Record Stores in Oxford

Sadly, Oxford now seems to be an Independent Record Shop-Free Zone

However, I do think the guy who wrote the comment in the above link missed Blackwell's Music Shop (assuming you can cope with CDs - which I assume you can with your little player ). It is located on Broad Street (one of THE main streets in central Oxford, near the Radcliffe Camera, Bodelian Library, Sheldonian Theatre - very Morsey, you can't miss it).

Also, when I was up in Oxford there was an excellent stall in the Covered Market ... but it now occurs to me that was 20 years ago, so perhaps it's not there any more... (mind you, should you happen to be a vegetarian you would probably want to avoid the Covered Market anyway...)

Thanks. What I expected to hear as I do not remember any when I was there 6 or so years back. Surprising as I would have thought a student town would have a thriving music scene but times have changed I suppose. Looks like it gives Mrs Lontano more time in the clothes stores.

Cheers

Munch, I think you are remembering an Oxford from long ago. They have all gradually disappeared.

JWM's post above really sums it up. Blackwells Music Shop on Broad Street is excellent for classical, but has little else (a small section of folk/jazz/blues/world upstairs). Garron records in the covered market used to be great but went many years ago.
There is an OXFAM shop in Broad Street (the original one I think) that often seems to have some vinyl in its window display. In fact the only 2nd hand you will find in Oxford is in charity shops.

Other than Blackwells there is an HMV, quite large but fairly hopeless like a lot of these chains. I find when I go looking for a particular artist, 9 times out of 10, the only thing I find is 3 or 4 greatest hits albums. The basement setion of HMV is a little better and contains their classical, jazz, folk, blues section.

Borders Bookshop has a CD section downstairs but this has shrunk over the years and again is mostly top 40 or greatest hits.
Smiths has top 40 CDs (you can see I'm scraping the bottom of the barrel here).

Sorry, but I really think that's about it. I may have forgotten somewhere, but I've lived here for over 20 years and it's at a low point at present. 90% of my purchases are made online or on occasional visits to London. If anyone thinks of anywhere else in Oxford I can confirm if they are still open.

If you're lucky there is occasionally a record fair in the town hall, but I think they may be the 1st Saturday of the month.

This link should give you an idea of what's going on in and around Oxford this weekend:
http://www.dailyinfo.co.uk/eve...nth=4&eventyear=2009

regards

Kevin

Yes I can confirm what kevinrt says. We used to have Polar Bear in Cowley (East Oxford) and there used to be the excellent Massive records specialising in dance music.

I'm not sure if Vinyl Frontier is still operating. They sold second hand records. Perhaps you can confirm kevinrt?

'yout.

Vinyl Frontier that was along the Cowley Road is also gone.

Wide open market if someone feels like setting up a business in Oxford.

Thanks Guys - will not be a very musical shopping trip.