Local Vinyl Stores

New Orleans shops that carry used vinyl, particularly funky stuff. Read the summaries to get the lowdown on each one!

New Orleans is not what it used to be in terms of good vinyl hunting. Gone are the days when you could dig the crates for funky beats and cheap used records at the Olive Tree Bookstore on Royal St. (Some of my buck-a-piece finds there included mint copies of Electric Funk by Jimmy McGriff, He's Coming by Roy Ayers, and the entire Maxayn collection.) Not even good ole' Record Ron's is here anymore or that dusty apartment full of records above the comic book store on Magazine St. Even all of the good thrift stores have closed! Aaah, those were the days, but there are still a few stores in the metro New Orleans area serving the needs of people like you and I who need that vinyl. Here's an overview of what's left.

Louisiana Music Factory

210 Decatur St., (504) 586-1094
The entire 2nd floor is dedicated to used vinyl of all sorts of roots music from funk and soul to jazz and zydeco. The selection of funk records is pretty large and you may be lucky to find what you're looking for amidst some of the more common titles. Unfortunately, not very much in the way of rare groove-oriented stuff, unless you take a few hours to sift through the 45s. However, you can find some really clean copies of pure gems in the jazz section. Prices are very reasonable and there are turntables set up so you can sample your selections before you buy them. And they stock up heavy on all the vinyl reissues of the Meters' Reprise records and the Wild Magnolias debut. Located directly across the street from the House of Blues (in the French Quarter). Visit their website

Magic Bus

527 Conti St., (504) 522-0530
Located about 2-3 blocks from Tower Records in the French Quarter. For the good stuff, look on the walls, not in the racks. Their funk/soul vinyl inventory doesn't change very much, but when they get a good rare groove piece (which is more often than at LA. Music Factory), you can bet it will be priced for collectors and placed on the wall. This is the place to get the vinyl reissues of the JBs, James Brown, Lyn Collins, Roy Ayers, Weldon Irvine, and Parliament and super low prices. And if you ask real nice, they will let you sample your record on their turntable.

Rock 'n' Roll Collectibles

1214 Decatur Street, (504) 561-5683
I avoided this place for many years due to the name of the place, thinking that they wouldn't carry any funk, soul, jazz stuff. Man, was I wrong. They have the best collection of rare groove vinyl in the city, considering how small the place is compared to the other stores. They've also got the highest prices in the city, but if you are looking for something really rare, it will probably be worth it, since their selection is unbelievable for all genres of music. Good thing here is that the prices are negotiable -- the more you buy, the more you can negotiate. They are also happy to trade and will play anything you want in the store. But note: being nice is the key to getting friendly service here. Make this store your first stop! Located in the heart of the French Quarter. Visit their website

Jim Russell's Rare Records

1837 Magazine St., (504) 522-2602
UPDATE: After I posted my original review of this store (in which I told of my first shopping experience there where I was virtually ignored and treated like some criminal), the store owners wrote me a nasty letter. Now, that would hardly influence my opinion of the place, but I did decide to make a few more "secret shopper" visits, just to give the place a few extra opportunities to redeem itself -- and it did. On all occasions, service was vastly improved (thanks in part to a very friendly and attentive woman who has been working there). She has been keeping the stacks organized and it's so much easier to find things. Thanks to this simple trick, the selection seems to have tripled. You will really be able to find all kind of funky goodies here, from the soundtrack of Black Fist to some classic Gap Band 12"es. I still take issue with some of the ridiculously high prices for common records in VG- to F shape, but there are more gems to be had at reasonable prices. Go there now and find them fast at this popular DJ haven. And tell 'em the Soul Sister sent you with her blessings!

The Mushroom

1037 Broadway St., (504) 866-6065
Located Uptown near Loyola and Tulane Universities, this unique college kid hub carries loads of both used vinyl and CDs. The bad thing is that none of the selection is in any sort of discernable order. There is an attempt to keep stuff alphabetical, but it's really left up to you to sift through the piles of records kept in a cramped corner in the back. If you are astute enough in your search, you are bound to find a goodie or two or more for cheap! Some exciting finds I got there include Roy Ayers' Mystic Voyage and Lifeline, a bunch of Cold Blood albums, and James Brown's Bring It On, all for under $5 apiece. And at least the owners have taken pity on us, understanding just how rough it is to plow through uncategorized record piles, by supplying a comfy little sofa right in the record corner! This way you can search, take a break on the couch, and then search again when your stamina builds back up!! :-D