washington dc record stores?

DC falafel thread

i would trade b-more's record stores for d.c.'s food options in a heartbeat

or this one?

West Indian Record Mart
7505 New Hampshire Ave, Hyattsville, MD 20783

-- am0n, Tuesday, November 27, 2007 4:48 PM (6 hours ago)

I used to go there and to the nearby Simba Music, 1333 Holton Lane, Langley Park (near a Post Office), but work and family has kept me from making the trip over from Virginia lately. When I just called West Indian Record Mart the phone number was disconnected. West Indian Record Mart was always expensive except for dancehall mixtapes. Simba is still open--they sell mostly African music but also sell some Caribbean stuff. African videos and dvds are big there. The owner used to travel to Paris periodically and bring back cds and videos from there. I've heard from two folks who worked for distributors in NY peeved allegations that Simba sells pirated copies of legit African import cds, but everything I bought there did not appear to include 3rd generation photocopy sleeves or whatever.

That part of Maryland is also close enough (if you have a car) to go to P.A. Palace, a go-go and hiphop store that I think still exists in PG Plaza strip mall.

wow. just got back from Joe's and I am stunned with disbelief about the stuff I found there. unbelievably underpriced O Yuki Conjugate LP, Linton Kwesi Johnson LPs I'd been searching for for years, the freakin' Second Layer EP on Cherry Red in the rare section... wow. One of the best vinyl stores I've been to in years.

Crooked Beat was cool, the guy was super nice, but I couldn't find anything I really wanted. Then I went next door to Smash and found a bunch of drastically underpriced stuff lke Danielle Dax vinyl and an awesome old Some Bizarre comp. Also picked up this super Link Wray LP on Polydor. The Ethio Sounds store was closed, unfortunately.

we would have gone to Orpheus also but we missed it coming in on the highway and didn't have time to backtrack. maybe next time.

Thanks again for the advice folks, I am a happy record collector today.

I'm still trying to figure out if West I. RM has shut down, or just changed their phone #.

i really need to hit up joe's record paradise

thanx for the one drop/west indian info. i'm gonna try to make the rounds in the area late december. probably joe's too.

made it to old city cafe last night -- yes, very very good, might be better than amsterdam. the basket helps a lot - i was able to fit in a whole lot more toppings than i've ever been able to at amsterdam, and they actually give you forks!! no tiny toothpick things! there's more seating too, not as crammed. i'd like to try the other things they offer on the menu, too.

oh yea, went to crooked beat, picked up a few nice things. shellac's 'action park', angels of light "sing other people, "gybe's 'levez vos skinny fists' which was pricy but i've been meaning to have that on vinyl for the past 6 years.

he had all 3 om albums in, which i already have on cd. seeing all that lovely vinyl really made me want them though. i was able to resist.

falafel + records, always fun.

That does sound good.

I still have not made it over to Langley Park to see if the West Indian Record Mart is still open. I used to see it listed on some dancehall and other reggae flyers, but I did not see it on some recent flyers/postcards I saw online at a dc dancehall website. The phone number is still disconnected. Google only shows references to their 30th anniversary from several years back.

Lots of folks were at the Black Cat Garage sale. It was not the best atmosphere for flipping through vinyl and cds--too crowded and dark if you ask me. SOM and others had tables.

i didn't even know that was going no, though i don't always keep track of DC happenings. sounds cool though. how were the prices? i'd imagine places would jack them up a little for something like that.

going *on, not going "no" obv.

West Indian Record Mart in Takoma Park/or is it Langley Park is definately closed. I went to Simba Records, on Holton Lane off of New Hampshire Ave, near University earlier this afternoon, and after I purchased something there, asked about it and the Simba clerk said they've been clsoed for awhile. AmOn, Simba has some reggae but not nearly as much as WIRM once had, and it sadly has none of the dancehall mixes WIRM used to have. Simba sells lots of cds for $16---For some African imports from France that's not bad, for soca or reggae from NYC area labels that's not so good. Simba now has a website-- simbamusic.net

Found postcards at Simba for events I did not know about---Zouk singer Nichols with local Haitian band Rafrechi at Cafe Peju/Juste Loung in Bethesda December 24th, Congolese gospel (!) in Silver Spring, December 24th and January 5th dancehall djs at Settings...

mavado's at crossroads tonight and last night they had some weird line-up of shop boyz and stone love sound!?

i couldn't make it out to any of those stores but i did go to joe's yesterday. their vinyl section is still killer, just as big as it ever was, if not bigger. i even bought a couple of old dancehall disco 12" 45s and i don't even have anything to play them on.

