Pittsburgh is brimming with independently owned and operated music stores of exceptional quality--a wealth of shops specializing in vinyl, both original and reissued, and CDs. Landmarks such as Jerry's Records and The Attic, along with specialty shops like Paul’s CDs in Bloomfield inspire, educate and serve music aficionados from far and wide. Here's our guide.
Where to Shop
Paul's CDs located at 4526 Liberty Avenue in the heart of Bloomfield, regularly serves a loyal corps. In 1993, Paul Olszewski purchased Jim’s Records, operating at the location since 1979. Following the peculiar Pittsburgh trend of naming music stores after the owner’s first name, the shop was dubbed “Paul’s.” According to Karl Hendricks, manager of Paul’s who started at Jim’s in 1989, “Jim’s was one of the best stores in the country for punk and new wave singles, ranging from the common to the obscure. That slant really started the store.”
In addition to new and used CDs, Paul’s offers a strong selection of jazz and folk as well as rock, blues, reggae, electronica, experimental, international, and psychedelic reissues. Imported and domestic 7” singles and EPs, 12” singles and LPs, CDs and CD singles, and an impressive array of box sets lines the store’s walls.
At Paul’s, one can find releases on obscure independent labels such as Akarma , Radioactive and Soul Jazz . Paul’s is the place to go if you are looking for the latest in Atavistic’s Unheard Music Series and it’s the place to find releases on labels such as Revenant Records and Sublime Frequencies .
The store also specializes in music magazines and DVDs. Paul’s receives the imported British magazine Mojo —a favorite of music aficionados—weeks before local chain stores. A number of other British periodicals such as Record Collector and The Wire as well as independently published fanzines including Ugly Things and Scram.
To maintain stock, Paul’s uses more than 20 distributors, including locally owned and operated Get Hip ,one of America’s longest running independent distributors of garage, punk, and rock and roll.
Paul’s has a reputation for excellent customer service, especially in fulfilling special orders. And low prices keep customers coming back. Exemplifying the value to be found at the store are the numerous 4-CD box sets on the British Proper label, sold for $20–$22.
A passion for vinyl
Pittsburgh is prime hunting ground for seekers of vintage vinyl. Beginning in the 1940s, the region’s large, prosperous middle class had expendable income for leisure activities and amenities, including phonograph records. Local vinyl outlets sold millions. Inevitably, a portion of the countless 78s, 45s and LPs purchased in Pittsburgh or imported from outside the city still surface in used record and thrift stores.
When asked about the threat posed to vinyl by CDs and downloaded music, Willie Weber of Jerry’s Records at 2136 Murray Ave., quips, “People who like records will always like records.”
People who like records love Jerry’s.
The renowned store sells the well known genres (rock, jazz, country, bluegrass, classical, opera, soundtracks, international) as well as the unpopular and undefined genres.
More than a record store, Jerry’s is a Pittsburgh institution—functioning like a hands-on museum where objects in a collection sell at affordable prices. Jerry’s prices vinyl to sell: most LPs in the store are priced from $3 – $5, and 45s are usually $3 each. A small percentage of the store’s stock bears a price tag over $10.
To Jerry’s denizens, shopping at the store rarely lack surprise, and there is enough of the “good stuff” for everyone. Regulars rarely leave the store empty handed.
Many national touring bands make a point to seek out Jerry’s when coming through town, and reissue giants like Rhino contact the store with research inquiries.
Filmmaker Gordon Nelson has been a Jerry’s regular since 1985. His discoveries at the store have led him down unexpected paths of collecting. “I got into Moog records and belly dancing records by shopping there. I like to pursue records that have a limited audience: single-purpose records, like stereo test and dictation records.”
Although recently announced the store is for sale, Jerry’s is not closing its doors anytime soon. Jerry continues to acquire vinyl by buying private collections, record libraries from radio stations, and back stock from record vendors.
The Attic Record Store
Located at 513 Grant Avenue in Millvale since 1981,The Attic has served oldies fiends for 25 years. A longtime music collector, The Attic’s owner, Fred Bohn, was connected to kindred souls in Europe and the United States who started labels such as Ace , Charly , Bear Family, Norton, and Crypt before many of them started reissuing music. Bohn’s shop carries LP and CD releases on the aforementioned labels along with a vast selection of original 45s and LPs, which account for the store’s primary sales.
The Attic attracts customers from all over the world, with regular mail order patrons in Japan and throughout Europe.
For eight years, Brave New World, 406 South Craig Street in Oakland, has specialized in underground music issued on independent labels. Offering a wide assortment of new 7” singles and EPs, as well as LPs and CDs—many on small, obscure labels—the store also sells used vinyl and CDs.
Independently-owned 720 Records at 5943 Penn Avenue serves local DJs and fans of classic hip-hop, 1960s and ‘70s soul, funk and jazz in its East Liberty store and on the Web. 720’s strength is its healthy selection of vinyl, including originals and reissues on labels like Now-Again and Funky Delicacies . Catering to DJs, 720 carries slip mats, phonograph cartridges and classic breaks compilations.
Add to the long list of Pittsburgh stores to check out for rare music: B&D Records, 850 Pittsburgh St., Springdale; Stedeford’s Record Shop, 417 E Ohio St., North Side; D& J Records, 212 East Main Street in Carnegie; and Eide’s Entertainment, 1121 Penn Ave., Downtown. Eide’s also sells an impressive selection of comics, magazines and videos.
Dormont resident Greg Langel is co-founder of the Pittsburgh Signs Project
Photos:
Attic Records mural
Karl Hendricks and Bob of Paul's CDs
Jerry's Records
Customer and Fred Bohn
Shelves of 45's at Attic Records
All photographs copyright © Jonathan Greene