The Peculiar Picks: Local Record Store Collections
By Paul Arganda
We as record collectors we find uniqueness in our local Record stores, the unique location that carries history, beautiful architecture, amazing ambiance with stunning interior. This individuality that comes with record stores add to the feeling of sheer excitement as we each stumble on finding our “Holy Grail”. This discovery comes from the record store curators' peculiar picks.
The curations we encounter in our local record stores vary so widely, that none in the Inland Empire and San Bernardino County are the same. There are so many great finds at each record store for every collection. Whether you look for reissues to first presses or carrying a wide selection of genres, and obscurities lost in time that turn into rare records. As for some local stores, demographic also plays a great part in what record stores collectors carry. This wide selection of record collecting comes down to the curation of our record store owners and employees.
Dr. Strange has stocked its shelves with punk records in Rancho Cucamonga since 1997. Prior to this was a long history of their record label producing punk tracks. Dr. Strange brings in great punk titles and some local picks to the Inland Empire and Rancho Cucamonga. Owner Bill Strange supplies punk records exclusively, as a punk local he curates any subgenre of punk you may need and that caters to punk collectors perfectly.
Penny Lane in Upland's historical old town was originally one of eight retail stores. However, in 1996 Penny Lane became the sole record shop. Penny Lane is a quaint little store filled with numerous titles and genres. The art surrounds Penny Lane with music occupying your ears as you search. This curation is so broad as you can find anything, it entirely depends on the luck you have that day. With the exception of also looking through boxes filled with more classics on the floor beneath you.
Once in Claremont village now residing in Montclair, Rhino Records is somewhat a mix of reissues and original titles. Rhino carries nearly anything they can come across. Their curation style prominently focuses on reissues and new titles for a wide selection of audiences, including varied used and rare records giving themselves a diverse curation style for a record shop.
Glasshouse in the heart of Downtown Pomona in the center of great historic buildings, has kept a great success bringing in endless amounts of records, with the sight of boxes filled with records spread along their floor. Employees of Glasshouse curate this selection solely on their preferences and demographics. Alex, the owner of both Glasshouse and Record Safari finds his curation style from records he gathers from his trips and personal collections. This brings such a broad assortment of genres and sections into Glasshouse.
Employees who mainly reside at Glasshouse spoke of the relationship between demographics and what they supply and how it produces a wide range of Latin records. That being said, they don't shy away from quantity with a long row of new arrivals from A to Z which showcase their popularity and bring in their locals.
Lastly a mention of a store with the continuation of success from their sister shop, Record Safari, once a historic recording building for 30 years prior to the record shop opening. What now carries the embodiment of music in the historic exterior filled with a pink interior and neon animals you may find on a safari. Record Safari is somewhat of a treasure trove filled with a great curation of Records. This curation has set Record Safari at such a high-quality standard.
Alex Rodriguez, co-owner of Record Safari hunts for records as he travels around the United States. He has continuously done this for both Glasshouse and Record Safari, this curation is where he splits his findings with Glasshouse, Record Safari and music events. Record Safari lies in between demographic and a wide selection of records of affordable prices, to highly rare records along their “Holy Moly Wall” and its section of rare titles. Their curation is so vast with their continuation of new arrivals, with a wide variety of genres. Record Safari carries a variety of classic albums to obscure titles offering something for every collector.
Alex and many record store collectors and curators search for every record with a wide range of knowledge that shows their experience, passion and understanding of what record collectors pick. Our peculiar picks as collectors and as curators creates such a unique quality and experience in our local record stores. As we fill that supply and demand with each other it creates an eccentric experience in our local Record Stores.
