Record Stores blog

Warehouse, Shinjuku

2012-03-12T14:22:00.000-07:00

Linked to the previous post, Warehouse is the twin brother of Nat Records. To be clear, it is more a “siamese brother” than a twin, as the 2 shops share the same space, separated only by a wall that does not go all the way.

So, you feel that you are in “one” shop, except that you have 2 different sets of records (and quite different), 2 different cashiers and, behind all this, 2 different companies (even if they work together, help to promote each other,…).

Warehouse specializes in used records (70% vinyls, 30% CDs) of music from the 60’s and the 70’s. They have about 5000 references, a lot of imports, a lot of very good quality pieces at very affordable prices.

They sell some new items as well. You can check their catalog on their website (only in Japanese, as you read almost every time on this blog… but, hey ! that is the truth).

The buy as well and most of their catalog comes from clients and friends (the same) who stop by, introduce them some good opportunities,…

No other activities than selling records, for Warehouse. Records is what they like, buying and selling records is what they do !

Warehouse

Shinmei Building 2F,

7-7-33 Nishi-Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku. Tokyo 160-0023, Tokyo

Tel : 03-3367-4704

web

Nat Records, Shinjuku

2012-03-11T19:40:00.000-07:00

Nat Records is located in one of the back streets of the western part of Shinjuku, on the 2^nd floor of a building, and they share their space with Warehouse Records (that we will present in another post) in an interesting concept that we could call “2 shops in 1” !

Nat Records opened up in 1994. It was created by Taku and Ita, 2 heavy metal music fans who decided to specialize in anything rather noisy… (punk, post-punk, hardcore, garage,…).

Their website even mentioned “noise” and “outlaw” as special genres they carry (so, you see that I am serious…).

The shop is very well organized and neatly presented, with about 10 000 refs, vinyls and CDs (but a lot of vinyls), 70% new and 30% second hand. The shop owners do not really go abroad to find more records, they are very well acquainted in the hardrock/punk community and get new items thru their clients who introduce them new contacts, stop by the store to exchange, etc.

Their website is minimalist but very clear. Everything is in Japanese but you can send your order in English, they will follow-up. All the references on sale are mentioned on the site (and they have a mobile version, very user friendly).

Besides records, Nat sells some original design T-shirts, and they produce (not very often, about once every 2 years) their own records (eg. a CD called “Trouble Bubble”).

And, if you stop by the club “Wire” in Shinjuku, you might get a chance to see one the owners DJing.

Nat Records

Shinmei Building 2F,

7-7-33 Nishi-Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku.

Tokyo 160-0023, Tokyo

Tel : 03-3368-8262

Web

Barn homes records, Shinjuku

2011-09-20T22:02:00.000-07:00

Barn Homes Records is a neat little shop on the second floor of a building on a rather busy street in Shinjuku and it has a very interesting characteristic for us : it is NOT mentioned in the Record Map (unusual enough to be noted…)

We found this place by walking around the neighborhood West of Shinjuku station (where all the interesting record shops are located). Mr. Yoshiwara opened up in 1984 and has been specialized in new productions from foreign labels (that he buys directly or thru distributors). The catalog offers 3 to 4 000 references, all new, 60% CDs 40%LPs.

Punk, garage, rock, rockabilly, soul,… you can find it all.

No Japanese production in sight. The records come from the USA of course, but quite a lot from indie European labels as well (Holland, Germany,…).

Website is only in Japanese, but as always you can try your luck sending email in English…

Barn Homes Records

Clean Nishi-Shinjuku 1F

7-5-6 Nishi-Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku,

Tokyo 160-0023

Tel : 03-3363-4730

Web
Map

Coconuts disk, Ikebukuro

2011-09-04T16:55:00.000-07:00

The Coconuts disk store in Ikebukuro is one of the 4 shops of the company “Coconuts Disk” (the 3 others are located in Ekoda, Kichijoji and Yoyogi).
We had a good chat with Satomura-san who explained the various activity of this very active company : not only do they sell used records, but they have nice textile products, some dvds and books (most of them related to music).

They have about 15 000 records in catalog, all genres but with a big focus on Japanese oldies from the 50’s and 60’s.
As many shops in Japan, they do not travel abroad to buys records, but they rely on a extensive networks of clients of contacts to have access to interesting products.
Their website, although not in English, is definitely worth checking : the design is quite original and they have separated blogs for each store, presenting their latest arrivals and giving insights about the records. And they do sell on line (but again, in Japanese…).
Some interesting anecdotes about Coconuts Disk ? This one : The Kichijoji shop was one of the main setting for the movie “The fish story” (by director Yoshihiro Nakamura, based on the novel by Kotaro Izaka, 2009).
And another one (I like this one…) : they have one rare piece of a test press vinyl of “Beatbop” by the NY performance artist Rammellzee that was handmade designed by Jean-Michel Basquiat. Cool, no ? (but this one is not on sale…).

Coconuts Disk
3-22-7 Nishi-ikebukuro, Toshima-ku
Tokyo 171-0021
Tel : 03-3985-0463
www.coconutsdisk.com
Map

Hashodo koshoten, Ikebukuro

2011-08-31T21:46:00.000-07:00

What a strange name for a record store, you think… And you are right ! Hashodo Koshoten literally means “Hasshodo's second hand book” . This is probably one of the oldest books and records store in Japan : it was opened in 1960 !

This nice tidy shop of about 200 m2 is located in the back streets of Ikebukuro station (North of Tokyo). They first started by selling second hand books (they have very rare editions of old books) and move to records little by little (vinyls from the mid-60s, then CDs).
The company owns only one shop, run by MM. Yagi and Suzuki (the shop managers). They propose about 50 000 references (not all on display), 100% used. The records are from all genres, with a strong point on Jazz, Japanese productions (some quite rare, especially for Japanese music such as enka) as well as import products. They never travel abroad to purchase records, relying only on customers to buy and sell (no barter).
For those who read Japanese (one never knows…), their website is worth checking : it presents, in a very organized and clear manner, the main references in the store. So, there is no English version and they do not sell on line. But, they take order by phone.
Be careful : they are closed on Sundays and national holydays.

Hasshodo Koshoten

5-2-10 Nishi-Ikebukuro, Toshima-ku

Tokyo 171-0021

Tel : 03-3981-1870

Map

web

Shinjuku Record, Shinjuku

2011-07-20T20:32:00.000-07:00

After 2 posts from Australia, we are back in Japan for some more presentations of record stores in Tokyo.

As the name of the store states rightfully, this interesting record shop is located in Shinjuku. It was open by the Fujiwara family in 1970. They still run the place and, when you visit, there is a big chance that you will see behind the counter Yoichiro-san (the son). They might not have the typical hard rock look but do not get the wrong impression : if you have any question about hardrock, ask him. There is a big chance that he has the answer…

Shinjuku Records sells only used vinyls and CDs (more CDs) and, since the very beginning, they has been specializing in rock : hardrock, heavy metal, progressive,… All together, they have a catalog of about 8 000 refs.

