Real record shops can replace iTunes

Are you over iTunes and BitTorrent? Want something a bit more retro? Luckily for vinyl traders… Are you over iTunes and BitTorrent? Want something a bit more retro? Luckily for vinyl traders and aficionados, Oakland and its surrounding neighborhoods offer Pitt students plenty of places to buy and trade records.

Right down the street from the Litchfield Towers on Forbes Avenue, students can find the CD Warehouse. The Oakland CD Warehouse is one of the many CD Warehouses found throughout Pittsburgh. It sells mostly CDs but always carries a few records.

But if you’re seeking more independent stores with wider selections and employees with a more extensive knowledge of music and records, Pittsburgh has independent record stores in almost all of the key neighborhoods surrounding Oakland.

Oakland itself is the home to Wicked Discs, which is located on the third floor of the building that also houses The Dreaming Ant, a small DVD rental store, and Phantom of the Attic Comics on South Craig Street.

Wicked Discs offers exclusively alternative CDs and records from a variety of different subgenres. It is known for its large selection of metal and hard rock but also carries classic, punk and indie rock music as well.

Outside of Oakland, students can find plenty of other record dealers. Squirrel Hill is home to Jerry’s Records, located at 2136 Murray Ave. Jerry’s second-floor store has a huge selection of used records from every genre. You could spend all day looking through Jerry’s old dusty shelves and boxes full of both well-known and obscure vinyl records. Though the shop primarily sells records, there is a small room for videos, DVDs and CDs.

Another major record dealer in Pittsburgh, The Attic, is located in Millvale. The Attic has the largest selection of records, tapes and CDs in Pennsylvania. It sells both new and used records, tapes and CDs from independent and imported labels as well as mainstream and popular records. The Attic is located at 513 Grant Ave.

Voted best local record store by City Paper in 2007, Paul’s Compact Discs, located in Bloomfield, has been selling records since 1976. Paul’s carries mostly independent music with a wide variety of jazz and experimental music as well. Paul’s also keeps a selection of music magazines and local ‘zines on its rack as well as CDs and records. Paul’s was recently featured in Rolling Stone’s charts section.

Another major record dealer worth noting is Dave’s Music Mine in the South Side on East Carson Street. Dave’s is especially ideal for record collectors and traders because, as well as holding store credit for frequent sellers and customers, they also have quick special orders – often for the same day – at no extra charge. Dave’s has recently revamped its LP section, though they do not carry 45s. In addition to LPs, CDs, DVDs and tapes, Dave’s also sells local concert tickets.

Another independent record shop has survived for 17 years amid the upscale boutiques and chain stores in Shadyside: Record Village. Located at 5519 Walnut St., Record Village specializes in blues, jazz and pop and probably has Pittsburgh’s best world music selection. Record Village’s large selection of Latin, African and Asian records makes it unique among the other record dealers of Pittsburgh.

Downtown is the home of Eide’s Entertainment, which offers records and many other collectable items like books, toys, action figures and comic books. Located at 1121 Penn Ave., Eide’s carries mostly collectable classic rock albums. Its Web site has a complete list of what is in stock and of new arrivals.

Stedeford’s Record Shop is located at 417 East Ohio St. in the North Side. It rents DVDs and sells records and VHSs.

Regardless of where you choose to go, Pittsburgh has a wide variety of record stores, all reachable by foot or bus. If you’re bored with downloading and want a little adventure, check out any of these shops for a true pre-Napster-era experience.