Denise Russell manages the world-famous Jim Russell Records in New Orleans.
From the shady side of the Magazine Street, Jim Russell Records shop didn’t look like the Top 10 of anything — let alone one of the Top 10 record stores on earth as my daughter Tess had advertised. It was a simple store front with a weather-beaten sign that was probably the original from 1969.
The front door was open. It was warm inside the store. Denise Russell, daughter-in-law of Jim Russell, was behind the counter. She greeted us and we said hi.
The store extends deep to the back walls. Bins of CDs, deeper bins of vinyl LPs and slats of single 45s, 78s, tapes, movies, and all sorts of music-related memorabilia covered the walls. Tess began to explore.
I told Denise that we were visiting New Orleans and Tess had read that Jim Russell Records was famous. Denise nodded and said, “It is kind of famous.” Maybe even more famous to people living outside of the city.
She went on to tell stories about renowned performers who have visited the store. Most were friendly and real like Bruce Springsteen who appreciated the store and Jim Russell himself.
Denise went on to say that she gets lots of international visitors, and that Jim Russell’s has been written up in many foreign tourist guides as a must see in New Orleans.
As if on cue, in walked the Italians. They were a 30-ish couple, casual but stylish, great sun glasses and both sporting nifty miniature backpacks. They began looking around. In a few minutes the woman came up to put some purchases on the counter while her companion continued to shop.
I overhead them speaking, so I asked her in Italian how she found the store. She said that they had heard about it, didn’t know exactly where it was, but were glad when they spotted it on Magazine Street. She said that her husband loves American music. He was still engrossed in bins and shelves along the far wall.
It made me think back to the days when I lived in Florence, and how my Italian friends adored American music. I remember catching a Miles Davis concert in Bologna with Sandro Bertoni and Piero Chiostri. Miles owned the arena. Piero had his eyes closed and every once in awhile would nod and say “Questo é jazz.”
And anyone who follows Paolo Conte — the great Italian songwriter, pianist and vocalist — knows, he rejoices in American music. He expresses his love of jazz in Sotto le Stelle del Jazz and we catch some New Orleans, Professor Longhair style keyboard in Boogie Woogie.
I recall a story about Louis Armstrong. He had a gig in Milano and was asked why Italians had so much respect for American jazz musicians, the same kind of respect given to Verdi or Puccini. “I think the Italians figure our music’s the same,” Satchmo said. “We play from the heart.”
Denise brought me back from my musical reverie as she asked me to bring the Italian woman over to the center of the store.
“Look, here’s Italy,” she said pointing to the aftermath of decades of foot traffic on cement. Layers of worn paint had created a rough circle of blue with a brown shape suspended from the top edge. Could it be? Yes, it looked like the Italian boot stepping demurely into the blue mini-Mediterranean puddle. Tess came over, too. And we all laughed.
I asked Denise how business is.
“Not so good. Traffic is off since Katrina, and that storm wrecked our roof and we don’t have the money to fix it and no insurance. Our taxes are up since the storm — about five times what we used to pay — and we’re just not making that kind of money. It’s real hard.”
Bruce, or other music lovers, if you catch this piece, give Denise a call. She probably has that long-lost record you’ve been wanting — and you would be music to her ears.
Mark,
Great hearing from you again! Your videos are fun and enlightening…and it was great to catch a glimpse of the wonderful Denise. Thanks for checking in and sharing your experiences about the world’s greatest record shop!
Hey Sharon & Walter!
AH! Finally found the link to this article once again.
Just thought I’d let you know that, back in September, 2012, I was indeed able to once again go to New Orleans and, once again, back to Jim Russell’s Records – actually went to Jim Russell’s THREE times in the 11 full days I was back in New Orleans.
And, the big news is, upon going there again, Denise Russell DID actually let me back into the “hidden” room full of 7’s mentioned above! Long story short, I carried over 100 78’s out of Jim Russell’s during my 3 trips there on September 26, 2012, September 27, 2012 and October 1, 2012 – first 2 trips (actually the first 2 days, as I spent from 12:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. there each trip) were exclusively digging in that “hidden” room and it netted me well over 70 records!
If you’re interested, here’s video I shot during the first visit, which shows where the “hidden” room of 78’s is and some of what I went through while digging:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=66xS0RWzqNw
And here’s just one of the 78’s I dug out of that “hidden” room – the original recording of “Twisted” by Annie Ross from 1952:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ANXwhazGTc
And, to show my appreciation, during the digging in that “hidden” room, I brought back up front several records which I thought Denise could make some decent money with – and she gave me a huge break on the final prices of the records I dug out for myself. Just one hell of a great lady. 🙂
I had the pleasure of visiting Jim Russel’s Records back on September 26, 2011 while in New Orleans with my mother, celebrating our respective birthdays – true music & record folks could spend days in the place and not get the least bit bored.
I’ve been collecting 78rpm records for nearly 26 years & asked around anywhere I could about places to snag 78’s while I was in town. One lead suggested Jim Russell’s & we took a cab down there as soon as the place opened the work week (they’re closed on Sunday & I got the lead Saturday evening after business hours).
The atmosphere there was only marred by the fact that it was monster humid out and there was hardly any circulation – something Denise instantly helped out with by bringing a fan to where I was looking. And I spent enough time just looking through the 78’s that I could’ve set up camp (nearly 4 hours).
Denise was super kind and very accomodating, like with the fan and just putting up with a single record nut in myself inhabiting the store for nearly the whole business day.
Because of the humidity, little to no air circulation and the inherent dust/mildew of long, untouched 78rpm records, after nearly 4 hours in there, I collapsed onto the side of the building in sheer exhaustion upon exiting with a heavy pile of 78’s – and I plan to go through the same thing when I return next year. 🙂
The mostly R&B/rock 78’s that were in the “front” part of the store seemed a bit over-priced, but Denise threw in 3 Duke Ellington 78’s for FREE with the pile, so that balanced it out nicely. 😉
Yeah, like I said, Denise was super kind, accomodating and otherwise just let me have at it, trusting me with those fragile 78’s. She spoke of a room in the WAY back that needed a ladder & flashlight to access (debris from Katrina and no electricity back there to this day). Reason she mentioned the room was I was wondering why I was finding exclusively R&B/rock 78’s when I’d like to find some hot big band jazz & swing 78’s – she said the R&B/rock 78’s were the most popular and, thus, were the ones brought “up front”, while this “hidden” room was apparently “filled with the 78’s you’re looking for”, according to Denise.
And that’s a BIG reason why I’m trying to make it back next year. 😉 Thanks for the great article. 🙂
Mark,
Thanks for sharing your experience.
Jim Russel’s Records is one-of-a-kind in a one-of-a-kind city.
Thanks,
Walter
This article is excellent. It portrays Jim Russell’s Records as I remember it from my time at Hope House 2007-2008 and thereafter. I worked at Hope House at that time and made frequent visits to Jim Russell’s, within walking distance of Hope House, abd befriended Denise Russell during that time as well. She is a great friend to have, and I enjoyed talikng music with her. And even in hard times, which she is experiencing at her store at this time, she keeps up her good spirits. I wish I could visit her store more often; in every case, I will download this article so as to keep it.
Well said, Max.
Nice story,Walter ….old memories…Good music has no homeland.
That Dr. John record she played was amazing. It truly is a special store – not many other places have that much obscure, wonderful music abounding. And her ability to recall every song is astounding.
Nice story. I like the serendipity of the Italian couple arriving when you’re visiting the store. An American who is sweet on Italy meets Italians who adore American music.