Article by Nanette Wiser
My first album was Iron Butterfly, and Herb Alpert’s Whip Cream & Other Delights is framed in my office. Imagine my joy when vinyl started trending as cool. In 2019, vinyl records outsold CDs for the first time in 40 years. Take that, Alexa!
Whether you buy or sell vinyl (or CDs), Tampa Bay offers a cornucopia of amazing Record Stores celebrated best on National Record Store Day April 18th. While most may be closed due to the COVID-19 siesta, you can still do business with them online. Some of the best in town are ArtPool Records, Asylum Sights and Sounds, Banana Records, The Clearwater Record Shop, Daddy Kool Records (my fave), Disc Exchange, Dunedin Records and Audio, Planet Retro Records, Sound Exchange, St. Pete Records and Vintage Vinyl.
They are more than record stores, however. They double as gathering places for music lovers (before the recent COVID crisis and afterwards, we hope), feature and promote local bands and the folks that work there know EVERYTHING about a genre and a band, depending on their taste. Support them! Some also buy music equipment; call ahead.
And while we’re talking tunes, St. Pete Guitar on Gulf Boulevard also buys/sells guitars and sound equipment.
St. Pete Guitars
6630 Gulf Blvd., St. Pete Beach
727-318-0986
stpeteguitars.com