Atlanta has long been known as a music city: A stop on many Southern musicians’ tours, it most prominently emerged in the ‘90s as the hub of hip-hop and rap. Now known as one of the best cities in America to live in, today’s Atlanta features tastes that have grown more eclectic, but the way music enthusiasts listen to their music has stayed the same: vinyl.
It’s hard to imagine that decades ago, the “death” of vinyl seemed like all but a certainty. However, the power of superior sound and the appeal of tactility in the digital age have seen it not only survive but flourish as a music medium.
Fantasyland Records
Opened in 1976, Fantasyland is far and away one of the largest record shops in Atlanta. Featuring a huge selection of vinyl (both new and used), CDs and even cassettes, it’s been a go-to spot for locals and tourists alike for decades. Everything in the shop is for sale, even the vintage posters and music advertising that adorns the walls.
Sunbrimmer Records
A product of the vinyl resurgence, Sunbrimmer is a clean, modern take on the dusty vinyl shops of yore. Run by an ex-audio engineer named Mike Tyson, the shop is fully stocked with some of the coolest and highest-quality vinyl available today. As an added draw, you can expect special events and releases to happen right in the shop, so it pays to check the events schedule often.
Wuxtry Records
Opened in 1978, Wuxtry Records has been going strong for almost 40 years now. Voted one of the Best Records Shops in America by Rolling Stone in 2010, it’s the oldest continuously operated record store in the state of Georgia. If you’re new to the vinyl game, this is the spot for you, because it’s known for its wildly knowledgeable and enthusiastic staff.
Criminal Records
One of the best-known shops in the city thanks to its size and reputation among local and visiting music luminaries, this is a must-visit stop for any Atlanta music tourist. A mecca for everything music-related, the shop features vinyl, CDs and cassettes, as well as music mags, T-shirts and other ephemera. Fun fact: Store owner Eric Levin was one of the founding members of Record Store Day.
Beatlab
It may be one of the smallest shops on the list, but Beatlab packs a lot of product into this tucked-away space. Known for the unique selection of hip-hop, rap, EDM and house records, this shop has developed a cult following for its ability to get hard-to-find items. Loaded with rare offerings from underground artists, this is a shop for the hardcore audiophile and music fan.
Sweet Melissa Records
This shop may be OTP (that’s “outside the perimeter” for non-locals), but it’s well worth the trip. Tucked in the back of an antiques shop, Sweet Melissa is known specifically for its selection of rare, special-edition and signed vinyl. As a handy feature for the uninitiated, its staff assesses and assigns a 1 to 10 quality rating to each record so you know exactly what you’re getting.
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