RIP classical record shops

It is a ruddy shame mates. A boot sale here and there finds some decent scores and a few of the on-line retailers have yielded the 'filling of a gap' here and there but I do miss the previous plunder of a fine retail shoppe in this arena.

First post, nice forum. Previous an avid reader of many of the posts (so I am not so much of a new-be) but decided to mingle.
 
Calgary, Alberta

Perhaps to cheer you all up a little I'd like to mention a shop here in Calgary, Alberta, though it is a bit of a travel distance for most of you.

Classics Plus has a very large selection of classical CDs/SACDs and DVDs, along with Jazz and Blues and some other specialties, near downtown Calgary. For example, I browsed Wagner and they list 44 titles for that composer alone. As well as in-store stock they will order anything. At the moment they have a sale because "With the forthcoming opera season in mind we are offering these discounts on popular and rarely staged works. Also included are an assortment of classical cds." I mention this because Calgary in addition to a wonderful symphony orchestra also has a very good and well-attended opera company.

One problem, however, is that I can't find a good source in the city for classical vinyl LPs, new or used.
 
welcome guys to ZG, thanks for mingling.

I was kindly given a 4ft stack of unwanted classical albums from a old music department otherwise it would be a tough call these days. I don't know much about classical so this opportunity has been a superb learning curve. Thanks Tony!
 
My answer to this thread can only be: the internet market is the best thing that ever happened to me. I dislike going to town (Lisbon) and only do it when forced.

So the net is perfect for me. That said, I noticed my old favorite shop closed and that a book/classic cd seller I used to sponsor is closing (which is indeed a pity).

How will younger listeners find out about classical music? I think they will rip it from the Net. Then, when they can buy appropriate listening systems, they will try to collect CDs... But I recall that most young listeners shunned the classical dedicated shops: they felt they were being patronized (perhaps they were?).
 
Much as I miss popping into Tower Records on Piccadilly, and coming out with a bag full of CDs, the internet has really meant that I buy more classical music. I buy rags like Gramophone more frequently as well and then just go onto Amazon and order the CDs.

I would never download a classical recording unless it was unavailable on CD. I've also been building up my LP collection as my father in law is a fan of car boot sales and it's surprising what you can pick up - how does a nice copy of Bruckner's 7th (Jochum) for 50p sound?
 
eisenach said:
Before Christmas, I was in Gloucester, and Audiosonic, the local classical shop has moved away from a very good site next to the cathedral close to a much smaller, pokey shop on a much less attractive site
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Where have they moved to? I go to Gloucester sometimes and thought Audiosonic had completely closed.

EDIT: I notice now that a few years have gone by since Eisenach's post! :confused: - are Audiosonic still around?

__

As for the demise of the classical record shop - well, I am part of the problem, not the solution. I have set myself a limit of £50 per month (plus whatever I sell on eBay). If I buy used classical CDs online I can get (at least) twice as many CDs. Sad, but for me it's a no-brainer.

I do wander into Outback in Hereford on occasion but the prices usually scare me off. Ah well.
 
Hello guys.

This is my first posting, and I was steered towards this Forum when I googled "Outback Records" in Hereford.

Frankly, I'm a bit gobsmacked! The general mood of the nation towards Classical record shops seems to be that people greatly miss the pleasure of browsing and the knowledgeable advice from sales people, but when the chips are down everyone buys via the Internet because it's cheaper!

But surely good service and the adventure of browsing through a good selection of stock is what we're paying a premium for!

We're not talking massive amounts of dosh here - a few quid extra. Isn't it worth paying a little more to keep these wonderful resources up and running? Weather permitting, I'm off to The Outback tomorrow (assuming it hasn't closed down!) and will do my little bit to keep them in business.

By the way, do any older Forum members from the UK Midlands remember Vincent's Record Shop in Needless Alley, Birmingham? Now THERE was a phenomenon! All the stock was filed away in pigeonholes behind a large counter, and they were personally handed to you by a sales assistant with the knowledge base of a Professor of Composition, while he or she compared and contrasted, with enormous erudition, every available recording of the work you wanted. Ah, those were the days.
 
Ted Fairyspear said:
Hello guys.

I'm off to The Outback tomorrow (assuming it hasn't closed down!) and will do my little bit to keep them in business.

By the way, do any older Forum members from the UK Midlands remember Vincent's Record Shop in Needless Alley, Birmingham? Now THERE was a phenomenon! All the stock was filed away in pigeonholes behind a large counter, and they were personally handed to you by a sales assistant with the knowledge base of a Professor of Composition, while he or she compared and contrasted, with enormous erudition, every available recording of the work you wanted. Ah, those were the days.
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I hope you had a good trip to The Outback. It was still there last time I looked!
Yes, I remember Vincents from the early, mid-80s, before we moved to Herefordshire. It was indeed a good place, stuffed full of enticing LPs (still mostly LPs in those days) and knowledgeable staff.
 
By the way, do any older Forum members from the UK Midlands remember Vincent's Record Shop in Needless Alley, Birmingham? Now THERE was a phenomenon! All the stock was filed away in pigeonholes behind a large counter, and they were personally handed to you by a sales assistant with the knowledge base of a Professor of Composition, while he or she compared and contrasted, with enormous erudition, every available recording of the work you wanted. Ah, those were the days.
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Yes I certainly do. I remember old man Vincent used to sponsor lieder recitals/concerts in the old Town Hall in the early/mid 1960s. I particularly remember that the counter staff would take the record from its sleeve and closely examine it for faults before selling it to you. But I don't think it survived as late as the mid-1970s. The discounters and home-taping stole their lunch.
 
Well, it was there in the early / mid 80s. That's where I bought my first CD version of "Messiah" £30 ! (Hogwood / AAM / l'Oiseau Lyre)
 
I have to admit to being the sort of philistine that buys on-line for various reasons.

I'm also a bit old-fashioned in that I want my music on CD (I've sort of moved on from vinyl).

In all truth, though, I can't recollect any specialist classical music outlets even back in the seventies or eighties: at least not in north Cumbria.

I must expand my classical collection. At the very least I have to get more Rachmaninov...drool. Maybe I should make enquiries about classical outlets?
 

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