Although the Fujiwaras do not travel much to buy records, it seems they do not need to as a lot of people from abroad come to their shop when visiting Tokyo : Vincent Gallo (The brown rabbit) has come several times and usually stop by when in town.

AND (way more amazing for a hardrock fan…) Jimmy Page showed up about 5 years ago. They actually have various memorabilia signed by various hard rock artists : baseball hats, posters,…

It is possible to buy from the website but, as too often, everything is in Japanese. But if you find something you want, English emails should work.

Anything else in the store ? (Tshirts,…). Not really. A few books, some videos, all about hard rock.

We told you : real hardrock music fans !

Shinjuku Record
2F, 7-5-2 Nishi-shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku
Tokyo, 160-0023
Tel : 03-3363-3669
Web
Email
Map

DJ Sheep (Brisbane, Australia) - 3 x Australian State DMC DJ Champion / Terntable Jediz / Dirty Diggaz

2011-07-19T08:43:00.000-07:00

This post is a break to the visits of record stores. I met Bevan aka DJ Sheep during my stay in Brisbane in June 2011. We met at a weird gear session and we quickly hit it off. He then offered me to make a record collector, DJ and digger portrait at his place as follows ...
Xavier.

===========================================

Can you introduce yourself?

DJ Sheep, born in Australia and raised in Brisbane. I do a lot of stuff, but in relation to this interview, I’m a full-time vinyl junkie, record dealer, worldwide traveller, photo journalist, turntablist, DJ and music enthusiast…

Vinyl only or CD too?

All of the above serve a purpose; I dig for records at least twice a week, I then record what I need to play in the club into my computer. I buy mix CDs from my favorite DJs and some gangsta rap and other music that is unavailable on vinyl. If it’s on vinyl, that’s always my first preference.

Why is vinyl your preference?

The whole aesthetic of vinyl is second to none. Also, after listening to songs that I don’t own on vinyl on MP3, and then finally obtaining a copy on vinyl, I ALWAYS hear more depth and layers in the music. The physical format of vinyl is amazing, everything from the packaging, the artwork, the crackles and pops and also the actual physical process of playing a record are some of the reasons why I prefer it. At the end of the day it boils down to the fact that music sounds better on vinyl. The next format that sounds as warm would be cassettes.

What about digital media and MP3s?

I use Serato (a digital DJing interface) when DJing, especially when travelling, for convenience; after 15 years of hauling crates of records to and from clubs, I think I deserve a break, as my back is about to break! When Serato was released, whilst hesitant, I embraced it. However, compared to vinyl, digital media sounds like utter shit: unless it’s a lossless AIFF or WAV file… MP3s are pretty crap. A positive aspect of Serato is that I have a short attention span, and it’s helped me conquer running out of music to play and also offered a lot more versatility to my sets.

Tell us about the evolution of your tastes and interests in music.

My tastes have broadened a lot. What started off as a fascination with 80s hip-hop and electro, soon turned into 70’s soul, funk and jazz. Then it was progressive rock, then disco, now i'm leaning towards early electronic stuff, new wave, post punk, obscure ethnic music, easy listening, avant, etc. I’ll always have a strong interest in music from Australia, Japan and Eastern Europe, as those are places I’ve travelled to multiple times and try to learn more every time I visit.

At the end of the day there’s only 2 types of music - Good and bad. But it’s also in the ears of the beholder. One mans trash is another mans treasure. So I guess all music has meaning to someone out there. If not the public, then the person who originally recorded it, they must have a sense of connection to it.

What kind of instruments moves you?

I love the Fender Rhodes and Vibraphone. Especially when listening on vinyl, the sounds of those instruments are so warm and appealing to me… I also like a little bit of fuzz, such as San Ul Lim from Korea. Moogs, Clavinets and other Synths when played in the right way can be straight amazing… Oh, I also like me a good drumbreak!

What are you listening to right now?

Phill Most Chill – All Cuts Recorded Raw LP and before that I was listening to DJ XXXL Nippon Breaks & Beats – Volume 4 CD.

When did you start collecting records?

When I was in high school, there used to be this radio station once a month at lunchtime, these two guys would set up a DJ console and play songs over the schools loudspeakers. One time they asked students to bring in a record if we wanted a “lesson”. The guys just showed us how to do basic radio cueing. Like winding the record half a spin back, then pressing the start button, and how to fade it in.

I started collecting music since I was about 11 or 12 years old. But I was recording stuff from the radio earlier than that. I was collecting tapes first, and then it was CDs and bits and pieces of vinyl here and there for the bands I was fanatical about (Run DMC, N.W.A. and Public Enemy, for example)… I didn’t start collecting anything but hip-hop and electro until the late 90’s. I was sent a tape then by a guy called Soulman (Phill Most Chill) because I used to write for magazines and he sent it in for review, the tape was called “World Of Beats – Volume 2”, that tape always intrigued me, however I didn’t really understand it… it was a tape with samples from some of my favorite hip-hop songs and some other soul, jazz and funk songs. I used to always carry it in my backpack and play it in my mates cars… Curiosity killed the cat and I wanted to figure out what those records were.

It all started happening when the ABC (radio station) in Brisbane sold their entire record collection over a year-long period in the city. Every hour or so, new records from their library would hit the shelf in a mock-up store in the CBD. It was myself and my man James and Kenny who started diggin’ for things other than hip-hop then, the year 2000 was when it really started poppin’ off. I had some good mentors; DJ Damage, Hams and Arks, who showed me basic things like Ramsey Lewis, CTI Records, Prestige, Curtis Mayfield, Bob James, John Klemmer, Roy Ayers, etc.… and then “diggin’” turned into a monster which I really can’t control anymore. I’m still hunting records off that World Of Beats 2 tape, that really set the blueprint for my digging excavation and musical excursion. Thank you Soulman. You changed my life, not Dilla!

What’s your theme or method for collecting?

At the moment, I’m trying to complete my wants list from Australia and Japan, it’s a never ending mission. I’m typing this interview from Japan and I just discovered the most amazing record to add to the wants list. It’s a group of Monks who play music over David Axelrod’s “Holy Thursday”. It will just never end. As soon as I think I’m reaching my goal, there’s another 20 records added to the list. I don’t keep a physical list, it’s all in the head for safety reasons! If I had it written down, I’d probably end up buying it all online and break the bank! As far as years. I used to look from 1969-1979. Now I just use my ears. There’s some wild shit on folk, easy listening, and other unsuspecting genres, and also on 80’s records… definitely more about intuition these days. Using your ears helps you stop being a textbook, trophy collector. Buy what moves you, not what some big name DJ plays or what you read on the Internet. The 90’s wall-of-fame is good, but some of those $500+ records REALLY suck musically, or are just one trackers!

