VIDEO: How To Shop For Vinyl With Michael Fremer

Thomas Mulready of CoolCleveland.com met up with turntable & vinyl expert Michael Fremer of AnalogPlanet.com & Stereophile Magazine in Ann Arbor, MI to shop for vinyl LPs.
They discussed what to look for in the dead wax, how to judge condition, and the first thing Fremer does when he enters a record store.
Http://www.AnalogPlanet.com
Http://www.EncoreRecordsa2.com
Http://www.ParagonSnS.com

[@royalblue2229]

I love music streaming so much. To me it goes hand in hand with record collecting. If I stream something and I love it and want to have it forever then I buy it on vinyl. I’d always rather listen to vinyl, but with streaming I can listen to something and decided if it’s worth my money. Edit: Since making this comment Apple Music has gone lossless, so even more reason to stream before making a purchase

[@W4TSKY]

Well said. Especially with vinyls easily falling in the $30-$45 range for new records, I always stream before buying new stuff.

[@xXChaoticRavenXx]

Exactly. They are two completely different experiences

[@pottingsoil]

Likewise! I always stream an album multiple times before buying it on vinyl. I'm too poor to purchase a record unheard. I respect those who do though.

[@dupisdisasterpiece1058]

Honestly it's such a risk to buy new if you've never heard the album before. There are lots of great pawn shops, thrift stores, etc. that have cheap records where you don't have to worry about overspending though

[@sh_rl.lr_hs]

That's what I do especially before buying new releases that have never heard of before! Is this something I want to listen to everyday, or have in my collection even 10-20 years from now? Streaming service is a great tool to control your spending and curate your collection!

[@Sean-me4fv]

Buy vinyl to listen to music, not as an investment.

[@robertlakay88]

You missing the point. Investing in good music is investing in yourself. Such a good investment will see you many years of entertainment.

[@Sean-me4fv]

@@robertlakay88 Buy vinyl as investment in yourself, not a financial investment.

[@Kaizomusicofficial]

@@Sean-me4fv that’s what the guys saying

[@KingRiverVlogs]

I do it for both! I still make sure to take good care of my vinyl and only play the expensive/mint ones on a good turntable that way they will maintain their value.

[@jeffcsMN]

I agree. I buy music from artists I enjoy listening to. I’ve long given up on trying to collect records others might like.

[@dinkalus]

How to shop for records: 1.) treat it like thrift shopping go in with no expectations but remain open to anything 2.) check bargain bins never know if there’s a good deal lurking 3.) shop genres you like and if you see an artist you enjoy for a price you’ll pay take it 4.) if you see something that looks cool or interesting to you that you’ve never heard of before check the price and if it’s cheaper take that too THATS it basically lol other than that don’t pay high prices unless it’s a record you truly want NEVER spend a lot for a record you know you don’t have any attachment to

[@johnburkert7343]

I have literally THOUSANDS of records, some I bought back in the day new, mostly though I pick them up these days at flea markets, thrift stores, yard sales etc... But I don't understand collecting just to collect. I buy records to LISTEN to them. I could care less what the values are, I buy them to play them. I love music, I love the sound of vinyl, and I love the nostalgia!! I also love physical media that you can hold in your hand and own, no digital downloads and virtual bullshit. If you are buying them just to say you have them, seal them in a plastic sleeve and put them on a shelf, then I just don't see the point in it. If you can't listen to them, or have to worry about damaging them just to touch them, then there really is no point. They were made to be played!

[@concrete981]

Johnny cash live at San Quentin. 1968. awesome.

[@fakiirification]

he does have a point about streaming and digital storage in general. in 40-50 years you might not be able to find that movie or song you want to hear, because it might not be popular enough for any company to dedicate storage and bandwidth to it. At least if you own a physical copy and keep it in good condition, you will have it.

[@dobieprime]

in this climate that we live in now....let's say...WHAT IF...an emp bomb goes off....then you are going to want your media. ALWAYS buy media.

