During my travels, I love to take pictures of places, especially if people back home won't believe that the place really exists. While in Jim Thorpe, Pennsylvania, last October, I accidentally stumbled upon a record store. Yes, you heard that right! This place actually sells those vinyl discs with the little hole in the middle and grooves running throughout. This is how I first started listening to music. While they may have some pops and clicks in the sound when the diamond needle hits the grooves, I still believe that the sound quality is much better than anything else offered for music playback.
Located at 23 Broadway in Jim Thorpe, Soundcheck Records has a great variety of vinyl, cds, dvds and accessories. I very rarely seem to escape one of these stores without making a purchase. Having sold off most of my vinyl, and no current way to play them, I opted to purchase the fictional documentary "The Great Rock 'N' Roll Swindle" on dvd. This dvd is a must-have for any punk fan. Starring Malcolm McLaren and The Sex Pistols, the film portrays McLaren as the evil manager who utilizes the members of the punk super group for his own benefit. When all was said and done, the only question left was "Who killed Bambi?" It is a classic and I had to own it!
Any record store with knowledgeable employees, and Soundcheck checks off this box, led to some very interesting conversations. One's musical understanding of different genres was always expanded upon leaving. No electronic device can substitute for this. I can vouch for this from both ends of the conversation, as a customer and a record store manager. If you are in the Jim Thorpe area, it will be well worth your time to check out Soundcheck Records. Check out their facebook page, or if you want to check on a particular piece of music, contact them at (570) 325-4009.