Just went to a Tower Records and discovered that they're having a "Going Out Of Business" sale and one of the employees told me that the store chain is now going out of business.


Atleast there's still Sam Goody's

I wonder if it's like that at all TR locations. :o

Just went to a Tower Records and discovered that they're having a "Going Out Of Business" sale and one of the employees told me that the store chain is now going out of business.

I'm not surprised, as I always thought they were overpriced!


At least there's still Sam Goody's


I used to work at a Sam Goody back in the 90's, but I wonder how much longer they'll last as well... ???

I wonder if this means the Tower Records website will cease to exist also?  That is where I sometimes go to get sound clips when I want to include a song sample in a post I make

Yikes!  :o  That sucks if that's true.  It's bad enough that they no longer are one of the big 12" single retailers (not that any big chain really is anymore), but they had the largest selections of new releases and complilations here.  Guess I'll have to stick to GEMM and other stores in my travels.

Wow I thought they had gone years ago, they've been closed down in the U.K for quite a few years now.

All the Boston area ones are going, or gone

Whoa, whoa, whoa... WHAT!?


No! That's THE only record store within an hour of me... THE ONLY ONE!!! WHAT WILL I DO NOW!?!?!?!??  :\'( :\'( :\'(

  Aw damn...

  It's true...

  Tower Records Closing ~ October 9, 2006

    :(

Wow I thought they had gone years ago, they've been closed down in the U.K for quite a few years now.
I have a feeling that Virgin brought Tower Records.

The prices are going down... somewhat of a good thing though it'll be shut down by around December


Just bought "Teenage Kicks" 2 CD compilation CD for 30 bucks, which is about 5 bucks cheaper than the original price  8)


(Imports first since they're rare... other leftovers later...  :D )

I have a feeling that Virgin brought Tower Records.
The huge store at Piccadilly Circus?

The huge store at Piccadilly Circus?
The main three branches of Tower Records I knew in London are now all Virgin Megastores.

   Aw damn...

   It's true...

   Tower Records Closing ~ October 9, 2006

    :(


bump, bump, bump...another one bites the dust. :-\\

We don't have this store in our area...I've never heard of it.

We don't have this store in our area...I've never heard of it.

You've NEVER heard of Tower Records?? :o :o


I've been going to it all my life...even as a little kid in the 80's I have recollections of going there.

You've NEVER heard of Tower Records?? :o :o


I've been going to it all my life...even as a little kid in the 80's I have recollections of going there.



no, like I said...we don't have any around in our area...and I've always been from this area...although even on my travels out of town...I've never come across one.

no, like I said...we don't have any around in our area...and I've always been from this area...although even on my travels out of town...I've never come across one.

that's amazing. :o


On a somewhat similar note, I've seen tv commercials for Sonic, a fast food joint, on television for the last 3 or 4 years, but there are none of those in my area.

I understand that many people download music online, but Wal Mart...

That's a different store and they only carry albums from popular artists and mostly current  ::) :P

Tower Records has been around for quite sometime in our area (SF Bay Area). I love going to the one in Concord. I've been going there for about 12 years. It's always been my favorite place to find hard to find classical, but I guess I won't be getting that anymore.  :( I went there on Saturday and the place was packed. They had 15% off on Rock and Roll CDs and 20% off R n'B.

Tower Records doesn't exist in Canada.  I'd never have known about it had I not did an online search one day for sound clips.  Since then, I have seen Tower Records stores in street scenes in some movies and TV shows

Update:  I went to Tower about two weeks ago and I asked the sales lady when they were planning on closing and she said probably within 6-8 weeks. I told her I was sad to see them go. She looked at me strange. I walked away.  :\'(  ;D

Update:  I went to Tower about two weeks ago and I asked the sales lady when they were planning on closing and she said probably within 6-8 weeks. I told her I was sad to see them go. She looked at me strange. I walked away.  :\'(  ;D
Did you ask if Tower Records are been taken over or completely shutting down?

The sales lady from my local Tower told me it'll close in about a month and the prices go down every week, by 5s (25%, 30%,)...