Wasn't there a decent Baltimore reggae/dancehall store once?

Simba does not have vinyl.

There used to be three record stores at the corner of Saratoga and Park in Baltimore (roughly 4 blocks north of the Inner Harbor).

One was owned by DJ Technics, who went to online delivery: http://www.baltimoreclubtracks.com (although you can still catch some of his vinyl at the local flea market). His store was mostly about Baltimore Club, House and Hip-Hop - not much there for Reggae fans.

Across the street on Saratoga, however, was Music Liberated, which shuttered its doors shortly after its owner died. Used to be one of, if not the best source for Reggae records in Baltimore(I really only went there for Baltimore Club but I almost always came away with at least one Dancehall jem).

The only one left is Dimensions In Music, which got a LOT of Liberated's catalog when the store closed. I haven't been there in more than a year, but when I called, the guy I talked to said they still have a decent selection of older stuff on vinyl.

Its at 233 Park (at the corner of Saratoga and Park) in Baltimore, 410-752-7121.

went to dimensions a few months back and i don't buy vinyl but he seems to have a good amount, and more upstairs i think. cd selection not that great and overpriced, but i did spot a used RaHoWa cd which was kinda lol

According to a blog comment on the City Paper music blog, this is the final weekend for Orpheus Records in Arlington

3173 Wilson Blvd
Arlington, VA 22201
(703) 294-6774

There used to be three record stores at the corner of Saratoga and Park in Baltimore (roughly 4 blocks north of the Inner Harbor).

there's about to be a new one, Rod Lee opening a Club Kingz outlet at 232 Park, right across the street from Dimensions In Music. at least I think it's not open already, I'd been told it was gonna be ready late last year but every time I drive by the storefront there's no indication that it's open for business yet.

Orpheus's landlord gave them a reprieve for a few more weeks.

Wanted to go to Simba today, but no one is answering their phone, the message does not list their hours, and you can't leave a message. I read a recent Gazzette article about the store so I know it is still in business. I guess they are just not open Sunday afternoons.

nah, there's some good stuff at cd/game exchange, crooked beat, and ethio sound in adams morgan. joe's record paradise in rockville, too. cdepot in college park. but yeah, overall you'd be better advised just to hoof it up to bmore if that's an option.

― The greatest trick the devil ever pulled was convincing your dog to pose wi (tee, Thursday, September 7, 2006 6:13 PM (2 years ago) Bookmark Suggest Ban Permalink

I knew that cd/game exchange had closed but until my visit Saturday to 18th st. (trying Ethio restaurant Awash for lunk. It's ok) I did not know Ethio Sound had closed. Has it moved elsewhere? ZR used to go but he's not here on ilx much anymore. Pete, do you know?

That's lunch

cd game x is closed? i used to work there in college (the tenley shop). just the 18th one or all of them?

18th St. one in Adams Morgan is closed. I don't know about the others.

The CD/Game Exchanges in Tenleytown and AM both closed, I think, due to some violations about selling beverages without a license. Something like that. It's really unfortunate, as they had incredible dollar bins.

dont know about ethio sound! lemme do a lil checking...

Never been to Washington or Baltimore, but I'm in DC for 5 days from Saturday night.

Joe's Record Paradise sounds tempting, but how feasible is a trek from Washington - on a Sunday, mind - with public transport as my only option??

Ah... just realised that it's the Rockville store that was being mentioned above, which looks like it'd be tricky without a car.

