The Record Collector's Guide to Nashville

Nashville is known as the home of country music, but there's a whole lot more for music lovers to discover in the "Athens of the South." For nearly 25 years, Nashville has been home to a thriving rock music scene that has yielded artists like Jason & the Scorchers, Webb Wilder, Threk Michaels, the Pink Spiders and the Kings Of Leon. The "Music City" has nurtured the growth of gospel music since the early 1900s and is also the business epicenter of the CCM industry. Blues, rap, electronic and "space music" all have a place on the streets of Nashville.

For the music lover and record collector, Nashville provides an oasis of possibilities. With just a few stops, you can find your wallet emptied and your trunk full of hard-to-find vinyl, CDs and other musical paraphernalia. If you're planning a trip to the "Music City" for vacation or for a weekend of digging through crates for vinyl collectibles, fire up your favorite online map and plot out your route, 'cause these are the places that you have to visit while driving around the city.

Ernest Tubb Record Store, 417 Broadway

For over half-century, Ernest Tubb Record Store has catered to the tastes of collectors of country and bluegrass music. When the Grand Ole Opry was located at the Ryman Auditorium, Ernest Tubb's was a required stop during any visit. The tourists don't make it downtown as frequently as they used to, but the savvy music lover always finds time for ET's, and the company has gradually expanded to include stores in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee and Fort Worth, Texas as well as near the Opryland Hotel in Nashville. The flagship store at 417 Broadway is still the place to visit for those searching for rare and hard-to-find vinyl. While in downtown Nashville, it's worth walking down the street to both Lawrence Brothers and the Hatch Show Print store, which offers fantastic block-printed reproductions of classic country music posters.

The Great Escape, 1925 Broadway