Bought a 2 CD compilation of '90's hits (Greatest Hits of the '90s) and a punk music video compilation DVD.  8)

Update:  I went to Tower about two weeks ago and I asked the sales lady when they were planning on closing and she said probably within 6-8 weeks. I told her I was sad to see them go. She looked at me strange. I walked away.  :\'(  ;D

I'm sad to see 'em go too. What more can i say?

The sales lady from my local Tower told me it'll close in about a month and the prices go down every week, by 5s (25%, 30%,)...

Bought a 2 CD compilation of '90's hits (Greatest Hits of the '90s) and a punk music video compilation DVD.  8)
If I could I would be round like a shot.

Now 40 to 50% off and the store is half way empty.

It'll close in about 3 weeks, though I still found some good CDs in a  decent price  8) :D

The main three branches of Tower Records I knew in London are now all Virgin Megastores.


Yup, there was a huge one, now it's owned by Virgin.

Yup, there was a huge one, now it's owned by Virgin.
Piccadilly, Oxford Street and High Street Kensington, were there others?

Piccadilly, Oxford Street and High Street Kensington, were there others?


Not that I can remember.

As a young lad I can remember going to the one in Picadilly and being rather impressed with the sheer volume of music there.

Not that I can remember.

As a young lad I can remember going to the one in Picadilly and being rather impressed with the sheer volume of music there.
It was and the now Virign Store is large, containing several floors, in fact I was lost in there a few times.

It was and the now Virign Store is large, containing several floors, in fact I was lost in there a few times.


Searching for the hardcore drum 'n' bass section I'm sure Philip.  ;)

It was and the now Virign Store is large, containing several floors, in fact I was lost in there a few times.


I went to one Virgin megastore in Las Vegas, and still wasn't as thrilled with it as I have been with Tower. Tower just seemed endless to me. They really focused on the music, not just popular stuff. Amazon.com may just be my only choice for obscure stuff.

I went to one Virgin megastore in Las Vegas, and still wasn't as thrilled with it as I have been with Tower. Tower just seemed endless to me. They really focused on the music, not just popular stuff. Amazon.com may just be my only choice for obscure stuff.


The Virgin in Times Square has a vast selection.

I went to one Virgin megastore in Las Vegas, and still wasn't as thrilled with it as I have been with Tower. Tower just seemed endless to me. They really focused on the music, not just popular stuff. Amazon.com may just be my only choice for obscure stuff.

I think there are a few Virgin megastores out here...I know there's one in Burbank.

I think there are a few Virgin megastores out here...I know there's one in Burbank.


Yeah, I think Virgin is in mostly major metropolitan areas. There's one in San Francisco, and I was steps away from it a few weeks ago, but I never went inside as we got too caught up in other shops.

The Virgin in Times Square has a vast selection.


Yeah, I'm sure they've got some good stuff. I'd probably say they're second to Tower. Or, Maybe each Megastore just has different selections.

The sales lady said that it'll close down for good sometime in December, though halfway empty in mid November.

Bought another good compilation, though fortunately bought as many good imports sine they're rare and the prices are now 40/50 % off  8)

Good time to take advantage  :D

I'd like to go there on my next pay period, but right now, I have no extra money to spend  :(

I want to go again before it closes, but now that Christmas is coming up, my parents probably won't let me spend any money!

I want to go again before it closes, but now that Christmas is coming up, my parents probably won't let me spend any money!


Maybe a sneaky bus journey and a good look around?

Maybe a sneaky bus journey and a good look around?


XD I don't have time alone for that! Plus, I'll have no money D=.

Yeah, this is sad. :(

I first learned about it reading an issue of Rolling Stone magaine, where it basically detailed its history (the founder was a guy who started selling records out of his dad's drugstore in Sacramento) and how things like online sales and big box stores like Wal Mart have cut into their sales in recent years.

San Jose has two stores and I've been buying at both a bit lately. Even though there a couple independent used record stores and Goodwills that I go to alot, this really does seem like the end of an era. It also occured to me that this was the last place of any kind that had any new Cassettes. Yeah, it wasn't many, and mostly bargain stuff. I rarely bought 'em anymore, but it was just nice knowing they were still there in some form.

