Sidetracks Music, a Treasure Trove of Vintage and Modern Albums
Across from Water Street’s parking garage lie several hidden gems in Charlottesville’s Downtown Mall’s array of small businesses. One of these is a record store, just over the train tracks, known as Sidetracks Music. The building itself is similar to many of the small businesses surrounding the downtown mall area, a tidy, boxy building clad in red bricks with green lettered signage on a white background hanging from its exterior. However, the real beauty of the store lies inside.
Upon entering Sidetracks, the first item you are greeted with is a Christmas tree-esque display of the latest and hottest albums to hit the shelves. Generally, a newcomer’s first instinct is to walk around the tree several times, a rather fun sight, as some are occupied with pets such as excited dogs, their noses running wild with the new smells of old paper. After rounding the tree, one’s gaze typically moves to the miscellaneous 1970s and 1980s used 30 and 45 rpm vinyl records at the front tables, an unusual but welcomed feature, as most other record stores tend to keep their used inventory near the back, keeping the wandering eye fixated on only the unopened vinyl in stock.
As you flip through the various crates of new and used albums sorted by genre, with local finds mixed into the bunch, you reach the back of the store and find the crown jewel of the display: A rainbow made up of translucent colored 30 and 45 rpm records in the back corner of the store. Another trick which stumped me at first glance was the use of mirrors on the store’s back wall that makes it appear as if there might be another business behind it. I had to ask the cashier if that was indeed a mirror before it broke the illusion!
Some of my absolute favorite records and cassette tapes in my collection are from Sidetracks, and I make semi-regular visits to the store for more. Sidetracks Music, originally founded in 2003, is located at 216 West Water Street, Charlottesville, Virginia.
