Providence RI record stores

I'm going to be in Providence for a few days and need to know where to look for records (not CDs, I saw that thread). Thanks in advance for any help.

- Mark

 

Go to What Cheer Antiques on South Angell Street. They have many records too. Thayer St. used to have a couple, but they are gone.

 

In Providence there is Round Again Records at 278 Wickenden St. Decent selection, but anything really good will be over-priced. Cranky owner.

There is also Armageddon at 436 Broadway. Their focus is punk and metal.

Stereo Discount Center on 189 Angell St. has started selling used LPs. So far the selection is not great, but it might be worth a look.

Also in Providence is What Cheer Antiques (as mentioned by Ryan). Limited selection and over-priced, but they do have some good stuff.

Very close to Providence is Luke's Record Exchange at 393 Broadway in Pawtucket. I haven't been there in a long time.

A little further out is In Your Ear (formerly Zingg Music) at 462 Main St. in Warren, RI. This is my favorite local record shop. Good selection and reasonable prices. Really nice owner.

Moving further out is Sunset Records at 1232 Wilbur Ave in Somerset, MA. Decent selection and good prices. Focus on 60s rock. Owner is a trip.

 

Forgot about Luke's because I heard they closed. I agree about Round Again. The one time I went to browse I got the "Are you gonna buy something or what" vibe. Meh.

I stuck to Providence stores. Warren and Somerset are day trips (pack a lunch) for Rhode Islanders

 

You are so right about Rhode Islanders and travel. When I first moved here I worked briefly in HR at Citizens Bank. I offered a woman from Bristol a job at a branch in Warren, and she turned it down because it was "too far" (or "too faaa" as she pronounced it). (For those not familiar with RI's geography Bristol and Warren are adjacent towns, and you can travel one end to the other in less than 10 minutes). I am definitely not a real Rhode Islander. I've lived here for 9 years, but will always feel like an outsider here.

Luke's had closed briefly, but they reopened. I was only there once, and it was very disorganized, and it didn't seem worth the effort to sort the wheat from the chaff (if in fact there was any wheat). It might be better now though.

 

Last I heard Luke was selling through Ebay and his website.I`m not sure if he sold the better part of his vinyl inventory when his store closed.Oh just read the above post he opened again?,I don`t go up that way,it`s too faa a drive!
Rhode Island`s borders is like a 20 minuete drive in any direction and you`re in another state.
Maybe try craig`s list Rhode Island for people getting rid of old collections.More stuff has been ending up there lately.
For new records newbury Comics is pretty good.

 

come visit my nebury comics in the providence place mall...i just transfered to that store after managing warwick for 15 years so while i can't take responsibility for its current condition my plan is to make it the best music retail spot i can- albeit in a mall...(many hoffman members came and visited wariwck and liked what we had...the best/most selection of used out of 27 newbury stores!) hopefully i can transform the place...for instance get some used vinyl at some point- the stores mentioned are great though (having just moved to warren i must say that in your ear is great- newbury holds a weird position in retail though...a dying breed- privately owned, independent in what we offer- with many employees that care about music, film etc...some managers really care about dccc,audio fidelity, high-rez and playing really good music (can't play beatles though until i take vacation time to have my own listening party!)

 

Can't believe I forgot to mention Newbury Comics. They are the best place in the area for new vinyl. It is always a trip to walk into the mall and walk out with vinyl, just like when I was a kid.

Here is a story on Luke's reopening from the Providence Journal. I see there is a series of video tours on Luke's on YouTube. It looks like I remember it. I have to give it another try some day when I have a lot of time and the kids aren't with me.

 

One other place is Joe's Moldy Oldies at 62 Rathbun St in Woonsocket, RI 02895, although it is a fair distance from Providence. This is one of the weirdest record stores I've ever been to. It's very disorganized, the owner looks to be a 70 something Elvis impersonator, and in addition to vinyl he has a huge selection of UFO conspiracy magazines.

 

Sounds delish.

-s1m0n-

 

Rhode Island has lost a lot of vinyl stores.

 

Any chance of you hooking me up with a vinyl copy of Eddie Vedder - Into The Wild?

 

Just a little bump. I went to Luke's today for the first time in about 20 years and came away with some goodies...Armstrong and Brubeck '6-eye' mono LPs and S&G mono LP. I'll go back.

I have to revise my report on What Cheer. Good stuff, but very cramped and overpriced. They don't know we're in a recession.

 

Newbury Comics is great for new releases,the Norwood location is the best.In Your ear in warren is my favorite store.I was in this store called The Time Capsule on Pontiac Ave in Cranston.Not a huge selection but it`s one of those small neghborhood trade in type of places where you may get lucky.I haven`t been to the Norton or Raynam flea markets in years,if they even still operate,but years ago that`s where I`d go treasure hunting.

 

The Norton flea market is long gone, which is a crying shame. I LOVED that place.

But the Raynham Flea is still open every Sunday, indoors and out in the summer. I go there every couple of weeks. There are usually a few vinyl guys there. One of them always has tons of stuff cheap, but you really have to patiently finger through everything because it's a disorganized mess... Part of the experience, really.

