Release Records
527 Yonge St
Toronto, ON M4Y 1Y5
416.962.1400
Release Records has just closed their store on March 31, 2006. They still have their website that sells digital s but they are not selling vinyl/CD's any longer.
It was good while it lasted.
Absolutely can't believe nobody has mentioned Cosmos yet! They have two stores right next to each other on Queen West (close to Spadina, I think) and sell loads of old (used) Disco, House, Hip Hop and Techno records. I think one of them also sells new stuff, not sure, though. Highly recommended shops, perfect for crate digging!
Yes, it should be, although I just read that it was affected by a major fire on Queen West, here. I hope the damage is not too bad, that shop is really lovely...
Metropolis (Metro Groove in its last incarnation) closed last fall.
Toronto bites for vinyl - these days, I buy used records that I either missed or couldn't afford ten years ago, from local folk who are selling off or paring down their collections.
I was up here a year ago. I came across a record store that seemed to be almost exclusively french LP's. Does anyone know what record store I am speaking of?
I'm thinking about heading up to Toronto this month, but this thread doesn't seem to have updated recently. Any chance you guys know record shops for 80's-mid 90's EDM? I also heard Canadian record shops have a ridiculous amount of disco, any chance one of those shops is in Toronto? :)
Play De Record will have some 80's & 90's old school stuff, both used, re-issues, and old stock. Probably not tonnes, but you'll find some stuff. I always come away with some surprises there.
357A Yonge St
Toronto, ON
416.586.0380
Also check out Rotate This on Queen St. West is worth checking, and they may have some disco there. I know they have a few hip hop crates that are worth digging in too.
Rotate This
801 Queen St. W.
Toronto, ON, Canada
M6J 1G1
416) 504-8447
You could also try Kops & Vortex:
Kops & Vortex
229 Queen Street W
Toronto, ON M5V 1Z4
(416) 593-8523
Thanks. If I go, I will definitely be checking out those above shops. Part of me just doesn't want to leave some of my NYC shops unattended for a week though ;)
Sure thing. Here's my list in order of best to worst of shops. I've added some comments below if you want to read more.
1. The Thing
2. A1 Records
3. Academy (both)
4. Gimme Gimme Records
5. Permanent Records
6. Disc-O-Rama
7. Sound Library
People say they enjoy Dope Jams and Halcyon too, but I think they're stock is a bit pricey so I don't go there.
You must absolutely visit The Thing if you love to spend hours crate digging for cheap records. Its a junk store, so it's not really a record shop, but all kinds of records are there. Disco, electro, techno, lots of house, etc. Just do it.
A1 Records is probably the best record shop. They have a large cheap bin selection, along with more rarities on the shelves. They sell mainly disco, house, hip-hop, and techno. You're mainly to see the 80s early 90s classics as the rarities on the shelves. A couple find their way into the cheap bins, but cheap bins are mainly the 90s stuff that doesn't belong on the top shelves/displays.
Gimme Gimme likewise only sells used records. They aren't as cheap as A1, but they don't sell crappy G condition vinyl that you'll find everywhere in A1. Gimme Gimme also has a lot of old skool EDM in its bins, and of a different variety than A1, so I would check both out.
The 2 Academy stores and Permanent records are your best real record shop (combination of new+used stock). They have italo, techno, disco, house, hiphop, rock, jazz, reggae, new and old. Cheap bins are more plentiful if you want to crate dig in the Brooklyn spot. But that spot also gets more traffic, so its likely to have been dug more.
You will get steals (pricewise) at the above places mentioned, but if you're on vacation, you might be more inclined to spend some money. Some places with real classics but a bit pricey are Dope Jams, Second Hand Rose, and Halcyon.
Other places worth mentioning are Disc-O-Rama (like an A1 that sells new stock too), Sound Library (mainly a hiphop store with some disco/house too), and I heard Rebel Rebel gets new EDM stock before anyone else so maybe they're worth it too. Two popular places I've never visited are Turntable Lab and fat Beats that might be worth visiting. Turntable Lab is all new vinyl I believe if that interests you. I never go before I'm always looking for old skool things. Fat Beats is a hiphop store. I never bothered cause it sounds like they have high prices and i'm not really into hiphop. And I believe if you order from downtown records online, you can pick up your items without shipping costs at the physical store in Manhattan.
if you have any more questions, just ask. i would've listed more shops, but i feel those are only worth going if you're in the neighborhood. but if you want to know, you can check out my post near the bottom of the Manhattan thread, or just ask me again. there are some shops I've never visited so I might not be able to comment. But i've hit up probably every shop in Manhattan and I feel like most in Brooklyn.
as of 2011, playderecord is pretty much a monopoly in tdot when it comes to selling a lot of electronica vinyls. I've been to the other shops and they don't have what playderecord has.
