Conference cookie::notes$archive:cd_v1

If you are a classical fan note #52 does not mention Electric Gramophone. It is
covered in detail in note #37 though. I think it is a good place for classical
CDs. One of the nice things about it is, given the conditions mentioned in
note #37, you can actually hear the CD and decide whether or not to buy it.
For classical, where there can be many interpretations of the same piece, some
of which you like and some of which you don't, this can be a nice plus.

			Dick Rosenberg

re .1

My goof. Make that note #36 for info on Electric Gramaphone.

				DR

A new store has opened in Cambridge:  Boston Compact Disc.  They sell 
nothing but CDs.  Location is J. F. Kennedy Blvd. at Harvard Square.
The jazz selection r
                   rivals that of the COOP.  They have an interesting
display method:  The program booklet is removed from the disc case and
is displayed in a plastic bag.  They can therefore show more discs in the
same space, and the shopper can read the notes before purchase.  

The selection is OK - but the owner said that only HALF of their initial
order had arrived from the distributor.  This shop has a lot of potential.

re 3

How are the prices at Boston Compact Disc?

When I was in Boston Compact Disc, I was paying more attention to the 
selection than to the prices.  I think most discs were between $13-$16.

With the COOP just a block away, maybe we will see some price competition!

I just realized another source of CDs. Video Revolution has just opened a store
in Concord, at the Depot. They have a good selection of Telarc at $ 14.99,
which I believe is a good everyday price for Telarc. I forget what else they
have.

				Dick Rosenberg

If you want rock/pop etc... there's Rock 'n Mania records in Framingham. Last
time I was there (couple of months ago) they were claiming the largest 
selection in New England. It's on Rte. 9 eastbound, at the Tropical Isle
Plaza.      -Tom R.

Re .7:

I am also impressed by Rock 'n Mania.  There is more info in note 34 about
it, but I'd like to add that their prices are currently $12.99 for most
domestic singles.  You also get a 10% discount with cash purchases of 10 or more
disks.  These are the lowest prices I've seen, except for the sales I've
seen at Lechmere's and at Good Vibrations.

I would suggest checking the above-mentioned three places at the same time,
since they are so close to each other, and I've found things at each that
I haven't seen elsewhere.

Since you mentioned Maynard, I might as well mention Flip-Side records on
Main Street.  I've seen a few different CD's there (prime example being Chess).

Jill

OWL Home Entertainment has Telarc's on sale for $12.00.
They ran an ad in the Globe Monday.  They are located on Highland Ave, Needham,
just 1.6 miles west of 128 (in a small shopping center on right).  Selection
was good with about 40 disks there.

Lechmere in Framingham just doubled its CD area again! Split about 45% 
Classical, 45% Rock, and 10% Jazz with a sprinkling of others.

	/s/	Bob

Since I am a Coop member, I bought most of CDs at Coop.  I wait for 20% off
sale, and together with the annual 9.8% rebate, it's a pretty good deal.

Also at Newbury Comics in Havad Sq (in The Garage), they carry a reasonable
selection of rock/classical/jazz with prices $12.99/13.99/12-13 respectively.

--If you have to ask...

I'm not sure, but I'v been told that the only way to become a coop member
is to a) Work for Hahvahd, or b) attend Hahvahd, or c) be a Hahvahd alumnus
or alumna (depending on which suits you best).  Being none of the above,
I don't belong, and thus am probably not the most reliable source of info.

You would have to be affiliated with MIT or Havad.  There is a $1.00 membership
fee/year.  Values are not great normally, but good while on sale.  Also,
the members get about 10% rebate of their total spending of the previous
year.  Not bad at all.  My freshmen year I got back about $150!  That means
I spend ~$1700 during my freshmen year at the store.

Charles

Re: .13

Coop membership isn't that exclusive.  Attending MIT is also good enough
to qualify for membership.  I have never checked into letting other rabble
get a COOP card :')  If anyone is interested send me mail and I will try
to ask next time I am down there.

							Doug

From what I have seen, Coop prices are higher than you will pay elsewhere,
at least for most things, not records.  Perhaps the rebate brings the
cost back down to competitive for members.

The only reason to shop there is the wide selection.

Watch out if you pay for your disks by credit card.  The dumbo clerk
read my card number into the telephone in such a way that everyone
with 8 feet could hear it.  I didn't think fast enough to snatch it
away from her.

Actually, come to think of it, Wellesley women seem to have been able to
obtain coop card as long as they are/have had taken courses at Havad or
MIT.  I am not sure about Havad Extension School students though.

Charles

I'm not sure of extention students, but Harvard summer students can join.

I had asked a few weeks ago when I saw the posters they had up about how
easy it was to get a Coop Card. They made it look as if all you had to do
was have a Mastercard/VISA/Amex and you could get a Coop charge card just
like that. When I asked the cashier, she said that one had to be affiliated
with Harvard or MIT. Was she perhaps mixing up a Coop membership card with
a Coop charge card? Can one get a Coop charge card without being a Coop
"member"?

