Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
Arts & Entertainment
Video: Searching For Brooklyn's Rarest Vinyl Records
By
Scott Heins
Published Apr 14, 2016
Modified Jul 11, 2016
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
Scott Heins
Published Apr 14, 2016
Modified Jul 11, 2016
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Video by Jessica Leibowitz
While some might consider the heyday of records to be dead and gone, New York City's audiophiles still love listening on vinyl.
Record store owners see LPs and 45s come and go by the dozen every day—but what are the records that make them stop and take notice? From ultra-rare '60s psychedelic rock to modern, modestly-priced reissues, we found out which records hold a special place in shopkeepers' hearts.
There were plenty of surprises, like the awesome 20-member '70s group Funk Factory, a favorite of Bed-Stuy shopkeeper Israel Ben Yahuda. Over at Williamsburg's Human Head, we caught a glimpse of the rare reggae-gospel song "Unless the Lord Builds The House," preserved on a mint-condition 45 disc.
The world of vinyl records, old and new, is practically infinite. If you're looking for a few places that will help bolster your own collection, here are our suggestions.
Tagged
gothamist films
Record Stores
vinyl
original
Scott Heins
Scott Heins is a freelance photo and video journalist based in New York City, and a frequent contributor to Gothamist + WNYC. His work often centers around labor rights, housing, and policing. In 2018-2019 he traveled to four states while covering a wave of public school teachers strikes, with work featured in The New York Times, The Intercept, Getty Images, Splinter, and Bloomberg Photos. Scott is a dues-paying member of the National Writers Union's Freelance Solidarity Project.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE arts-entertainment
Will Barnes and Noble in the East Village spell doom for smaller shops? It's complicated.
Independent booksellers are grappling with whether the big-box chain is a threat or an ally in the fight against Amazon.
By
Sonia Rao
Published Oct 16, 2026
Can eligible NYC singles find love with 30 minutes and some really spicy food?
We went to the Spiciest Supper Club singles night to take the temperature of New York City's dating scene.
By
Elizabeth Shwe
and
James Ramsay
Arts & Entertainment
Can eligible NYC singles find love with 30 minutes and some really spicy food?
We went to the Spiciest Supper Club singles night to take the temperature of New York City's dating scene.
By
Elizabeth Shwe
and
James Ramsay
How the NYC Marathon has changed in the last 50 years
By
Hannah Frishberg
A visit to Art of Play, the Brooklyn store in an animatronic bird beef with Kelly Clarkson
By
Sonia Rao
The hottest way to show you're an authentic New Yorker is… riding a Citi Bike?
By
Lindsay Lee Wallace
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .