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Music lovers flock to local shops
as vinyl becomes hip again
By Collin Kelley
I f you thought vinyl records were musty and dusty old relics from
your parents’ or grandparents’ generation, think again. Billboard
magazine reports that nearly 15 million vinyl albums were sold in
the U.S. alone during 2017. In the United Kingdom, vinyl is now
outselling digital music downloads.
Vinyl virtually disappeared in the 1990s as new albums were released
on CD. In the last decade, vinyl has made a huge comeback as music
fans discover the richer sounds, the large sleeve artwork and the simple
satisfaction crackle and pop as a turntable needle drops on the record.
Most new albums by major acts now get a vinyl release along with the CD
and release on streaming services.
Audiophiles and DJs kept vinyl on life support during the dark ages,
and so did a handful of Atlanta record shops. Even as CDs, iTunes and
Spotify became the go-to source for music, shops like Wax ‘N’ Facts and
Wuxtry continued to buy, sell and trade used records to those who refused
to part with their vinyl collections.
The advent of Record Store Day in 2007 was another indicator that
vinyl was making a comeback. Now, major and indie music labels release
special and limited edition records that have music-lovers queuing up
outside their favorite shop at the crack of dawn. Record Store Day returns
on April 21 and you can see the list of releases at recordstoreday.com.
These shops are perfect for an afternoon of crate digging for old and
new treasures.
on the Record
CRIMINAL RECORDS
1154-A Euclid Ave.
criminalatl. com
The Little Five Points shop is a go-to not
only for used vinyl, but new releases and
Record Store Day limited editions. The
shop also has a selection of CDs, cassette
tapes (remember those?!), comics and
other pop memorabilia. There’s also plenty
of in-store events and music, so be sure to
check out the shop’s website and Facebook
page for details.
WAX‘N’FACTS
432 Moreland Ave.
waxnfacts.com
The granddaddy of Atlanta records shops
has been selling vinyl for more than 40
years and the Little Five Points store is
packed to the brim with goodies. On a
recent Friday afternoon visit, audiophiles
were digging through the crates for
everything from Neil Diamond and
Dionne Warwick to Blondie and Heart.
The shop caters to all tastes — from pop
and jazz to hip-hop and country and
most stops in between. There’s also a good
selection of jazz reissues (Miles Davis,
Nina Simone, John Coltrane), plus 45
rpms, CDs and rare releases.
Photo by Julie
Bloemeke
Wax ‘N’ Facts in
Little Five Points
MOODS MUSIC
1131 Euclid Ave.
moodsmusic. net
This Little Five Points shop specializes in
underground soul, hip-hop, jazz, dance and
imports. With regular in-store appearances,
movie nights and pop-up shops, Moods
is popular with DJs and those looking for
more a specialized experience.
SUNBRIMMER RECORDS
4 N. Clarendon Ave., Avondale Estates
sunbrimmer. com
In the heart of Avondale Estates,
Sunbrimmer is buying, selling and trading
vinyl, and if you love soul, R&B and jazz this
is definitely the shop you want to visit. You’ll
also find a good mix of other genres like
classic rock, soundtracks and indie artists.
ELLA GURU RECORD SHOP
2747 Lavista Road, Decatur
ellaguru.com
The tiny, tidy shop deals mostly with used
records, but they have very discerning taste.
If you’re looking for some vintage David
Bowie, John Lee Hooker, Charles Mingus,
Black Flag and even Sonny and Cher, go
check them out. Be sure to follow the shop
on Instagram, too, where they regular post
new arrivals in the store: @itstheblimp.
40 March 2018 | [El
AtlantalNtownPaper.com