[@FeversMcGraw]

this guy fucking knows his shit - funny as fuck too!

[@johnpolcari]

He should be, he was a comedian in one of his past lives. He made wicked funny commercials for a record store in the 70's.

[@dougedwardsyachts]

When Michael says, what will those streaming people have in 40yrs time. That's nail on the head for sure. Buy once!

[@Channel-cm7yc]

Mr. Fremer what a joy to see places like this. I can tell you get very excited what a joy that is to see lol lol..

[@eleven9286]

As a big record listener, I still would never get rid of my streaming service. I always find so much new music, including some gems I grow to love enough to buy the album on vinyl. I just know the difference in sound is worth the purchase on vinyl. Especially with a good cartridge, and slightly more importantly, great speakers.

[@paulpavlou9294]

Never watched your KZbin channel before, but couldn’t resist or didn’t want to miss seeing MF as he is a wealth of knowledge and such a cool dude.

[@nastyneks]

“There’s only one thing I stream, and that’s when I get up in the morning”. This man is gold.

[@PJHVols]

So is his stream

[@nastyneks]

@@PJHVols Yes.

[@vintagestereocollector4159]

His so brilliant and he knows a lot of things what’s going on world and his good with records and vinyl players etc.

[@donnyrecordsnyc]

The real reason why you want a promo copy over a stock copy. The first copies of the record made off of the freshly manufactured stamper with sharp and crisp edges were used as promo's for radio stations so that they could have repeated airplay and still sound fresh. This applies up until the early 70's or so.

[@Dave30867]

Michael Fremer Can give a person more info about records in less time than any other reviewer and collector than i have ever heard of what a legend of vinyl knowledge . He made his love for music a hobby now its his life and career . Thank You from an avid fan cheers .

[@31cify]

Michael Fremer, a true analog audiophile in every sense of the word.

[@noeljohnson868]

Good call....

[@jpprindle]

This guy is a riot. I'm cracking up.

[@heyb6268]

Imagine a night out with that guy hahaha

[@awrogers3013]

Like Mike I’ve been collecting since 70s…comforting to know we have similar strategies

[@mysongs6745]

This is fun to watch. Thanks.

[@finch45lear]

Michael is cool. No matter what the year or technology, he will be there discussing recorded music. I love that. The Cat is a rock. Passion is a beautiful thing and Fremer has it in spades.

[@LaskyLabs]

No one told me this record store was just a quick trip away. The best record store ever and it's in my fookin' backyard.

[@mondoenterprises6710]

Love the Garland Jeffreys plug. Don't Call Me Buckwheat is a tremendous album. He also sang 96 Tears.

[@oakiron9075]

probably one of the funnest vids i've seen on KZbin!

[@chrisrees7054]

Music will never go out of style!

[@pourlefun]

Michael Fremer made this more about Michael Fremer than about "how to shop for vinyl".

[@alexxbaudwhyn7572]

Thats part of his schtick Some philes find him entertaining, and he does know his stuff re history and tech of the record industry

[@vinylkats6281]

Love to browse in there......

[@Sandstroem82]

Lars Gullin was born on the same swedish island as me - Gotland. And I was raised a few miles from his childhood home. Great artist

[@Aprilseahorse]

Great take of shopping! The used record store near me has a large inventory and I always get a bit overwhelmed and give up looking. If I go looking for a particular LP or artist, I burn out quickly. No matter how much I try to understand his system of cataloging, I end up just giving up. If I walk in to just randomly look, I have better luck with picking up something.

[@saltech3444]

Old jazz records are comparatively rare in Australia, but the other day I went through a whole stack of records and came across an apparent first pressing of Newport Rebels on Candid Records. I knew that Candid was a shortlived label set up by jazz musicians for jazz musicians, and that Candid has a reputation for good quality sound. However, the record looked scratched, so I hesitated for ages before getting it. Thank goodness I did, because the sound quality on it is absolutely skullpopping. I do not have this album on CD and would love to A-B them, but to me this is an example of the finest 1960s era jazz vinyl.

