washington dc record stores?

No vinyl in Georgetown--try Crooked Beat in Adams Morgan or Orpheus Records outside the city in Arlington.

If you can do without vinyl, visit me at CD Warehouse on 30th and M in Georgetown!

haha I love how this eventually became the "baltimore record stores" thread. i've been going to shows in D.C. for 10 years but have never found a record store that i've liked or felt the need to remember or go back to. maybe if I was jonesing for some Go-Go CD's.

There are a few new places that have opened in the past year or two.

Som Records is at 14th and T, all used vinyl (maybe a few new things, but not many.) Good selection of jazz, decent pop/rock selection, and he also tries to find good reggae and international stuff. I think he goes to Brazil here and there to dig for stuff to bring back. Has a fair amount of 45s, too. Som can be a bit pricey, if you're used to finding stuff for $3 or less. Most records run from $6 to $20, depending on what it is of course.

Red Onion Records and Books is another fairly new place, located at 18th street around that giant yuppie-paradise Mexican place, Lauriol Plaza (a little past 18th and U, maybe 18th and T or something?) Not as good a selection as Som, at least the few times I've been there, though I've had some excellent finds. Also a bit pricey if you're used to really cheap places. The owner is an incredibly nice guy, chat with him a bit if you go. He also sells used cds for decent prices, and I've found some great stuff in his cd shelves. I haven't really looked at his book selection but people have said it's pretty good, small, but good.

Smash moved from Georgetown to 18th in Adams Morgan, same selection of mostly punk/some indie/some classic rock/some metal, used/new cds and vinyl.

Crooked Beat has been around for a few years, also located on 18th in Adams Morgan. The guy keeps a very well-curated store if you're looking for indie, there really isn't a better place as far as I know for indie rock in DC. Has a few experimental records that cross over into the indie nexus. Really good selection of new cds, some new vinyl. Again, used vinyl is pricey and he doesn't miss a mark in terms of pricing - so there won't be many cheap finds that he underprices b/c he's not familiar with it. I like going here though b/c he really makes an effort to keep his store well-stocked and well-organized.

Then there are the CD/Game Exchanges, located at various points in the city. I always find at least something interesting (mostly used cds), but good vinyl is hard to find here because they take any and all crap. If you do find something good here, though, it's usually not any more expensive than $4 or so.

I haven't ventured outside of the district except for library surplus or thrift stores. Joe's Record Paradise (I think that's what it's called?) is in Rockville, I think, but I don't know if it's any good.

Joe's Record Paradise up in ROCKville is GREAT if you have a car.

oh yea, the CD Warehouse mentioned a couple minutes ago is okay, too, but no vinyl. they try to keep up with electronic cd releases (e.g. kompakt, mego, etc) and some indie.

I love ILM. Thanks, folks.

i think joe's is still open, at least in rockville.

anyone know if one drop still exists?

One Drop Records & Variety
514 Florida Ave NW
Washington, DC 20001

or this one?

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

Forgot about Melody Records in Dupont (no vinyl, sorry sleeve) - what do you all think of that place? There's something about it that I don't really like... I don't know. Too generalist, maybe? Like they have tiny, tiny amounts of a bunch of genres to the extent that they don't even scratch the surface of stuff? I kind of like the specialist shops more. Melody seems kind of like a completely generic indepedent record store, I don't know. I think only once or twice have I found exactly what I was looking for in Melody in the 6 years I've been in DC.

Though they do seem to have a lot of classical and some global stuff. Electronic section is pretty horrible, though, unless you're looking for Ultimate Trance Chill Out Vol. 26 or something.

I used to like Melody better than any other place here except CD Warehouse - it was always better than DCCD or some of the other indie shops that have come and gone. They've gone downhill some but they're still above average. Their electronic section is GREAT if you're into gay club music.

Just to add to Mark's excellent post: Orpheus Records is still around and kicking and worth your time for vinyl. Much larger stock than any of the DC shops and with comparable prices. It's in Virginia, but it's super-easy to get to via Metro- just take the Orange line to the Clarendon stop. It's practically right outside the Metro exit.

I'll also rep for the new-ish Red Onion on 18th. I haven't been there in a while (broke, sadly), but I've found some nice stuff there for decent prices (e.g. <i>Beach Boys Love You</i> and Phil Manzanera's <i>Diamondhead</i> on vinyl, <i>Neu 2!</i> on CD).

Som Records is larger and well managed, but in more cases than not, the albums that strike my fancy are too expensive (by my cheapo standards anyway). Still, deals can be had (found a Michael Rother solo album for five bucks for instance), so it's worth your time. The owner is a cool guy too.

Whoops, I see lou already mention Orpheus. Also, whoops on the botched italics.

i'm pretty sure one drop is still open; i walk by it but usually only during post-business hours.

haha I love how this eventually became the "baltimore record stores" thread.

dc's better for record stores these days, with the little red onion/crooked beat/nu-smash axis. i can usually go looking for stuff and come out with at least one or two things i'm interested in.

still, bmore is just leagues and leagues above.

the little red onion/crooked beat/nu-smash axis.

i add to that som and the 18th cd/game, and if i've got time and some money to spend, that's a great saturday afternoon for me - a decent walk, 5 record stores, amsterdam falafel at the end...

oh dude you gotta get on board the old city falafel wagon! amsterdam's gone kinda downhill lately, and their orig. chef left and took his toppings bar recipes over there. it's on columbia right by the ritmo latino.

oooh nice. i'll check it out.

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