clint246clint wrote:solarion wrote:feel free to PM me about it.
Relax, we're not all going to jump on a plane to Melbourne and hit your spots. I thought internet was about sharing information and empowering others, no?
**** lol, I don't even remember posting that. i should drink a bit less evidently.
anyway! presenting a vague guide to inner city digging spots! I'm assuming you can look up the places to go on your own.
Dixon's SecondhandThere's a couple of outlets of this; Brunswick, Camberwell, and Blackburn (the latter of which I've yet to get out to.) It's your average sort of second-hand store in terms of prices; $5 on the lowest stuff, $25 up on the really good stuff, most is in between. You're not going to find any amazing bargains because they know their stuff but they have the most diverse selection and probably the greatest turnover because it's the place to go to sell your records.
Camberwell has an excellent selection of funk and jazz the last time I was in, so if you don't mind a little investment you can find some great stuff. I recall Hawkwind's In Search of Space mint for $15. Brunswick is a lot more picked over by the hipsters but always worth a look; even if the records have nothing they have a lot of CDs as well. Don't forget the 7"s; with all the turnover they have these change quite a lot, even if they always look the same from outside.
Northside RecordsNorthside is -THE- library record shop. Seriously, I don't know where they get all that KPM stuff but they have an amazing selection. Check out the $2 boxes; that's mostly country string libraries but you find the occasional good thing. They also have some tremendous rarities, a lot of good funk, and I think they have their own vinyl reissue label; if you want Australian funk 7"s, this is also where you go. You're going to pay for those rarities, of course, but if you get them on reissue it's not nearly as harsh.
Missing LinkMissing Link in the city shut down for a little while, but now it's open again! Frabulous day. If you're in for Australian music this is where you get your punk/hardcore/grindcore; I don't know another store that regularly plays grindcore as the browsing music. Good vinyl selection, $5 boxes from which I've dredged a few very good things, and upper shelves which are reliable. Somewhat more rock/punk centered, as mentioned. Probably the most Australia/New Zealand oriented of all the stores.
Silver ScreenOstensibly a video store; out the back they have an impressive selection of JAZZ. This is your jazz store; not jazz funk per se, but Ornette Coleman, Steve Lacy, etc. Easily the best non-sale-box prices of any of these places; wait until they have a 10% or 15% sale, as they quite often have one. If you don't mind the condition of your records -too- much you can snag some great pieces; a slightly beat up copy of King Crimson's Islands for $10. They have less turnover than some larger stores but the guy said they were getting in shipments from a new source monthly now so check back.
Record Paradise Honestly? I've never been here. St. Kilda is too far out of my way. But they had a warehouse sale up in Brunswick and from that I imagined them to be a slightly more discerning Dixon's, with some more soundtracks. Let me know if you get there.
Goldmine RecordsSmall, low turnover, so not worth hitting often; but their records are reasonably priced, and I don't think I've ever seen one that's not near mint. I guess they're selective. There's some Nektar up on the wall in magnificent condition if you're hard up for that. Drop by occasionally.
Also a good selection of new vinyl! That's not my thing but y'know, if you want some Radiohead this is the place to go.
Pure PopI was here once to see a show. I don't remember it having anything second hand so I'd skip it. Mostly CDs. This could've changed, given.
[/b]Mainly Jazz[/b]
Never been here; again, St. Kilda. But the name says it all, really. If you go, let me know.[/b]
Essendon RecordsThe next best Australian selection after Missing Link. Confusingly laid out; I couldn't tell you what they specialize in, as they're also a bookstore. Prices are not great for most of the records, but most hang around $10-$15, so if you're persistent and willing to sort through all the mounds they have (as unfortunately they're not ordered by anything except alphabet) good stuff turns up. Also low turnover, so just drop in if you're ever in Essendon for some reason.
The SearchersGood, high quality; nothing of note in selection or price especially, but I recall records that I hadn't seen elsewhere, and no prices that made me balk, which really what more can you ask from a record store?
Lost and FoundTOO EXPENSIVE. If your median price is $25 you might as well buy reissues of much more interesting records.
