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Recommendations for record shops in London/Paris

fizzgig

fizzgig

Well-Known Member
Travelling to London and Paris next month. Any recommendations for sweet record stores to visit? I'm looking for original vinyl, not repressings really. But if they have both that's cool too.

Thanks in advance!
 
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Always something at the many flea markets around Paris. Avoid the antique ones (unless you are looking for books or art) and search for the vintage/modern ones like Marche Dauphine (many record dealers there). Wish I was going again soon, great way to spend a day. Never found anything in London that wasn't ridiculously over-priced, but maybe I just don't know where to go (even though my sister lived there for awhile and I visited and shopped with her often).
 
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Unless you happen upon the scant portion (~600 LPs) I brought w/ me when I moved here, don't expect to find great "hidden gem" rekkids (anywhere) in France. The musical taste en general just ain't been here in many many decades. No ****.

As for London, there are good record stores, one of which is owned/operated by Nick Saloman, he of The Bevis Frond fame (writer and geetarist), but I don't recall the exact name of his shoppe. It might be the same as his refcord label, i.e., Woronzow Records. Dig about The Web a bit and you'll likely find it/him/them/etc.

Past that I have long-time fellow record trading friends in/around London, but they haven't shoppes as such and the rekkids they purvey are indeed (often) treasures that will cost you A LOTTA BRITISH POUND STERLING -- equal to hundreds (if not thousands) of U$D, thus I'll not pen a list of those here. Best you deal w/ them via email and/or via their websites as they are not keen on inviting strangers into their respective lairs, understandably so ciz y'never know...

Yep, hit the web, look for Nick's joint, and while there look at other in London possibilities. And you can check for shoppes propre dans Paris but be prepared (again) for HIGH asking prices, cuz ain't nuthin' come cheap in Paris, my friend. I have found the best (inventory and cost) rekkid stores in France to be 3-4 that are situated in the city of Nancy, but that's a 1-hour (maybe longer?) TGV ride from Paris. Long way to go to browse used rekkids, but that's merely my opinion; perhaps for you it might be worth it. Hell, just visiting Nancy at all, going to Centre Ville, and standing @ Stanislas Plaza (Place) is in iteself worth the trip to Nancy. Couplpe of nice audio gear shoppes also in the vicinity of Nancy's centre ville.

Bonne chance.
 
Been over a decade now since I was last a regular crate digger in London, but looks like Flashback Records in Islington is still there. There used to be another record shop further down the same street that had a good variety of genres and cheap, unsorted vinyl down on the floor but I can't remember the name and it might be that it no longer exists.
 
Soul Brother Records in Putney, London SW15.

Genre specific, so don't go there if you're looking for Motorhead or Dolly Parton. But if you want Soul, Funk, Jazz, Reggae or any combination of these, this place is great.

https://soulbrother.com

Lee.
 
In London, I visited Honest Jon's records last Feb., which is at the top of Portobello Road market. Some vinyl, mostly CDs. There are some dealers on the actual road market but Jon's is a store -- they also have a label which is run by Damon Albarn which puts out a lot of non-Western releases.

In Paris, CrocoDisc is on Rue des Ecoles in the 5eme, and is pretty much the grandfather of used record stores over there.

There are two "Jazz Corner" stores in Paris, one on the Left Bank near Rue des Arenes and one on the Right Bank. Once upon a time I scored mightily on the Arenes one with a bunch of be-bop 45s and some good LPs. Paris still loves jazz.

I had some luck cruising the stalls in the flea markets in Clingnancourt -- these are stalls located inside the large buildings which house a great variety of antique dealers, not the stalls on the street next to Blvd Peripherique. There are a couple of these buildings and not all are located right next to the flea market street stalls --- you have to go up the side streets. Some stalls sell a great variety of "antiques" and may have a box or two of LPs as well.

In general I'd agree with everybody else that London/Paris record prices can be outrageous, and it's better to seek out the smaller towns. for example, I scored a lot of 60's/70's 45s at good prices in Wimbledon --- not sure if that store is still there.

Also, condition can be an issue. there's just a much smaller pool of records to exploit than the USA. happy hunting!
 
I can't remember any specifics, but I recall the Portobello Road and Camden Lock areas in London being hotbeds for record stores. Those areas are great in general to visit.
 
oteoi said:
Been over a decade now since I was last a regular crate digger in London, but looks like Flashback Records in Islington is still there. There used to be another record shop further down the same street that had a good variety of genres and cheap, unsorted vinyl down on the floor but I can't remember the name and it might be that it no longer exists.
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That might be Haggle Records. Terrible reviews about the owner online but I spent a completely enjoyable afternoon there before he closed his shop. Guess he recognized a fellow curmudgeon.

Flashback was good also, but pricey and I think there may have been one more in Islington, but the name escapes me.
 
dcmfan said:
That might be Haggle Records. Terrible reviews about the owner online but I spent a completely enjoyable afternoon there before he closed his shop. Guess he recognized a fellow curmudgeon.

Flashback was good also, but pricey and I think there may have been one more in Islington, but the name escapes me.
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Sounds about right. He was a bit of a grumpy git, but I always found a couple of interesting things there every time I went. Shame it's no longer there.
 
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