New Jersey has a remarkable number of independent, idiosyncratic vinyl record stores all across the state. There should be a guided tour of all its vinyl record shops because they get right to the heart of our state’s charms, history, distinctive attitude and variety. The stores range from small, funky shops that feel like being inside someone’s mind, to spacious, upscale record havens. One thing they all share is owners who are passionate about music on vinyl.
Yes, vinyl is back and better than ever. Vinyl sales have continued to rise, increasing a whopping 29.2% to $619.6 million in 2020, compared to $479.5 million in 2019. The rise in vinyl sales made up for the continued decline in CD sales, and artists are now recording on vinyl. (Country singer Kacey Musgraves is trending in the vinyl space.)
Stepping into New Jersey’s record stores is like stepping into history. Among the pleasures of vinyl records is their pleasing, reassuring size; the artwork on the cover that gives you a hint of what to expect inside, and — they have liner notes you can read. Then there is the ceremonial, tactile aspect of playing the record. You don’t just pop it in. You gently remove the record from its paper sleeve, carefully place it on the turntable and even more carefully touch the stylus (needle) to the album. Since you have earned it, you can sit back, listen to the album and let it wash over you. No skipping, sampling, no distractions: You are one with the music.
There’s also the quality of sound issue. Vinyl (analog) sound is considered “warmer” by some, and the fade out on analog is gentler to the psyche than the CD’s abrupt end. I remembered reading in the NY Times that Dusty Springfield singing “The Look of Love” on the “Casino Royale” album was considered the ultimate in analog listening pleasure. Darren Revilla of Revilla Grooves and Gear in Milltown backed me up on that.
Here’s a sampling of just a few of our state’s independent record shops.
Elmwood Park’s Music Connection. Photo by Manuel Igrejas
Music Connection in Elmwood Park is on a quiet side street off River Road. Once you step in, you are overwhelmed by the volume: a large room with racks and racks of records, a smaller CD section and some cassettes and assorted DVDs and 45s. You could easily spend half a day there.
Address: 12 Summit Ave., Elmwood Park, N.J. 07407
Music Merchants in Westwood. Photo by Manuel Igrejas
Music Merchants in Westwood is lighter and brighter with a vast collection. Owner John Schlapak founded the store in 1979. With his distinctive, piquant take on things, he could be mistaken for a particularly sassy resident of Middle Earth. Besides all the goodies in his store, he’s fun to talk to.
Address: 157 Westwood Ave., Westwood, N.J. 07675
Revilla Grooves and Gear in Milltown. Photo by Manuel Igrejas
Revilla Grooves and Gear in Milltown has a chill, Jedi vibe that attracts true sound believers. The displays are well-organized, and you can sample music on headphones at three listening stations with state-of-the-art equipment in front of the store. If you walk through the beaded curtain to the back, you’ll find a cozy room with a couch where you can test the first-rate sound systems that Revilla has on display in the next room. Owner Darren worked at the legendary Princeton Record Exchange before he opened his place. Whether you’re a true believer or a neophyte, Revilla is worth a trip.
Address: 126 North Main St., Milltown, N.J. 08850
Scotti’s Record Shop in Summit. Photo by Manuel Igrejas
Gary Scotti of Scotti’s Record Shop in Summit knows his stuff. Scotti’s, founded in 1956 by his father, is a bright and welcoming 2,000-square-foot store that sells vinyl, CDs, cassettes (they’re making a comeback) T-shirts, mugs and stereo equipment. Everything is thoughtfully categorized: rock, hip-hop, jazz, classical and movie soundtracks. What does Gary listen to? A mix of the classic rock and new artists, like Jason Isbell and the Black Pumas. He does a big business in Christmas records, too. Like most record dealers, he buys used vinyl, and he explained the concept of matrix numbers — the alphanumeric code stamped in the run-out groove area at the end of a record. It can tell a dealer if a record is an original pressing or a reissue, which affects its value.