[@mikeadair8181]

Great video. I shop basically the same way. Always checking the New Arrivals bins first. Certain records won't stick around more than a day or two if people know what they are (who plays on it, about the record label, etc.) and they're collectible. Good point about getting a feel for how the store prices. I've given up on a few stores because they price too high, although it is usually worth at least digging through their bargain bins - sometimes they don't know anything about a certain record and drop a diamond into the rough. I have also found some great records mis-filed, like under New Age where no one really looks. And sometimes a store will price a certain genre really low because they're just not into it, even if their other stuff is overpriced. I actually used to shop a lot in Ann Arbor. My aunt and grandmother lived nearby and I would visit every year or so in the 80's and 90's in my teens/20s and come home with a stack of records. I think there was a Schoolkids and the Yazoo or Yazoo Annex. Great stores and great memories.

[@georgeanastasopoulos5865]

Excellent. Very informative, and helpful on the searching for, and buying vinyl records; I prefer vinyl, I am now listening more to records. I also like that cassette tapes are coming back. I've got a good cassette tape deck, however, up to the 1990s when analogue music media were still around, there was not much type 2 pre-recorded tapes made. It would be preferable if newer recordings were made on type 2 cassette.

[@martyfuriak4290]

You can learn from much from guys like Fremmer. Nice record shop.

[@kiaora12]

I hope he already had a copy of Bert Jansch “Moonshine” that he picked up and passed on! That is one incredible Lp and probably my favorite ‘sounding’ Jansch record. The duet with Mary Hopkin is pure analog bliss….

[@AndrewYates179]

Great channel. ❤

[@kevinfetner7983]

The real fun in vinyl is the reason it goes so well with our ears; analog, first order harmonics, coloration and distortion that is pleasing to listen to long term. And....as you go up the food chain in audio, you keep hearing more and more from your record grooves. The brag is that digital CD's have billions of bits of encoded information. What they don't say is that records have trillions of bits.

[@danieldaniels7571]

Kevin Fetner records don’t have any bits, just two grooves

[@jackwezesa1081]

Exactomundo!

[@mondoenterprises6710]

I just picked about 10 $5 records at my local vinyl shop yesterday. Souther Hillman Furay Band, Linda Ronstadt Get Closer, Marshall Crenshaw Field Day, Downtown, s/t, even a Poco Greatest Hits double lp. I check the lp for scratches, etc. and the sleeve and cover, then buy. Mostly I find lost gems. Cds I can find most anything. I have to balance price with quality and what I want or might enjoy. There was a Derek and Dominoes Fillmore Live double set for $5 but it was scratched pretty brutally but I would have bought for sure if not so bad.

[@MrStingraybernard]

He is a wealth of knowledge!

[@JakeThaddeus]

3:00 Bottom left corner, Rodriguez- Cold Fact album and I'm walking out a happy man

[@jmohd]

Thanks for the tips

[@shb8124]

That looks like heaven in that shop, I could spend weeks in there.

[@JimmBailey]

Michael Fremer is a legend---a LEGEND!---in the audiophile circles for years. I've been reading his record and analog reviews in Stereophile since I was in middle school/high school. And I'm 48 now! And as for that whole hipster/vinyl culture? Feh! It's about as tired as those played-out forest beards and skinny jeans! And newsflash: There is no such thing as a "vinyl resurgence." Vinyl never left. It's the damn tech followers that abandoned the format and went along with the mass consumers towards the CD/digital route.

[@mhiraldo]

Ha,ha...i was nervous most of the time watching him handling that Carla Bley "Musique Mecanique' record...one of my all time favorites

[@rod4eva]

That Cold Fact album right behind Michael. I'd go for that 😂

[@el_mal_de_ojo]

This guy is great!

