snip: Mmmm,
All can be ordered at numerous sites, or even bought in a shop. Remember them?


Actually, no they all can't... my wife got me a tompall and the glaser bros. collection from them that is one of their exclusives. And as Michael said, many of the imports- if you don't know some of those cool Bear family sets exist, you can't special order them. I often buy from village records and elderly instruments, also. Village in particular has great customer service, is really good about passing along promos or samplers, takes trades and has some exclusive Tom Russell and Dave Alvin things. Recommended in my book.

Working in a college town, the flavors at the local stores here are definately geared toward alternative and well, college-radio type music. Folk sections are rudimentary at best, and special orders, especially on imports, seem to take forever and sometimes just never come in at all. I try to mix up my purchases, actually, to support both local shops, good mail order places, and directly from artists when I see them perform (unless they're charging significantly more than I can easily find the disc for elsewhere, y'know?)

jim