Address: 351 Springfield Ave., Summit, N.J. 07901
In Station 1, a record from the 1977 film ‘Eraserhead’ can be found, which is packed with a haunting soundtrack. Photo by Manuel Igrejas
Station 1 Books Vinyl and Vintage Shop is a handsome store inside the old Pompton Lakes train station. Owner Daniel Salsberg was an online book dealer when he bought the place four years ago. Now, records, mostly vinyl, make up 85% of sales. Music manager Joe Smith said the biggest vinyl sales are in classic rock, punk or metal and jazz of the Miles Davis, John Coltrane variety. I asked him what the most treasured of vinyl records were: 13th Floor Elevators (one of the first psychedelic rock bands from the ‘60s) and early Zombies. Station 1 also sells turntables, DVDs, VHS and an intriguing assortment of books you won’t find at Barnes & Noble.
Address: 1 Station Plaza, Pompton Lakes, N.J. 07442
New Brunswick’s Spina Records. Photo by Manuel Igrejas
Rutgers alumnus, Andrew Spina, opened New Brunswick’s Spina Records in 2014 inside a cozy basement shop, then moved to 118 Easton Ave. in 2017. A record collector since he was kid, he saw the rising interest in vinyl and got on board. The Hub City, with its lively music scene, is the home of several influential bands, like Screaming Females (he went to school with lead singer Marissa Paternoster) and Cook Thugless. A former musician himself, Andrew connected the dots between record lovers and coffee and has a partnership with Hidden Grounds Coffee. The espresso bar, at 4C Easton Ave., is just minutes from Spina’s and has hundreds of his handpicked vinyl records to browse while you sip.
Address: 118 Easton Ave., New Brunswick, N.J. 08901
Jack’s Music Shoppe in Red Bank. Photo courtesy of Jack’s Music Shoppe
From the street, Jack’s Music Shoppe in Red Bank looks like a beautiful, Parisian bookstore, circa 1920. Inside, it’s just as beautiful: a spacious, 6,000 square feet filled with the best vinyl (and CDs and cassettes) in every genre. These are smart music people (manager Tim Cronin was a sound man for bands). Its selection is vast, beautifully laid out and well-organized. And there are musical instruments to sample and buy in a room off the first floor.
Address: 30 Broad St., Red Bank, N.J. 07701
The Record Collector in Bordentown. Photo courtesy of The Record Collector
The Record Collector in idyllic Bordentown was voted the “No. 1 favorite independent record store in the tristate area” by Details magazine. It’s a good-looking store in the heart of town. Like all the best stores, it offers an immense selection of new, used, rare and collectible music in all formats, and management has been doing it for over 40 years. At last count, the store held over 1 million LPs, 45s, and CDs. And, like most shops, they also buy and trade almost anything that spins on a turntable or CD player.
Address: 358 Farnsworth Ave., Bordentown, N.J. 08505
Music Country in Cliffside Park. Photo by Manuel Igrejas
While researching this story, I came across Music Country in Cliffside Park, and I just had to check them out. It opened in 1934 as Taliaferro Radio and Electric and sold radios, record players and records. Daughter Joan started working there when she was 10 years old and eventually took over the business. It was renamed Music Country in the 1980s. Joan runs Music Country with her husband, Jim Demarest, a musician who once played back up for Sammy Davis Jr. It’s a small space tucked into a busy block, and when I walked in, Jim was picking on a guitar. Though cramped, Music Country is well-organized and jam-packed with music treasures. The walls are lined with classic album covers such as that of Keely Smith, Bobby Darin and Sinatra that make the place seem like a museum of music history. Jim was an informed and charming guide.
Address: 728 Anderson Ave., Cliffside Park, N.J. 07010
No “New Jersey Iconic Record Shop Tour” (let’s make it a thing) would be complete without a visit to these enduring pioneers of the record business. But you don’t have to sign up for the whole tour. You can jump in your car and, just a few miles from wherever you live in New Jersey, there’s vinyl magic waiting for you.
Manuel Igrejas has worked in the theater as a playwright and a publicist on and off-Broadway. He was the publicist for Blue Man Group for 15 years, and his other clients included Richard Foreman, John Leguizamo, Tony n’ Tina’s Wedding, STREB, Julie Harris and Peak Performances.
This article originally appeared in the Winter 2021 issue of Jersey’s Best. Subscribe here for in-depth access to everything that makes the Garden State great.
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