RAVE Reviews: Best Record Shops and Bookstores: To borrow from Mark Twain, rumors of the death of record stores and bookshops are greatly exaggerated. In fact, people are rediscovering — or continuing to appreciate — the joy of shopping for books and music in real-life, brick ‘n’ mortar bookshops or record stores. In fact, if you’re anything like us at RAVE Reviews, you know exploring a record store or bookshop you’ve never been to before is pretty much the best way to spend an afternoon — especially if it’s your first time in a new city. So get yourself a cup of coffee (from a local coffee shop, of course), and get ready to spend some serious time digging through crates of records or sifting through stacks of books. Here’s our ranking of the 25 best record stores and bookshops. Acquired quite a pile of records and books, have you? Or maybe you’re dragging around your old record collection from college, or your parents’ collection from when they were in college. No doubt you have sentimental favorites — books and music that changed your life, helping you to become the person you are today.
Bromsgrove, UK | Bromsgrove vinyl record fair returns this Sunday at Bromsgrove Hotel and Spa, on Birmingham Road: Music lovers are in for a treat as the Bromsgrove vinyl record and CD fair returns this Sunday, May 19. The event, at the Bromsgrove Hotel and Spa, on Birmingham Road, Bromsgrove, from 10am to 4pm, is promising something for everyone, even including the most ardent record hunters. There will be a diverse range of stock, catering for all genres. Organiser Ben Frizzell said: “With a decent number of new traders who’ve never sold at the venue before and having 40 plus tables of used and new vinyl/cd and memorabilia assortments to rummage through, it promises to be a well worth visit.” “There is free on site parking when registering inside the hotel, there’s also a cafe and restaurant if you want food/drink, and a ‘handy’ ATM cash machine also on site, in case you run out of funds.” Further information at midlandsrecordfairs.co.uk
Tampa, FL | ‘Mojo Books & Records’ sells rare finds from 99 cents to $2,999: Tampa’s largest used and new book and record store has hidden gems you can’t find anywhere else. photo The Indie store has been open since 2011 selling secondhand books, records, CDs, DVDs and turntables. Mojo Books & Records also has tons of valuable collectible items like Led Zeplan’s houses of the Holy” album signed by all four band members. You can have it for just $2,999. Also, one of 700 copies of Neil Gaiman’s “American Gods” going for $700. Beatles “Yesterday and Today” with the unpeeled butcher cover – a rare find any music fan can appreciate.
Debut album by electronic pioneers Suicide reissued on limited red vinyl: “A door opener for guitar-less synthesiser bands of the ’80s and dance music of the ’90s.” Suicide’s 1977 self-titled debut LP is being reissued on vinyl, this July via Mute/BMG. Comprised of Alan Vega on vocals and Martin Rev on electronics, the duo formed in the early ’70s, before coming to fame later in the decade as part of legendary NYC club CBGB’s punk scene. Originally released in December 1977, their debut album was “described as the rock and roll version of Martin Scorsese’s neo-noir New York thriller Taxi Driver,” shares writer Chris May. Originally released in December 1977, all seven tracks have been remastered for this new reissue on red vinyl, with an accompanying 12″ print.
