Fun fact: Fort Collins has more record stores per capita than anywhere else in the state. I have no idea if this is actually true but it certainly sounds about right. Regardless of the so-called “facts,” there are a lot of record stores in Fort Collins when you consider its size. 3 of these record stores are all within a single mile of each other: Songbyrd Records, All Sales Vinyl, and Fort Collins’s newest record store (barely) Driver 8 Records. While this means there are a lot of records to sort through, each shop has its own specialty.
All Sales Vinyl is smack in the middle of Old Town, receiving the most foot traffic and window shoppers and the selection reflects this. New releases, a healthy mix of genres, and plenty of classics and crowd pleasers. Songbyrd Records’ selection is almost the exact opposite, selling only used records. But Driver 8 Records manages to operate somewhere in between, focusing on an extremely well-curated selection of new records and some more than adequate used record bins.
Selection at Driver 8 Records
The carefully selected records that Driver 8 Records offers are what really sets it apart. Essential rock, jazz, and indie albums are all easily found, making it a great place for those just getting into the hobby to stock up on the many “essential” albums that record collectors insist be in every person’s collection. Kind of Blue by Miles Davis, Green Onions by Booker T and the M.G.’s, Funkadelic by Parliament, Led Zeppelin records, Pink Floyd records, you get the picture.
This store isn’t just for beginners; it offers plenty of interesting records. Any self-respecting collector should have this cozy nook on their radar. Driver 8 stands out for its carefully selected records, not its massive selection.
Pricing at Driver 8 records
Pricing here is pretty typical for most of Colorado: pretty damn good. Expect MSRP on new records and used records are about what you’d expect.
Driver 8 is a drop in once a week to browse and chat with the owner kind of store. A neighborhood shop in a time where record stores often need to be some kind of tourist destination to survive. There is a comforting tranquility that reminds you why crate digging is a hobby all of its own. Easy listening records playing over the speakers, wooden fixtures in a homey space, new records, old records…what else could you want?
My Take on Driver 8 Records
Fort Collins has a downright strange amount of record stores. These days it’s pretty common to see a record store in any touristy-area that has plenty of foot traffic. Yet Fort Collins has FOUR record stores within a couple miles of each other. As of right now, they all seem to have carved out their own little niche.
Driver 8 is the most “record store guy” of the 4. Despite how small this store is I’ve never seen so many of those “must-haves” in a single shop. I’m pretty sure I could google “25 vinyl records every collector must have” and find some lazily written article with all the obvious records: Rumors, Kind of Blue, Pet Sounds, Funkadelic, In The Court of The Crimson King, A Night at The Opera, Etc. and Driver 8 would have all of them in stock. I actually really like this about Driver 8. As “common” and “essential” as those albums are, they can be a little hard to find due to their popularity. Having a store that stocks these kinds of records almost exclusively is kind of nice to have in a town with so many record stores. With that being said, I can see more serious collectors seeing this as a negative as they already own all of these records and the store is a little bit light on deep cuts.
Records Purchased
Chet Baker Sings – Chet Baker
Address
246 Pine St, Fort Collins, CO 80524