Vinyl Remains has recently become my favorite used and new record store in Pittsburgh. Originally located in Dormont, it moved to Mount Lebanon this summer. The store is owned and operated by New York transplant Greg Anderson and his wife Jennifer.
It's a smaller store. In comparison to places like Jerry's and The Attic, you could probably fit a few copies of Vinyl Remains into those easily. But this place is the perfect example of quality over quantity. It's an excellently curated shop, filled with some of the usual LPs you'd find in other used record joints, but then there is a whole lot of stuff I guarantee you'll only be finding here.
The selection always includes a plethora of great movie soundtracks, jazz albums, funky indie label and punk artists, ambient artists, country, soul and funk, and whatever else fits in there. No classical, so you'll want to go elsewhere for that fix and there are no used CDs here, either. It's strictly vinyl and some cassettes. Yep, you read right. Tapes from not so long ago that so many of us grew up with.
The prices for the LPs vary anywhere from three dollars on up. Greg will often get some rare or obscure stuff in that he'll price higher, yet fairly. I've bought a few original Beatles LPs there that were in terrific condition for ten bucks apiece or less. There is no stuff sold here that is beat up, moldy, scratched, or anything less than a VG rating when it comes to the records themselves. Occasionally you'll get an album with a jacket that has a previous owner's name written on it, or a track list sticker for radio stations on the front if it's a promo copy, but that's the extent of anything in regards to condition. Personally, I don't care if someone's name is on it. I'm buying records for the music.
I have also taken in records from my personal collection that I was no longer listening to and got excellent offers in trade credit. I don't go for cash payments, because honestly, unless a record is super rare for some reason, you're not going to get a whole lot for them. So like any other place that offers trade credit or cash, the credit is always better, especially if you're looking to get some new tunes. Granted, it also depends on what you're taking in and the condition it's in, but a quick look around the store will give you a good idea of what's basically sold there.
Vinyl Remains also offers a small selection of stereo equipment for sale, as well as t-shirts, stickers, dust mats, canvas carrying bags, and other merch. Check out the cool old magazine and book collection or even the art gallery featuring different artists all the time. The bottom line is this store is genuinely cool and run by people who are also cool and have a true love for all kinds of music. Plus it's smack dab in the middle of picturesque Mount Lebo, so you can't go wrong, especially when it only costs a buck to park in the garage on Saturdays. So check yourself before you wreck yourself at some other joint. This is where it's at. read more