The Best Record Store in New York City
I have finally found a record store in New York that I really like, one that I am looking forward to returning to: Academy Records Annex in the Williamsburg section of Brooklyn. It is a short subway ride from Manhattan on the L train, but worth the effort if you going that way. Unlike the stores I have visited in Manhattan in recent years, Academy Records Annex - the main store is on 18th Street - has good selection, fair prices and turntables! I found two nice additions to my collection, Family's 'Entertainment' album - the one that spoofs the Doors album cover - and Ultimate Spinach's 'Behold and See.'
Academy Records Annex is located at 96 North 6th Street in Williamsburg. If you are not familiar with Williamsburg, it is worth a visit anyway. The main drag is Bedford Avenue which is lined with a variety of small shops and cafes, everything from handmade clothing to art supplies and vintage furniture. Nothing opens up before noon - this is the center of New York's creative community and everyone was out late last night - so plan on having lunch or brunch at one of the many cafes or coffee shops before venturing in to Academy Records. We stopped at New York Muffin for coffee and the Williamsburg Diner for lunch. You should plan on spending some time in the neighborhood and in the store, a large open space with a good selection of CDs up front and records in the rear.
After checking your knapsack or handbag up front - the claim check is a Magic Card - you will see two turntables on your right. That is important, because you will find some records that you have heard of but not heard and you will want to see what they sound like. Every record store should have a few turntables and these are in good shape and with decent headphones to boot!
This is a 'serious' bare bones store, so the decor is pretty basic, a few framed classic album and magazine covers breaking up the bare white walls. It is not picturesque like some stores, a jmble of posters and faded album covers and a mess of records. No, this is different: a place for folks who are serious in their pursuit. But, no matter, the bins are full and pretty much any genre you might be interested in is there. of course, I stuck pretty close to the 'Rock' section myself.
And I left a few treasures behind. For instance, there was a 1968 album by a jazz fusion group called Jeremy and the Satyrs that intrigued me and I probably should have grabbed it, too. Jeremy is Jeremy Steig, son of famed New Yorker cartoonist William Steig. In 1968, Jeremy would have been 26, a pioneer in jazz rock fusion and just starting out on what would become a distinguished and award-winning career as a jazz flutist. He plays the role of the Pied Piper - entirely on flute - in Shrek: Forever After. Why? Because, after all, his dad created Shrek!
So, that is the one that got away. Many more like that and worth a return visit.
Posted by Vinyl Record Architect at 8/30/2010 10:18 PM 
Categories: record store
Tags: record store brooklyn academy records new york city
Categories: record store
Tags: record store brooklyn academy records new york city
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