CENTRAL
3rd Avenue, N., Downtown. Stumbled upon this basement shop tucked beneath Bankers Alley Hotel and was surprised by the extent of their collection. Pretty impressive online search will lead you to the music you crave–or just stop and shop. Obscure artists aren’t all that obscure at Swaggie. In addition to records, CDs, and tapes, they’re a source for turntables and accessories. And if you need a Metallica jigsaw puzzle, they had that too.
623 3rd Avenue, S., SoBro. Jack White’s little empire includes new releases as well as all sorts of curiosities. The Blue Room, its in-house venue, frequently plays host to performances. For an extra novelty, Third Man offers tours of its record-production facility.
EAST
1060 E. Trinity Lane, East Nashville. I once attended a pancake breakfast at this former church that’s now a mecca for lovers of local music. Grimey’s frequently hosts album debuts and mini-concerts but every day is a good day to hunt for all sorts of music. A combination of new and used titles with the latter usually priced around $10. If you’re into books about music, this is a go-to. They also maintain an online store.
1103 Calvin Avenue, East Nashville. Since 2007, the groovy little bungalow has been welcoming folks looking for mainstream music as well as interesting niches. It hosts a Fright Night Fridays film festival along with a busy schedule of events for the neighborhood.
2038 Greenwood Avenue, East Nashville. More than a record store, it’s a bar, listening party and concert venue, does trivia nights, and sometimes has a live DJ. They’re cool with you bringing in food from neighboring restaurants. Inventory includes good newer albums and a strong collection of local artists.
1006 Fatherland Street, Suite 206, East Nashville. The space is tiny but loaded with 3,000 LPs and 1,000 45’s, all in good condition. Prices range from $1-1,000.
2546 Lebanon Pike, Donelson. One of the newer arrival among record stores, the store is well-organized but relatively small. There’s not much info on their website so hit up their Facebook and Instagram accounts if you want a better handle on inventory.
SOUTH
2609 Nolensville Road, South Nashville. Hope you don’t mind a little dust and some digging because it often pays off. It’s a go-to spot for jazz and hard-to-find releases. Prowl through the boxes beneath the racks if you’re seeking something obscure. Prices might be a notch higher for general releases. In addition to music, video, posters, and memorabilia, they sometime have turntables for sale. (Top photo: Finnbogi Marinosson)
WEST
5400 Charlotte Avenue, West Nashville and 105 Gallatin Road, N. in Madison. It’s been around for more than 35 years and amassed a huge collection of new music and back catalog, videos, comic books, collectibles, toys, and such. Most audiophiles prefer the West Nashville location over the Madison outpost. A mix of new albums and back catalog. They also run an online store where you might locate a hard-to-find item. TIP: You’ll sometimes find a music industry jewel like radio mixes of singles.
994A Davidson Drive, West Nashville. Love LPs? So does Alison. You may not see shockingly low prices but it’s considered by collectors as a shop that pays attention to quality so you’re paying for value. They don’t take trades but will offer cash if you’ve got gems in good condition. Note: it’s in a little strip of shops just beyond the Exxon station.
636 Old Hickory Blvd.,West Nashville. Buy, sell, or trade at McKay’s. This location of the five-city chain is massive with books, video, musical instruments, electronics, and collectibles taking up the main floor. Head upstairs for the music which leans toward popular releases but you can still find a few surprises.
OTHER
The Factory, Franklin. Another newbie but they’ve invested in a solid inventory (especially alternative) of new, used, and collectible vinyl that make it worth a jaunt to Franklin. Not going to find underpriced LPs but if there’s something you’re not wanting to live without.
No brick-and-mortar but this purveyor of dance music has an online store and occasionally hosts a pop-up.
He calls it a “mobile record store.” That’s pop-up in current lingo. And he loves him some quality vinyl. He collects (and sells) all genres–all guaranteed to play flawlessly. A quick inventory peek revealed “The Sound of Music” soundtrack, the Notorious B.I.G., and Dolly Parton. Message your requests.