Wrecka Stow: Blackbird Records – Medina, Ohio

Located at 8 Public Square in Medina, Ohio, Blackbird Records has a wild mix of stuff in it, partially because it shares the same building and door as a toy shop. Walk in the place, look left, and you’ll see this.

Look to the right, and you’ll see this.

The toy store has plenty of stuff ranging from signed football jerseys to Harry Potter collectibles. The record store’s stock is primarily vinyl albums and EPs.

The selection is a good mix of stuff for a small space. For instance, here’s an interesting bin.

Just here we have The Gap Band, Kenny Loggins, Grand Funk Railroad, and Ian Dury and The Blockheads all within easy reach of each other.

Looking for bargains? They have those, too.

Sheena Easton, Kenny Rogers, Wayne Newton, Buster Poindexter, and Climax Blues Band all in the same bargain bin. They also have some cool gig posters for sale, both originals and reprints. This one was a standout.

However, this one is the one thing I would’ve bought at the place if I had the money for it.

My late wife, Mandy, and I were at this show. It was the only time we got to see Nirvana, or Meat Puppets or The Boredoms. The Boredoms freaked out everyone in the audience. No one had any idea who they were or what they were doing. Meat Puppets dropped a solid set, and Nirvana had a fun time that even included taking a break until an audience member called his mom.

So, if anyone needs a Christmas gift idea for me, go to Blackbird Records. You’ll find plenty of options.

Keep your mind open.

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Wrecka Stow: Lost Weekend Records – Columbus, Ohio

Tucked on a corner lot at 2960 North High Street in Columbus, Ohio, Lost Weekend Records takes up the bottom floor of this building and stuffs a lot of cool stuff inside the limited space. You’re blitzed with a lot of stuff you’ll want as soon as you walk in the door.

The selection is mostly vinyl, but there are CDs, cassettes, and other stuff there if you’re not a vinyl collector (like yours truly). However, the vinyl they do have is nifty, with a lot of stuff from all over the musical map. Turn into the room on the right when you first walk in and scope all this wax.

And check out all those great gig posters and flyers! I’d love to have this one in my collection.

Speaking of cool punk rock stuff, they have a big collection of punk rock 7″ singles from a ton of obscure bands. It’s a goldmine for such stuff.

Two long shelves of punk rock / indie 7″ singles!

They also do a good job of what any good wrecka stow will do – supporting local bands. They have a whole section dedicated to Ohio artists.

Finally, if all this wasn’t enough, they also give away concert tickets.

1. Kraftwerk 2. Khruangbin. 3. Nelsonville Music Festival. Also, that is a vintage copy of the first issue of Rolling Stone for sale in that display case.

It’s a neat place. I picked up a CD copy of Electric Wizard‘s Dopethrone there for not even five bucks. You can’t beat that.

Keep your mind open.

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Wrecka Stow: Shake It Records – Cincinnati, Ohio

Be prepared to spend two things when you go to Cincinnati’s Shake It Records (4156 Hamilton Avenue) – time and money…A lot of both.

This place is deep with stuff and is two floors – the ground floor and the basement. Both are stocked with everything from LPs to action figures.

Yes, action figures.

The ultimate tag team?

So, yeah, this place is amazing. I could spend an entire afternoon here. The back of the front counter looked like this when I was there.

So…much…good…stuff.

Plus, there’s funky art everywhere.

I debated asking if this was for sale.
This thing alone is probably worth five figures, and I don’t mean the “Cat Ballou” DVD.
I debated getting that DC Comics 45-record case, not to mention that “High School Hellcats” poster.

Oh yeah, there are records…Boy, are there records.

The horror!
A whole section of krautrock!
Several of these would’ve fit in that DC Comics record case.

Some of the coolest records are special signed editions you can get there.

Those Screaming Females and Lydia Loveless records are well worth the purchase price.

They also have CDs and cassettes, of course.

By the way, this is just some of the stuff upstairs. As I mentioned earlier, there’s an entire basement with more records and books in it.

Most of their jazz, blues, classical, country, and soul records (and soundtracks) are down here.

They also have a big section each of books, graphic novels, and zines.

“Conan Saga” and “Love and Rockets” in the same place!

I walked out of here with CDs by My Bloody Valentine (a three-disc EP set), a double Ennio Morricone album, the new TV Priest album, and the soundtrack to the weird cult film Forbidden Zone. I could’ve spent more time and money there, but we had limited time on the parking meter.

Don’t miss this place if you’re in town. You won’t regret it.

Keep your mind open.

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