Fifth Avenue Records & Tapes

I love this store. I’m not a big record fanatic so I’m not so opinionated when it comes to small details about Record Store Day and etc. I agree, the place is unorganized and kind of messy — but there’s something charming about this store and I love that it’s been around for as long as I’ve been alive and continues to remain open despite all the changes to 5^th Avenue. I love coming here for some $ 1-​$ 5 oldies and of course striking up a conversation with the owner about Gene Pitney, Paul Anka, and Bobby Rydell. There was only ever one record I bought that was slightly warped, but it was $ 1 so I didn’t bother making a fuss over it.

The main problems with this place are the lack of organisation and a general disregard for the safekeeping of the record sleeves.
For example — at the front desk there are literally thousands of 7″ singles but there is no organisation, not even alphabetical let alone simple things like genre so to find anything you’re going to have to flick through all of them. Add to this that things have obviously been sat on top of them for years, pulled in and out of the tightly packed racks etc. and as a result all the sleeves are completely trashed.
There are far better record stores in NYC.

I really love this place. Walked by it many times and never went in until recently when I was looking for places to hang my drum lessons fliers. I went in and asked and the owner of the place let me put them up right in the door way.
Then I recently got a turntable after years of not having and and went back to see what records they had. The dollar and bargain bins are great. The staff is incredibly friendly. Tony, who’s been running this place since the 70s is very nice, as well as the one employee, Charlie I’ve seen in there. Last time I was there I even got a great deal on a vintage TT that needed a little work (I got it working btw Charlie, and I’ll bring in a vid!)
There’s usually stacks of new arrival used records laying on top of the bins, so you kind need to dig a bit and move stuff around, but I always find things I want. For me the prices have been very reasonable. I’m not sure about the one reviewer who was saying things were over-​priced. If you’ve ever gone inside turntable lab (which is also a nice store for different reasons) the prices at 5^th ave are much better and they have a gigantic used section.
Anyway, if you don’t mind doing some digging, you’re bound to find some good deals and probably have some interesting talks with the people inside. So go check it out!

My new favorite record store!!! Found precious gems in both the 50 cent and $ 1 bins today, didn’t have time to go thru everything inside but MOST DEFINITELY going back to dig for more! The guys who work there are not only knowledgeable but MAD COOL!!! Thank you Wayne, Tom, & Steve for the best NY record store experience I could ask for. If you read this review, tell them DJ Michelle Q from Cali sent you :)

It’s great to see some of the places that I went to growing up in Park Slope still around. Fifth avenue has changed a lot, but this store still looks exactly the same, I use to come here all the time as a teenager in 1991 to buy single cassettes, even remember coming here years later to buy CD’s wow such memories!

A guy named Spencer H came into the shop on Record Store Day and took an album intended for a customer. He put a price on it that was way too low and tried to buy it. He was turned away
by the store for his sneaky practice. The same person who sought to commit theft by «price changing» wrote a review giving the store 1 Star. Tony the owner wants you all to know that is what happened. He asked me to tell you.

Totally letdown by this store. Record Store Day is a once a year celebration of independent record shops, where all RSD exclusives are meant to be sold on a first-​come, first-​serve basis. I went in, they had what I wanted & they allowed me to hold and check out the album… but it was on hold for someone who had called in prior to making the trip. That’s not what this is about.
When questioned about why they wouldn’t sell it, and told what the RSD rules are meant to be, they explained they don’t want to go out of business and lose the neighborhood’s trust. I have no intentions of ever going back to this store, and I was made incredibly frustrated with this shop’s practice.

On the plus side, I found two great records, one in the dollar bin and another in a $ 2 bin. The owner was helpful (he was the one who directed me to the $ 1 bins).
My only nitpick is that there are things in the way of browsing the records, e.g., new LPs are leaning against the wall, propped up on the racks of used LPs. I couldn’t look through some of the LPs without disturbing the display. I’m sure the owner would move them for you, but it makes it hard for the casual browser.
If you know what you are looking for, I’m sure you can just ask and he’ll show you, but for browsers, the multiple obstacles make it tricky. Still, go.

I pass by here daily but never really go in because I don’t have a record player and all my music is on spotify now. but Primus just came out with an album called Primus and the Chocolate Factory. they put golden tickets in select one and if you get a golden ticket, you get free concert tickets for life. my husband is a huge fan so I went in to see if they had it. they did not but Tony said he could order it for me. $ 10 deposit. it was here in less than a week! sadly we got no golden ticket but I was impressed by Tony’s knowledge and how quickly the record arrived and will definitely be back to show this place some love.