Thornbury RecordsALSO TOO EXPENSIVE. Worth a browse, however.
Round and RoundQUITE EXPENSIVE but this is Northside kind of expensive where they actually know what they're doing. -Not- a place to go for a bargain; but the selections of avant-garde classical and Italian prog (they have a whole shelf just for the italian stuff!) cannot be surpassed much in the Southern Hemisphere. Okay prices on jazz and soul. The most prog reissues in Melbourne; if that's your scene and you don't mind paying a bit, rock up.
Don't forget the $3 boxes! Found Gil Evans there.
Licorice PieHonestly, this is like a slightly bigger Round and Round in the outer suburbs. I've been here maybe once, as it's a bit far for me, but they have rarities and they know what to do with them. Skip the bargain boxes in the back room; there's nothing of worth there at $8.
They also have a discogs account! I've seen this when I've tried to sell a few of my better Australian finds. licoricepie; check that out if you want an idea.
Several record stores near Licorice PieMy memory fails me on these mainly because they were mostly mediocre. If you're really on the hunt for something, check em, but I'd skip them otherwise.
Muscle ShoalsAcross the street from Lost and Found. Mediocre and hipster. Head to Licorice or R&R; this is just the weak version.
Polyester RecordsNothing secondhand; but the place for alternative new releases, and you can buy concert tickets too.
Vinnies, Salvos, etcThese are everywhere, and about as good as you'd expect. Keep coming back; while one store may not have any records at one point, suddenly they come in the next week; and at one or two dollars each you can set your standards fairly low for good stuff. Francis Lai soundtracks, random gospel records; except for a copy of B the Magpie (!) I've never got anything amazing from these, but they're a good steady source of samples.
Various antique storesI can't list all these, and I wouldn't because generally they are crap; too expensive, and not sufficient selection. One wanted to charge $20 for Phil Collins records and said "oh we have special one of a kind stuff". HAHAHAHA shut up. Even if you're willing to do the digging, you don't find much that is good; mostly you should save your time, and hit the record stores.
i don't know how expensive we are in comparison to the american economy; I think we cost a bit more. here's some more tips for the australian climate:
funk didn't get as much play over here, and subsequently will be more pricey. you're not going to find any rare albums in that category.
caveat to the above: if it's -Australian- funk grab that, because that's hen's teeth. Australian jazz of the non-swing-band variety is also scarce. Good names to look out for that I know: John Sangster, Don Burrows (you find a fair bit of him so be cautious), George Golla, Hot City Bump Band, Daly-Wilson Big Band (the originators of Shook Ones Part II; if you find a record with the song Dirty Feet on it, BUY IT) Quincy Conserve, Ayers Rock, Judy Bailey (though she's a rare one, Colours was recently reissued on CD and I see it in Dixon's), -anything- from New Zealand.
on the other hand, soundtracks and 70s rock are more common to find in valuable Australian-only editions in my experience. Australian prog, which in my mind sort of comes under 70s rock (Phil Manning, Madder Lake, Fraternity, Ariel, (if you find Fraternity with Bon Scott for under about fifty dollars let me know. Since I heard of the existence of that I haven't wanted to hear something more.)) tends to fetch a mint because it never really latched on the way it did in Britain or America.
most importantly. BUY AUSTRALIAN. please be careful with Australian jazz like I said, though; a lot of it is New Orleans swing and if you don't like that you may be out of luck.
i have no idea about punk and the like; prog and jazz are my specialties.
Melbourne is a good city for records, and also a difficult city; both of these are because it's chock full of hipsters, like me. this means there are a fair few warehouse sales for records, but you have to get in EARLY and grab stuff FAST. you're not going to be alone, not by a long shot.
additional stuff:
- apparently we have a lot of Khamal records. and we do, you know. THEY ARE EVERYWHERE.
- Spotswood and surrounds has a lot of good antique stores which I cannot remember the names of. if you're there, look around.
- Goldmine has about ten Steeleye Span records which nobody will buy. I find this hilarious.
- if you're going anywhere, go to Silver Screen. it's the best place and i'm sure video stores are hurting so they could use your patronage.
