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Business & Tech

Soundtraks: Record Shop Meets Music Hall of Fame

New York Avenue shop gives music lovers a place to find anything their heart's desire.

When people are teenagers they often fantasize about their dream job. Some wanted to be professional athletes while others wanted to be doctors and lawyers. But there are those special few who wanted to work in a record store that sold albums that couldn't be found anywhere else, by people who their friends never heard of but they absolutely adored. If that describes you, then Soundtraks on New York Avenue is the record store for you.

"The movie 'High Fidelity' caught the essence of who we are and what we do," said Cliff Fenster, the store's manager for the past 25 years. "This could actually be a sitcom, a wonderful series, what goes on in a record store like this."

Even if you don't like music that much (there are some of you out there), the store is a great sight to see regardless. It is a combination of a musical Hall of Fame and an music-themed art museum. Music memorabilia is scattered all over the walls. Blues, jazz, Rock 'N Roll, folk, country, alternative, oldies, Motown and everything in between can be found in this store, both new and used. The store also carries DVDs, posters, and music-themed T-shirts.

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"We are pretty unique," Fenster said. "There are very few record stores like this one left. There were a lot of good record stores in the 1960s and 1970s. Just great unique stores, not a Sam Goody's or some other chain store. And we are trying to be proactive and aggressive with the artists. We want to provide a venue, to do whatever it takes to get them in here."

The store recently started holding meet and greets again, with the recent appearance of songwriting legend Jimmy Webb on June 29.

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"We hadn't done one in a few years," Fenster explained. "We wanted a good turn out. Here is a music legend that we were thrilled to have, and at other music stores no one would care about this."

Fenster also acknowledged that vinyl is making a comeback in a big way. "We just brought vinyl back into the store," he said. "Vinyl has brought a younger, wider demographic to the store. Every form of music is now available on vinyl."

Part of the resurgence has to do with the industry singling out one day a year, April 17, as "Record Store Day."

"When it was first introduced three years ago, we almost laughed it off," Fenster said. "But every year it grew and grew. This year especially there as a lot of excitement. People were calling to make sure we had the records. It was one of the busiest days we ever had. Now I wish every day were 'Record Store Day.'"

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