By Jackie Pearce, News Correspondent

The CD is a thing of the past and cassette sales peaked during the Reagan administration. Why is vinyl, the predecessor of them all, still around?
The sheer number of used record stores around the greater Boston area begs the question. There are at least three within walking distance of Northeastern, with a hoard of others scattered across Cambridge.’
At Boston’s best vinyl stomping grounds, employees and owners offer up why their product, and their stores, have stood the test of time.
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Looney Tunes 1106 Boylston Street
‘It’s the thrill of the hunt,’ said Dennis McCarthy, a Looney Tunes employee. A self-described ‘vinyl nut,’ McCarthy said he recently splurged on the psychedelic album being played throughout the store. The 13th Floor Elevators, a now-defunct Austin, Texas, rock band, LP cost him $100.
Record collectors are constantly on the lookout for the rarest cut, the best condition of a classic record, or simply a good deal, he said. CDs simply don’t offer the same adventure. To him, it amounts to ‘treasure hunting.’
The search is definitely part of the experience at Looney Tunes. It’s better to poke around the huge assortment of albums than to enter with a particular record in mind. Boasting the usual rock collection, they also have notable selections of classical and jazz music. The high turnover in stock will keep a serious collector on their toes.’
Used records usually go for around $10, with some of the well-known names closer to $15 or $20.’
A fixture on Boylston for 30 years, Looney Tunes is a small, cramped shop full of anachronisms. The walls are decorated with what look like relics from a kid’s bedroom in the early ’80s, with ET, Porky Pig and Batman clamoring for the few open spaces of chipped paint with jazz heroes and vintage rock posters.’
Looney Tunes is in the midst of a massive sale:’ during the month of February, they’re offering half off of all CDs and DVDs.

Nuggets 468 Commonwealth Ave., Kenmore Square
‘I think records are just cooler,’ said Nuggets owner Stuart Freeman. A laid-back Northeastern alumnus, Freeman speaks above the soulful background music, noting that records are more aesthetically pleasing than their CD counterparts.’
Freeman brings up a valid point; CDs are often hidden in booklets or in cabinets, their plastic appearance unworthy of display. Records, on the other hand, become a collector’s item, with their colorful artwork and vintage nature.
Nuggets itself is a maze of CDs and records, slightly confusing to maneuver at first glance. The decor comes off as minimalist after being in the sensory-overload atmosphere of Looney Tunes. However, their record collection is extensive, and offers some cheap comedy records and some older hip-hop and jazz.’
At 31 years old, Nuggets has made a name for itself in Kenmore Square, and etched its name in the hearts of former students.
A Boston University graduate, now a graying man in a black suit, ran into Nuggets during this reporter’s visit expressing his utter amazement that it was still around.
‘I can’t believe you guys still exist!’
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Planet Records 54B JFK St., Harvard Square, Cambridge
Neat and organized. How many record stores can boast both of those adjectives?
Planet Records does a great job of presenting their enormous CD collection by only displaying their sleeves. It makes a huge difference in the quaint space, located below a bubble tea shop in Harvard Square.’
Proudly displayed above the employee-only section is a charred Fender Stratocaster, a relic from the fire that engulfed the original Planet Records in 1998. The owners moved from Kenmore Square to their new home on JFK Street, right next to the Harvard Square stop.’
CDs are definitely king at this store, but Planet Records does have a solid vinyl collection worth exploring if one is in the square.’
With a friendly staff, a great collection of international CDs and used vinyl, Planet Records a good choice for music lovers. Not convinced yet? The ‘You Cheap Bastard Bargain’ box at the front counter features such gems as a Godzilla VHS for a buck side-by-side with a $2 Top Chef DVD set. Talk about treasure hunting.