[@AudiophileLaws]

I love Michael Fremer! Always fun to hear him talk :)

[@fredpasta6488]

Fremer is an ass ... he just does his shtick and believes he's a comedian. Ughh ....

[@sharnden7]

Cool video for sure

[@blakewhittington4336]

So many more things about a physical copy of an album you get instead of streaming. The order of the songs used to be important on a release . Now kids listen to single songs and miss out on how it was supposed to be presented

[@fakiirification]

you are correct. many contemporary albums are structured as well. but not nearly to the same level as the old days, with songs leading in to each other almost like a DJ mix. Any of the Floyd albums as an example. Its a different experience when you take it as a whole rather than piece by piece.

[@Jeremy-jp6wr]

Encore is a great record shop

[@GaOutlawVinyl]

Most of the time I stream music but the albums I love I buy on vinyl. When I buy vinyl the first thing I look for is artist I know. The second is songs I know. Finally I look for colored vinyl. I love splatter & smoke colored vinyl. I don’t care for solid colors but the 2 two things I hate are solid white vinyl & split color vinyl.

[@georgemusic4all4seasons]

This guy is great! First time watching and just subscribed. Makes me want to go pick up some vinyl, but I will wait till the weekend.

[@audioeeze8396]

That was very Helpful to me, would love to see more follow up record store visits in the future. Thank you Mike

[@robertjermantowicz7487]

RAJFLA says: avoid trendy "record" stores. Shop at GoodWill and other thrift shops and pay $1 or less for LP's. Take them home, give them a good cleaning and new inner sleeves and enjoy! No need to spend mucho dinaro on secondhand stuff! Supply is plentiful! learned this from decades of obsessive collecting! Viva the LP !

[@Tracymmo]

It helps a lot, though sometimes it's all estate donations of Perry Como and Robert Goulet.

[@johnsradios484]

Goodwill is where I go but now 2.99 per records and a lot of digging. Many show tunes.

[@1301407gl]

My good will only has" old lady attic records"

[@royalblue2229]

JohnsRadios seriously. So much gospel and show tunes.

[@joshbouman1654]

But how much Alvin and the Chipmunks can one man listen to?

[@AkAkAkNeil]

that was great, never heard of that vinyl dude before

[@alanabentrod3963]

Sad that store has moved and is 25% of the size. Was a great store back then.

[@MegaGooback]

I like this guy, the "I don't believe in the hipster baloney." comment is spot on, stop trying to find a scapegoat.

[@DownUnderVinyl]

Great video

[@rmx77]

i like actually finding vinyl. one time in a thrift store i came up with a promo copy of a sorta not so common album. i knew it was played cause it has writing on it as to which song not to play cause they thought it was to dusty sounding. also i like going to record stores cause i can get what i want rather then having to dig through tons of the same junk that is not handled well and that has a ripped up cover and the vinyl has tons of scratches on it. i do happen to also have a few turntables but they could do with a nice higher end budget cart and all but other then that they are pretty good budget used turntables all be it aside.

[@liorb5625]

At 11:45 on the right lower corner: Elvis Now LP 1972, wish I could dig what Elvis LPs they got in that huge store

[@billeaken5262]

you guys need to visit the corner record shop on 28th street in Grandville ,Michigan

[@MONGIE30]

Wish I had this shop near me!

[@Rambl3On]

I like this guy 👍

[@simetry6477]

My best strategies are - friends some will sell you their records, used record stores like he said new arrivals and the records near the floor get ready because it can be boring, use album art and labels to your advantage when unfamiliar with the artist also the year of the pressing can help, ask the clerk directly if you have a title or artist in mind, they can either find it in store or order it for you. And ebay and craihlist, if anyone has suggestions on other second hand sites let me know by responding. And if you really sre into it create a black book of addresses and phone numbers for record stores and start dialing.

