empty sleeve » Markets & Record Fairs

South Melbourne Market: Balearic Goldmine?

rchrdk — Sat, 26 Nov 2011 02:02:13 +0000

Well, probably not. Dim Sim goldmine, sure. But I did walk out of this textbook music stall with the 12″ dub mix of Womack and Womack’s Life Is Just A Ballgame; the 7″ of Thinking of You by Paul Weller; Tom Tom Club’s The Man With the Four-Way Hips 12″ (already owned but couldn’t leave it behind); Fashion Fabrique; Capella Heylom Halib (for old times’ sake) and the Amii Stewart/Mike Francis outing pictured below. Unfortunately it’s not Mike’s finest hour.

Really feeling the collage vibrations here. It’s like being inside a giant 1980s high-school folder or something. Not what you’d call well-organised, but definitely worth a rummage once you’ve stocked up on witlof.

Collector’s Fair Memorabilia, Stall 255, Corner aisle F and East aisle (opposite Claypots) South Melbourne Market

Record Paradise

rchrdk — Thu, 28 Jul 2011 02:33:22 +0000

A few years back I held a job in Balaclava and often used to spend my lunch breaks digging around a local goldmine known then as Warren’s Records. I’d first heard about Warren’s from the inimitable Mr Geoffrey Nees who I believe worked there at one time. He told me that it was a good place to have a look and that the proprietor, Warren was something of a character. Both these things were true.

Warren however had to let the business go a couple of years back. Thankfully it didn’t disappear or get turned into a convenience store. It was taken over by Paul and Renae, a husband and wife team who obviously recognised the shop to be a true record lover’s paradise, and renamed it accordingly.

The main change that anyone familiar with Warren’s will notice is that the shop is now considerably easier to navigate. The vast array of 45s, LPs, 12s and even old 78s is still there, but arranged in a much more user friendly fashion. Record Paradise also now carries books, CDs and DVDs plus the odd vintage turntable and some replacement stylii.

Record Paradise is a great example of what fresh energy and love can do to a business. Warren’s was truly awesome, but perhaps a little intimidating to the uninitiated. Record Paradise is still a goldmine, but you won’t spend quite as long or get quite as dusty finding what you seek.

Record Paradise, 100 Chapel Street (almost at corner of Carlisle) St Kilda. Tel 03 9534 9344.

Record Paradise also holds a garage sale – more like a mini record fair – in Brunswick every so often. Here you’ll find about 10,000 records plus books, CDs and tapes. The next one is on Sunday August 7 from 10am – 4pm at 15 Union Street Brunswick.

Lost and Found Market

rchrdk — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 04:32:56 +0000

Not strictly a record shop but they sell records, as well as all kinds of knick-knackery. Apparently this stall is run by the guy that used to have Yarraville Records, which is now closed.

The selection is mainly rock and pop, but there are several crates of 12s and loads of 7s. You could get lucky.

One criticism might be the prices are just a little high for some of the stock, but that said I was happy to part with $15 for a Gino Vanelli LP that yielded at least one Balearic gem. Nice crate of 70s Bollywood too – could find some Burman or Bappi if Krishna is smiling upon you.

Lost and Found Market 12 Smith Street Collingwood, Victoria 3066

Tel 03 9419 4477