Do you remember mail order record stores

Mr. Ed

Mr. Ed

Be what you is not what you what you ain’t
Location
Central NY
I was aware of two mail-order record stores from the 1960s & 1970s. Columbia Records perhaps was the biggest, however, I came across and mail order record distributor called The Record Club of America. There was no minimum number of albums to buy and it offered a lifetime membership unlike Columbia Records. Periodically, TRCOA would send new music from unknown bands for exposure and circulation purposes. Mostly psychedelic albums and music.
 

Yes, back in the 70's I was a regular customer with Columbia Records,I enjoyed it for a few yrs, then stopped buying since my music tastes changed
 

Mr. Ed said:
I was aware of two mail-order record stores from the 1960s & 1970s. Columbia Records perhaps was the biggest, however, I came across and mail order record distributor called The Record Club of America. There was no minimum number of albums to buy and it offered a lifetime membership unlike Columbia Records. Periodically, TRCOA would send new music from unknown bands for exposure and circulation purposes. Mostly psychedelic albums and music.
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Yes, I was a member of both when I was a teenager.
 
I did a membership to one back in the late 70s, I was lured in by the first ten albums for a penny promotion. What I remember is the album's being half as thick compared to what was purchased at the record store, and the covers also were very thin. I was also disappointed when Cheech and Chongs Big Bambu album didn't come with the giant rolling paper, I so wanted to roll a giant joint!

I cancelled as soon as I was able.
 
I used to belong to Columbia's record of the month club. I also was a customer of some company's VHS club. Every month I would get an episode of Star Trek: the Next Generation. If I didn't want to keep it, I'd return it. They cancelled my membership with out notice. Apparently, I wasn't buying enough VHS tapes from them.
 
I remember! I belonged to Columbia Record Club and BMG. There was another one but not sure it was a club. I think you just ordered by telephone or the mail. I am racking my brain trying to think of the name of it.
 
GRRRRR Both of those companies can burn in hell. Both would send LPs , which you had to return, but you never did. And the junk they sent, like: " The Melvin Finklegrover Quintet atonal, freeform rock, as played on a broken tambourine". And that was one of the GOOD selections you got. They hounded me for a $28 payment for years.
GRRRRR.
 
My brother was a member of Columbia, and it became complicated when he couldn't send the reply card back to say he didn't want that month's album because his mail was not forwarded when he was stationed in Vietnam. They even threatened to sue him, but he eventually got everything settled.
 
I belonged to the "Columbia Record Club." Still have a record cleaner they sent me. This is where I bought a lot of my Johnny Cash albums. I think I also belonged to the Capitol Record club but I could be wrong. It was so many years ago.
 
I belonged to Columbia Records. I probably still owe them money for not sending that card back . This short video is pretty good about it's history.

 
JaniceM said:
Now you mention it, I remember Capitol Record Club, too.
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I believe one of the LP that I ordered from Capitol Record Club was the Kingston Trio singing MTA and Tom Dooley. Those were the "good ole' days" when getting the mail was exciting. Now, how exciting is it to get flyers from Boston Pizza and McDonald's? Not very exciting for me! Mail delivery sure has changed for me unless you count getting "Gunsmoke" DVDs in the mail?
 
Packerjohn said:
I believe one of the LP that I ordered from Capitol Record Club was the Kingston Trio singing MTA and Tom Dooley. Those were the "good ole' days" when getting the mail was exciting. Now, how exciting is it to get flyers from Boston Pizza and McDonald's? Not very exciting for me! Mail delivery sure has changed for me unless you count getting "Gunsmoke" DVDs in the mail?
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And the good ol' days when music was music.. not like the irritating noise these days!!!
 

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