New York: Manhattan: Upper West Side

Last updated September 1, 1997
 

G&A Rare Records Ltd.
139 West 72nd Street
(between Broadway and Columbus Avenue)
(212) 877-5020
G&A offers a meticulously organized and displayed, extensively-stocked selection in its cozy digs. Mostly classical, they also have strong jazz, International Folk and spoken-word sections. Pricey. Used CDs, with half-price and dollar bins located right as you walk in. Notice the friendly "No Casual Browsing" signs! Credit cards.

Gryphon Records
251 West 72nd Street
(212) 874-1588
2246 Broadway
(212) 362-0706
Annex
246 West 80th Street
(212) 724-1541
A slightly less expensive ($6 and up) and much friendlier version of G&A. The 72nd Street store specializes in classical and jazz (and a used Cantorial selection!), while the uptown stores have more popular stuff. At 80th Stret (across from Zabar's) youšll find a mish-mash of folk/blues/gospel and R&B ($4-$15). At the Annex, you can pick up a copy of More German Beer Drinking Music ($9) and other international, comedy, and cast albums.

NYCD
426 Amsterdam Avenue
(between 80th and 81st Streets)
Classic rock store, with really good prices on used CDs and just about the only place to shop in this neighborhood.

HMV
2081 Broadway at 72nd Street
Cavernous rock/top 40 version of the East Side store (at 86th Street & Lexington Avenue). Check out the good jazz and world-music selections. HMV also stocks sing-along tapes, for that home-karaoke experience.

Tower Records Uptown
1961 Broadway
(212) 799-2500
Claims the best classical selection in the city: on any given day, a half-million CDs. Probably the most comfortable of the megas; unlike Virgin, you notice the music, not the place.

 
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