Gapers Block has ceased publication.

Gapers Block published from April 22, 2003 to Jan. 1, 2016. The site will remain up in archive form. Please visit Third Coast Review, a new site by several GB alumni.
 Thank you for your readership and contributions. 

TODAY

Friday, March 29

Gapers Block
Search

Gapers Block on Facebook Gapers Block on Flickr Gapers Block on Twitter The Gapers Block Tumblr


Transmission
« The Swoon and Sigh Lollapalooza Pre-Sale Leaves Out Many »

Feature Thu Mar 08 2007

Our Favorite Record Stores, Vol. 4

Here's a couple of record shops to add to your list of great places to visit for a wide variety of musical tastes. The first, George's Music Room, not only has been operating for nearly 40 years, but has a second location in Midway Airport that you may have missed each time you're looking to kill some time before a flight. The second shop, Permanent Records, isn't even a year old yet, but already has a ton of fans and some great plans in the works for some stellar community involvement. Read on, learn, and head on out there!

Name: George's Music Room

Location(s): 3915 W. Roosevelt Road and Midway Airport, Concourse A

Hours: 9am-9pm, 7 days a week

Website URL: http://www.myspace.com/georgesmusicroom

First opened: 1968

Approx. Size (sq. feet) : 1400

Owner/Operator: George Daniels

Types of music sold (genre): Hip-hop, R&B, soul, blues, gospel.

Types of music sold (format): Cassettes, vinyl, CDs

Buys/Sells used cds/tapes/albums?: No buying or selling of used music.

Georges%20exterior.jpg

Pilgrimages are for those places off the beaten path, where it is possible to go get something rare and highly desired. George's Music Room, located in Lawndale at 3915 West Roosevelt Road (as well as in Midway Airport), is the kind of place where one could make such a journey.

The store's decor consists of an impressive collection of gold and platinum record plaques from the artists who've come by the store during its 39-year existence. Pictures of the proprietor with various music world luminaries as varied as B.B. King, Janet Jackson, and Pharrell radiate from behind display glass. Posters for upcoming releases adorn the walls, and free standing displays of artists in various poses litter the floor space. There are no racks, so the floor space saved mostly goes towards a large table with various flyers, pluggers, newsletters ("Obama: The New Face of Hip-Hop!") and sexual awareness pamphlets ("Have Responsible Sex").

The main thrust of the store is the counter, which runs along the side of the store and is about 40 feet long. Much like a jewelers case, the musical selection goes from hip-hop to oratory and a bit of every black musical genre in between. The musical selection tends towards the old school. They seem to be a store aimed at the music connoisseur that knows what they want. Music-wise, there are CDs, cassettes, and vinyl available, although they differ in availability. Most of the store's inventory is at the counter as compact disc form. A few releases, most notably gospel, are in cassette form. Vinyl-wise, there won't be much for an acetate junkie to look forward to. The selection is rather thin, as it's mostly current-era rhythm and blues and rap albums, not much for the crate-diggers who want to find an obscure sample.

Georges%20interior.jpg

If you want to stand and pore over the glass at the counter, you'll see an amazing variety of music encased therein. Doo wop collections, the latest hip-hop releases and recordings of Malcolm X speeches are in the same case with noted gospel matriarchs, R&B standard-bearers, and blues classics. Prices are a bit on the high end. A single CD of anything hip-hop-related and recent is normally $16, with some classic R&B albums run $16.99 or so. Eminem's Curtain Call album is $19.99, next to a 8 MileDVD that costs the same price.

Music isn't the only thing for sale here. There is a rather large Collection of DVDs available, as well as a cottage industry in accessories of all kinds. Incense, fragrance oils, CD storage cases, a few selected book titles, and posters.

This is not a store to browse, really. No racks to pore over, but they take great pride in being able to order what they don't have in stock and to offer a listen to something a customer takes an interest in. This is really more of a beacon for the community, where the who's-who of R&B and rap come to pay respect to a man who set up shop on the West Side.
-Troy Hunter


Name: Permanent Records

Location: 1914 W. Chicago Ave.

Hours: Sun-Thu: 11-8pm, Fri-Sat: 11-9pm

Website URL: www.permanentrecordschicago.com or http://www.myspace.com/permanentwax

First opened: October 2006

Approx. Size (sq. feet): 1400

Owner/Operator: Lance Barresi and Liz Tooley

Types of music sold (genre): "A touch of everything" — a strong pile of gems as well as new releases from most indie labels.

Types of music sold (format): CD and Vinyl, with some tape sets.

Buys/Sells used cds/tapes/albums?: Yes Yes Yes! No appointments needed. They also offer consignment for local bands.

