Everything’s bigger in Texas, so the saying goes. But did you also know that everything is “more gooder”? That’s right! Case in point, our Record Store of the Week – Good Records (Dallas, TX)! Good Records is exactly that and then some–a great store with an amazing staff and a stellar curatorial sense. This week Chris Penn (one of the dudes that makes Good Records good) took time from his busy schedule to chat with us. So next time your checkin’ out the Dallas scene, make sure to swing by Good Records and try to find a bad record. We dare you!

So, tell us some stuff about Good Records. Do you really only sell “good” records (sorry, had to ask)? Boy does the shop look sweet.

Good Records was started February 7, 2000.  We wanted to give people an adventure in listening.  We wanted to create a store we would shop at.  We decided to carry records we deemed to be good whether it be Alice Coltrane or Alice Cooper.  We run the gamut of all musical genres but try to weed it out for our customers and only give them the bumper crop to choose from.  I think our friend Jim Fairchild from Grandaddy/All Smiles/Modest Mouse said it best, “Good people, good ears, and good curatorial sense. Good Records.”

You’ve hosted a lot of local and national touring acts at your in-store performances. Got a favorite? Any cool ones on the horizon?

Some of our past instore performances have included sets by:

Grizzly Bear, Black Moth Super Rainbow, Queens Of The Stone Age, Grandaddy, Death Cab For Cutie, Regina Spektor, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Erykah Badu, Black Angels, Starlight Mints, …And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of Dead, Beachwood Sparks, Brightblack Morning Light, Enon, Califone, Black Lips, No Age, Ariel Pink, Old 97′s, Feist, Tegan & Sara, Great Lake Swimmers, Blitzen Trapper, Beach House, Centro-matic, Peaches, Dirty Projectors, The Mooney Suzuki, Danielson, Dark Meat, Fuck Buttons, Giant Sand, Heartless Bastards, Pinback, Ruby Suns, Toadies, Daniel Johnston, Demetri Martin, Of Montreal, The Polyphonic Spree, Kingsbury Manx, Long Winters, Mates Of State, Mountain Goats, Stardeath And White Dwarfs, Album Leaf, et. al. (Ed. – our jaws are on the floor!!!)

Picking a favorite is like picking your  favorite offspring but if i was forced to pick one it would have to be Grandaddy. We sold so many copies of The Sophtware Slump that when they routed their tour they purposely left a day off in Dallas to reward us with a full blown instore. They played almost an hour and a half.  People overflowed into the middle of the street.

What’s your favorite record right now?

One of my favorite records right now is Malachai Ugly Side Of Love.  I think a lot of people that needed to hear it didn’t.

What is the coolest/most prized record has come into your store that you never thought you’d ever see?

One of the recent used LP finds that has come in was an original pressing of Dennis Wilson’s Pacific Ocean Blue in pristine shape.  Needless to say that never made it to the sales floor.

What is your favorite Light in the Attic release and why?

I am going to pick two of my favorite Light In The Attic releases.  From modern times The Black Angel’s Passover from modern times.  A friend/manager came into the store and gave us a copy of the EP and we were hooked.  We have been fortunate to have them play the store several times.  From the reissue department I choose Like a Ship… (Without a Sail) by T.L. Barrett & The Youth for Christ Choir.  This release typifies what I think Light In The Attic does best…find a killer release and give it a rebirth and allow it to find new ears.  The first time we played it in the store I immediately earmarked Like A Ship for my deejay sets.

OK, now for the serious question. In mortal combat between Concrete Blonde and Blonde Redhead, which band would emerge as the victor?

Blonde Redhead would win hands down at Good Records. Melody of Certain Damaged Lemons came out the first year we were open.  We still play it to this day and it elicits one of two reacions.  ”Who is this?” or “This is such a great album.”  We have sold tons of copy of this.  It is one of our ‘High Fidelity/Beta Band’ type albums.

What’s the funniest/weirdest/strangest encounter you’ve had with a customer in the store?

Probably our best two celebrity encounters were with Glen Danzig and Luke Wilson. Glenn Danzig bought a used copy of King Crimson In The Court of the Crimson King and Luke Wilson came in on two separate occasions. On his second trip Luke was scouring for Bob Dylan bootlegs. I told him he should just ask Mr. Dylan as I think he was filming a movie with him at the time.

And lastly, how’s the scene down in Dallas? Any cool local bands we should be on the lookout for?

The music scene in Dallas is good.  We have a little bit of everything going on.  You should check out New Fumes, Leg Sweeper, True Widow, RTB2, Chameleon Chamber Group, to name a few…

—————