Is there a particular way you file your records, and where do you store them?
It’s a little too in depth to type out. Firstly, by countries I’ve spent time in, for example, I have a Russian section, an Australian section, a Japanese section. Then with hip-hop, certain artists or labels I have made sections for, for example Native Tongues or D.I.T.C. The same with jazz labels like Blue Note, MPS, ECM, etc. I also file discographies for soul and funk artists for which I have more than say 5 records for. I think I have something like 120 sections. It’s all a little too much, especially when things could be filed in more than one section, it makes it hard to find sometimes, even with such a meticulous regime of sorting it all out into categories!

I store my collection in my house, in the expedits, the best thing Ikea ever made. I use strictly Japanese 45 and LP sleeves, and dividers I got from Rocking Horse Records for LPs and dividers for 45s from Disk Union in Japan.

What was the first record you bought, and the last one?

The first was Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince – Parent’s Just Don’t Understand 12”. I bought it to use at that DJ workshop at my school. I still have it. I bought it at Brash’s record store at Garden City shopping centre in Mt. Gravatt. I still remember that day. It was a odd feeling carrying home this big bag as opposed to being able to put a cassette in my backpack. That record is special because the B-side has the track “Live At Union Square” which was the first record to have the transformer scratch recorded, in 1987. In a way that must have got into my mental and somehow made me want to scratch and DJ one day.

The last record I bought was the Col Nolan Soul Syndicate "For Whatever It's Worth" LP, A record I had been after for a very long time.... And to be honest, I actually caved in and paid the price on it instead of looking for it in the field, as the last decade of hunting has proved fruitless… it didn't disappoint, has a real dusted and smokey version of "Ode For Billy Joe" on there… and it was only ever issued to Australian radio stations, which makes it extremely hard to find…

What do your ears look for when you listen to a record for the first time?

Something that grabs my attention that I can see myself playing more than once. Something unique. Something worth the price. Something that doesn’t sound like anything else in my collection.

Are you also an audiophile? Can you describe and show us your sound system?

It’s funny, me and my friend Arks were having this conversation a while ago, how we’ll end up being audiophiles, however I don’t think I’ll get obsessed with it, I would like to own a nice turntable and amp with good speakers one day. But at the moment, my setup consists of a pair of studio monitors, a Rane TTM-56 mixer and 2 x Technics SL-1200 turntables and an Apogee Duet soundcard. Simple and to the point. Regarding needles and stylus, I use the Shure M44-7 for it’s deep bass and ability to sit in the groove. I’d say in 5-10 years I might invest in a system more for listening, however I’m still active as a DJ, so my setup is ideal for what I do.

What would you recommend for record cleaning?

Easy answer. Buy a VPI 16.5 record cleaning machine. It seriously changed my life. I used to use alcohol and sit there and clean my records with a cloth. If you sell records, you should invest in one definitely, and if you collection is sitting somewhere near the 1,000 mark, it’s a worthwhile investment. It doesn’t work wonders and fix every crackle, but it does make the music crisper and more defined for sure. You spend all this money on records; so it makes sense to clean them professionally. The gunk that comes out the other end of the machine is so dirty. It’s sickening to think all that crap is sitting on the platter of your wax! Dust, mold, hair, grime, cigarette smoke, and other nasty unmentionable things probably!

According to you, what is the best way to limit the effect of time on records?

Throw away those thick clear plastic sleeves. They are the cause whitening of records, or as it’s been nicknamed “the cancer”. The oils in those sleeves react with vinyl and over time causes whitening of the record and surface noise. Also store your sealed records tight otherwise they will warp. Or maybe just open sealed records, they’ll eventually warp anyhow. Never store records stacked on top of each other, as they will warp too! Keep it tidy, a messy record collection is not functional. Or maybe it’s just that I have record O.C.D. like the other half of the record collecting population!

Favorite records in your collection?

I like listening to Tuff Crew, their first 3 albums are so great to me. Same with Low Profile’s album. It depends on the mood I’m in, usually at home, because I DJ at the club so often, I like to listen to stuff that I couldn’t necessarily play out, usually chilled out mellow stuff, jazz, mellow soul… but I also get into phases where I want to listen to prog or psych rock, etc. One of my favorite records of all time is Steve Parks “Still Thinking of You” and also the Darling Dears 45…

…And records that you love and recommend to the readers?

Yarandoo is a favorite album of mine. A 70’s private press progressive jazz/rock album from Canberra, Australia. I discovered it a long time ago, before the hype and before the inflated price tag it demands today. There were only 100 pressed. Big shout outs to Rob Thomsett for making such a masterpiece, I was in touch with him shortly after I discovered the album and he sent me a nice little package of goodies.

I also love my basic hip-hop staples, groups like Tuff Crew, Low Profile, EPMD, N.W.A., Run DMC, Public Enemy, Big Daddy Kane, and things like the Ultimate Breaks & Beats series… all those songs are classics! Rarity doesn’t come into play. There are trophy collectors, then there are music lovers that enjoy having trophy pieces because of sentimental reasons in a sense. I would put myself in the latter category.

There are some records you can get in the field for around $10 that sound better than these $500-$1000 “holy grail” joints. Groups like Steely Dan, Ohio Players, Parliament, for example. Nothing irks me more than these guys who just collect rare records citing “quality over quantity”. That’s just utter bullshit, it’s more like “I dig from a textbook and whatever I read is a rare record must be good music”. Use your ears people! I have a bunch of “holy grail” joints, but then again, I have the basic records too, I’d probably be more inclined to sell the bigger pieces in most cases than the staples. Don’t get me wrong, I love myself a rare record (check out the photos in this interview for example), but there’s more to music than rarity and $ value. End of rant, hahaha…

Can you name one of your favorite tracks in your collection ?

Terry Callier – Dancing Girl, that song is beautiful…

Can you recall a time when a song really moved someone in a unique or special way?

When my homie J-Zone played Willie D “I Need Pussy” on national radio (JJJ) in Australia, that kinda made a lot of people upset! It probably broke a feminist heart and mended a broken dude’s heart! Hahaha… What up to J-Zone, one of the most unique producers on the planet and a gangsta rap connoisseur.

Weirdest records you have in your collection?

A Chinese record with a cow mooing on it with a huge drum break I found in Taiwan. I don’t know, it’s weird, you’d just have to hear it… that’s the first thing that sprung to mind, however there’s so much weird stuff here in the crates, you’d just have to pay me a visit and check it out. I’m not near my collection, so my memory is drawing blanks at the moment. Sorry.

What's the best bargain you've scored in a record store?

