New England Record Stores?

[Pr33t]

Hey all,

Looking for any recommendations for record stores (I'm only looking for vinyl) only along the I-95/195/495 corridors through CT, RI, and MA. Willing to make some small detours, but not that far off the interstate. I'll be headed up that way this weekend.

Thanks!

[devoidzer0]

Hey all,

Looking for any recommendations for record stores (I'm only looking for vinyl) only along the I-95/195/495 corridors through CT, RI, and MA. Willing to make some small detours, but not that far off the interstate. I'll be headed up that way this weekend.

Thanks!

There is a record store in Somerset, MA I can recommend (close to 195 exits and about 30 mins from Providence): Sunset Records. The owner (Bob) is a great guy who loves prog and has a very cool selection (although the place is a bit messy and cramped). He will talk your ear off and loves giving recommendations.

A little further off the beaten path, about 15 minutes away is In Your Ear in Warren, RI. They have a larger vinyl selection and are more professionally run, however their prices can be a little high. At one point they had a prog section, I'm not sure if it's there anymore. I've bought lots of prog there (including a pristine original copy of In the Court of the Crimson King).

If you have time to kill you might also want to check out The Time Capsule in Seekonk, MA which is in the same general area (one town over from Somerset). They sell comics and old video game stuff as well as vinyl. They have tons of records, but it's not very curated (lots of stuff that sold tons of copies and is a dime a dozen), but occasionally you will find a gem (i.e. once I was stoked to find Octoberon by Barclay James Harvest).

Two of the 3 I mentioned have websites, here they are:

http://iye.com/html_index.cfm?page=home

http://timecapsulecomics.com/

And the Yelp page for Sunset:

https://www.yelp.com/biz/sunset-records-somerset

One thing I should mention: Sunset keeps variable hours. I would call before travelling there to make sure they are open. Hope this helps.

[bigbassdrum]

haven't been there in years, but Mystic Disc in Mystic, CT
http://mysticdisclp.com/

If you're hungry for seafood, there's Abbott's Lobster in the Rough not too far from it ... also, some pizza joint ... Oh yeah, Mystic Pizza

[Dave (in MA)]

People speak highly of Cheap Thrills Music in Dedham, but I've never been there since I stopped caring about vinyl at least 30 years ago.

https://goo.gl/maps/azcrC1jCUrS2

[rcarlberg]

(I'm only looking for vinyl) .... Willing to make some small detours, but not that far off the interstate.

They allow horses and buggies on the interstate?!?!

[noisynoise]

The Vinyl Vault in Littleton, MA, right off 495. Relatively new, and not too big, but they do have a few dedicated "prog rock" bins.

[bigbassdrum]

Merle's Record Rack - Orange, Connecticut
http://merlesrecordrack.com/
Sat: 10-5 Sun: Closed Jul 3/4 Closed

[Omicron9]

One more vote for the Vinyl Vault in Littleton, MA. About one minute off I-495; exit 31 I believe. Very nice guy running the shop as well.

[BrianG]

Avoid the traffic and take I84 inland with a stopover at the new Records The Good Kind in Vernon, CT. Very good selection of LPs and some CDs.
http://recordsthegoodkind.com/

[mnprogger]

I have never been there, but often would notice fellow prog fans online preorder/pickup releases at Newbury Comics. in Boston.

[devoidzer0]

I have never been there, but often would notice fellow prog fans online preorder/pickup releases at Newbury Comics. in Boston.

Newbury is actually looked down upon by independent record store owners; they are in effect a chain, with around 30 locations throughout New England. Their used vinyl is overpriced and at times not in playable condition. They have a virtual monopoly on Record Store Day around these parts, and get the lion's share of releases while mom and pop stores are left with slim pickings (and sometimes nothing).

When I first started collecting vinyl around 5 years ago I thought Newbury was great, but then I discovered lots of true independent shops in my area and haven't been back since. I might use them for new release vinyl (which I don't buy much of) if their price wasn't significantly higher than Amazon, but that's about it. Definitely overrated, and used more for convenience than anything.

[Facelift]

Too bad you're not going to Maine - there's a couple of good places in Portland.

[Lopez]

In my opinion the two best stores north of Boston are the Record Exchange in Salem, Mass (http://www.vinylhunt.com/stores/699) and Mystery Train in Gloucester, Mass (http://mysterytrainrecords.com/). Both have amazing selections and knowledgeable salesmen. Both Salem and Gloucester are historic seaside towns with lots of good food besides good records. If you are interested in R&B, TexMex, or local Boston stuff ask for Barrence Whitfield (yes, "the" Barrence Whitfield; when not touring, he works at the Salem store) at the Record Exchange or if it's English proggy-folk or garage, then it's Paul Bazylinski you need to see at the Record Exchange.

[Pr33t]

Thanks to everyone - I've added places to my google maps and will probably stop at a few depending on traffic/willingness of my fellow passengers. I won't be up near the Boston end (headed to the Cape).

Too bad you're not going to Maine - there's a couple of good places in Portland.

I did last summer. Wasn't overly impressed, but I do remember the one place that was really recommended to me was closed.

In my opinion the two best stores north of Boston are the Record Exchange in Salem, Mass (http://www.vinylhunt.com/stores/699) and Mystery Train in Gloucester, Mass (http://mysterytrainrecords.com/). Both have amazing selections and knowledgeable salesmen. Both Salem and Gloucester are historic seaside towns with lots of good food besides good records. If you are interested in R&B, TexMex, or local Boston stuff ask for Barrence Whitfield (yes, "the" Barrence Whitfield; when not touring, he works at the Salem store) at the Record Exchange or if it's English proggy-folk or garage, then it's Paul Bazylinski you need to see at the Record Exchange.

I've heard a lot of nice things about the area, but haven't made it there. I actually know Paul and RE a bit from the record fair here in NYC which he's usually down for every year - super nice guy, I usually chat with him a bit. Bought a nice little haul of prog stuff from him a few years ago including an OG Latte e Miele - Passio.

[devoidzer0]

Thanks to everyone - I've added places to my google maps and will probably stop at a few depending on traffic/willingness of my fellow passengers. I won't be up near the Boston end (headed to the Cape).

Oh, if you're headed to the Cape, Spinnaker in Hyannis seems like a no-brainer.

http://capecodmagazine.com/you-spin-me-round/

[Pr33t]

Oh, if you're headed to the Cape, Spinnaker in Hyannis seems like a no-brainer.

http://capecodmagazine.com/you-spin-me-round/

Ah, very cool. That will definitely be a stop, thanks!

[bigbassdrum]

Any report on what you might have found? Perhaps nothing but overpriced Lp's ??

[Pr33t]

Any report on what you might have found? Perhaps nothing but overpriced Lp's ??

Hah. Yeah, I didn't really get much chances to stop, as the traffic was horrible, and my companions in the car weren't interested in prolonging the journey any further

I did actually stop at your two suggestions, Merle's and Mystic. Can't say I was all that impressed with either. Merle's inexplicably had an "80s Prog" section that really didn't live up to it's billing. I also cringe when I go into a store and there's not a single plastic sleeve on the vinyl!