[@groovyt8695]

Check for warps and scratches, discreetly photograph the record/s of interest, put to back of box, retreat to nearest pub, find on web, listen, value, go back and buy if worth a spin.

[@icekng456]

cool video, i want to goto a record store now

[@skylermccoy8214]

A good used record store in Seattle that I've gone to is Holy Cow Records. Downstairs in Pike Place Market

[@carlosdeno]

What a complete weapon!

[@saucespicy5683]

3:34 Cool Cleveland indeed, A fine record there.

[@grgprincipe]

He was cool up to the point he was looking if they had a Rega.

[@Mooseman327]

So, Michael got the Garland Jeffreys, "The House I Live In' with Archie Shepp, The Carla Bley Band record...and what else?

[@EzraLesser]

Holy shit, I bought that Nick Drake box off the wall from Encore right after this video was made and just found out this video exists

[@brandxreviews]

great video, I agree with everything he said

[@markh.9822]

14:03 looks like a huge Fairport Convention section 👀

[@TheFRiNgEguitars]

What a great place to hang out for hours. A successful record shops does not over-price every record under the sun which may have some value... a fair business practice. BTW important to note, The gold stamp promo Michael discusses is not necessarily a first pressing. These were pulled from regular stock and stamped "promotional copy" on the back of the cover. There is nothing special about these records, which may be a first, or second pressing, etc. Only a white label promo stamped a first pressing, ie: Columbia notation "1A", is almost certainly among the first off the first stamper, and very special. (a crisp pressing capable of the highest fidelity) Some white labels are "refill" orders which may not be a first pressing. The matrix #'s tell us what it is.

[@mondoenterprises6710]

Fremer is right about Jeffries. Check out Jeffries' album Don't Call Me Buckwheat. Timeless classic with great production.

[@auntiemoshbcs5892]

I have over 2000 records & 2000 CDs, I don't consider myself a collector I own several online shops and therefore sell them, although business is not booming it is profitable and financially beneficial. I seek records CDs and cassettes...etc....with an eye for profit although I do share the obsession of a collector, not only the audio quality of the format but the actual physical presence of it.

[@blackwaterdogs4256]

Better choice: Hit the garage and yard sales early, buy up EVERYTHING that`s cheap and appeals to you, set up an inexpensive record cleaning station, and clean it all thoroughly. For the same 50 bucks Fremer spent, you will have a nice little collection of vinyl.

[@DavidScott999]

The first few sealed albums that he showed had stickers that said "Back to Vinyl." Those are very recent pressings, many of which are mastered from MP3s/CDs in countries such as Spain. Do a little research on these modern labels of classic albums - Waxtime comes to mind. Some of these albums sound great, some not-so-great. And, if you're going back to vinyl for the analog sound, recognize that these modern quasi-bootleg/bootleg pressings are from digital sources.

[@michaellamon280]

I would buy that Cold Facts album by Rodriguez. At the front counter.

[@davidsanderson5918]

I'm sure, like everybody else who watched this, I would also watch a clip called 'how to chew salad' or 'how to scratch your head'. I'm curious to see how a clip explains something for people who know next to nothing about anything. All the while thinking to myself...they don't realise that people DO know how to do this. Interesting genre!!

[@richardfinlayson1524]

i wonder how much that copy of Cold fact(rodriguez), it used to be quite a common record in Australia...... but I saw his other lp for $250 which i have not seen before, its a bit scarce but not that scarce.

[@AmericanConstellation]

LIghter fluid is NAPTHA ...It's very gentle on vinyl. Try it on a POS album... No lie...RGP contact lenses are cleaned with NAPTHA....

[@warrengilbert6978]

Really enjoyed this! Which lead me to Sub. Looking forward to more vinyl info. from you. At 64 I think I am pretty good at picking out LP'S from the $2.00 albums in boxes(on the floor). Why do they put them on the floor for older guys like me? LOL!

