The Vinyl Tourist Visits Arizona Featuring Phoenix, Tempe, and Mesa

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1. Tracks N Wax
   4741 North Central Ave.
   Phoenix, AZ
   (602) 274-2660
   

   

   This unpretentious store, with the dancing mice painted on the window, is a record collector's dream. Filled almost entirely with vintage vinyl, this is the place to go for just about every category. The store is especially strong in soundtracks, comedy, Jazz, pop vocalists, and older rock. Condition varies, but the price is usually right. I found an original Spike Jones' Dinner Music For People Who Aren't Very Hungry for $10 as well as Sir Douglas Quintet's The Tracker for $6. Very strong in 45's, too.

2. Stinkweeds Record Exchange
   12 W Camelback Road
   Phoenix, AZ 85013
   (602) 248-9461
   

   
   

   This is what record stores used to look like (well, almost). Stinkweeds is a roomy store with rows of new LP's and 45's as well as CD's and cassettes. With the exception of re-issues of classical and other vintage albums, they appear to stock virtually every new LP and 45 currently in print. Of course, this means their strength is in techno, house, new wave, etc. We picked-up new wax by El Vez, the Trashwomen, and Dick Dale plus a CD of the Shallow Grave soundtrack, featuring Leftfield. Strong selection of used jazz LP's, too. Check-out the Middle Eastern food next door.

3. Bookman's
   1056 South Country Club Drive
   Mesa, AZ
   (480) 835-0505
   

   Imagine a Border's or Barnes & Noble which only stocks used books as well as an excellent selection of used LP's and sheet music. At Bookman's, I found a nice selection of exotica (original pressings of Mystic Mood Orchestra's One Stormy Night, Henry Mancini's Greatest Hits, Arthur Lyman's Taboo, etc.) for about $5 - $10 each. Lots of half-speed remasters for reasonable prices, too. Big, bright, clean. Good picks in all categories. Check their website for other area locations.

4. Rockzone Records
   2155 East University Drive #104
   Tempe, AZ 85281
   (480) 964-6301
   

   

   In January, 2007, Rockzone bought out the entire inventory of Rockaway Records and moved (along with most of Rockaway's staff) to a new location. They boast an inventory of over 20,000 new and used records in all formats, including 78s. New LPs are put out every Friday and prices start at a remarkably low 50¢. In their previous incarnation, I found bargains in several test and audiophile recordings: M & K's Bottom End LP and an Angel 12-inch 45rpm LP of Stravinsky's Firebird by Giulini and the CSO for $7 each. You may want to bring earplugs--when we were there, the staff was playing a CD of sound effects at over 100db.

5. Revolver Records
   918 N. 2nd Street
   Phoenix, AZ 85004
   (602) 795-4980
   

   

   While I haven't personally visited Revolver Records, but they stock over 25,000 records, including a huge bargain section.

6. Arizona Hi-Fi
   10 West Camelback Road
   Phoenix, AZ 85013
   (602) 264-4434
   

   Primarily a high-end audio shop, there is a selection of new vinyl to be found here, too.

7. El Mercado, The Great Southwestern Swap Meet
   Southwest corner of 35th Avenue and Buckeye Road
   Phoenix, AZ
   Saturdays and Sundays Only!
   

   

   And now for something completely different... Every weekend, 1,400 vendors, almost all of whom appear to be slightly homesick Mexicans, set up stalls in El Gran Mercado, 40 acres of asphalt in the heart of southwest Phoenix. Most of the stalls feature clothing, hardware, and religious objects, but scattered in between the piñatas are a dozen or so music dealers. The format is 99% CD and cassette, the tunes are 100% Mexican, and the price is a uniform $10 per disc. It's worth the trip just to stroll up and down the aisles and pretend you're south of the border, if only for a few hours. Ever wonder where you could buy a faux leopard-skin jump suit for the señorita in your life, or an automatic transmission for him? This is the place where you can find them side-by-side with the latest tunes on Ciudad México's Top Ciento. Continuous live music and home cooking are also featured.

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