Nico Gomez – Ritual. It was 50 cents, and it was bought for me by my girl to piss me off at the time because I told her not to buy any records for me, and she ended up buying me one of my most wanted records! A simply amazing gift from the diggin’ gods!

Sexiest or filthiest records you have in your collection?

I got this series of records on this label called “Audio Stag”, it’s just some perverted sex stories, they are kinda crazy! I just bought this book called “Best of Erotic Jacket” in Japan, there’s some seriously crazy Gangsta rap porno CD, LP and cassette covers in there!

Cheapest records you would never get rid of?

The records I started DJing with, such as my doubles of T La Rock “This Beat Kicks” which was given to me by my DJ mentor “DJ Bribe / Angus”, as well as the copy of Johnny Guitar Watson “A Real Mutha For Ya” he gave me. Rest in peace Angus.

Any embarrassing records in your collection? Are there any records that you are obsessed about collecting?

I like Nirvana, is that embarrassing? Nevermind is one of my favorite albums. I know hip-hop purists would be in disgust… hahaha… I also like my cheese, more from a humorous perspective. I’m sure there’s something in there really embarrassing, but it’s just not coming to mind at the moment. People laugh at some of my gangsta rap collection, but that stuff is sentimental to me… There’s some horrible Australian hip-hop I’ve been given as promo that I should throw away, that’s for sure, absolute crap. As far as guilty pleasures… Hair Soundtracks, Moog Records, cover versions of Spinning Wheel, Soulful Strut, PYHITH, Get Out My Life Woman, etc. I can never pass those up! I’ve also started becoming a little obsessed with Japanese OBI’s, so there we have another beast that needs to be tamed. The price difference in a record with an OBI and without can be up to $200!

Records with horrible or unsuspecting covers, that contain amazing musical content?

Chinese records! European records. Ethnic records. Stuff like Nico Gomez. You really need to listen to everything and anything. There’s this Okinawan folk music record I got today with this HUGE drum break on it, if you saw the cover, you’d just be like… pffft… looks horrible. It’s got a boat on it, it’s all pastel… I listen to anything and everything I've never seen before. That's the best way to go about diggin’… keep a photographic memory and just listen to anything you haven’t before, then sometimes go back and relisten to things you thought were ok at the time, but not purchasable, because your tastes will always evolve…

Who do you think has the most impressive record collection in this crazy world of vinyl?

I haven’t seen it in the flesh, but it’s gotta be either DJ Shadow, Biz Markie or Cut Chemist, those guys have serious records. Also people like Jazzy Jay and Afrika Bambaata… they must have crazy records, they started this shit! In my experience though my mate Bruce Highway has one of the most diverse record collections, he really was the first guy to put me up onto ethnic stuff and weird things from Europe and electronic stuff, etc. He gave me some great records when I first started diggin’… Also my mate DJ Damage he holds a nice tidy collection and diggin’ through his crates really helped me learn about music.

And weirdest record collectors?

...Biz Markie, without a doubt! I spent a bit of time with him recently, and he’s a character to say the least.

Anything else you collect?

Sneakers, toys, books, VHS tapes, movies, rap cassettes, music memorabilia, fliers, posters, portable turntables, etc.

About digging

Tell us about your best memories as a record digger?

Oh, there’s so many. I would say the early years were the best. The times when you would buy any old record and then go home and get excited over the littlest 2 second sample. Also finding things like your first David Axelrod record in the field, or Bob James “One”… Another interesting experience was Russia, it was new territory to me, and discovering new music was such a rush sitting in a basement full of vinyl underneath a park for a week, day in, day out, just finding weird and wonderful things which certain producers such as Gaslamp Killer and Stones Throw Records in Los Angeles bootlegged. That really pissed me off.

I also would have to say living in Japan during the glory years in the early 2000’s when stores were really pumping out records constantly, it was amazing. It was also pre-Internet, so prices were reasonable and sometimes things such as Placebo records, Franco Micalizzi “Violence” Soundtrack, Demon Fuzz, etc. would slip through the crack and be found REALLY cheap. I discovered a lot of Japanese records and it was when a lot of dope hip-hop albums dropped, like Gang Starr, Ghostface, etc. So I was hunting down samples and stuff they’d used. I was also hustling records hard on eBay and basically started that whole “Japanese funk drama break” craze. It’s funny, I named some of those records without knowing the real title, and certain sites and collectors still use those names I made up in my bedroom in Japan. Straight comedy. Crazy with the records, beats, all of that ;)…

Are you an internet shopper and/or still very active offline?

I actually rarely buy records on the Internet now, it’s too dangerous to the bank account. I trade a lot, I do the occasional eBay or CDandLP purchase phase for a week or two from time-to-time, but I hit the flea markets, garage sales, second hand stores, basements, record stores and drive out to the boondocks to look for records at least twice a week, I’ve been known to go 7 days a week, non stop! Depends on my mood and how the stock levels are looking or more importantly how heavy the wallet feels ☺.

The best record store according to you is/was?

Rocking Horse Records! It’s where it started for me, it hasn’t shut yet, but there’s a possibility that it will. It holds a special place for me as I’ve been shopping there since I was 12, it was always much more than a store, it was a institution and where I gained a lot of my music knowledge. This city will never be the same without it. It was where we all cut our teeth with music and bought our records in Brisbane city.

Also some of my favorite stores in Japan have shut; Disk Union in Kunitachi, Spice Records 1 and 2, Sounds of Blackness and Savage! In Shibuya, Rare in Asagaya, Disk Union Hip-Hop in Ochanomizu, man the list goes on… it’s not the same out there as it was in the late-90’s. There’s still records… but there’s also now memories of some really unique and crazy stores which people will never know about who go there now… The days of spending two days solely in Shibuya diggin’, or going in there daily are well and truly over. Spice Records was definitely one of my favourite stores in Tokyo. R.I.P.

What is your routine when entering a record store?

Lately, I hit the soundtrack section first. That’s always a good indicator to me, then the easy listening or world section, cuz shop staff put all kinds of weird and wonderful stuff in there like library records! I also put Leo Sayer and Kamahl records to the front of the crate when diggin’, it’s like marking territory to let people know I’ve been there before… I used to hit the jazz section and soul section, but you know, everyone hits that. I do that in the middle of the dig. I hit the rock section, the $1 bins before the soul section. And then I try find peoples stashes in the country section or classical section. You wouldn’t believe the records I’ve found stashed in there.

Do you mainly dig solo, or do you sometimes share diggin' spots with friends and head out together?

Depends on who it is, there’s some people you can dig with, some you can not. My favorite people to go diggin’ with are Bruce Highway, Arks, Prop Greg and Matty Fresh. We keep out of each others way and are usually looking for different things and show each other good stuff. There are some real weird characters to go diggin’ with that are either all up in your shit, asking too many questions, or just stand around in the store looking confused. It’s like, everyone should be frantically diggin’ or listening, not standing there wondering where to start! Sometimes I feel like diggin’ solo too. There’s something liberating about being in a record store taking your own pace and time in the crates.