Permanent%20ext.jpg

Zaireeka the cat is one of the first things you're going to notice about Permanent Records when you walk in. If it's morning or midday, the five-month old kitty will be going wild about the store — knocking pens off the counter, chasing her tail in the sun, or pouncing upon customers with the friendliness usually only seen in dogs. However, come afternoon, Zaireeka will retire to her favorite spot — an empty CD shipper on the counter that fits her like a glove.

Permanent%20int.jpg

While Z will provide ample entertainment for all who enter, don't let her distract you from the store itself: it's got an excellent selection of media diversions for you as well. In addition to well-stocked racks of vinyl and CDs, Permanent also has a respectable used movie selection, recently boosted by the purchase of a personal collection focusing on obscure horror.

Ultimately, Lance and Liz (who co-own the shop) want Permanent Records to be "a community space". The shop has a performance space in the back — bands have been playing in-stores for a while now, with Times New Viking coming up on March 9th (keep an eye out in Transmission for details). They also own a projector, so some movie screenings are being planned. In the front of the shop, — under a secretive covering, lies a mural being painted by a local artist friend — when completed, they hope to have an unveiling party. With the various multimedia offerings they already have scheduled, Permanent Records looks to be well on its way to building that community.
-Dan Morgridge

 
GB store
GB store

Feature Thu Dec 31 2015

Our Final Transmission Days

By The Gapers Block Transmission Staff

Transmission staffers share their most cherished memories and moments while writing for Gapers Block.

Read this feature »

Blogroll

  Chicago Music Media

Alarm Magazine
BackStage
Big Rock Candy Mountain
Boxx Magazine
Brooklyn Vegan Chicago
Can You See The Sunset From The Southside
Chicago Reader Music
Chicagoist Arts & Events
ChicagoMusic.org
Chicago Music Guide
Chicago Singles Club
CHIRP
Country Music Chicago
Cream Team
Dark Jive
Daytrotter
The Deli Chicago
Jim DeRogatis
Do312
Fake Shore Drive
Gowhere Hip Hop
Gridface
The Hood Internet
Innerview
Jaded in Chicago
Largehearted Boy
Little White Earbuds
Live Fix Blog
Live Music Blog
Loud Loop Press
Oh My Rockness
Pop 'stache
Pitchfork
Pop Matters
Resident Advisor
Songs:Illinois
Sound Opinions
Sun-Times Music Blog
Theft Liable to Prosecution
Tribune Music
UR Chicago
Victim Of Time
WFMU's Beware of the Blog
Windy City Rock

  Venues:

Abbey Pub
Andy's Jazz Club
Aragon Ballroom
Auditorium Theatre
Beat Kitchen
B.L.U.E.S
Bottom Lounge
Buddy Guy's Legends
The Burlington
California Clipper
Concord Music Hall
Congress Theater
Constellation
Cubby Bear
Double Door
Elbo Room
Empty Bottle
FitzGerald's
Green Mill
The Hideout
Honky Tonk BBQ
House of Blues
Kingston Mines
Lincoln Hall
Logan Square Auditorium
Martyrs'
Mayne Stage
Metro
The Mutiny
Old Town School of Folk Music
Park West
The Promontory
Red Line Tap
Reggie's Rock Club & Music Joint
The Riviera
Rosa's
Schubas
Thalia Hall
The Shrine
Smartbar
Subterranean
Symphony Center
Tonic Room
Township
Uncommon Ground
The Vic
The Whistler

  Labels, Promoters
  & Shops:

Alligator Records
Atavistic
Beverly Records
Bloodshot Records
Dave's Records
Delmark Records
Drag City
Dusty Groove
Flameshovel Records
Groove Distribution
He Who Corrupts
Hozac
Jam Productions
Jazz Record Mart
Kranky Records
Laurie's Planet of Sound
Minty Fresh
Numero Group
mP Shows
Permanent Records
Reckless Records
Smog Veil Records
Southport & Northport Records
Thick Records
Thrill Jockey Records Touch & Go/Quarterstick Records
Victory Records

GB store

Events

Featured Series














 

Transmission on Flickr

Join the Transmission Flickr Pool.


About Transmission

Transmission is the music section of Gapers Block. It aims to highlight Chicago music in its many varied forms, as well as cover touring acts performing in the city. More...
Please see our submission guidelines.

Editor: Sarah Brooks, sarah@gapersblock.com
Transmission staff inbox: transmission@gapersblock.com

Archives

 

Transmission Flickr Pool
 Subscribe in a reader.

GB store

GB Store

GB Buttons $1.50

GB T-Shirt $12

I ✶ Chi T-Shirts $15