I am surprised no one has updated this with Slinky Music's info, they are located at:
442 Queen St W
Toronto, ON M5V 2A8
(416) 603-2600
Although, as of a few days ago, they were spreading the word that their location was changing and most vinyl/CD's in store were 50% off. They shared the space with Moog Audio which is the go to place for any type of DJ/production gear, plus some guitars, lots of pedals, etc. Not sure if they are both moving to the new location.
In of music, I prefer them over Play De Record any day because they take better care of there stock and are very happy to order in whatever it is you are looking for. All the newest, techno, house, hip hop, rock, dubstep, electro, funk, soul, jazz, etc.
Sonic Boom > on Bloor and Bathurst. Tons of cd's on the upper floor. Vinyl's in the basement. Wasn't too overwhelmed with either the staff, the selection (mainly cheap represses) or the prices but they're open until midnight every day. And they have boxes for new arrivals divided on the day the records arrived, so you know where to look for the newest stuff.
Address:
512 Bloor Street West
Toronto, ON M5S 1Y3, Canada
(416) 532-0334
Discovery records > Found some cool stuff here, was in the shop after the xmas and they had a 50% sale on their whole stock. Not exactly a diggers paradise but I did get suprised one or two times. Worth checking out.
Address
1140 Queen St E
Toronto, ON M4M 1L1, Canada
(416) 778-6394
Cosmos records > They were open when I was there last time fall 2010 and in the beginning of 2011. The selection is arguably one of the best I've seen in an store. Especially in the location where they sell Jazz. Prices are a bit hefty though, but totally understandable considering it's 2011. They have a back room with tons of rarities (Blue note, sun ra related stuff, brazil stuff . . . ) in the location where they sell Jazz, ask if you could go in there and have a look, but bring the big wallet.
The jazz branch and the hip hop/soul/disco branch is located on Queen Street West on both sides of Bathurst street.
Soundscapes > Mainly Cd but some vinyl. Mainly represses and collections but also some new electronic 12". Also open late I think until 11PM.
Address:
572 College Street
Toronto, ON M6G 1B3, Canada
(416) 537-1620
I really enjoyed going to Play de record when I was living in TO. great selection and they get the new releases fairly fast, I like the staff there too. As for Slinky music i'm not too sure, not much are happening in the store and it feels like your flickng through the same records every time you're there, but they sign you up on a e-mailing list where you can order stuff, however the times I did that it took about 3 weeks - 1 month to get the records. And thats a too long wait for me when it comes to new records. Moog music is cool though, and the staff there are amazing. I also have to give some heads up for Kops records wall of 7", I found some gems i've been looking a long time for in that place.
I sold some to Sonic Boom but I got the feeling they didn't really knew what records they bought considering what they offered for some different records. They paid me most for the least interesting records. I think most of the second hand vinyl stores buy vinyl if both the state and the music is of good quality. They won't pay you even close to what the record is worth though, but that's the whole point of running a record store.
She Said Boom is another second hand book store/record store selling second hand vinyl, they are on College street just above kensington market. Try them if you want to sell.
Was in Toronto in 2010, not alot there... not many decent vinyl shops left... the best is play de record (1/2 hr dig time), cheapish, but lots of scraps to look through
+ Kops Records, mainly re-issues, but loads of original 45s to go thru
2 hr + dig time for 45s, 5 mins for LPs!
Was in NYC 2010...
Gimme Gimme is better than A1 with conditions. But A1 has more soul funk to look though, and you can still find some $5 soul albums that are VG+
Both shops overall worth 1 hour in each
Bleeker Bobs in Bleeker st worth a look for 15 mins... sometimes puts out cheap soul funk original vinyl - Lonnie Smith, Hutson Lps NM out for $7
Bleeker records is rubbish - full of re-issues. But have 15 mins on the $1 floor, there is sometimes decent NM soul electro boogie 12"s for $1!
