Actually, here’s Alan’s full question (it didn’t all fit):

Doesn’t matter if you call them records or albums, I’m looking for recommendations on some great vinyl shops in and around Seattle, but don’t mind trucking it over to the east side if there’s somewhere really worth visiting.

I’m specifically looking for shops that carry a good live selection. I haven’t been vinyl hopping in Seattle in probably 7 years, so I’m sure things have changed since then. I routinely hit Easy Street both up the hill and in West Seattle and I’m looking to fill out that must-see-shop list.

Thanks, and looking forward to great suggestions… :)

-Alan

• Jive Time in Fremont or Capitol Hill
• Easy Street is good, notably the New Arrivals
• Sonic Boom, any location, although the General Store in Fremont is more of a dedicated vinyl+books store.

The motherlode vinyl store is Bop Street in Ballard. However, there are no prices on the records. The guy at the front decides on a whim or by book how much it will cost. Proceed cautiously.

The vinyl basement though.. my god. You can probably guarantee multiple copies of any Blue Oyster Cult or Lynyrd Skynyrd double-live album there.

Bud’s Jazz records in Pioneer Square may still have stockpile of live jazz vinyl, if that’s what Alan is after. (I haven’t been there in a while though)

depending on his taste, i’d say send your man to Capitol Hill – around the Pike / Pine corridor, he can hit up at least 10 stores in no time. i forget most of their names but all of them are in these google search results for either the Pike/Pine area or the Broadway area (of note there is the big ol’ Everyday Music on Broadway (between John and Denny) that has a decent vinyl section about the size of most other stores on its upper floor, or slightly west of it the big ol’ Half Price Books, that has some quality tunes despite what the name might suggest.)

everyday music, by far, has the best prices i’ve found in town. and a good selection. although, it’s not a very “romantic” vinyl-hunting place. there’s no mystery of the hunt there. they either have it or they don’t and that’s all she wrote.
the biggest – and i think the most fun/romantic/mysterious hunting – is def. bop street. specifically the basement. the first time i ventured down there brought tears to my eyes. dear lord – have they got vinyl. even tons of 78s.
but, like mackro said – hardly any prices on anything. i love the owner… absolutely wonderful man. but i pay the most when he’s behind the counter. when most of the rest of the guys are working i tend to get “deals.” but this might have something to do with me being in possession of girl-parts.
at any rate. bop street. and on the jazz side – i highly suggest anyone throw a record on the turntable and settle down into that squishy couch and enjoy the crazy stereo speaker set-up. it feels like you’re inside the music.

and ps – my favorite record store in town is georgetown records. not huge by any means, but it’s what i wish every record store was. sigh.