Any unexpected places where you found records?

Some homeless dude on the streets of San Francisco with a shopping cart full of records pushing it around, lots of jazz, funk and soul… Also girlfriend’s parent’s collections sometimes have very interesting records ☺. There’s also this shop up here on an island that sells nothing but stuffed dolls and records. It’s quite bizarre, but an interesting experience!

Do you often regret one purchase? Is there one record you particularly regret not buying?

“Diggers Regret”, there’s two ways it works. One, you don't buy a record then regret it. Two, you buy a record and regret it. It happens often! Maybe way too often!

There was this one record in Russia, there must have been at least 40 copies of it, I see it go for like $300+ sometimes, I thought about buying them all, but that would just be selfish, however, might have made some easy dough! I have a lot of records I regret not picking up when they were cheap before the Internet dictated prices, diggers regret is what we call it. As records start drying up, basic things such as CTI records will become harder to get, even your basic hip-hop records. Now is a great time to buy records as the digital age has made a lot of DJs sell their collections, so there’s a lot out there to buy!

About CDandLP.com

How did you first discover CDandLP.com?

Through Google searches, the site would always come up when I was looking for records.

What is your main use for the site?

I usually use it to buy European Records, there’s a lot of good dealers out in Europe with decent stuff at great prices! My mate Iain also has a lot of decent priced Japanese stuff on there right now so sometimes I get things from him through the site.

How often do you visit the site? How much time do you spend? What is your browsing routine?

I usually find sellers who have similar tastes as mine and browse their inventories, I always end up buying more than just the record I was originally after!

What aspects of the site do you like?

It’s easy to use, and reliable… never had a problem purchasing with you guys.

What do you think should be the future of CDandLP.com?

Keep building it, but don’t change too fast, possibly add some sort of social networking aspect or message forum to it…

What online Marketplace has changed on the record collector market?

It’s definitely changed the game, it’s like everytime I sell or trade a record, or buy an unpriced record, the shop staff hit popsike and look at the highest price and charge me that… without even taking into consideration pressing, quality, grading, etc.!! And then when they are buying off me, they always give me the lowest price! That’s the downfall of the Internet and diggin’… there are some stores I refuse to go to because they only use popsike to price everything. It’s silly, dealers and physical record stores need to start being a little smarter otherwise everyone will migrate towards the Internet. There needs to be an incentive to enter a store, because if it’s cheaper or a similar price on the Internet, it’s natural that people will start making their purchases there, especially since Australia has such a strong dollar at the moment.

For more information about DJ Sheep visit:
official site: www.djsheep.com
facebook: www.facebook.com/mobbsheep
tasman connection store: www.djsheep.com/tasman
weird gear: http://weirdgear.wordpress.com

The Vintage Record, Sydney

2011-07-18T19:00:00.000-07:00

Second stop in Sydney. An iconic record store here, called The Vintage Record.
It is owned and run by Phil Thomson and Jimi Polar. You'll see Jimi on the pictures. The store is located on Parramatta Road in the music instruments dealers district and not too far from Pigeon Ground record store (only 10 minutes walk). You'll see in the future posts that record stores I've visited are very closed to each other.

The shop has been here for 12 years, Phil and Jimi have had it the last 5.
They have no particular specialties, it's all about vinyl and finding original pressings across all genres of music. Phil says "we just love old records ... you know....when music had something to say".

Apart selling records, they do speciality mixes for people, DJ parties occasionally, record finding service, restoration and professional cleaning, vintage players, amps and speakers. Gear repair and set-up, posters, collectables, radiograms, LP transfers ....

They also run thevintagerecord.com which is mainly a presentation website of the shop. They sell exclusively through the shop. You can find them under the vintage record places on facebook.

Make sure to visit this store if you come to Sydney. You can't miss it, the ghetto blaster will be out bumping the sidewalk ...

The Vintage Record
31a Parramatta Road
Annandale NSW 2038
Tel +61 02 9550 4667

Opening Hours:
Monday to Friday: 11am to 6pm
Saturday & Sunday: 11am to 5pm

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The Record Store, Sydney

2011-07-18T06:43:00.000-07:00

Another stop in Sydney Australia. I visited "The record store" in May 2011 and met Stephan one of the owners. This store is located in the nightlife area of Crown Street.

Stephan, how did you start this business ?

By accident in 2003. Took over from another store closing with a blissful disregard for the impending digital revolution

What's the story behind your shop name?

We couldn’t think of a clever one so we went with the obvious one (before Google) which became the clever one, after Google

What kind of records do you have in your catalogue, any specialties?

VINYL VINYL VINYL VINYL VINYL Drum’n’Bass, Dubstep, Bass Music, Funk, Soul, Reggae, Dub, Scratch Records, New School Funk, Electronica, Selected Rock Re-Issues and crates of second hand 70s, 80s & 90’s

Do you have other activities ?

Oh yes, production, tuition (mixing, scratching, audio - http://www.redballoon.com.au/creative-gifts/music-experiences/dj-mixing-taster-course), record fairs, promotion, sponsoring of parties and radio stations, radio shows & dj’ing. We sell headphones & needles. We even have a cute little vintage clothing store right next door. We also distribute Vinyl throughout Australia in partnership with Inertia Music.

Note from xavier : I bought one of their tees (on the picture), a green one, I just love it!

Could you describe your presence on the web?

Our web site sux (www.recordstore.com.au if you don’t believe us)

Do you sell online ?

The internet sux. It is not a place in which one can drink beer or play darts or talk shit. We do, however, do mail-order for the peeps who can’t make it here to do the aforementioned.

Any anecdotes, some funny things that have happened in the life of the shop ?

You’ll have to come and have a beer with us, the list is, as they say, endless.

The Record Store‎
255b Crown Street
Darlinghurst NSW 2010
(02) 9380 8223
www.recordstore.com.au

Pigeon Ground Records and Clothing, Sydney

2011-07-04T19:58:00.000-07:00

After visiting not all (which is quite impossible) but a significant number of Tokyo record stores, I've decided to extend the posts to other cities over the travel I (or friends) could do. I visited Pigeon Ground during my stay in Sydney in May 2011.

Tim Barber is one of the owners of this very stylish record store. He was not there at the moment I visited the store, I made the interview by email. This is Andrew, you'll see on the pictures.