Alright, this is the local small business owner that everyone bemoans the loss of when they close, but there is one thing I can’t get over with this place (and I’m really surprised to not see mentioned on other reviews here). The new selections are so extravagantly overpriced that they basically serve as an advertisement for buying things on the internet. To claim a ½ off sale but mark regular albums at $ 35 to $ 40 is, to me, crazy. The used bins are goldmines for sure but I feel insulted when I see the list price on new vinyl.
*Please let me give a quick qualifier; I buy records all the time. I love frequenting the smaller shops both in NYC and out in smaller towns, so I know of what I speak. The new album prices are simply not worth it. The «sale» price might bring it down to a normal amount, but why operate like that? If you can routinely claim something is 50% off but that sale price is in line with other spots why bother ?
I do like that they might be open bizarre hours; sometimes I’m walking by on my way home after going to a bar with friends and the shop will be open at midnight! Still, hate to be the hater (which is not typically my style as you can see from my other reviews) but the new album pricing thing makes me feel like I’m being treated like an idiot.

I stopped by this place’s outdoor bins on a whim and found two great selections at dirt cheap prices which persuaded me to go inside. The selection was extensive and the staff knowledgable. I had a super specific request (cheesy Hawaiian music) and the guy on the floor dug through stacks and crates until he found something. In the end I left with 3 good finds for only $ 7

My favorite record store, hands down. Always easy to find good deals here. Their sale bins outside are generously stocked with stuff that would price higher at other stores, and there’s deals to be found inside the store too, even when buying new LPs. If you love vinyl, you owe to yourself to come here often. Especially since the owner, Tony, is a really sweet and knowledgable guy. It’s always a pleasure to see him.

I just recently bought a turn table and discovered this gem of a store in the neighborhood. It reminded me of a store I’d shop in when I lived in the East Village years ago. The man who runs it — Tony — is the nicest, most knowledgable man — and he’s been in the same spot on 5^th Ave since 1972! Lots of amazing records and tapes of all genres, including the latest releases. Check it out!

I love gems like this. This is an unpretentious, divey, hole in the wall (literally) record store. It is cluttered and messy and disorganized and filled with an assortment of records. And I love it.
I go straight to the dollar bins outside. There are about 10 – 15 bins of records loosely labeled with titles such as «Classic Rock» «Jazz» «Blues». Sometimes a white sticky note will inform you that each record is only 25 cents. I have walked away with 8 records for 2 bucks. Good records! The Doors, Beatles, The Who, Allman Brothers, Marshall Tucker Band, etc. etc.
There are also some ridiculous options available as well, an unknown rapper from the mid 70’s, another album I purchased simply because the record cover was 5 men in speedos and killer mustaches, and of course some holiday themed music.
Really, can you beat listening to a lightly scuffed record, with a good whiskey, while cooking a nice meal?
PS. Before making the trek here, check the hours. It closes early most days and is closed on Sundays, Mondays and Wednesdays.
PPS. They also have a selection of current music records, VHS tapes, compact disc’s and the classic cassette tape, available for purchase.

