#vintage vinyi

[theunderestimator-2]

Good vibes of record lovers captured by Duwan Dunn while hanging out in the old Vintage Vinyl, one of St. Louis’ longest-running independent record stores since the early-’80s, back in the glory days of vinyl.

Once a cinema that attracted art kids and lovable weirdos -like a pre-R.E.M. Michael Stipe who used to dress up in full Rocky gear for Rocky Horror Picture Show screenings- the shop has become one of those sacred spots in the city where circumstance is secondary to worshipping at the altar of music for nearly four decades.

“Vintage Vinyl has endured despite the typical peaks and valleys, and its success as it approaches its 40th year confirms a few brick-and-mortar truisms. Location is crucial. So is providing a communal gathering place. The 6,000-square-foot store sells as much old school R&B as it does hardcore punk, classic rock or grunge, caters to reggae and rap heads and soul lovers, has a devoted clientele who treat the shop like a sanctuary and a staff well versed in dealing with even the most finicky customers.

... Born in a farmer’s market stall in the early 1980s by partners Tom Ray and Lew Prince, Vintage Vinyl has been a destination for lovers of both new and used music ever since, as the store grew from stall to storefront to movie-house across its first two decades. Lew, who sold his share to Tom a few years back, got his start in New York as a gofer for the underworld-connected New York music figure Morris Levy. Tom, a self-described musical ambassador whose nickname is “Papa” and DJs as the Soul Selector both locally and as the touring jockey for soul band Vintage Trouble, met his business partner while studying at Webster University in St. Louis. The two soon started dealing records...”

Randall Roberts, magazine.vinylmeplease.com/

In such moments within such spaces, music’s power to engage the very air around us confirms its majesty. Seems like the body of vinyl isn’t cold yet.

(pics found on Greg Kessler’s IG account stl_punk_archive via & via)