I don't know if this should be posted in the jazz section, but it is with sadness that Tower Records is closing its doors. I would be a rich man if I had a nickel back for every dollar I spent there on jazz CDS.

Tower, which filed for bankruptcy for the second time recently, couldn't pull out of it this time and will close its doors.

I went into the store next to Lincoln Center in Manhattan yesterday and all CDs were only 10% off. I can get a better deal at Borders with their incessant 30% off coupons that are easily obtainable on the Net. That is probably why Tower is going belly up; in recent years I've bought many more CDs at Borders than I have at Tower.

I have fond memories of Tower, though, but the store in Greenwich Village and the Lincoln Center store.

I also have very fond memories of Tower. The Hollywood store had a really fine Jazz selection. Since I moved away from the LA area about 12 years ago, I have gotten most of my CDs from their on-line store.

On the subject of on-line stores, any help in finding a replacement for Tower would be greatly appreciated. The closest brick and motar store that has any jazz at all is in Denver which is 2 hours away.

I moved this to general music discussion because it applies not just to the jazz folks, but to all buyers of CD and DVD.

It is sad that the marketplace for decent record shopping (in the guise of BIG stores) is gone. Tower, Turtles/Peaches, HMV have all vanished here in Atlanta. While I always prefer Mom and Pop stores, Tower in Atlanta was always a place where you could find obscure stuff in stock.

The good news for consumers: liquidation brings big sales. It's only at 10% now, but I anticipate buying a lot at 30-40% off...

Tower was good to me when I was working in Jersey. About the only bright spot in my week was stopping by on Tuesday afternoon and grabbing up four or five discs to get me through the week's commute (124 miles a day). I have a new mistress a couple blocks from work now, and I hated the downtown Towers for running some smaller stores out of the area...but anytime I couldn't find something I could walk a couple blocks South and leave the nearest Tower up one CD (and down $19).

At the very least they were better than Sam Goody, FYE and all those other junk chains. It definitely seems to be hitting jazz fans the hardest, though.

Tower ran an ad in the "Times" today and upped the sale to "up to" 30% "everything." I wonder what the "up to" means and how extensive it is.

The Virgin megastore near me is closing too. It's a shock any Tower or Virgin is still open. It's like the entire industry is closing their eyes and singing 'LA LA LA' to avoid hearing about having to compete with download services.

They all overcharge insanely. When the Virgin was closing, they had a 30% off clearance sale. I went in to maybe buy all the DVDs I've been holding out on, but realized 30% off their price was still more than Newbury comics charges!

I just think it's funny when a movie at Tower or Borders is 10.99 but the soundtrack is 18.99.

Ridiculous.

I'm extremely lucky to have a Streetlight, Rasputin, and a Tower all on the same street, though the Tower is going out.

I also have a B&N across the street from these, so I think I shan't be too sad.

My memories of Tower are few and expensive, but I used to peruse their used racks before they mixed them all in. And had used records.

I popped into Tower Saturday for the "Up to 30% Off" sale and all jazz CDs were 20% off and the place was packed. I saw loads of people with armloads of product.

I decided to walk out empty handed since jazz CDs are 30% w/ coupon.

quote:

Originally posted by Art Vandelay:
They all overcharge insanely. When the Virgin was closing, they had a 30% off clearance sale. I went in to maybe buy all the DVDs I've been holding out on, but realized 30% off their price was still more than Newbury comics charges!

Spot-on. The Tower Records in Harvard Square is in the best/funniest position for this- it's within 2 minutes' walk of two vastly superior music stores (the Cambridge Newbury Comics, and Twisted Village).

quote:

Originally posted by Vykromond:

quote:

Originally posted by Art Vandelay:
They all overcharge insanely. When the Virgin was closing, they had a 30% off clearance sale. I went in to maybe buy all the DVDs I've been holding out on, but realized 30% off their price was still more than Newbury comics charges!

Spot-on. The Tower Records in Harvard Square is in the best/funniest position for this- it's within 2 minutes' walk of two vastly superior music stores (the Cambridge Newbury Comics, and Twisted Village).

I'm actually taking an Extension course at Harvard. Where's Twisted Village? I've never seen it.

Tough to see unless you're looking for it, to be honest. It's on Eliot St. They have a handy Google Maps link on their website.

I really don't know anything about Tower Records, but those interested might find this article I ran across interesting:

http://www.counterpunch.com/ballinger11012006.html