Because of that, 2007 seems like it might be the first "fully digital/post-analog" year.

I can't remember the last time I went to TR, but it seems I may never go there again, given that they're all closing. :-\\

Concord, Ca. has one on Willow Pass Rd. that is closing and selling everything 40-60% off

The Internet may kill off bricks-and-mortar record stores altogether within the next five years.  There will always be a few here and there.  They'll serve the same purpose as baseball card stores.

I don't like it, but it's happening. 

Tower was one of the few retailers that carried classical, jazz, and international music (I mean, beyond Beethoven's greatest hits, Bobby McFerrin, and Bob Marley). 

Most of the music I've been interested in for the past decade has been mail order/Internet anyway.

The Internet may kill off bricks-and-mortar record stores altogether within the next five years.   There will always be a few here and there.  They'll serve the same purpose as baseball card stores.

I don't like it, but it's happening. 

Tower was one of the few retailers that carried classical, jazz, and international music (I mean, beyond Beethoven's greatest hits, Bobby McFerrin, and Bob Marley). 

Most of the music I've been interested in for the past decade has been mail order/Internet anyway.


Yeah, it is really scary. D= I really like CD's! Not the downloads! But Tower never did carry any Brian Eno...  :-\\

Concord, Ca. has one on Willow Pass Rd. that is closing and selling everything 40-60% off


  That's the one I've been going to since I was a kid.  Corner of Willow Pass and Diamond...

  Got some of my first records there.  Cassettes, in my teens and CDs since then...

  It is the end of an era.  I'll miss Tower...

Yeah, it is really scary. D= I really like CD's! Not the downloads! But Tower never did carry any Brian Eno...  :-\\

Depends on the market the store was serving.  I bought plenty of Brian Eno at Tower in Boston. 

I was in Cambridge today and found the Tower still open for its going-out-of-business sale.  Everything had been pretty well picked-over by that time.  I did manage to buy 1/2 price several CDs from the "contemporary composers" section.  All the big names, such John Cage, Philip Glass, Elliott Carter, and Harry Partch, but I managed to collect some lesser-known gems, Arthur Kreiger, Thomas DeLio, Robert Erickson, and Elizabeth Hoffman.

It was the symbolism of the act.  It brought to an official close "buying records in Harvard Square," a treasured pastime for me for over 20 years.  Ironically, the mainstay of my music-buying from the '80s is still there, Newbury Comics.  The thing is, my tastes have changed, popular tastes have changed, and Newbury Comics carries not much I'm in the market to buy. 

Harvard Square is in a dark age.  It went into a decade-long decline starting in the early '90s, but the proverbial "410" was 2004 when Wordsworth Books closed.
:\'(

The Internet may kill off bricks-and-mortar record stores altogether within the next five years.   There will always be a few here and there.  They'll serve the same purpose as baseball card stores.

I don't like it, but it's happening. 

Tower was one of the few retailers that carried classical, jazz, and international music (I mean, beyond Beethoven's greatest hits, Bobby McFerrin, and Bob Marley). 

Most of the music I've been interested in for the past decade has been mail order/Internet anyway.


For better or worse, I agree. Just here in San Jose, there used to be, like 10 Wherehouses (not sure if they're national or not). They all closed from, like 2001 to '04. Same with mall stores Sam Goody/Musicland. Their prices on most new stuff were never that good and the selection was average, so that didn't surprise me. Although it was still nice to have them around if you happened to be in the area and just wanted to check out some stuff, for instance. Also, they were good for buying tapes, which I still was doing in the late '90s and up until 2002 even.

But if one of the giants, like Tower, is going under too, that's probably not a good sign.

Do you think independent/used CD stores will survive? I wouldn't see why not, since they mostly deal in trade, which of course, is bound to carry stuff you won't easily find anywhere else (i.e. out of print records).

