Papa Jazz Record Shoppe — Attraction in Columbia

Let's begin with the conclusion. I love this record shop.

Record stores come in different shapes and styles. Some specialize in one thing heavily, some have all of the charm you might expect from a corporate chain, while others don't appear to hold any values at all. In so many ways, there's no mistaking that Papa Jazz has been around since 1980. That it has endured since 1980 should tell you that it's an institution that has weathered the ups and downs of the favored format of the store - the vinyl record.

Papa Jazz stocks most anything. Primarily a second hand store, it has expanded to new releases/reissues to keep up with market trends, but the magic within those walls is the used selection. Within that, you'll find why the store really draws in both  serious, seasoned record collectors and the more curious and adventurous among new collectors. What's that? Great records that weren't hits.

Sure - the classic titles are there and you can find them at prices fair enough that you may question why you have a Discogs account at all. But keep digging. You'll find that a knowledgeable staff has the desire to turn you on to left field and fringe artists who you may not have considered previously, or even known about. Avant Garde Jazz? Yep. Prog? You betcha. Some outlaw, border-line psycho country singer from the most rural of 1970s America? Maaaaayybe?

It's a record store that in my estimation is a dying breed. Are there cleaner record stores on Earth? Sure. Are you going to knock your head on a piece of their HVAC unit? Possibly. I have - more than once. There's a sign to warn you though, so it's on you when it happens. But if you want an accommodating space with serious knowledge behind the counter, when you're ready to get your friend that Fleetwood Mac classic they want on vinyl and THEN turn them onto the Eric Dolphy record they NEED, well, Papa Jazz is the exact place for you.

I could go on. And on. But when you're a USC student at the beginning of your life's adventure, you're in town for whatever brings you to Columbia, or you just want to see what a record shop looks like when it's run by people who care about what they're doing, Papa Jazz comes with my highest recommendation. Get your knees dirty with the crates on the floor. Ask an employee what they're digging right now. Tell your yuppie parents to go walk around Five Points while you expand your horizons. Just understand there's something for you to find, something for you to learn, when you shop at Papa Jazz...

Recently Papa Jazz moved back to its original location closest to the tattoo parlor. But I don't see the CDs of rap artist I saw prior to them moving back to their original location. They just have enough rap and R&B CDs to make it seem as if they are being supportive of the rap/Hip-Hop community. But I bet they have Beastie Boys, Beach Boys, Limp Bizkit, Kiss, Marilyn Manson, Backstreet Boys, 98°, N' Sync, Britney Spears and many other non rap, non black artist. To not sell every rap artist CDs in the store is straight bias and not only that because they are aware of how controversial black rap artist are. So take this advice from me and shop for CDs & records at Scratch & Spin located in West Columbia, SC across the street from Zestos and by the way y'all show me support and download SoundCloud and type in Shonagodd and listen to my album The Cult Of R.A.S.H.O.N. It's worth listening to I...

This is hard to gauge for me because I'm not the average music buyer. They didn't have very much that I really wanted. New releases that they had, I can get anywhere. The one highlight was RSD leftovers. They surprisingly had a bunch. I already got the titles I wanted most online though, but if you're looking go hit them up before resorting to flippers. They do buy used records which is cool. Most prices were competitive but the Wilco box was 10 bucks over average price (Amazon is 89 as is others with discounts). I did not look at the Jazz section as I only like a few things and I have what I want mostly. Bottom line is if you like newer artists and buy CDs or vinyl , you'll like it for sure. Rock n Roll collectors, I would temper my expectations. The rating is for overall including for the average consumer....