December 27th, 2007
Best Vinyl Shops in Toronto
We’re in the lull between Christmas and New Years and in that lull, it is strongly advised that you set aside an afternoon to throw on some vinyl and enjoy one of life’s simple pleasures. While you’re in the spending mood this holiday season, you might want to treat yourself to a few additions to your vinyl collection.
Here are some of the best spots in the city to add to enhance your vinyl library. Plus, it keeps you away from spending money in big box stores and puts some dough into the jeans of the one’s that are the soul of the music industry.
Cosmos Records: Great spot for soul, funk, jazz and collectible records. Very well organized store; higher priced albums on the top shelf and cheaper priced albums on the bottom shelf. Don’t let some of the prices scare you off as they do have rare albums that cost a lot, but there are definite finds if you’re willing to dig.
(607A Queen Street West 416.603.0254 )
Spinables: hard-to-find rock, jazz, soul, funk, indie hiphop and soundtrack LPs along with a quality selection of CDs.
(602 B Markham, 416.516.7377
Sonic Boom: Probably the biggest used CD/Vinyl shop in town. This might not mean the best, but the selection should keep you busy for quite a while.
(512 Bloor West, 416.532.0334)
Kops: If you’re on a vinyl hunt for something unique, this place is your best bet for rare soul, blues and pop oldies 45s. I’ve been told that most of their 60s and 70s vintage used LPs are found upstairs. There are always albums priced to sell…all you have to do is find them, but that’s part of the fun.
(229 Queen West, 416.593.8523)
Neurotica:Â Renowned for their 70’s vibe, occasional cat and abundance of albums, Neurotica is best for finding easy listening, lounge and exotica records as well as jazz and blues hidden gems.
(642 Queen West, 416.603.7796)
Discovery: Jump on the street car and head East to Discovery - one of the oldest and favorite vinyl shops in town. Prices at Discovery are tough to beat and the selection is top notch. As one reviewer said, “it’s the kind of store where you can grab ‘Kind of Blue’ and ‘Never Mind The Bollacks’ and walk away with change from a $20″   That might be pushing it, but you can’t deny the value.
(1140 Queen East, 416.778.6394)
Vortex: Great selection of CD’s, DVD’s and Vinyl. They seem to carry it all:  Rock, punk, jazz, electronica, surf, rockabilly, blues, soul…and the list goes on.
(2309 Yonge Street, 416.482.7437)
Please comment on any of these shops and list your favorite shop to pick up vinyl in the city.
Cheers.
Tags: toronto, toronto_record_shops, toronto_vinyl, vinyl, where_to_buy_vinyl