--- jerry

You can get a COOP charge card without being a COOP member, but it does not
entitle you to the 10% rebate.  For that, you have to be a member, which
means you have to be affiliated with Harvard or some associated school.

I was just shopping at the COOP, and I think I will avoid it from now on.
They do have a pretty good size collection, but it was a complete mob scene,
and the prices, even with the current 20% off sale,  were nothing to write
home about.

So far,  Tower Records (in NYC, and esp. Washington, D. C.) has my vote for
the best CD shopping.

Towers is the place so far. I live in Washington and watch the newspapers.
Towers' has a sale on all the time but about once a month they put everything
on sale for around 11.95 or so. Good time to take a trip into the city.

I heard a radio ad for a shop in Philadelphia that sold nothing but CDs.
I'm heading up that way later this week. Maybe I can stop in and check it
out.

Ray

I heard that Discount Records in Ann Arbor MI [ @ corner of State & Liberty ]
has pretty much switched over to CD - with about 3/4 of their store dedicated to
that format.  The store as about 1 and 1/2 time the size of the Straberries at
the Nashua Mall.   Sounds like a mess of CDs to me!  Wish I had found the time
to visit the place when I was out that way at Christmas time.  I've been kicking
myself over that one ever since.  Maybe there's someone out there that can take
advantage of this information.  

Sigh. 

- M 

Nobody's mentioned Q Audio in Cambridge.  I haven't been there for a couple
of months but they had a good selection of all types of music and relatively
good prices.

Bob

For general shopping, I'd probably pick Lechmere or Strawberries.  However,
for obscure discs, it's worth looking in BCD (Boston Compact Disc) in Harvard
square.  This is a small shop,  but they have a very large selection, including
many discs that I've never seen elsewhere (e.g., the London cast recording
of "Jesus Christ, Superstar").  Their prices are not the best, but they do
have a lot of discs, and they follow the "European" system of displaying
only the liners, and providing the actual disc when you're ready to
listen/purchase.  They DO allow you to listen to any disc.

They also have a small selection of used CDs for $10 each.  They offer $5
cash, or $6 credit on used CDs.

-pd

re:.25

JCS on CD? Great! My LP is just about worn out.

Where in Harvard Square is BCD?

--- jerry

BCD is on (I think) JFK street [it is across from the little "mall"
that has the Scandenavian furniture place, and just down the street
from the mexican restaurant.]  Come out of the COOP, turn right,
and then go straight through the intersection.

				- John

I don't know the street name, but I think John's directions in .27 are correct.
It's right across the street from the Harvard Sq. Garage.

Be advised that the JCS is NOT the original recording, but is the London
cast recording of the stage production.  The cast is different, the arrangements
are different, some music is missing, and some is added.  In spite of all
this, however, it's pretty good.

Thanks. I have an idea where BCD is now.

And thanks about the clarification of the JCS disk. I like the original,
but this may be better than nothing (I didn't particularly like the movie
soundtrack).

--- jerry

Further clarification on location of BCD:  It's on JFK street across
from The Galeria (*not* the Garage).
						-- Nina

    I've done DIR/TITLE on this file, and this note and #23 are the
    only ones that turned up.  If this question has been addressed
    elsewhere, please point me in that direction.
    
    For Christmas, I am the new proud owner of a Marantz CD player,
    and accordingly, am looking to start a collection of CD's, naturally
    wanting it to hurt my wallet as little as possible.  Does anyone
    have any suggestions?  (Southern NH).
    
    I heard a rumor about a place where you can order CD's, they only
    accept Visa/MC, and it's all done via mail (an 800 number?) where
    the price is about $5 per CD, with the kicker that the minimum order
    is 5 CD's at a time.  Anyone have more info on this?
    
    Thanks
    Jon

    
    You'll be wanting the Noteworthy Catalog... Do DIR/TITLE=NOTEWORTHY.
    
    Scott

    Tower Records in Boston is having a sale on every CD in the store,
    through this weekend only.  Prices are generally $3/CD off list
    price.  For common material you can do better at other stores
    (or through Noteworthy), but for off-beat material, especially
    classical music imports and small labels, you probably won't see
    prices this low and a selection this large until they have their sale
    again next January.  It's worth the trip, especially for classical
    music fans.

re:        <<< Note 149.31 by TIXEL::ARNOLD "Now let's get back to work" >>>
                        -< Any update on where to buy? >-
002    wanting it to hurt my wallet as little as possible.  Does anyone
002    have any suggestions?  (Southern NH).
    
    I live in Southern NH, and fine myself constantly circling between
    Rockit Records, Nashua Compact, and Lechmere for the best
    selection/price.  They're all around/at the Pheasant Lane Mall.
    
    But, if you want *really cheap* (like free), check out the Nashua
    Public Library!  They'll let you check out up to three disks per card
    for up to a week, and they have a surprisingly good collection for a
    public library.
    
    Congratulations! And enjoy!
    
    Regards,
    
    	 	== ken miller ==