Obviously quite contingent on the COVID situation, but there is a chance that work issues will take me to Helsinki in late April. When visiting large cities, I often very much enjoy checking out the record stores. (In this case, the Sibelius monument would be a must, too - a lifetime transformative experience was playing his 2nd Symphony in 1987). In case of Helsinki, I see a LOT of record stores on Google Maps but no real discussion of that scene here. Just in case someone is in the know, I figured I would ask for recommendations.
Bump for the European crowd? Someone here has to have been to Finland. I'm thinking this practice of moving the questions about record stores out of "Music" or "Off Topic" and putting here is really just hiding it to the point where answers don't come. I know that prior to seeing my post get moved here, I didn't even know this portion of the forum existed.
I live in Helsinki and this is where most of my money goes in descending order: Black & White Records (good for used LPs and reasonably priced), Rolling Records (also mostly used LPs but the owner definitely stays hipped to discogs since the prices reflect this; still, I spend quite a bit of cash here), Record Shop X (in Finnish: levykauppa äx), Music Hunter (overpriced used vinyl that I find graded improperly but good for used CDs), Goofin' Records (specializes in rockabilly, '50s but has other stuff), Levykauppa Keltainen Jäänsärkijä (translates to Yellow Icebreaker), Hippie Shake, Digelius Music (lots of world music),...
Those you listed are all worth a visit in my view. As I have a constant backlog of purchased but as yet unheard records, even before the plague hit I hadn't been to any shops regularly for years, with the sole exception of Goofin' Records (which has since relocated but probably hasn't changed much). I only feel like adding (for jazz, Latin, ska, generally music from warmer climates, and also classical) Eronen just around the corner from Digelius Music; and also round the corner but in the opposite direction, A. H. Records, which probably has one of the best selections of pricey collectibles in town (but also a lot more besides). (Keltainen Jäänsärkijä does translate to 'Yellow Icebreaker', but it was the title of the first Finnish version of "Yellow Submarine" back in 1966.)
Finally made it after braving the horror that is the collapse of western civilization in the 3.5 hour security line at Amsterdam Schiphol. Got into the much more normal Helsinki and ran into this guy, who tried to take all my money, but fortunately I am faster than he. So can still get some records tomorrow. Have high hopes to find some unusual Pekka Pohjola ones. Kind of sad to miss the Michael Monroe 60th birthday show by only about 4 days. That isn't necessarily my main genre of music, but it seems like it would have been fun.
I'll be out and about record shopping tomorrow as well (already hit Record Shop X today; be hitting Rolling Records and Black & White tomorrow)... looking for my current Finnish grail - The Rock n Roll Band's classic Everybody Needs Dance Music Sometimes with David Lindholm and the legendary Affe Forsman on drums...
Definitely hitting both of those tomorrow (among others). Will probably look north of the train station in that 10-12 range and the south of train station spots in the later afternoon. I did not even realize that there is a performance of Pekka Pohjola's Sinfonia tomorrow night at the Musiikkalto tomorrow night. I really love Pekka's music so . . . I'm going! What a great surprise. And what a gorgeous walk tonight. Sibelius' 2nd Symphony carries great personal meaning to me so this was inspiring. I'll have a white "USA Water Polo" hat tomorrow so feel free to say hello if we run into each other.
Found some good things. Was a really tiring day, though, as I'm not currently so accustomed to walking that much on concrete. Pekka Pohjola (several of his) at Black & White, Pekka's "Sinfonia" and Ryuichi Sakamoto/David Sylvain "Heartbeat" on vinyl at Rolling Records, Made In Sweden on CD at A.H., Kazumi Watanabe and Timo Lassy/Ed Motta at Digelius (and a. t-shirt), and Ian Carr's Nucleus at Yellow Submarine. A good day. And had conversations with the proprietors at a few of the places, which is always a nice way to spend the day. Off to see/hear Pekka's symphonic work now.
sounds like you covered some ground if it was all on foot and no trams or metro involved! have a good time this evening!
how many more days in Helsinki? make sure to eat at Sea Horse for some traditional Finnish cuisine... Welcome - Restaurant Sea Horse and Bar Loose for the rock n roll heart of Helsinki...
Unfortunately, it has to be really short - out tomorrow morning. Am leading a week-long engineering training/conference in Amsterdam starting Monday morning, which is the real reason I got over to this neck of the woods. But it did not not disappoint. If I get over again in the next year or so, however, I'll reach out. Thank you. Funny thing is: I saw the big white-haired dog from Black & White Records at the lobby of the symphony concert (and well-behaved). So I am pretty sure they came. When I mentioned it this morning, they did not seem to know so I might have been the straw that broke the camel's back.
