In 2011, Mike Spitz began photographing more than forty record stores in and around the greater Los Angeles area, rich with old and new record shops, to capture the lively experience of going to the used record store, discovering that rare vinyl record, cassette or 8-track tape, memorabilia, vintage concert posters, turntables, nostalgia and other music-related gems. Colorful imagery shot on film and in-depth interviews with store owners illustrate how each American independent record store has a unique and vibrant culture that cultivates a communal gathering place for human interaction, exploration and discovery. In chronological order from the oldest existing stores, such as Canterbury Records that opened in 1956 in Pasadena or Music Man Murray Records that opened in 1962, to the most recently opened stores, The Record Store Book respectfully marks the “changing of the guard” from the older to the newer generation of stores as each owner shares facts, store history, and distinctive points of view regarding how people search for, find and appreciate music. Rare Bird Books, A Rare Bird Book
