Orlando, Florida

[Guest fuzzyjon]

Hi everyone

I've just got back from a fortnight's holiday in Orlando and thought I'd share with you some info on various shops out there that sell Northern etc. Since Orlando is quite a popular place, although I suppose, not that well known for Northern, I thought it might be useful to people who plan to visit.... Hopefully this info hasn't been posted before - a quick search on here didn't bring up anything!

The best shop without a doubt is called Rock 'N' Roll Heaven which is located downtown, about 13 miles or so from International Drive. It's best to get there by car but you can get the Lynx Link 8 bus from International Drive to the Lynx Central Station and then get a Lynx Link 1 (or, I think 9) out to just outside the shop (as I did!). The Link 8 bus takes ages though, so be warned!

The store is a general (and quite large) record shop selling stuff right across the musical spectrum. The extensive "soul" section is quite good although you won't find many rarities there. The term "soul" is quite loose as I did find stuff such as Sinitta and New Edition mixed in with the soul records! It's also a good idea to check out the other "non-soul" categories as you will no doubt find a few things in there too..... Roy Hamilton and The Vibrations for example are filed under "50s" which is behind the soul section. There's also a few white record boxes in the far right hand back corner of the shop which contain a fair bit of soul.

I was chatting to one of the guys in the shop and he told me that they have a few BIG rarities behind the counter ($1000-ish) which they tend to sell via eBay. I didn't see these but was told that they have multiple copies of some of the items as they acquired a large record collection from the estate of a well known Florida DJ several years ago who allegedly had some fantastic stuff.

So, most soul records tend to fall into the $20 and below bracket, and then the $1000 + bracket.... and strangely enough nothing in between. One good thing (I suppose!) is that the shop doesn't rely on price guides (I asked them about that one!!).

The shop's website is at www.rock-n-rollheaven.com

On the way to Rock 'N' Roll Heaven I passed by a shop called Soul Train Music on Parramore Avenue (about 3/4 of the way into the journey). The shop was located in what looked like quite a run down part of downtown and looked like a really old-school, dusty shop... the sort of shops you see on some CD covers, and the ones that you're convinced must hold some real gems! Unfortunately this isn't really the case so the guys at Rock 'N' Roll Heaven tell me..... Soul Train Music only stocks albums (most of which they obtain from Rock 'N' Roll Heaven anyway) and mainly stock CDs.... Honestly though, I almost fell off the bus seat when I saw the shop out the window!!!

Finally I picked up 53 7"s from a book shop on International Drive called Best Used Books - https://www.insiderpages.com/b/11728375094

As the name suggests the shop mainly sells books but they also have several boxes on the floor holding mainly albums but also quite a few 7"s. Most of the boxes didn't contain much, but the last box that I found tucked away behind a pile of magazines had all these 7"s in there! Nothing too rare...... Voices Of East Harlem, Mel Carter, some stuff on Stax, Atlantic etc.... but all nice stuff.... and only $1 each. All the records are 70s stuff, so I guess it could be that someone just brought them all in as a job lot and that I was just lucky that day. I remember going last year and the nearest I came to a soul 7" was Build Me Up Buttercup by The Foundations! Still, it's probably worth checking out especially since it's so central to where most tourists stay in Orlando.....

Well, hopefully that has given people some useful info on Orlando and, if nothing else, it will be a nice break from Mickey Mouse and stuffing yourself silly with the huge food portions out there!

Cheers,

Jon

[Tomangoes]

When I have been over to Florida before, I have often seen 'flee markets' advertised. I suppose that they are the best places to find odd items as I can see many folks buying vinyl unless they are collectors. Even then there cant be many tunes coming from Florida in the 60s.

Who was the dealer mentioned? Any idea.

Ed

[Guest gordon russell]

bannana records

[Guest Salv]

I went in to Soul Train Records in Orlando a few years ago, and it was very good for current soul and gospel CDs, but there weren't many vinyl albums and only a handful of 45s. I got a few CDs including Gwen McCrae's 'Psychic Hotline' on Goldwax, a couple of Ernie Johnson 45s on Ronn, and a James Farrentino 45 on Traction. I also went to Rock 'n' Roll Heaven the same day and had a bit more luck with 45s but only found half a dozen worth buying. It's worth visiting Soul Train if you want current and recent releases, but not if you're after any oldies.

[Guest Mark Holmes]

Just want to give people who intend visiting Paramore area of town a heads up to be aware that it is old Orlando and unfortunately a very run down area that some may call the 'hood, ghetto or projects. There is a history of violent crime and all of the usuual things that go along with areas that city councillors don't want to admit they exist.

Because of the crime in the area typically white people are not often seen in the area unless your coming into the area to purchase something.

Just be carefull if you choose to go into Paramore that you dont stray too far from your destination, if you don't know the street systems it is easy to get lost.

I am just stating actual facts of what the area is like I am not in any way shape or form making judgement.

Tourist Orlando and residential Orlando that people live and work in are very different things and should not be thought as all the same.

Life in the Paramore area is not International Drive.

[Guest fuzzyjon]

I totally agree..... the area did look VERY run down and, much as I wanted to visit Soul Train Music, I wasn't prepared to get off the bus to be perfectly honest.

I must admit, I saw a totally different side to Orlando that day..... a far more REAL side though......

As for the other posting above.... I'm not sure who the DJ was but the last $1000 soul record Rock 'N' Roll Heaven sold was allegedly by a band called "Chain Reaction" and was sold to someone in Australia according to the guy in the shop.

[Karlm]

I totally agree..... the area did look VERY run down and, much as I wanted to visit Soul Train Music, I wasn't prepared to get off the bus to be perfectly honest.

I must admit, I saw a totally different side to Orlando that day..... a far more REAL side though......

As for the other posting above.... I'm not sure who the DJ was but the last $1000 soul record Rock 'N' Roll Heaven sold was allegedly by a band called "Chain Reaction" and was sold to someone in Australia according to the guy in the shop.

That was Chain Reaction "Search for tomorrow" on Blue Wave I saw their eBay auction. Seems to be a few copies around on that one now but only a copy or two get sneaked out at a time.

I went to Orlanda beginning of last year, went to Rock N Roll records and a couple of others I forgot the name of. Bagged a few things in the 50 pound region and a heap of cheapies for a few dollars so worth a trip if you are in the area.

[Guest fuzzyjon]

Yeah... that'll be the one. I recognise the name of the label from what the guy in the shop said. He also said that they only auction things now and again so as "not to flood the market"....

Jon