There's a new indoor flea that opened up in Warwick, RI last summer. Still pretty small, but looks like it will grow. If you see the TV commercials for it on Channel 6, that cute little kid dancing around in it is my youngest son.

GD

 

I have to check those out,fleamarkets are always a relaxing walk on a Sunday afternoon.Rocky hill was good in the summer too.

 

Yeah, many memories of Rocky Hill, Jack Witchies, Jolly Cholly's and Norton fleas.

 

Disorganized mess sounds like my buddy Wayne in Raynham

He sure knows his stuff though.

 

That's him, brother. He's a cool guy, but man it does take patience to finger through his stuff.

He's the dude that sold me a mint mono Kind Of Blue for $5.00. And I mean Stone Mint.

GD

 

Okay, fellow Hoffmaneers
My wife has allowed me to visit three record stores on the RI road trip later this spring.
My interests (in order) are as follows: Rock 'n' Roll/Rhythm & Blues/Soul, Blues/Jazz, and Country & Western
My preferred formats (in order) are: LP's, 45's, sealed (if possible) Cassettes, and used/new CD's
Below is the list of RI record stores I have compiled (mostly due to previous referrals on this board, thanks to all involved!):


(Please correct any misinformation listed below, thank you.)


In Your Ear (formerly Zingg Music), 462 Main Street, Warren, RI 02285 401-245-9840 M-Sa: 11am-6pm
http://iye.com/html_index.cfm?page=Rhode%20Island%20Store http://www.yelp.com/biz/in-your-ear-records-warren?sort_by=date_desc

The Time Capsule, 537 Pontiac Avenue, Cranston, RI 02910 401-781-5017 M-Sa 11am-7pm, Su: 12-6pm
http://www.thetimecapsule.com/ http://www.yelp.com/biz/the-time-capsule-cranston?sort_by=date_desc

Analog Underground, 504 Broadway, Federal Hill, Providence, RI 02909 401-274-4123 M-T: 12-5p, W-Su: 11a-7p
http://www.yelp.com/biz/analog-underground-providence?sort_by=date_desc http://www.facebook.com/pages/Analog-Underground/133108133367327

Olympic Records, 580 Wickenden Street, Fox Point, Providence, RI 02903 401-301-9266 M-Th: 10a-7p, F-Sa: 10a-8p, Su: 10a-6p http://olympicvinyl.tumblr.com/ http://www.yelp.com/biz/olympic-records-providence?sort_by=date_desc

Newbury Comics, 74 Providence Place, Providence Place Mall, Downtown Providence, RI 02903 401-383-0044
http://www.yelp.com/biz/newbury-comics-providence?sort_by=date_desc

Armageddon, 436 Broadway, Federal Hill, Providence, RI 02909 401-521-6667 M-Sa: 12-8pm, Su: 12-6pm http://www.armageddonshop.com/index_prov.php http://www.yelp.com/biz/armageddon-shop-providence?sort_by=date_desc

What Cheer Antiques 180 South Angell Street, College Hill, Providence, RI 02906 401-861-4244 M-Th: 11a-7p, F-Sa: 11a-8p, Su: 12-5p
http://whatcheerprovidence.com/ http://www.yelp.com/biz/what-cheer-antiques-providence?sort_by=date_desc

Round Again Records, 278 Wickenden Street, Fox Point, Providence, RI 02903 401-351-6292 M-F: 11a-6p, Sa: 11a-5p
http://www.yelp.com/biz/round-again-records-providence?sort_by=date_desc http://www.roundagainrecordsri.com/

Please let me know which three should make the cut
Thanks in advance for all helpful responses.

 

Skip providence newbury and head to Norwood MA location if you can.Right now that`s the largest selection of used vinyl.

Probably Round Again Records on Wickenden Street in Providence

Time Capsule location in Seekonk MA has a better selection than Cranston but very hit or miss.

* In Your ear down in Warren used to be the best but I haven`t been there in ages.Last time I was there the place really didn`t have much anymore.

 

Thanks steveharris! All of this information will be used well as soon as I enter the state!

Also to all, I mistyped my preferences.
It should read: Rock 'n' Roll/Rhythm & Blues/Soul, followed by Blues/Jazz/Folk/Country & Western
Also, any additional stores that are not on the list, please add!

 

+1 on the Norwood Newbury location. It's about 35 minutes north of Providence. Also, when in Providence, take her to Al Forno for dinner. The trip has to be worth both your whiles.

 

I used to go to Tom's Tracks on Thayer, near the In Your Ear that apparently moved to Warren.

That was a bustling little street, near Brown University.

I wonder if The Music Box is still in Newport...that was the closest shop to me along with Strawberries...back about 20 years ago.

 

I haven't been back to Round Again in years, but I lived in Providence throughout the '90s. Out of my whole vinyl collection I think more great records came from Round Again than any other store.

I don't know if Steve is still the owner, or if he's passed the store on to someone else. But I can say that while he is definitely a cranky sort, he's also a great guy. Gave me tons of good customer discounts, held stuff for me, let me bring in records (not bought from him) for cleaning on his Nitty Gritty machine.