Comments on: Guest Column: All Sales Are Vinyl

By: Bob Friedman

Bob Friedman — Sat, 29 Apr 2023 15:48:49 +0000

Still trying to fins the final resting place of the Dayton Record store after it closed:

By: EJF

EJF — Thu, 08 Oct 2020 17:32:15 +0000

From 1976-1978, I lived in the apartment directly above Jimmy Dayton’s. Between that place and the Strand right across the street, I didn’t have much money left over.

By: Tadd K

Tadd K — Sat, 23 Apr 2016 00:14:31 +0000

Dan,
Thank you for this informative recollection of Dayton’s. I was not collecting Jazz but Blues lps during the mid 1970’s. I remember the Grizz was all business but never rude or nasty. If I asked about an artist, he’d take out one of the huge loose leaf binders where Dayton’s cataloged oop records by artist. The Grizz would then advise me that as an out of print record they would be $30, but most times more. I sometimes bought but also turned down records because they were too high. Once a record and price was discussed, the price was recorded in the binder. I guess that eliminated my getting a better deal if I returned at another time. Art was friendly and seemed as if he was just hanging out from his relaxed attitude. He eventually let me look in the walls but also reminded me to keep the all the records in perfect order. I remember Jimmy as a dapper man with long silver hair, wearing suits with pastel neckties he would fold over but never make a knot with. My one conversation with Jimmy Dayton was about a record I requested: Amos Milburn on Aladdin 10 inch lp. It was priced at $40 which was a steal even in 1977. He said to me, “you’ll never see that again in that condition.” Jimmy was correct. Some of the records I found there had a date written on the back covers. It was thought by some collectors these records came from Ralph Gleason’s collection but I have no way to confirm this. At some point I think Dayton’s moved to 11th. Street off of Broadway. I probably went just once after that. The next thing I knew, Dayton’s was gone. There were so many great record stores in New York back then, you never knew what you would find. Even with my limited experience at the time I did very well. It was a lot of fun although as a young collector, I had lots of anxiety. Dayton’s was one of the best.

By: Al

Al — Mon, 29 Jun 2015 14:38:43 +0000

That would be Dayton’s. I recall that there were two stores at one point. There was the one on 12th Street and another on 8th Street, which was more of a discount outlet. The one on 8th Street probably closed in the early 1980s, the one on 12th lasted longer, but probably went out of business with the growth of CDs. Not sure exactly when, but perhaps someone else knows.

By: Dmitry

Dmitry — Mon, 29 Jun 2015 14:19:39 +0000

When did Denton’s stores close? Must have been before the late 1980s-early 1990s, when I moved to NYC. That E12St store sounds like a place I would’ve drooled in.

By: marty wilson

marty wilson — Sun, 17 Jul 2011 16:02:32 +0000

Well, it’s nice to be remembered fondly. I left WEVD to wind up on WNEW-AM. I missed the jazz, but the money was better! I’ve since retired and moved to Florida. I still do commercials. When I moved I sold the music library. I didn’t get as much as I thought I would. The album jackets had notes written all over them, and the vinyl had been somewhat destroyed from being “cued up” over and over again, and most of the stuff has been reissued on CD. It was a great time and I’d like to thank all the guest programmers that dropped in to help.

Marty

By: Dan Forté

Dan Forté — Thu, 24 Feb 2011 15:00:32 +0000

Donkey Hote: Thanks for the kind words. I’m glad my piece had just the desired effect upon your memory banks!

If you read my Ed Beach piece, you know that my dad also planted the jazz seed in me, as well. I grew up watching him wear out Dave Brubeck’s “Jazz Goes to College” (Columbia LP 566) and his cherished 10-inch Sidney Bechet Blue Note LPs.

FYI: Second Hand Rose is still in existence; now, ironically directly across the street from where Dayton’s used to be on Broadway at 12th Street. Most recently, Dayton’s was a Quiznos, but has since closed and is now awaiting another fast-food tenant to take its place….

Speaking of jazz DJs and WRVR, here’s the station’s March, 1977 program lineup:

Herschel: 7-Midnite Mon.-Sat.
Les Davis: 6-10 A.M. Mon.-Sat.
G. Keith Alexander: 10-3 P.M. Mon. – Sat.
Donna Halper: 3-7 P.M. Mon.-Fri. & 7-Midnight Sunday

There’s also a WRVR Appreciation site online: Here’s the link:

http://www.wrvrlives.org/

Hope it brings back more pleasant memories and thanks again for reading my piece and taking the time to respond….

Dan

By: Donkey Hote

Donkey Hote — Thu, 24 Feb 2011 07:51:36 +0000

With each line of this post I was transported to a time and place, some totally familiar, others somewhat unknown, but all of it rich in both feeling and memory. When I got to New York in ’72, I had left a record collection behind in the Midwest. I hadn’t expected it to be 29 years before I got back home, but hey, life’s funny sometimes.

Luckily my dad, was in the Big Apple, and a working musician. He introduced me to his peers, and those friendships, and others I was to make on my own form the basis of an experience that I won’t forget. This website became known to be today quite by accident. My dad’s collection included vinyl, 78’s and when I remember how important it was to hear jazz on the radio, from the likes of Les Davis, the aformentioned Ed Beach, Dr. Billy Taylor and others, I realize how this led to frequenting places like:
King Karol, the 42nd St subway station, Colony, Discomat, Second hand Rose, on 6th Avenue, The Ann St. Book Store off Nassau St. J&R Records on Park Row,The Wiz in Brooklyn, and Ruby’s Book Store on Chambers Street. When I found out I could by a Louis Armstrong Decca for $.25 at a flea market in Englishtown, NJ I was on my way.
Then my friend, drummer Kenny Washington, (16 at the time) showed me his collection of Charlie Parker Dial recordings, and I knew I’d seen the Holy Grail.
Oh, one more thing, I can’t forget to mention how important that kitchen was at the Vanguard. One night in between sets, Elvin was nice enough to grant me an interview, and how great it was to hear him relate the lineage between Hawk and Chico Freeman, who was on Tenor that night along with guitarist Ryo Kawasaki, to complete the trio.

I left NY after 9/11/01, (gosh has it been that long?). I miss it but THANKS to this site, I’m feeling right at home. Half of the moving truck taking me back to Iowa was filled with my records!!

By: Matt

Matt — Thu, 17 Feb 2011 22:36:44 +0000

Intersting post. Just for info I am selling some Blue Notes (nothing extremely rare but there could be something of interest there): http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=330530779396&ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT

By: Shaft

Shaft — Wed, 16 Feb 2011 10:33:41 +0000

Thanks for great the stories! I wish I could have been there….;-)