But is it worth the trip to Baltimore anyway? Is there one particular area with a heap of record stores?

u don't have a car? not sure if it's worth trekking up to baltimore on the marc train just for records, i'd maybe just stick around the dc stores (also the marc train doesn't run on sundays, i don't think)

Yea, without a car it might be difficult to get to those locations. You might have to stick with SOM records (occasionally pricey vinyl and more) at 14th & U St, and Crooked Beat in Adams Morgan and Red Onion. I think Roadhouse Oldies is still in Silver Spring of old r'n'b vinyl or cds is one of your things. I don't think getting to Simba (African, reggae, and Caribbean cds and dvds mostly) out in suburban MD/DC is possible by public transport that easy.

The Duke Ellington fest tribute to New Orleans is free on the mall the weekend of June 13 and 14th, area dance club events might be happening also(see the "I Died" posts on the Capital Swamp thread, and there's generally plenty of indie-rock,and more also.

(also the marc train doesn't run on sundays, i don't think)

This is true.

nor saturday

dc's record-buying options are a lot better than they were a few years ago. if you're in adams morgan/dupont, then yeah, crooked beat, smash (both on 18th, really close to each other), red onion (18th & T, i'll be working on sunday, stop in and say hey if you're buyin stuff. closed this saturday for a wedding though), then over to 14th and T to hit som. dj hut, maybe, depending on what you're into. roadhouse oldies is still around in silver spring, and cdepot in college park is once again carrying vinyl. college park also has cd/game exchange which tends to kinda suck but you can make a really good score there once in a blue moon.

i like baltimore stores a bunch and if it's not too huge a pain in the ass it's worth going there. there are a few clustered around fells point - own guru, el suprimo, and soundgarden, which is carrying a lot more vinyl these days (although it's pretty much all new/reissue stuff, they do have good cheap prices), if you make it up to hampden there's true vine, and if you dig dance & hip hop hit up dimensions in music.

Joe's Record Paradise sounds tempting, but how feasible is a trek from Washington - on a Sunday, mind - with public transport as my only option??

― gnarly sceptre, Tuesday, June 2, 2009 8:23 AM

you can take metro to rockville station and there should be a couple ride-on buses that go by joe's as it's like 5 min drive from the station. check bus 59 and 48, taft/southlawn/gude is pretty much the intersection where joe's is located
http://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/tsvtmpl.asp?url=/content/dot/transit/routesandschedules/allroutes/route059.asp
http://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/tsvtmpl.asp?url=/content/dot/transit/routesandschedules/allroutes/route048.asp

dj hut, maybe, depending on what you're into.

dj hut RIP :(

o rly?

yeah, a couple months ago. Keeping their online store, though, which is pretty good and does digital downloads:

http://www.djhut.com/

scratch #48 it would drop u too far from joe's. #59 is the one u want (intersection of southlawn and gude)

right on, amon! and thanks pretzel walrus for details of the other shops. my apartment is on 15th Street NW, which doesn't look too far away, so I'll probably call in.

I'm also thinking I might polish off 1 x Bill Cosby’s Original Chili Half-Smoke ($5.20) for all my hard work.

So with Melody RIP as of last week, the District's got SOM, Smash, Red Onion, Crooked Beat and Joint Custody (which I want to check out, but never seems to be open when I do my rounds). I need to visit the new Metro-accessible Joe's Record Paradise, too.

Is there anything else out there? Any must-see flea's or thrift shops?

I think Roadhouse Oldies is still open, it's not far from Joe's Record Paradise. I think dc go-go outlet P.A. Palace still has 2 stores in Maryland in Forestville Mall and Iverson Mall.

roadhouse oldies moved like a block at some point in the last few years, still great tho. when i was 15 or 16 i was buying a copy of superfly on lp there and the dude behind me in line looks me right in the eye and asks, "white boy, what the fuck you know about 'freddie's dead'?"

SOM is good! A few people have mentioned that it was on the pricier side, which I could see, but the selection is good, which is more important to me. I grabbed the Ramones' End of the Century in great condition for $8, which I thought was fair.

I've got to second SOM, really a great store -- maybe pricey on some things, but plenty of deals, too.

Beyond that, sounds like I need to hit Silver Spring one of these weekends for Joe's and Roadhouse Oldies.

I think SOM is way too expensive

But maybe I need to look closer for these deals others have found

dont sleep on cdepot in college park guys

rtx. The record and tape xchange in Fairfax still lives, as does the Cd Cellar in VA