|
Alive and well? Not quite. Nevertheless, John Lennon,
Janis Joplin, Bill Haley, Charlie "Bird" Parker, Jim Morrison,
Sid Vicious, Patsy Cline, Andy Gibb, Antonio Carlos Jobim, Jim Croce,
Little Richard, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Karen Carpenter, Jimi Hendrix and,
yes, Elvis are waiting for you at Yesterday And Today Records.
Or at least their music is, and it is still in the
format in which it was originally released--phonograph records--either
LPs or 45s, take your pick. You can EVEN have it in CDs too.
The owner of the shop, Evan Chern explains: "I've
been in business for almost twenty years and this is one of Miami's
oldest record shops. We specialize in new and used, domestic and
imported 45s, LPs and CDs from the 50's, 60's and 70's: pop, rock,
blues, soul, r & b, jazz, psychedelic, progressive, folk, comedy,
Latin, exotica. For an audiophile, this is paradise."
Yesterday and Today Records recently moved to a new
location in The Boykin Center at 7902 NW 36 Street, Suite 210.
"One reason I like it here is that we are so close
to the airport," Chern explained. "We get a lot of out-of-town
visitors who know about us from word of mouth or through our website,
and we have a lot of repeat business from collectors."
There are over 20,000 records or CDs available and if
there is something a customer needs, be it old or new, Chern will
readily order it.
"If someone wants something brand new," he
added, "I'll order it, no problem. Our prices are a buck or two
cheaper than the big chain stores too."
Entering the shop is a journey of sight and sound into
the past. A huge vintage poster of George Harrison dominates one wall.
On another are photos taken by Chern himself as far back as the 60's, of
Frank Zappa, Hot Tuna and Quick Silver Messenger Service in concert in
South Florida. You almost expect to find strobe lights flashing, incense
burning.
Chern got into the business through a friend in his
class at junior high--they were both into collecting obscure music from
the 50's, 60's and 70's.
He had his own rock and roll show on WDNA for 15 years
called "Notes from the Underground". He still does a show on www.eyeqradio.com
every Sunday from 6 PM to 8 PM. He takes requests, but through only by
e-mail at eceeryder@aol.com.
Chern sees a trend at his store using "old
plastic" in conjunction with new technology.
"What's fascinating is that certain records aren't
available on CD," Chern said, "but people can record their
own, using the computer. They keep the records as a collector's item and
can get near-perfect sound. I think there's a warmth phonograph records
have that CD's don't."
A lot of business the company does is through mail
order, but Chern admited, "There's something about touching,
smelling and hearing a record in person."
And, he cautioned, "You don't want a scratched
record, so it's better to come in and listen before buying."
Personal service is something every one who enters the
store will receive. Chern, in his mild-mannered way, will bend over
backwards to make a customer comfortable and happy.
Recently a customer walked in looking for a new CD,
called Rarities, by Los Bravos, the Spanish group whose song, Black is
Black was famous a while ago. Chern gave him the lowdown on the group
and their record, in Spanish, and he came up with the CD as well.
Another trend that Chern sees emerging is the
retro-party that features music from the 50's, 60's and 70's.
He noted, "People buy a lot of 45s and make their
own dance mix. Some even have jukeboxes, which still play those kinds of
records. They are a pretty good deal: reissues cost $3.50, some others
run only 25 cents and the rarest hardly top $10.00."
Should customers need new phono needles or cartridges
for the old turntables or sleeves for records, Chern will even readily
supply those.
Among the rarities available at Yesterday and Today
Records are old 78's, which are 10-inch records made of lacquer.
They are very heavy but Chern said, "These are
reminiscent of a time when people enjoyed doing the foxtrot and
listening to new music."
Customers can also find laser discs, open reel tapes,
magazines and books, and rare picture discs.
Another feature of the business, according to Chern,, is that, "we
buy, sell and trade records and CD's. A lot of people bring in old
records to trade. After all, I have the last full-line record store in
Miami."
Check out Yesterday and Today on the following days:
Tuesday through Thursday: 11 AM to 7 PM, Friday and Saturday: 11 AM to 8
PM, and Sunday: 12 PM to 4:30 PM.
For more information just to step back into the past
visit the store at the Boykin Center or call 305 468 0311. Their web
site address is www.vintagerecords.com.
|
