There are few record stores in the world as committed to promoting independent music and exposing people to new artists as Portland’s Mississippi Records. Part record store, part record label, this incredible shop in North Portland is one of the best in the city. With a small but mighty selection, Mississippi Records is one of those shops where you will be consistently amazed by what you can find. A big part of this is the record label. While Mississippi Records isn’t the only store in Portland that presses its own records, they are pressing some of the most unique records you can find anywhere in the country.
What to Expect
I’ve written about an obscene amount of record stores in this damn city and there is still plenty more for me to go. However, there are different tiers of record stores here, and earning a spot in the very top tier is extremely difficult. Mississippi Records deserves its place in the top tier, along with a small handful of other shops.
Physically, this is probably one of the smallest shops in Portland, which makes the quality of records available here all the more impressive. But it’s the mission of Mississippi Records that sets them apart from so many other shops around. You can read more in detail about what this shop is all about on their website, but basically, this shop specializes in pressing extremely rare and unique pieces of music. For all you music snobs who like to collect amazing music by artists that hardly anyone else has ever heard of, this is one of the best shops in the country.
The shop itself is located in a fairly quiet part of the city, nestled between the more bustling neighborhoods of North East Portland. Inside and outside, the shop is incredibly homey and cozy. Many of the businesses in this part of Portland are inside old historic homes that have been turned into storefronts of various kinds. I’m not sure if this is actually the case here, but it certainly has that feel.
Waltz in her on a Saturday after grabbing brunch next door, and you will likely be elbow to elbow with strangers as funk and jazz music spins on the turntable and pumps through the speakers throughout the store.
Selection at Mississippi Records
This has to be one of the more balanced record store selections in Portland. The genre mix at most shops around town leans heavily toward rock and punk music, which is great if you are into those genres like me, but you do tend to see a lot of the same music everywhere you go. There is a heavy rock and pop presence here, but there are substantial sections of jazz, soul, funk, and international music in this store also. If anything, I would say this is where this store excels. Even most of the music that is being pressed on the Mississippi Record label is at least going to lean towards soul or funk.
Other notable crates include a couple of bins filled exclusively with local artists, Gospel, discount punk, a bin filled with albums by “local legends,” and of course a rack with all of the Mississippi Records pressings.
Aside from the full-size LP’s available, there are also 7”in records that are worth browsing and a really cool selection of cassette tapes that are curated by the shop. More information about those mixtapes here.
Pricing at Mississippi Records
The incredible and unique selection aside, this shop is worthy of an equal amount of praise for the prices of their records. Every time I’m here, I am constantly shocked at just how many records are priced below $20. Take these Fleetwood Mac and Joy Division albums, for example. Everywhere else, these are $24 or more. Used records are priced the same way, so if you are planning on making a trip, this is a shop worth breaking open the piggy bank for.
My Thoughts on Mississippi Records
This is well and truly one of the best record stores on the West Coast. When we are talking about small hole-in-the-wall record stores, this just might be the best one I have ever been to, it’s just that good. Sure, you are bound to have better luck at some of the megastores across the country, but if you are on the hunt for something truly unique to add to your collection, I can’t really think of a better store. If you aren’t fortunate enough to live close to this store, you can always shop online and join their amazing Community Supported Record Club
Records Purchased
Off the Bone – The Cramps
Rumors – Fleetwood Mac
Purple Mountains – Purple Mountains
Address: 5202 N Albina Ave, Portland, OR 97217