For better or worse, I agree. Just here in San Jose, there used to be, like 10 Wherehouses (not sure if they're national or not). They all closed from, like 2001 to '04. Same with mall stores Sam Goody/Musicland. Their prices on most new stuff were never that good and the selection was average, so that didn't surprise me. Although it was still nice to have them around if you happened to be in the area and just wanted to check out some stuff, for instance. Also, they were good for buying tapes, which I still was doing in the late '90s and up until 2002 even.

But if one of the giants, like Tower, is going under too, that's probably not a good sign.

Do you think independent/used CD stores will survive? I wouldn't see why not, since they mostly deal in trade, which of course, is bound to carry stuff you won't easily find anywhere else (i.e. out of print records).


We had a couple Wherehouses around here, the most recent closure was in Walnut Creek off N. California St. about 2 years ago. We also had one in Antioch that shut down ages ago (at least 1993). We also had one in Clayton, which shut down around 2000 or 2001.

Sam Goody/Musicland were mostly mall music stores. And, I completely agree with you on how I felt about their selection. It was so-so, but if you were hard up for something or just felt like browsing, they were still fun to check out. One that was at Sunvalley Mall also just shut down. It was called FYE. They had a better than average selection and a BIG DVD selection, but nevertheless, they shut down at least in the last year.

Now my local Tower is nearly empty and probably will be closed within the next week or two.

I've found over a dozen good albums in the past few months.  8)

The store here in Denver in the Cherry Creek shopping district closed down completely right after the holidays.  Already, at this moment the building it was in is being demolished. 

Im really sad to see the entire chain go out of business.  They had the best selection of media anywhere.  If no one else had it THEY DID.  At least I got some CDs and DVDs at half price before they closed. It was one of my favorite places to kill time if I needed to.

It's been closed for about a month now...


"It's Not Love"  music video from Dokken features  the now defunct store (the yellow sign with red letters)

We had a couple Wherehouses around here, the most recent closure was in Walnut Creek off N. California St. about 2 years ago. We also had one in Antioch that shut down ages ago (at least 1993). We also had one in Clayton, which shut down around 2000 or 2001.


The one in Livermore closed a while ago, I remember getting Ringo Starr's latest CD at the time (Ringorama) for one dollar during clearance. I think there's still a Wherehouse in Modesto and Concord?

They've got a great selection, but they're pretty expensive. Our local FYE sucks, though. It's only got really popular things, or things that nobody would ever buy.

The store here in Denver in the Cherry Creek shopping district closed down completely right after the holidays.  Already, at this moment the building it was in is being demolished. 

Im really sad to see the entire chain go out of business.  They had the best selection of media anywhere.  If no one else had it THEY DID.  At least I got some CDs and DVDs at half price before they closed. It was one of my favorite places to kill time if I needed to.

Tower and HMV were the only chain record stores I know of that had anything approaching a decent classical and jazz selection.  I don't know if HMV is still around.  The one in Harvard Square closed a couple of years ago.  It was a stone's throw away from the Tower that closed in November.  Now the biggest record store in Harvard Square is Newbury Comics, which is great for pop music and nothing else!
::)

The one in Livermore closed a while ago, I remember getting Ringo Starr's latest CD at the time (Ringorama) for one dollar during clearance. I think there's still a Wherehouse in Modesto and Concord?

They've got a great selection, but they're pretty expensive. Our local FYE sucks, though. It's only got really popular things, or things that nobody would ever buy.


Concord Wherehouse shut down around 2000 or earlier. Believe it or not, we had one in Antioch in the late '80s and part of the '90s. I remember going there after my 10th birthday party and using the money I got to buy my some of the first CDs I ever owned (I got the "Beauty and the Beast" soundtrack and I think a Mariah Carey CD). Wow, I remember even on my 10th birthday morning, I got the KrisKross CD, lol

Concord Wherehouse shut down around 2000 or earlier. Believe it or not, we had one in Antioch in the late '80s and part of the '90s. I remember going there after my 10th birthday party and using the money I got to buy my some of the first CDs I ever owned (I got the "Beauty and the Beast" soundtrack and I think a Mariah Carey CD). Wow, I remember even on my 10th birthday morning, I got the KrisKross CD, lol


Whoa! I remember going to the Concord one within the last three years...