So Tim, how did you start this business ?
The shop was started in 2004 by two sassy young redheaded women (Agatha and Alex), as mostly a vintage clothing store. They invited me to put some records in the shop on consignment, which I did for about 6 months. I then told them that I was planning on opening a record shop, at which point they said, why don't we open a record and clothing store together. That's how the shop as it is today was born in 2005. We knocked a wall out to make it twice the size in order to accommodate the records. Agatha and Alex are no longer involved in the shop, but we're still good friends. So currently, there is me, Tim, who runs the record side of the business and also manages the shop. George, who takes care of the vintage clothing and Andrew and Bri who do the new fashion.

What's the story behind your shop name?
The name of the shop comes from the primary school which Agatha and Alex both went to. They went to Balmain Public School, which is colloquially known as Pigeon Ground Public.

What kind of records do you have in your catalogue, any specialties?
Musically, we specialise in good, interesting, weird and rare vinyl from the 20th century. Pretty much anything that sells, with an angle towards non-mainstream and the obscure from all genres. But the soundtrack to Grease can happily sit next to Stockhausen on any given day...Check out our website for a full rundown of genres.

Do you have other activities ?
We occasionally hold events at the shop, usually music or culture related, but haven't had a bash for ages. We also attend the Glebe record fair twice a year, which is Sydney's biggest and best record fair.

Could you describe your presence on the web?
We have a web site www.pigeonground.com, a blog, which can be accessed from the web page and we're on facebook and myspace (does anyone use that anymore???)

Do you sell online ?
Most stock goes through the shop, but we do auction off very rare items on ebay from time to time. username is pigeongroundrecords.

Any anecdotes, some funny things that have happened in the life of the shop ?
Funny things happen every day in the shop. That's the nature of our shop. People are weird and we get 'em in spades. I mean that in a nice way too.

Pigeon Ground Records and Clothing
102 Salisbury Road
Camperdown NSW 2050
www.pigeonground.com
(02) 9557 6364
0405 849 587

Dub Store Records, Shinjuku

2011-06-21T21:12:00.000-07:00

Opened in 1993, Dub Store Records is as professional as can be when it comes to dealing with reggae music. The name of the place is actually a bit misleading : this is not so much a store than a whole company dedicated to providing all sorts of things about reggae.

Located in Shinjuku, they have probably about 70 000 records in stock (80% LPs, 50 000 new, 20 000 second hand). But they do not sell only records : books, accessories, cassettes, VHS, clothes (a bit), you will find it all there.

Among the things worth mentioning : they translated into Japanese and published the famous book “The Rough Guide to Reggae”, which is a must have for any reggae fan.

Their on-line activity is very professional as well : they run different sites for sales, news about reggae events, various information about reggae music, etc. (www.ReggaeRecord.com, www.ReggaeCollector.com, www.WorldReggaeNews.com), they have pages in English and their on-line shops are well organized (a large part of their sales is done on line, and about 20% of their total turnover comes from abroad sales). So, feel free to give it a shot. They even have a mobile website (www.m.ReggaeRecord.com).

Other things of interest : they produce their own records (about twice a year), often some unpublished tracks, and you can see that a lot of reggae artists coming to Tokyo stop by their store because they have quite many posters signed (Jah Shaka, Iration Steppers,…). And of course, they travel to Jamaica themselves to find some good stuff (once to twice a year).

When it comes to reggae music, what those guys do is quite impressive.

Dub Store Records

7-13-5 Nishi-Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku

Tokyo 160-0023

Tel : 03-5389-1423

www.ReggaeRecord.com

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Hal's Record, Shinjuku

2011-06-14T04:42:00.000-07:00

Hal’s is a very nice record store specialized in jazz at walking distance from the west exit of Shinjuku station. The place is run by the Ikeda, father and son.
Ikeda senior decided, in the late 90’s, he was tired with his old job and he took the plunge : being a jazz fan for a long long time, he quit his traveling agent company and opened up Hal’s in 2000 (and enjoyed his other passion : vintage cars).

The place holds about 10 000 records, mainly LPs and some books.

The Ikeda family travels abroad on a regular basis, mainly to Europe (US too, but less often). Their website does not have any English pages, but if you send emails explaining what you want or what you are looking for, they will let you know what they can do for you.

They get frequent visits from various artists stopping by Tokyo : Sonic Youth, Thurston Moore or Steely Dan…

And Ikeda-san (the son) DJs occasionally some good jazz, rare groove or house music in jazz clubs in Tokyo (like club Oto).

Hal’s

Daikan Plaza B-306,

7-10-17 Nishi-Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku

Tokyo 160-0023

Tel : 03-3364-1577

www.hals-jazz.com

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Los Apson?, Shinjuku

2011-06-06T01:47:00.000-07:00

Los Apson is a cute little shop located in Shinjuku. It was opened in 1994 by Keiji Yamabe, a fan of latin music.

Yamabe-san has about 10 000 refs in stock, (half LPs, half CDs), with of lot of productions from South American countries, but not only (rock, jazz,… as well). The products are mainly new (reissues), but you can find interesting and rare audio tapes recordings, and even video tapes (if you still have the equipment to read them…).

One great thing about Los Apson is the fact that you can find a lot of strange and interesting things on sale : T-shirts (some with original designs), strange books, key-chains, drawings, lamps and all sorts of various objects that you will definitely not find anywhere else.

As for the origin of the name “Los Apson”, Yamane-san picked it from a garage rock Mexican band that produced, in the early 70’s, a compilation with various pro-wrestlers (yes, I know…) and the record was called “Los Apson” (not sure I got the story completely right, but it’s close).

Yamane-san still travels on a regular basis to places like Cuba, Colombia or Argentina, to find records.

And he organizes occasionally some exhibition or live happening (eg. a “noise avant-garde” concert…) in his place. Check the website for the latest schedule. No English, but you should be answered if you send an email (to order or for anything else).

Los Apson?

604 Daikan Plaza Bizness

7-9-15 Nishi-Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku,

Tokyo 160

Tel : 03-3369-9616

www.losapson.net

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Darumaya, Higashi-Ikebukuro

2011-05-29T23:29:00.000-07:00

The Darumaya record store is definitely a must go if you come to Japan. Open in 1995 by Hagiwara-san, this fairly big shop is a fantastic treasure field for happy diggers. Located close to Ikebukuro Station, in the Northern part of Tokyo, it is probably the biggest stock of LP’s physically available in one place in the country.

To find Darumaya, walk alongside the Parco building and look out for the funky paintings in the outside staircase. The store is on the 2^nd floor of the building.

Inside, there are LP’s everywhere : on the walls, in the middle, in boxes on the floor, even hanging down from the ceiling ! But don’t get wrong : it is all very organized, classified and labeled. Basically all genres (with a lot of rare original jazz recordings), some CDs, if you are looking for something special, ask the master of the house : big chance that he knows where to find what you are looking for, in his store, in his stock (he’s got more than 100 000 pieces and it is not all there) but not only…

Because, there is something important about Hagiwara-san : not only is he the owner of Darumaya, but he is the organizer of the “Ikebukuro Record Fair” that happens at least 3 times per year. It takes place in the “kumin center” (a place provided by the City Hall of this part of town, next to Ikebukuro station) and, each time, about 20 record shops from all over Japan bring a big chunk of their catalog to sell (check out an earlier post in this blog about the February edition). Hagiwara-san knows all of them personally and there lies another source of good stuff.

