Having worked as a concert producer and in the nightclub business for nearly twenty-five years you can imagine how many records I have piling up around the home & office, many I haven't had a chance to hear. A couple of years ago, while putting together websites for my biz Orpheus Entertainment and my pet band project Suburban Dog, I had the idea of using a web page to offer this surplus to others instead of just trashing them. Being a DIY kinda guy, I setup a database and began scanning covers. With my trusty downloaded HTML manual in hand, I created a logo and a couple of pages for my online garage sale...

Ergo, THE REC(o)RD LINK

With no expectations of selling a single record, I did however receive encouraging email from visitors and bands looking to promote their records. Over a few more late nights, I added the self-pressed product of bands and other titles I felt deserved wider exposure. Given the amazing internet, with no promotion I began to move a few.

It is my desired for THE REC(o)RD LINK to remain a "mom & pa" local-feel record shop, not competing with the larger outlets. But an online boutique where... self-pressed bands get exposure & sell records; audiophiles find special & exclusive offerings; adventurous listeners discover new music & artists; collectors find that long lost disk; and where I tell others about the music I like & support.

Given the modest scope of this venture, I directly sell only a limited number of records. I've included some listings of featured artist for discography purposes and they may be otherwise available at CDNow, Music Boulevard, Barnes & Noble, Amazon.com, Tower, HMV, etc., and you can still support the artists featured here by buying from one of them. In some cases I've either setup affiliations and/or simply linked to these other outlets.

Most records available here are new. Many are one piece items that may have been opened only for scanning, data entry or review purposes, some may be overruns or cutouts. I do not handle CDR's, dubbed/mix tapes, bootlegs, nor demos. The few used items are indicated.

As an added service to site visitors, I've compiled THE REC(o)RD LINK BUYING GUIDE featuring hyperlinks to over 2000 other online sources worldwide to help you find what you want. My goal is to provide a significant resource on online record shopping...a section you'll want to bookmark and regularly use. It has proven to be the most popular section.

THE REC(o)RD LINK is purposely low-tech, so please forgive the slow loading times. But, I want you to browse the record covers & catalogs, hopefully discovering a new artist or music.

I am learning perl & java to setup a more automated ordering system. A shopping cart and other interactive utility is in the works. As time allows, future plans include...better graphics, featured label & artists pages; more copy & photos; streaming music & video samples; downloadable music on demand, purchase premiums, giveaways, club discounts & other sales promotions; a compilation; and maybe live webcasts...stay tuned!!

I've found it easiest to accept secure credit card payments thru PayPal.com c/o sales@therecordlink.com (which is free to you).

Your suggestions and involvement are always encouraged and appreciated. I'm always looking for more records and do appreciate submissions. Add the URL of an online record outlet to the buying guide. Be a charter subscriber to or a writer for THE REC(o)RD LINK Newsletter. Your comments can also be emailed to me at comments@therecordlink.com

Use my free bulletin board THE REC(o)RD LINK TRADING POST to post your wants or buy/sell your own records. Use the THE REC(o)RD LINK BUYING GUIDE to help with your record shopping and research.

Bookmark THE REC(o)RD LINK...Tell your friends & relatives...Put THE REC(o)RD LINK on your web page...Add THE REC(o)RD LINK to your favorite search engine or newsgroup or webring...Chat about THE REC(o)RD LINK...Buy records from THE REC(o)RD LINK!.........
& the promotion begins :)

Please support artists, producers and their record companies by encouraging the purchase of their recordings rather than trading in unauthorized records, bootlegs, or downloading free unlicensed MP3s and other sound files. Musicians needs to eat & feed their families too, and indie labels are struggling. Also check out a live band this week and pay instead of using guest list.