Tower and HMV were the only chain record stores I know of that had anything approaching a decent classical and jazz selection.  I don't know if HMV is still around.  The one in Harvard Square closed a couple of years ago.  It was a stone's throw away from the Tower that closed in November.  Now the biggest record store in Harvard Square is Newbury Comics, which is great for pop music and nothing else!
::)


Tower had an AWESOME Classical selection. I use to love to go into that special room they set aside and just enjoy listening to what was playing. I have heard a rumor that they are actually going to move a popular record store here called Rasputin's to the old Tower Record's building, so maybe it will be designed in a similar manner and I can still use it as a hangout, lol. Rasputin's needed a bigger space anyway. It always looks too crowded inside.  ;D

Tower had an AWESOME Classical selection. I use to love to go into that special room they set aside and just enjoy listening to what was playing. I have heard a rumor that they are actually going to move a popular record store here called Rasputin's to the old Tower Record's building, so maybe it will be designed in a similar manner and I can still use it as a hangout, lol. Rasputin's needed a bigger space anyway. It always looks too crowded inside.  ;D


Rasputin's has SOOOOOOO much music.

Tower had an AWESOME Classical selection. I use to love to go into that special room they set aside and just enjoy listening to what was playing. I have heard a rumor that they are actually going to move a popular record store here called Rasputin's to the old Tower Record's building, so maybe it will be designed in a similar manner and I can still use it as a hangout, lol. Rasputin's needed a bigger space anyway. It always looks too crowded inside.  ;D


Rasputin's?  That must be a California thing.  Never heard of it.

Tower had an AWESOME Classical selection. I use to love to go into that special room they set aside and just enjoy listening to what was playing. I have heard a rumor that they are actually going to move a popular record store here called Rasputin's to the old Tower Record's building, so maybe it will be designed in a similar manner and I can still use it as a hangout, lol. Rasputin's needed a bigger space anyway. It always looks too crowded inside.  ;D


Rasputin's is great for old-school music collectors like me - and I'm guessing you, too. In fact, it's about the only place I go now for music or movies.

Yeah, on Wikipedia, it says they bought the lease of 4 Tower Records (with the Concord one moving into the old Tower building - that's probably the one nearest to you). There's 7 existing stores, making it a total of 10 once they're all built. I go to the Campbell one near me all the time. Probably every week (one of my friends even works there). I've also been to most of the others - in fact it's my mission at some point, to go to every Rasputins in existance, lol.

The one in Fremont near the NewPark Mall is my fave - it's huge and there's one full wall devoted to nothing but cheapie audio tapes! Anytime I go up there, I'm in there for around 3 hours. I'd liken it to going on a successful scavenger hunt (i.e. I get exhausted and a little beaten up along the way, but with the new treasure and knowledge I picked up along the way, it makes it feel all worth it and I can't wait to tell the guys about it. And I'm already making plans to go back and do it all again next time, but for the meantime, all I want to do is go home and rest). 8)

Really though, the lame comparisons aside, lol -- if anyone ever wanted go back in time to an actual 1980s music store (when there were aisles with huge selections of records and tapes), that's probably about as close as you're gonna get! ;)

P.S. I was worried about their future once Tower was going under. But some guy said (and I agree) just the fact that an independent/smaller time chain could take over a huge name one, is saying something about its staying power.

Last time I went, they had a David Bowie vinyl for four dollars!

Rasputin's?  That must be a California thing.  Never heard of it.


   Rasputin's would be a worthy replacement for Tower, 'round here, leastways...

   It's a freaking candy store, man..!  Rasputin's might have started in Berkeley, not sure, but they're branching out nicely...

   They're also expensive, just like Tower.  But, eh...  Downloading is dandy and all, but I still revel in the feeling of walking into a record store, call me sentimental...

   http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2006-6/1193336/rasputin.jpg  http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2006-6/1193336/rasputin1.jpg

Yesterday I happened to pass by the one in Northridge, and it appears to be still around. The Levitz store in that shopping center is what's gone now.

So in southern California there's still at least one TR store.