Initially, I didn’t even pay attention to this store because I was on an errand with a friend, who was quietly annoyed when I stopped at the crates of $ 2 selections of vinyls in milk crates on the street. I curtailed my browsing, and looked longingly after stacks. I passed the same scene again a couple times while also on the way towards doing something else that for some reason took precedence over scouring bins of cheap vinyls for treasures. Now, I can’t remember what could have been more important…
Finally, when I was on the way to picking up a bottle of wine for a dinner, I saw Led Zeppelin’s Houses of the Holy at the front of a crate, I literally squealed to a stop on the sidewalk and decided enough was enough. I didn’t care if the moment was inopportune, dammit, I was going to follow through on my curiosities about these records, now or never! The record had its sleeve, but no album cover. Like I cared; it was 2 bucks! A cursory shuffle through of the accompanying vinyls revealed that I would have to come back after my errand to really devote time to the hunt.
I looked up at the source of all these goodies and saw the faded old sign of the Record & Tape center, and realized I’d seen it some time before and assumed it was a dusty graveyard for old audio equipment and electronics. WRONG! With the Zeppelin record in my trembling, grubby fist, I crossed the threshold into a dusty but not completely chaotic haven of soooo many more records, plus DVDs, VHS tapes, and CDs. There were two guys in there; one behind the corner and one in the narrow aisles who could have been a local streetperson or another staff member. It was impossible to tell. Fumbling to express myself in a hurry, I explained that I’d found this record and HAD to have it and for SURE was going to get it, but could they hold it for me while I went to the wine shop? Both men kind of gaped at my paranoid mania, but the man behind the counter nodded assuringly.
Minutes later, I came back hauling two bottles of wine plus one of Lambrusca in my tiny tote. The ground was dusty, but I was beyond caring even about that, and shoved my white canvas bag in a corner, rolling up my sleeves. I didn’t bother worrying about my possessions. It was exceedingly apparent that this was not the place where people would be coveting my iPhone 5 or milliliters of Sauvignon Blanc.
Only Pearl Jam’s Ten, a recent arrival from a buyer/​trader, was set at the high prices that plague vintage record stories throughout this city. Everything else was $ 8 or under, and I basically made myself sick going through alphabetized rock, selected classical (50 cents???), soul, and part of Latin before I realized I was going to be unable to tackle Country/​Western until another day.
Mind you, this whole time, I was bringing albums up to the store owner to play on an uncovered turntable. I started off meekly, but after hearing the first strains of «Black Dog» (yes, the album was Led Zep IV in Houses of the Holy’s clothing, but still, whatever!!), I became bold. Soon, we had a system down; I’d approach the counter with another record, the guy would hand me the one that had been playing, and put the new one on.
I weeded out so many items (i.e. James Taylor’s Mud Slide Slim and the Blue Horizon, Lynyrd Skynrd’s One More From the Road… which now I regret) before settling on a final pull of:
Adagio for Strings — Samuel Barber
With a Little Help From My Friends — Joe Cocker
Wind on the Water — Crosby and Nash
Surrealistic Pillow — Jefferson Airplane
Lakme (yes, the opera of the ethereal «Flower Duet» aria first featured on Virgin Airlines’s ad campaigns in the ‘90s) — Leo Delibes
The Wild Heart — Stevie Nicks
Ryde or Die Vol. 1 (2 vinyls) — Rough Ryders
Total: $ 21 and change after he let me take Rough Ryders for the price of one vinyl!
I asked if they took card. The owner grimaced slightly and said that he’d have to charge me a nominal fee. I told him to go right ahead, then the total came out to just under $ 20. «How’s that?» I asked. He shrugged, «Ah, I don’t know, it just came out that way, so I’ll let you have it.»
Wishing him and his lifer customers a very good day, I went skipping home with my loot.
If ever I have to sell, trade, offload, or donate my old music or movies of any form, this will be my go-​to spot because it is a good business through and through and I want to support it. It’s the equivalent of those thrift stores where you can still find amazing stuff for 5 bucks, rather than a re-​print of a Guns and Roses t-​shirt for $ 23, know what I’m saying?
Hear me: Record & Tape Center is second only to finding someone’s mint collection out for the taking on the street. (This just happened to me yesterday, but we all know it’s once in a blue moon or a hurricane). If you like vinyl or music at all, get thee to this place! Wear long sleeves, though. I ended up feeling itchy, because I’m embarrassingly allergic to dust… and dust does gather on good records.

This place is something special. They have all sorts of vhs, records, 8-​tracks, cool 80’s posters on the wall, eclectic offerings. Everything is disordered in a very orderly way.

They have bootlegs from heaven. Just a really a phenomenol place. Talked to Ben. Knew quite a bit and searched for things that I knew I would love.

I love unassuming record stores like these. Amidst the dust filled crates, there are usually some gems lurking.
I went straight to the hip hop and world/​Latin sections as I usually do. The hip hop section was all American, some old school stuff (Run DMC, Grandmaster Flash and Melle Mel), but nothing that really caught my eye. There were also some great Fania re-​issues at a reasonable price ($ 12 – 13). I have a general rule though that when I’m traveling, I’ll stick to buying used records as they’re more a souvenir/​reflection of the city. So, I headed back outside the shop to the numerous dollar bins lining the entrance. The Latin bin did not disappoint as I scored a Celia Cruz record and two LPs of AfroCaribbean funkiness.
Didn’t get a chance to dig through the tapes, but they looked promising…

I’m big on bribing myself with a trip here after I actually take my ass to go work out around the corner at the YMCA. And frankly, it’s a pretty good bribe that usually works — because this place is practically a wet dream for those who actually enjoy sorting through boxes upon boxes of records in an attempt to find an original MGM label Hank Williams 45 (for 50 cents, mind you) or something akin to such.
And the record dorks rejoiced.

This place is a bit hard to search through, but the prices are good and you never know what you may find.
I especially liked the outside bins where they had Cds and records for $ 1 and cs tapes and dvds too, I scored 3 cds for $ 3.