grey Posted December 15, 2003 Report Share Posted December 15, 2003 We're in NYC for a few days visiting family and friends for the holidays. It is the first time back home since March '01. I want to do some CD browsing but my time is quite limited. 1) Do the 2 Tower locations (W4th + W66th) still have good jazz import selections? 2) Do the 2 Virgin Megastores (14th + 45th) still have good jazz selections? 3) Is the Jazz Record Center (W26th) still worth a visit? I have no time to peruse used CD stores. Thanks for any advice offered. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan Gould Posted December 15, 2003 Report Share Posted December 15, 2003 Its been a while, but my impression of Tower is "no"; Virgin in Time Square was OK but pricey when I was there last. I can't imagine the Jazz Record Center NOT being worthwhile. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BeBop Posted December 15, 2003 Report Share Posted December 15, 2003 Don't bother with Tower or Virgin; these are mass-market places with the same selection and prices everywhere. Hit the locals. Jazz Record Center, several places in the the Village. Search other threads for specific ideas. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grey Posted December 15, 2003 Author Report Share Posted December 15, 2003 Don't bother with Tower or Virgin; Tower and Virgin used to have good selections of TOCJs, JRVGs and VICJs. Do they no longer stock that stuff? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BeBop Posted December 15, 2003 Report Share Posted December 15, 2003 I haven't seen much of the import stuff at Tower lately, since the bankruptcy and cal, though there's still (I think) a bin of relatively undesireable stuff at the lower Broadway location. The things I come across in Tower's bins (inlcuding imports) are also available on their website at no-worse prices. Save your NYC time for things you can't get on the web - like JRC's incredible vinyl inventory! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kh1958 Posted December 15, 2003 Report Share Posted December 15, 2003 The Tower near Lincoln Center on Broadway is definitely worth visiting. There's a Tower in my city but the selection is far inferior to the one on Broadway, where on my last visit a couple of months ago I found numerous interesting and hard-to-find CDs. I also really liked the Jazz Record Center, but this one is more for someone who prefers vinyl. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grey Posted December 17, 2003 Author Report Share Posted December 17, 2003 I haven't had much time for CD browsing but I did stop into the Tower on the Upper West Side since we were visiting relatives in the area. It was quite a disappointment. I hadn't been there in almost 3 years and that was before the bankruptcy. This Towers location was one of the best retail sites that I had ever been to for imports but now it seemed real empty. Too bad. On the brighter side there is something magic about NYC at Christmas --- the lights, the decorations and even the snow the other night. We went to see the movie ELF last night and appropriately it is set in NY. A big Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BeBop Posted December 17, 2003 Report Share Posted December 17, 2003 Yes, New York is special at Christmas time. (And I'm just a little less sentimental than scrooge himself.) I agree that the Lincoln Center Tower ain't what it used to be, pre-BK. Frankly, I don't know of any decent places to buy CDs other than mass-market stuff above about 23rd. (NYCD is okay) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PHILLYQ Posted December 17, 2003 Report Share Posted December 17, 2003 What about Downtown Music Gallery? They have a lot of import and offbeat stuff, and their prices are reasonable. Here's a link: http://www.downtownmusicgallery.com/Main/index.htm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AmirBagachelles Posted December 17, 2003 Report Share Posted December 17, 2003 The imports though far fewer are still there at Tower W4, but they've been integrated with the other titles. For the std catalogs, go down to J&R, those are the best prices you will find at retail. For selection, the best jazz CD shopping in NYC is still Tower W4, followed by Tower W66 (fewer imports than W4), Virgin Union Square. Tower W4 and Virgin Union Sq have recently reduced their sq footage devoted to jazz bins. I would spend money at DMG and the JRC before I give money to any chain, though. Kim's on Astor Place may have a few good used titles, and of course Norman's (3rd Ave, around the corner from Kims) is great for recent OOPs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
7/4 Posted December 17, 2003 Report Share Posted December 17, 2003 Yes, New York is special at Christmas time. (And I'm just a little less sentimental than scrooge himself.) Oh yes...the traffic...the crowds... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maren Posted December 17, 2003 Report Share Posted December 17, 2003 Norman's (3rd Ave, around the corner from Kims) is great for recent OOPs. Norman's is great. It's on 3rd Avenue between 7th Street and St. Mark's Place (aka 8th Street). Kim's is on St. Mark's between 3rd and 2nd Aves. (both are near the Astor Place subway stop on the 6 train). Then it's a short trip down 3rd Avenue (aka Bowery) to Downtown Music Gallery (342 Bowery between 2nd and 3rd Streets). And right next door at 344 Bowery is Sala, a Spanish (as in Spain) restaurant with great "platas" (bigger than "tapas" but smaller and cheaper than entrees). BTW, I have NO financial interest in any of these establishments! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
7/4 Posted December 18, 2003 Report Share Posted December 18, 2003 Yes, yes, yes -> Downtown Music Gallery! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brad Posted December 18, 2003 Report Share Posted December 18, 2003 Jazz Record Center is a must. Not only do they have great vinyl but they also usually have a good stock of Fresh Sound CDs and a decent stock of other cds. There are some things you may not be able to find elsewhere, plus the prices are good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deep Groove Posted December 18, 2003 Report Share Posted December 18, 2003 Don't miss Academy Records on W. 18th Street. I scored a couple of TOCJs and a JRVG there just last friday. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AmirBagachelles Posted December 19, 2003 Report Share Posted December 19, 2003 $15 FMP sale at DMG thru Christmas Eve, that's $3 better than J&R and $2 off DMG's regular price. DMG is my favorite stop too, hands down. Good used rack too. Vinyl is mispriced ($50 for Flowers for Albert?), but I think they don't care because it looks good up on the walls, I agree. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
7/4 Posted December 19, 2003 Report Share Posted December 19, 2003 DMG is my favorite stop too, hands down. Good used rack too. Vinyl is mispriced ($50 for Flowers for Albert?), but I think they don't care because it looks good up on the walls, I agree. NYC vinyl prices! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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