[@SubTroppo]

I enjoyed this very much ("I would be stupid not to buy this"). My own usual defence against consumerism: "It looks better in the shop", just doesn't work for music.

[@matthewchance8835]

I didn't know that Jerry Springer was such a knowledgeable expert on vinyl records, who knew.

[@grz66]

To bad this store closed up, I bought a lot of cool records there. The new store is small and just not the same.

[@robertyoung1777]

Records sound great - they loose the nervous sound of streamed music. But They are work. Gotta clean them, care for them, have correct playback gear and the list goes on. I clean mine with a Loricraft machine - follow the directions. It’s fun for the right person. Probably way too much bother to most people.

[@TheWritingGirl]

My home town, I miss it

[@ericjensen9091]

MischievousKittie I don't think I'd mind if you were my neighbor. Yes ma'am.

[@scorpiorising3741]

Ann Arbour. Muslim nation.

[@Juan-Blasquez]

Fun video

[@dippin1523]

Mike, Tell Chad Kasem to reissue the Readers Digest Classical recordings done by Kenneth Wilkinson. A Festival in Light Classical Music as well as the Beethoven Cycle are amongst the best recordings and performances out there today. I cannot believe that nobody has ever done this yet. Chesky released a few but most were done on CD and most could have been better. These very well may be the best Decca recordings ever.

[@fjwjr]

At 2:33 the album “...For The Whole World To See” by the band Death is behind him on the right. This is a great album. A documentary was done on this band that is a must watch!

[@joshbouman1654]

I've always avoided listening to that album because it isn't the Death Metal band Death but if I saw that sitting there I'd pick it up in an instant. Cool art and a long time musical curiosity.

SO , how do You shop ???

[@davidmaraman855]

Fremer said he streams first thing in the morning. Ha! He's Hilarious!

[@Albee213]

The new arrivals are sitting right at the front door, of course they have been picked through, that's why they are there!

[@danieldaniels7571]

Albee213 when I worked the trade counter in a used record store, items that sold well or were likely to sell fast were placed there immediately. Most I placed there sold within a couple days, many within a couple hours. I’d thumb completely through it daily, and during slower periods, thing that had been there more than a few days I would move out and into the regular organized sections. In a store that uses this rack this way, it’s the best place to start. After that, I go directly to the dollar bin.

[@newdomtanner]

Awesome video, even if Michael wasn't friend ed on Facebook. LOL, nice.

[@charlottewhyte9804]

is this in the U states,where,which town or state?Don,t have these in NZ dam New Zealand ,it,s all bloody digital,hate it.

[@dwaynehendricks7842]

I would venture to say the owner/s should have the best collection!

[@davel.9467]

It's Ann Arbor, MI; of course you're getting a contact high. Ha!

[@awrogers3013]

Preswell NJ is Atl pr .

[@rkmugen]

"Reach into my pocket." "No thank you!" Hahaha! Great (start)! Anyway, I don't collect vinyl. But if I did, I'd approach it a bit differently. I'd actually shop online first for the artists and songs I'd be interested in, then form sort of like a 'starter list' on my phone that I can take with me. When I visit an actual store, i'd take out the list and start looking, that way. And the best part about this approach is that, you'd be able to include a whole lot more detail in the specific pressings, labels, and years when they were released, as there can be subtle yet noticeable differences between them. This is true, even with songs that've made it onto CD. Still, there are those out there (i'm sure), who prefer to search for their music more organically with little or no guidance and without such a list.... and that's fine too, albeit that takes so much more time, imho.

[@economicsjingle]

Yeah, I've often tried to do that but more often than not you won't find what you're looking for, so you'll have a better time doing it organically. But I still need to check the price on discogs haha.

[@johnholmes912]

you need to physically examine the record , i use a uv light to spot hard to see defects

[@NobodyWhatsoever]

But how do I shop for vinyl when I'm not with Michael Fremer?