Take note, ye olde record stores in LA and the surrounding area…
There’s a new kid in town!
Flowering Spikes is the brand new record store venture of one Gregory Arnold – musician, artist, gourmet chef, and himself a longtime serious collector (he will be familiar to those of you who tune into the Classical Bums livestreams, and who watch his YT channel).
This record store is something really special!
From it’s carefully curated racks of mainly classical, jazz, contemporary, avant-garde (and even some rock thrown in) you can select record after record (or CDs) in immaculate condition (actually play graded), cleaned, re-sleeved – and priced to sell. Many highly desirable OGs and reissues are priced in the $10 – $30 range. Even the grails are priced reasonably – and they look brand new!
This is a true Aladdin’s Cave for the serious listener and collector, and the space itself is warm and inviting, with Greg himself on hand for chats short and long. Add to that some beautiful art books and ephemera also available to purchase (or simply browse,) plus a state-of-the-art sound system playing any record you care to sample, and you have what is rapidly gaining a reputation as THE Destination Record Store in the area.
For those of you too far afield to make the trek to Westlake Village, situated about 35 miles northwest of downtown LA, nestled into the foothills of the Santa Monica mountains, Greg does a dedicated website drop every Wednesday morning at 8am PST, with a video going up on his channel the day before to give you an idea of some of the goodies up for sale. (Always check the website itself for records not featured in the video).
Join me as I brave the rush hour traffic to visit the store and meet Greg for the first time, and also hang with another noted YouTuber (“Noted and Archived”) and Deutsche Grammophon recording artist, Michael A. Muller.
You will seriously not want to leave…
***N.B. And BTW a bunch of the records you will see in this video go up for sale on the website this Wednesday November 12th). ***
https://www.youtube.com/@FLOWERINGSPIKES
Store website: https://floweringspikes.com
The record by Michael A. Muller you see on the wall is “Mirror Music”, and you can read my review of this fantastic album here: https://trackingangle.com/music/entering-the-mirror-realm-with-michael-a-muller
The French film I reference (and from which I extract the “thru the mirror” sequence) is “Orphée” (1950, dir. Jean Cocteau) – a modern retelling of the Orpheus myth. A stone cold classic of French cinema.
You can read more of my articles and reviews at https://trackingangle.com
Follow me on instagram: / music_on_record
Recommended channels for classical music fans and collectors:
Poetry On Plastic
/ @poetryonplastic
Flowering Spikes
/ @floweringspikes
The Pressing Matters
https://youtube.com/@ThePressingMatters?si=q9XezWb2RVA4MW6y
The most recent Classical Bums livestream:
An invaluable guide to all the different pressings of the main classical labels:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8iJYk…
The Ultimate Classical Music Guide by David Hurwitz
/ @davesclassicalguide
My system, which has evolved over 25-plus years, is tube based and many pieces were acquired used. It was mostly put together with the invaluable help and ears of Eliot Midwood at Acoustic Image (https://acousticimage.com) who is also responsible for many of the fine recordings on the Yarlung label.
Well-Tempered Classic Turntable (round motor)
Micro-Benz Ruby 2 MC Cartridge
Phonostage: Zesto Audio Andros Spirit
Cary Audio CD/SACD 306
Preamp: Kora Equinoxe
Amps: Genesis Monoblocks 60 Amp Valve
Speakers: Silverline Sonatas with upgraded crossover and tweeters (Dynaudio)
Cabling: Aural Symphonics
Custom-made stands, with a Townshend Seismic Sink for the Well-Tempered turntable
25 Comments
I've been by FS to meet Greg and check it out. It's well curated and worth the trip esp. for classical.
Thank you Mark! You did a very fine trip production. What a great store. Greg and Micheal does a fantastic job. love the “Holberg suite” at the beginning… Love me some Grieg. 🙏🏼🤗 I love the St.Martin with Marriner.
Fantastic store, Would definitely visit if if lived in the US, But live in the wilds of Isaan S.E. Thailand. No reord stores here but plenty of rice.
THE BEST! I actually had a dream of being in the store gabbing with Greg @floweringspikes and you walked in! That would be huge fun! I was hoping to be down there for my third visit this past weekend but it didn't work out. Fingers crossed for this weekend. FYI on that Frederick Fennell Telarc: I was a protege of Fred's and I was actually at that session. Second ever symphonic digital recording, I believe. Greg, I would love that Lyrita Bax 6 if you still have it. Please text me if you get a chance and let me know. The Brahms double concerto on EMI that you sent me last week is absolutely dreamy in all ways, thanks! Cheers to both of you. The store is the best there is, period!!!
Thank you so much for coming by! We had such a great! Can't wait to do it all again, beautiful video, I think you really captured the vibe of the place! How's the Takemitsu?
Good fun, Herr Ward. Thanks for that lovely evening. Quesadillas and all. XO
I wished this video dropped 5 days ago. I was in LA Thursday for meetings and had the entire afternoon / evening off. This would have been a fun place to visit.
Testament are such a wonderful label, superb pressings, rarer recordings, original EMI press, and single albums all £20 retail new. Such an untimely death, once the stock is sold it will cease.
This was such a cool trip to the Flowering Spikes store! I loved seeing all of you, and what really struck me is the curation, quality, and presentation. Not one piece of junk in that store! Greg is doing it right, exactly as I would
Congrats on a. beautiful well well-thought-out store and a great video too.
It was great to see Michael too!
I hope to visit one day
Jealousy is a very unworthy emotion, but that is exactly what I am feeling after having watched this video. I don't suppose Greg would consider relocating to darkest Suffolk? Mmm, probably not! Oh well, I'll just have to watch your video again and dream.
Super cool! I'll have to visit and BUY…
Nice vid! How does one spell the French film mentioned at 6:13?
OHHH!! SO TEMPTING!!!! SOOO FANTASTIC COLLECTION!!!
Fine video, so much fun! Can’t wait to visit (from Seattle).
I was recently lucky enough to find that Takemitsu box at a regular haunt in NYC. I never expected to afford one from Discogs/ebay and never expected to stumble upon a copy in a shop. I walked out with it in VG+ shape for $150. The pressings are inky black quiet. Having the Kwaidan soundtrack on period vinyl is a thrill. A stunning set from a favorite composer.
I reckon Greg could do a brilliant Donald J impression.
One of the best record shop tours I’ve scene (and shops, of course!) nice! What was the interlude music while showing the art work?
Good choice on the Grieg in this highly enjoyable video👍👍
Thanks for tour, on my list to visit. Subscribed to channel 😊
Such a wonderful record shop. A refreshing video of a store that is way more than rock. Enjoyed the video immensely. Well done.
Very cool store! When my car is back up and running, and I have some extra cash I would love to make the journey from North Hollywood to visit your store!
That painting 🎨 is a beautiful piece of art!😮😊
Gregory seems incapable of demonstrating an interest in other humans!
These guys, it seems to me, have no idea what good music means. They're all about collecting, less so about listening. This saddens me.
Seems like a cool store. Hope to go some day.