The next edition of the fair is on June 10-11-12. Don’t miss it if you happen to be around.

Check out the website, there is an English and it is possible to buy on-line.

If you visit the shop, you might even bump into some famous artists looking for goodies. About 5 years ago, Henry Mc Cullough did a live session there…

Darumaya

28 Sankyo Bldg. 201, 1-42-14,

Toshima-ku, Tokyo 170-0013

Tél : 81-3-5992-7385

www.darumaya.to

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Manhattan Records, Shibuya

2011-05-24T18:40:00.000-07:00

Manhattan Records is a company that has actually 3 stores in Japan, 2 in Osaka and 1 in Tokyo (Shibuya).

They opened up early 90’s and they sell mainly new production from various labels (very few second hand). All genres are covered but they tend to focus on hip-hop, R&B and house.

Their website is very professional, although only in Japanese.

They propose as well various equipments for DJs : needles, cartridges, headphones, bags. etc. They have too quite an extensive interesting line of textiles products, with funky T-shirts, caps and so on.

It is worth a little visit next time you are in town…

Manhattan Records (Shibuya shop)

Kifune Bldg., 10-1 Odagawa-cho,

Shibuya-ku, Tokyo 150-0042

Tel : 03-3477-7166

www.manhattanrecords.jp

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Coco Isle Music Market, Shibuya

2011-05-19T17:25:00.000-07:00

Located between Shibuya and Harajuku (close to big Shibuya fire station, on the street going towards Yoyogi Park), Coco Isle Music Market is one of those exquisite super hyper specialized records stores. You are into Jamaican and Hawaiian reggae ? This is your place.

Kazuki Nakamura opened this shop in 2003. He sells mainly vinyls (a little bit of CDs), second hand and new, that he buys on his regular trips mainly to the US (Hawaii – Nakamura-san does not travel to Europe). The total stock is probably between 20 and 30 000 records, mainly 7 inches. Soca, rocksteady, ska, Caribbean vintage from the 50’s and 60’s,… no doubt you will find something you like is those racks.

Nakamura-san runs 2 websites (www.coco-isle.com for the shop and www.reggaemusic.jp for on-line sales) both are simple and quite user friendly. There is no English version but it is easy enough to understand place orders without any problem.

Some famous artists come to Coco Isle to dig : Mad Professor, U-Roy or Scientist stopped by and signs their records.

And at night, you can enjoy Nakamura-san’s DJing in some good Tokyo reggae clubs, such as Roots Reggae (in Shinjuku).

Coco Isle Music Market

Funi Bldg 4F, 1-3-2

Shibuya-ku, Tokyo

Tel : 03-3770-1909

www.coco-isle.com

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Big Love – Escalator Records, Harajuku

2011-05-03T01:34:00.000-07:00

Big Love is the new name (from 2011) of what used to be Escalator Records, in Harajuku.

Masashi Naka opened this very unique place in 2002, specializing in electro music. Little by little, Naka-san started to distribute various indie labels from the US and the UK (vinyls and cassette tapes, new only).

His catalog of about 2000 references is 100% from outside of Japan and I believe this is a unique concentration of such rare and particular productions.

Naka-san does not travel abroad much (who would be in the store ?), he is in direct contact with the labels he is working with thru the internet (and imports directly from them). Also, he produces himself a bit (about 10 records per year).

You can find records and CDs from artists like Ariel Pink, XX, etc.

In Big Love, you will also be able to find various accessories (Tshirts, mugs,…) under the “Big Love” brand and you will enjoy one the 6 beers made in Shiga Kogen, Nagano Prefecture (I can guarantee you that you won’t find those beers in many bars in Tokyo…).

Ah yes, one more thing : looking at the signatures on the wall, you can read good words from people like the Daft Punk and Justice. This stands for a very good recommendation, if you ask me…

Big Love – Escalator Records Co. Ltd.

Houei Bldg 2F-A, 2-31-3 Jingumae,

Shibuya-ku, Tokyo 150-0001

Tel : 03-5775-1315

www.shop.escalator.co.jp

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Face Records, Shibuya

2011-05-03T00:24:00.000-07:00

Face Records is the record selling entity of the company Face to Face Ltd.

Shinichi Takei, the CEO and founder of the company, started selling records in 1993 as a mail order service first and he opened the Shibuya store in 1996.

This very nice little shop has about 3 000 records of mainly soul, funk and jazz records.

Takei-san travels abroad extensively (about 6 times a year, to the US mainly, not much to Europe anymore…) to buy interesting pieces.

The mail order business still represents about 70% of the company sales and there is an English version of the site. And it is interesting to notice that they have a mobile site as well (and in English too !). Rare enough in Japan to be underlined…

On the web, you will find a very smart video to show you how to get to the store. Considering how difficult it is to find a place in Shibuya’s back streets, this very good idea is a life saver.

One more thing : they recently started a “shopping point program” that enables buyers to get dicsounts.

Finally, you will find in the store various accessories of great design for your eyes AND your listening pleasure : needles and cartridges (one from Taruya with a very good sound), original design holders (wooden and brass, some with interesting donut shapes…), all sorts of tools to store your records (hard sleeves, special boxes, etc.) and a beautiful made in Japan wooden box that will allow you to carry around safely your favorite collection.

Have a look at the site and, when you stop by Tokyo, do not forget to pay them a visit.

Face Records

#203, 41-23 Udagawa-cho,

Shibuya-ku, Tokyo 150-0042

Tel : 03-3462-5696

www.facerecords.com
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Lighthouse Records, Shibuya

2011-04-26T19:15:00.000-07:00

To all of you, DJs around the globe : Lighthouse Records is THE stop you cannot miss when you come over to Tokyo.

Located in Shibuya (naturally), rather easy to find (which is rather unusual, as you might have understood from all our posts until now…), this nice and spacious shop offers about 3000 refs of various genres from deep house, to techno, minimal as well as nu disco (among others).

From the writing on the wall, guys like Joe Claussell and Dimitri from Paris are regular customers here…

The place opened in 2008 and, when you get there, you have a big chance to run into Morihiro-san or Masuo-san. They are directly in contact with various labels all over the place from which they distribute a lot of new productions.

Their website is nicely done (although mainly in Japanese), but you can try to order in English, they will try to answer favorably.

The shop offers as well some Tshirts, caps and bags.

And Morihiro-san DJs himself from time to time at places like “Koala” (in Shibuya).

