britt Daniel from Spoon call Austin home.Waterloo Recordshas been serving up recorded music to the Austin community since 1982. Their support doesn’t stop at just selling records. They encourage unsigned bands to put their  self-released CD, LP, 7” or cassette on consignment with the shop.They host innumerable in-store performances, and their 10-day, no-questions-asked return policy ensures that customers are happy with the music they purchase.Other Austin shops to check out:End of an Ear,Breakaway RecordsandLove Wheel Records.

Whether you’re in a big city or a small hamlet, you’ll likely find a gathering space for music. It could be a coffee shop with a turntable and a stack of vinyl. If you’re lucky, it’s a full-fledged record shop where clerks spin their favorite tunes.Each city has its own scene, powered by the music created there and anchored by the record stores that provide the like-minded gathering space, but not all of those stores are created equal. Michael Kurtz says, “To do it right, a great record store requires great customer service, the human touch, and a curated selection that fans can peruse at their leisure.” These independent stores are a hub for community and they are all part of the Record Store Day collective.

Cactus Music vinyl racks.Photo: Great Day Houston

Houston Record StoresZZ Top, Johnny Nash, Lizzo, Selena. This disparate list just scratches the surface of the diverse music roots in Houston, Texas. Southern roots rock, hip-hop, Tejano, country, jazz and blues – you can hear it in clubs and on the dial, and Houston’s record stores have it all.Bud and Don Daily openedCactus Musicin 1975. It was one of the first music super stores in the U.S. with deep roots in the music business. The Daily brother’s father, Harold “Pappy” Daily, ran a record store called The Record Ranch and a label that released music from George Jones, the Big Bopper, a young Willie Nelson and George Strait. The brothers retired in 2006, but Cactus lives on. As an ode to Pappy Daily’s original store, the new owners created “The Record Ranch,” a 1800 square-foot vinyl-only space and art gallery adjacent to the main store. In addition to thousands of new and used records, The Record Ranch gallery presents ongoing exhibits featuring music-related artwork.Sig’s Lagoon Record Shoppacks a big music punch in its modest footprint. There are thousands of vinyl titles, along with books, artwork and collectibles to peruse before catching a live show at the Continental Club, which is just across the street.

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