Location: 12 Boulevard Saint-Martin, 75010 / Metro: RГ©publique, Strasbourg Saint Denis Boasting 10 different shops stocking everything from classic rock, yГ©yГ©, French rarities, jazz, soul and world music, itвЂ™s often cheaper than the shops in the city centre and is a regular haunt for many of ParisвЂ™ ever-expanding horde of diggers.Д®very stall has a different speciality and itвЂ™s easy to lose an entire afternoon doing the rounds but special mention must be given to Gemini Cricket (stand 267), Panorama Records (stand 227), French Connection (stand 268) вЂ“ all for funk, soul, Jazz, African and reggae вЂ“ while On the Ground (stand 269) and Rocket Records (stand 228) are great for rock, punk and French music. There are numerous records stands, stalls and dealers spread throughout the markets but some of the best can be found on the first floor of the large MarchГ© Dauphine. WhatвЂ™s the Story? The enormous puces (flea markets) extending from the northern pГ©ripherique (ring road) that circles Paris are some of the largest in Europe, selling everything from eye-wateringly expensive furniture and paintings to vintage clothes and cheap and cheerful knick-knacks. Go for: Second hand bargains and rarities across all genres The shop at number 42 has an enormous selection from the French Caribbean and Haiti as well as an enviable salsa section, while the original shop has deep racks of classic and obscure French records.ДЄddress: 132-140 Rue des Rosiers, 93400 Saint-Ouen / Metro: Porte de Clignancourt Now spread across three shops, Crocodisc covers pretty much all bases. The shops retains that same ethos today, covering many styles in-depth that are not always well represented in Paris. Starting out in the original shop at 42 Rue des Г©coles, the early days saw owner Philippe travel across Europe and the UK, scouring distributors for cut-out stock and independent releases that werenвЂ™t easily accessible at the time. WhatвЂ™s the story? Right next to the Sorbonne University and not far from the touristic St Germain area, Crocodisc (and sister shop Crocojazz) will be celebrating 40 years in the business this December. Go for: Rock, psych, French music, folk (Crocodisc 1) / Soul, funk, reggae, Latin, Caribbean and African (Crocodisc 2), Jazz (Crocojazz) Locations: 42 Rue des Г©coles 75005 (1), 40 Rue des Г©coles 75005 (2), 64 Rue de la Montaigne-Sainte-GeneviГЁve 75005 (Jazz) / Metro: Maubert-MutualitГ©, Cluny-Sorbonne, St Michel Here are a selection of the record shops that reflect this vibrant world. Home to many disparate underground musics, from revolutionary jazz and psychedelic rock to a thriving house and techno scene- not forgetting its historic role as a production hub for large swathes of French-speaking African countries, the cityвЂ™s musical DNA is reflected in its numerous record shops.ДЄnd while Paris is perhaps best known as a destination for second hand records, with numerous specialist shops and frequent markets, as the boundaries of the city expand away from the centre, there are plenty of shops, labels and collectives pushing a different agenda.ДЇrom radio stations like Le Mellotron and shops like the proudly alternative DDD to house stalwarts like La MamieвЂ™s crew and the more eclectic Soukmachines and Ligne 15 outfits taking up residence in disused industrial spaces of the oft-dismissed вЂbanlieuesвЂ™, there has been a flowering of creativity and opportunity over the past decade, bringing Paris into line with other European capitals in the studio, and on the dance floor. While the bulk of visitors come for the museums, the architecture or the food, densely packed micro-areas that have precious little in common with the Latin Quarter or the Champs ElysГ©es often provide a complete change of atmosphere in just a few blocks. Your essential companion to digging in the French capital.ДЄs one of the most-visited tourist destinations in the world, Paris often labours under the weight of expectation as вЂњthe city of lightвЂќ, but scratch the surface even slightly and there is a huge amount to discover, not least a fresh and exciting musical scene.

Tower records store locations