Lighthouse Records

Seijitsu Bldg 3F, 2-9-2 Dogenzaka,

Shibuya-ku, Tokyo 159-0043

Tel : 03-3461-7315

www.lighthouserecords.jp

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Next Records, Shibuya

2011-04-15T00:05:00.000-07:00

Next Records was founded in 2000 by Koji Imamoto.

Located in Shibuya, this store sells only original pressing 12 inch singles. And they really do that…

You will find in this very bright shop references of all types of urban and black music : hip-hop, disco, funk, R&B, etc.

And Imamoto-san insists : no bootleg here !

The website is manageable for non Japanese readers and, in case of a problem, you can always send an email. An answer will come.

Once a year, Imamoto-san travels to the US to look for records (mainly NY and the West Coast).

And do not expect to find anything else in the store : no clothes, no accessories, no CDs, no books.

We told you : Next Records is THE rare and collectable 12 inch singles specialist in Japan !

Next Records

Ryukou Bldg 3F, Udagawa-cho,

Shibuya-ku, Tokyo

Tel : 03-5428-3501
http://www.nextrecordsjapan.net/
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RnR Music Garden, Shibuya

2011-04-03T23:21:00.000-07:00

To all the rockabilly fans out there : look no more, we found the place for you in Shibuya : Nobuo Matsuzaki opened RnR Music Garden in 1997 and he specializes in Rockabilly, country music and… Elvis ! (and also psychobilly and cowpunk ! Not sure what that is, but it sounds great…).

Matsuzaki-san has about 3000 records in stock, he goes to Europe quite often (Germany, Holland) and buys on ebay as well.

You can buy from the website but it is only in Japanese (although an email in English will work).

On the rockabilly planet, RnR Music Garden is quite famous : Ray Campi stops by the store when he comes to Japan, and other artists like The Living End.

When he is not selling records in his store, Matsuzaki-san combs his hair forward and DJs for live events in some Tokyo clubs.

RnR Music Garden

35-4-305 Udagawacho, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo

Tel : 03-3463-0609

http://www.rak2.jp/town/user/rnrmusicgarden/

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Jaro, Shibuya

2011-03-27T21:23:00.000-07:00

Let’s continue our visit of Shibuya and of the many marvels this fantastic place has to offer : Among the most amazing places (shops) that I have ever seen, Jaro is definitely in the top 3 : the total surface of the store is about 10m2 (and no, this is not a printing mistake… 10m2 REALLY is the total size of this space, toilet included !) and it is in a basement. So good luck for finding it, although it is really close to Hachiko square in front of Shibuya station and about 30m from the department store 109.

But keep looking because, if you are a jazz fan, you will be rewarded a 100 times.

Kenji Shibasaki, the owner, opened this shop in 1973. That makes him one of the oldest record stores of Japan (probably the oldest). He sells jazz only used vinyls and his selection is literally amazing (about 8000 records, all neatly classified and stored on shelves all around the walls of this tiny Ali Baba cavern).

Shibasaki does not travel abroad to buy records because if he leaves, there is no one to take care of the shop ! But, over the years, he made friends from all over the world, people he stays in touch with and who send him interesting leads and good tips.

A lot of jazz fans and vinyl collectors stop by his place, including many jazz musicians touring Japan.

Shibasaki-san is proud to mention that he has clients over 2 generations coming to his shop ! (parents bringing their children).

One last thing : although the place is tiny, you will see on a shelf around the room the most amazing matchbox collection, from various jazz clubs all over the world.

Discland JARO

26-6 , Shibuya-ku

Tokyo 150-0042

Tel : 03-3461-8256

http://music.geocities.jp/disclandjaro/ (Japanese only).

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Sonota (Manual of Errors), Shibuya

2011-03-24T19:43:00.000-07:00

For those of you who followed our previous post and managed to get to this rather old building right opposite from Tokyu Hands, just know that the treasure hunt is not over… Try to get to the 11^th floor (depending on the entrance you used, it is not as easy as it sounds) and go to the 1103 apartment. There, you will find the shop Sonota, from the little label Manual of Errors.

The shop was opened in 2005, they sell used vinyls (about 3000 in store) and they specialized in… “incredibly strange music”. And indeed they DO have incredibly strange pieces: covers with funny bizarre designs, rare recordings,… But you really have to see this by yourself.

The company Manual of Errors is actually a small indie label, producing various artists as well as music for commercials and video games (it is the mother company of the shop Sonota).

They have a nice website (with an English section) that presents their different activities.

Foreigners can buy thru a mail order system working with paypal. Or it is possible to write to them directly.

If you happen to be in Shibuya, make sure you pay them a visit (after 1 pm). You will not regret it…

Manual of Errors – Sonota

1103 Noa Shibuya Bldg, 36-2 Udagawa-cho

Shibuya-ku, Tokyo 150-0042

Tel : 03-3463-6686

http://www.manuera.com/sonota

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The Perfect Circle, Shibuya

2011-03-24T18:18:00.000-07:00

Shibuya is without any doubt the “must stop” for any music lover visiting Tokyo. Once you get there, the challenge will be for you to find The Perfect Circle.

This little record shop full of rare treasures is located in the building right opposite of Tokyu Hands (even if you do not understand now, this is the best way to get there as Tokyu Hands is definitely known by everybody…).
Once you are at the door, make sure to knock even if it looks closed. There is a big chance that Mitsuru Muto, the owner of the place, is actually there.

Muto-san opened this place in 1986. He has got a catalog of about 5000 records and specializes in blues, 70’s hardrock, rare souls from the 60’s… among other goodies.

No website, but a blog at http://blogs.yahoo.co.jp/wwwperfectcirclecojp

Muto-san travels about twice a year to the US (LA, SF) to find some records, and he plays guitar in a blues/rock band that goes by the name “Muto and the movers”.

The Perfect Circle

311 Noa-Shibuya Bldg, 36-2 Udagawa-cho

Shibuya-ku, Tokyo 150-0042

Tel : 03-6416-3510

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Yellow Pop, Shimokitazawa

2011-03-06T23:17:00.000-08:00

Several shops are named “Yellow Pop” in Japan (in different parts of Tokyo) but they are not necessarily related.
The one in Shimo-Kitazawa (at the crossing of the Inokashira and Odakyu lines) was opened in 1980 and is run by Masanori Sato.

In this nice and spacious store, at the street level close to the station, Sato-san sells a catalogue of about 10,000 refs, in all music genres. Some good cheapies, too.
He does not travel abroad so much, so you will find a lot a Japanese original editions.
You can check out his blog, but you will have to read Japanese…

Kitazawa Records K.K.
Yellow Pop Shimo-Kitazawa shop
Dai 2 Suzuki Bldg 1F, 2-9-23 Kitazawa,
Setagaya-ku, Tokyo 155-0031
Tél : 81-3-3460-1013
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