Vancouver’s vinyl record stores are keeping physical music products viable in the digital streaming era. Here’s our list of must-visit stores.
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Worldwide, vinyl dominates today’s physical music purchases.
It’s an upward trend that the Lower Mainland’s network of indie retailers play a key role in driving.
“When a CD gets scratched, you can’t really remedy it, whereas with vinyl, you can drop it on the floor and quite likely not even hear the scratches,” he said. “So, it’s a much more resilient product. The art is 10 times larger with gatefolds and inner sleeves designs to connect with as well. Vinyl is much nicer for the warm sound and even a few pops and ticks is something people are quite accepting of given the overall resiliency.”
CD sales dropped another 12 per cent over the same period.
“We wouldn’t be surviving on CDs alone, but I think there is room for them, vinyl and even cassettes,” he said. “The market is always changing.”
Even with a standard sticker price of $50 for a new album, the music industry hasn’t placed high priority on making titles by classic rockers like Dylan, The Beatles, Led Zeppelin or Bob Marley ready for retail. If anything, it’s an ‘order-and-hope’ process.
“We saw this happen to vinyl when CDs came in too and it’s very frustrating.”
While chasing the highest profit margins is going to be the goal of any business, another issue plaguing vinyl availability is the limited number of record plants producing product.
Small pressings for local artists was often the reason behind these plants opening at all. Doing runs of Dylan albums was never part of the plan.
White says it’s time to accept that “the issue is, simply, we have all created an environment where the unprecedented demand for vinyl records cannot keep up with the rudimentary supply of them.”
The company’s website notes an estimated turn time of three months in bright red print above its name. Owner Billy Bones says the market is changing as the major labels have added some pressing capacity.
“When we started, everyone was running at capacity and swamped, and I used to field calls asking, ‘How long would it take to get records?,’ ” he said. “With recent investments in the Czech Republic and Germany, that has changed and the calls now ask, ‘How much will it cost?’
“I still think that the industry numbers are actually stronger than the reported numbers, as I don’t think they take into account all the records being sold by bands on the road from the merch table and just stick to reported stores.”
In other words, vinyl looks viable moving into 2025 and beyond.
So what’s the next archival music delivery system set to stage a resurgence? All of the retailers we interviewed agreed that cassettes are making a comeback.
As for those music fans seeking to refurbish their grandparents’ old turntable to play new records on, Zulu Records has an in-house pop-up turntable refurbisher offering his services through the store. Perhaps refurbishing cassette decks and Walkmans could be the next movement in boutique music players.
13 record stores to check out in the Lower Mainland
The world may be operating online, but there are still plenty of local record stores supplying music fans with their favourite music in B.C. Many of these stores also host frequent live sessions, in-store meet and greet events, and more. Consult the website for calendar listings.
Here’s a list of record stores where you can head to find old, new and surprising sounds:
Audiopile
Specializing in hard-to-find releases with a vinyl focus.
Hours: Open everyday, 11 a.m.-7 p.m.
Buy/sell/trade: Vinyl
Beat Street Records
Hip-hop and DJ platters as well as phono accessories and gear and graffiti art supplies.
Hours: Sun./Mon./Tues., 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; Wed./Thurs., 10 a.m.-7 p.m.; Fri./Sat., 10 a.m.-8 p.m.
Buy/sell/trade: Vinyl, cassettes, CDs, collector’s memorabilia
Chilliwax Records
Opened in 2023 selling new and used vinyl, audio equipment and more.
Hours: Sun., 11 a.m.-3 p.m.; Mon., noon-5 p.m.; Tues.-Sat., 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
Buy/sell/trade: vinyl
Dandelion Records & Emporium
Psychedelic, esoteric post punk, disco and more.
Hours: Thurs.-Sun., noon-5 p.m.
Buy/sell/trade: Contact store
Highlife Records
Particularly strong selection of world sounds as well as contemporary indie rock and more.
Hours: Tues.-Sun., noon-6 p.m.
Buy/sell/trade: All formats
Music MadHouse Records
Vinyl, CDs, tapes and more.
Hours: Thurs.-Mon., noon-6 p.m.
Buy/sell/trade: Contact store.
Neptoon Records
All genres at this indie store that opened in 1981. Still going strong.
Hours: Daily, 10 a.m.-6:30 p.m.
Buy/sell/trade: Yes. Contact store in advance.
Noize To Go
A mix of classic and contemporary rock sounds including seven- and 12-inch singles.
Hours: Daily, 12:30 p.m.-6:30 p.m.
Buy/sell/trade: Contact store.
Red Cat Records
Specializing in all genres including local indie releases.
Hours: Everyday, 11:30 a.m.-6:30 p.m.
Buy/sell/trade: Vinyl, some other formats depending on quality
Redrum Records
“Challenge — walk into our store and try to be bored.”
Hours: Daily, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.
Buy/sell/trade: Contact shop directly
Soulessentials Records
With a ‘serious focus on soul.’ Apparel, merch and turntables.
Hours: Sun.-Thurs., noon-7 p.m.; Fri.-Sat., noon-9 p.m.
Buy/sell/trade: Use contact form to make inquiries.
Vinyl Records
Over 50,000 titles in all genres carefully curated in the racks.
Hours: Daily, noon-6 p.m.
Buy/sell/trade: Yes, call ahead to discuss.
Zulu Records
A local music scene icon that has released some great compilations. All genres.
Hours: Daily, 10:30 a.m.-7 p.m.
Buy/sell/trade: Yes. All formats.