A Journey of Vinyl and Culinary Samplings from the City of Brotherly Love
An escape from the New York City metro-area was in the cards. Not far from the Big Apple, less than two hours away, lies another vibrant metropolis: Philadelphia. The last time I visited the City of Brotherly Love was many years ago. Back then, I arrived to pick up a used Fender Twin Reverb amplifier discovered on Craigslist. That trip had been a fleeting one; I never quite made it into the heart of the city but ended up in a quaint residential neighborhood filled with the iconic row houses often seen in films and television. The musician I bought the amplifier from was laid-back and easygoing, even allowing me to pay in installments—a request made long before peer-to-peer transactions became commonplace. I paid the guy, I promise!
This August, however, I found myself with an irresistible urge to explore Philadelphia once more, this time with a specific goal in mind: vinyl records. I planned a short trip to visit a few record stores and enlisted my lifelong friend John to join me. John has graciously accompanied me on such impulsive adventures since the mid-1980s, but it had been a while since we caught up. What better place than Philly to chew the fat?
Our first stop was The Philadelphia Record Exchange. Located at 1524 Frankford Ave. in Philly’s Fishtown. The shop’s modest storefront belies the treasure trove within. Once inside, we were greeted by a spacious backroom filled with a vast array of used records. I was particularly impressed by their selection of classical music, an unexpected treat. John, whose interests lean more towards pop culture, briefly considered a Richard Pryor album but decided against it.
I too had a few near-misses: I regret not inquiring about Beck’s, A Western Harvest Field By Moonlight 10-inch album (don’t know if it was the original ‘94 pressing or the '95 reissue). A copy of Pharoah Sanders' Karma album also caught my attention, but it was not in the condition I hoped for. Leaving a record store empty-handed is the true collector's discipline, and though I didn’t make a purchase, the visit was pleasant. With a little more time, I’m sure I could’ve done some damage, but a quick browse was all we had time for. Thankfully, the store’s impressive air conditioning was a welcome relief from the sweltering August heat outside.
After the inter-state drive and that first foray into shopping, a pit stop beckoned. After checking into the Sofitel Philadelphia at 120 S 17th Street we enjoyed a delicious brunch at Wilder (2009 Sansom St, Philadelphia, PA 19103). The restaurant offers fresh dishes served in an environment that is both contemporary, yet inviting. If you find yourself there, try the Shakshouka pizza (though it’s only on the brunch menu). The menu looked great, but with a large dinner in the not so distant future, we avoided overdoing it.
After eating, we continued our vinyl mini-quest. Our next destination was Long in the Tooth, located at 2027 Sansom Street. A showcase record wall featured an array of albums, some of which were high-end and likely priced accordingly. The store’s manager was affable and engaging, which made our visit all the more pleasant. A warm welcome on entering a record store never gets old.
While browsing through LITT’s offerings, I spied a display near the front of the store featuring newish albums priced-down for quick sale. I’m always on the lookout for hidden gems among newer releases that might have flown under the radar. Two albums particularly caught my eye. The first was 2021’s Changephobia by Rostam Batmanglij who is known for his role in the original lineup of Vampire Weekend. His unique contributions to the band's sound have always intrigued me, so I was excited to explore his solo work further.
The other puppy in the last chance bin looking for adoption was a reissue of David Axelrod’s psychedelic Pride album from 1970 featuring contributions from his son, Michael. Axelrod’s productions are invariably “can’t go wrong” releases and knowing that his son played a role in preserving this legacy made this $18.00 album a must-have. Originally released as part of Record Store Day in 2018, it had been waiting for me to discover it in 2024. The album is a testament to the enduring appeal of Axelrod’s music and the special collaboration between father and son.
An exciting sale at the store took place while we were there. A young man purchased a few high-ticket albums including one rarity in particular. 1972s Gandalf The Grey’s, The Grey Wizard Am I isn’t an album I was familiar with, but have been exploring digitally since I witnessed the Philly record buyer plunk down four figures for the copy that they had for sale. It made my $30.00 purchase - which immediately followed his - feel uncomfortably inadequate.
Although John didn’t find any records at Long in the Tooth, he did immerse himself in their substantial collection of used books, but didn’t purchase any. I suggested he consider a set of Nintendo Power magazines from the '90s, but he remained poker faced and continued exploring the stacks to uncover something special.
Our Philadelphia adventure concluded with an exceptional dinner at Butcher and Singer, a luxe steakhouse located in a historic bank building at 1500 Walnut Street. The hosting staff took pity on John and I, as we arrived drenched from head to toe from an unexpected thunderstorm that assaulted Philly during our four minute walk to the restaurant. I knew I should’ve brought along the complimentary umbrella from Sofitel! However, the restaurant staff allowed us to awkwardly use the hand dryers in the bathroom to dry off shoulders and hair.
The restaurant’s dark, elegant ambiance prompted jokes about Batman expectedly making a dramatic entrance, straight out of a 1989 film. But there was no villain whose evil plan needed foiling and we had a great experience. Service was accommodating and the delicious oysters, 30-day aged New York strip, and tuna tartare made for a memorable dining experience.
While our visit to Philadelphia was brief, encompassing only two record stores and a few fantastic meals, it ignited a desire to return and delve deeper into the music - and record collecting - scene in the Birthplace of America. The trip reminded me of the rich vinyl treasures waiting there to be discovered and left me eager to explore more of what Philadelphia has to offer.
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