If you’re into retro Christmas decor and themes and you’re looking for vintage Christmas records, may I suggest one of my favorite Detroit record stores? I discovered Peoples Records in Detroit sells Christmas records and you won’t believe the great price I paid! 😉 Keep reading!
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Do you have a favorite Christmas memory?
When I was a kid, I always loved it when my mom would play my three favorite Christmas records: Mickey’s A Christmas Carol, Disney’s Christmas All-Time Favorites, and Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer.
I remember the Rudolph album featured holiday songs and a story about Santa asking Rudolph to help him guide his sleigh on Christmas Eve.
Last night, I was talking to Michala (19) about it and I started laughing when I recalled my favorite Christmas memory.
“It’s so funny because I actually thought the characters were real,” I said to her. “I thought it was really Santa Claus speaking on the album and Rudolph could actually talk.”
She just smiled and laughed along with me.
Yesterday, I stopped by Peoples Records in Detroit to find some classic records. It was my first time going back to the record store since early 2020.
Last week, I was driving down Gratiot on my way home from Downtown Detroit, when I noticed the store was open. I was beyond thrilled to see this because I remember they had to close for a short period of time after the pandemic hit.
“I know what I’m doing next Sunday,” I said aloud to myself.
I can’t even begin to tell you how happy I was to be back at my favorite record store. After spending about 10 minutes browsing the records, I realized I had been smiling behind my face mask the entire time.
PEOPLES RECORDS IS ONE OF MY FAVORITE RECORD STORES
Peoples Records has been around since 2003 and it’s owned by Mr. Brad Hale. As a Michigan Transplant (2015), I’m not very familiar with the history of Mr. Hale’s record store. However, I did read this great article by The Agit Reader if you’d like to learn more.
Every time I go into the record store, he is super nice and always helpful with any music questions I have. He’s always spinning the best music, too.
Sometimes I just want to ask, “Can I buy what you’re playing right now?” (In fact, one time I did. LOL!)
Through talking to Detroit locals and reading up on Peoples Records, I’ve learned quite a bit about the store. For instance, in 2008, Rolling Stone included Peoples Records on its list of the top 25 “Best Record Stores in the USA”. That’s pretty cool!
HOW I GOT INTO COLLECTING VINYL RECORDS
After discovering Peoples Records in Winter 2020, I loved stopping by once or twice a month to get classic jazz and gospel records.
In late 2019, I had started getting into collecting classic gospel, jazz, hip hop, and R&B records. I even used birthday money my Dad had gifted me for my 39th birthday to buy myself a record player.
I bought at Target for about $60 or $70. I’m not sure if it’s the best brand for me to have (so don’t laugh at me lol), but I figured it’s good enough for a beginner.
As I start to learn more about collecting records and what’s the best type of turntable to have, then I’ll upgrade my Crosley for something better. (Let me know if you have any suggestions for a good record player!)
I think the reason why I have been getting into vinyl so much is that it brings back fond memories from when my parents used to play their records when I was a kid.
I know my dad has a big record collection. About a year ago, I asked him if he ever felt like giving any records away could he please send them to me.
And I think he texted me something along the lines of, “Yeah, I’ll think about it.”
In my head, I pictured him giving me a side-eye look like, “Excuse me?!” Haha!
DISCOVERING VINTAGE CHRISTMAS RECORDS
As I was looking through the R&B records, I spotted a section for Christmas records.
“Ohh, Christmas records? That should be fun,” I thought to myself.
The first Christmas record I pulled out was a vintage “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” record album. The record reminded me of my favorite childhood Christmas albums.
I was so excited about it that I immediately texted Travis a picture of my find.
Then I noticed the price of the record was only NINETY-FOUR CENTS! Hello! So you know I had to buy a few more Christmas albums.
As I was looking through the Christmas record collection, I started to think of happy childhood Christmas memories.
And then I imagined myself playing these vintage Christmas albums while making holiday crafts and baking cookies with my own children. 🙂
Although the albums weren’t the ones from my youth, they still felt perfect to me.
Some of the artists on the albums I bought are new to me, but I was just geeked to have vintage Christmas record albums to play on my little ol’ record player!
It’s the little things, right?
And after almost two years of enduring a scary pandemic, visiting my favorite record store and discovering those vintage Christmas vinyls truly made my heart happy!
I hope the kids feel the same way when I play the records for them.
If you would like to visit Peoples Records, the store is located on 1464 Gratiot Avenue in Detroit (Eastern Market District).
Store hours are Monday – Saturday: 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sunday: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Phone number is (313) 831-0864 and click here to visit the official website!
Happy spinning! xoxo
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