ALLISONS ALL TIME FAVOURITE RECORD STORES (Worldwide)

By Allison Haugh; Record Connoisseur

______________________________________________________________________ 1. SONIC BOOM, Toronto, Ontario Background: ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! Sonic Boom is Canadas #1 largest independent record store. Its dynamically and creative store displays range from large scale animals and designs relevant to recent releases or upcoming shows, vintage records hanging throughout the store or handmade designs. It hosts free in-store live concerts, houses new and used cds, vinyl, dvds, record players, headphones, music tees and music biographies. Customers are often found using the stores listening stations, to test-play used cds before buying. Sonic Boom offers 50,000 new and used cds and 25,000 new and used vinyl. A smaller kensington market location opened this summer (in July), offering a selection of vinyl and tapes, while the agship store located on the south east side of Honest Eds at the corner of Bathurst and Bloor, offers a selection which is hard to refuse. Customers nd eps for as low as $2.99, while whole cds range from approximately $5.00 and up. The great pricing help give you more music !for your buck, so customers end up spending more time shopping to fulll their music allowance to its full capacity. Most customers are found holding stacks of 8 or more cds, and I often nd I have to put some back for next time. This music store has something for everyone---whether its a new addition to dads blues collection, mums favourite folk record or a rare ep for yourself from an independent music label. ! ! ! ! 782 Bathurst Street, Toronto 201 Augusta Avenue, Toronto May 2001 Jeff Barber

Locations:! ! ! Founded:! Owner:!

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2. SAM THE RECORD MAN (R.I.P), Toronto, Ontario Background: ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! Sam The Record Man was a huge music store chain with 140 locations across Canada. The agship location on Yonge Street in Toronto was rst founded in 1961 and closed in 2007, with all other locations (with the exception of Bellevilles location) closing in 2001. Competitors, the age of the internet and free music downloading unfortunately were the result of Sams demise. Sams agship store had ashing neon lights and a huge selection of vinyl, tapes and cds, making it memorable landmark of Yonge Street, Toronto. Over the years, Sams agship store hosted concerts, promotions of Canadian music and special boxing day sales where customers lined up down Yonge Street just to get the prime deal on their favourite record or cd. Many of Sams customers were disheartened by the closing of Sams locations due to its unfortunate bankruptcy. Sams is gone but its legacy as a pivotal music store will live on for many years to come. 347 Yonge Street 1961 Sam the Record Man locations declared bankruptcy and closed in 2001, though the agship location remained open until 2007 Sam Sniderman

Flagship Location:! Founded:! ! Closed:! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! Former Owner:!

______________________________________________________________________ 3. SOUNDSCAPES, Toronto, Ontario Background: ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! Soundscapes is a reliable music source with continuously current toronto concert listings and ticket sales (posted both in store and on website). They host free in-store live concerts and offer a small and rare collection of quality predominantly independently labelled albums. [According to Wikipedia], a soundscape is a sound or combination of sounds that forms or arises from an immersive environment and the study of a soundscape is the subject of acoustic ecology. Soundscapes denitely strives to offer a balance in selection of new and old tunes and conscious of the industrys best.

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Slightly high in price, you denitely pay for the staffs efforts spent towards nding quality albums, reissues and imports at this music store. 572 College Street, Toronto August 1999 Greg Davis

Location:! Founded:! Owner:!

______________________________________________________________________ 4. LOBLIQUE, Montreal, Quebec Background:! ! One Montreals oldest record stores, LOblique features ! ! ! experimental music of the 60s through the 90s--mainly in ! ! ! new wave and garage rock. Most of the small selection youll nd ! ! ! will be rare and not found at other stores. Concert tickets are also ! ! ! available. Location:! ! 4333 Rivard, Montreal, Quebec! ! ______________________________________________________________________ 5. MONORAIL, Glasgow, Scotland Background:! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! Monorail initially opened as a music store within a larger venue, named Mono. Mono is a music venue, bar, vegetarian cafe and mini-library resource. Monorail, located in the venue, offers a small selective collection of rare hidden gems, predominantly on independent music labels. Monorails location in Glasgow is unique, as it not obvious to the on-looker. In the arches of Trongate, where a local outdoor ea market is hosted each weekend, a small understated plaza will lead you to Monorail, in a building with a domed roof. The owner, Stephen Pastel is a humble man, with a wealth of musical knowledge and references. He can be found picking up his morning coffee at one of Glasgows best cafes, Kember and Jones. While he is not likely to start up a conversation on local bands, album reviews or concerts, his eyes light up at the chance to discuss anything and everything to do with music. 12 Kings Court, Glasgow, Scotland December 2002 Stephen Pastel, of the band, The Pastels

Location:! Founded:! Owner:!

______________________________________________________________________ 6. SONIC BOOM RECORDS, Seattle, Washington Background:! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! Located in the heart of Capitol Hill, Seattle, Sonic Boom Records (a completely separate record store than the Canadian, Sonic Boom) was rst founded in 1997 by Jason Hughes and Nabil Ayers. The store hosts a variety of in store shows, sells a wide variety of independent band tees and other merchandise. The selection of independent rock and folk is one of the best Ive discovered, and the band and album knowledge of the staff, offer great service to inquiring music lovers or those looking for similar sounding bands to their all-time favourites. Bring a full wallet, as youll have a hard time putting these rare cds back for a later date. The Capitol Hill location recently closed down (June 2011) due to increases in storefront rent and has moved to a new (cheaper) location in Ballard, Seattle. Stay tuned for the Sonic Boom Records address-to-be.

Location: 2209 NW Market St, Seattle, Washington Founded:! ! 1997 (Capitol Hill, Seattle location) Owners:! ! Jason Hughes and Nabil Ayers ______________________________________________________________________ 7. UNDERGROUND SOUNDS, Ann Arbor, Michigan Background:! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! Well known for its great selection of new vinyl, Underground Sounds is located in the heart of Ann Arbor, Michigan, Michigans university town. Customers are happy when they receive special discounts for special pre-orders. Tiny store with an incredible selection and often !free band posters in boxes near the door. A denite gem of a record store in Michigan.

Location:! ! 255 East Liberty Street, Ann Arbor, Michigan Founded:! ! 1992! Owner:! ! Matt Bradish ______________________________________________________________________ 8. WAZOO, Ann Arbor, Michigan Background:! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! One of Michigans oldest record stores, Wazoo holds a special spot on State Street. Its eclectic mix of folk, rock, blues, jazz and more can be found on the second story of 336 South State Street.

Location:! ! 336 South State Street Founded:! ! 1974! ! ______________________________________________________________________