Robert plotnik also known as bleecker bob opened his record store bleecker bobs golden oldies in 1967 in nyc on bleeker street over the ensuing years the record store became a famous place to get hard to find and obscure records and other forms of music along with cutting edge new artists, he also opened other stores in hollywood and london, and this neon sign is from the hollywood. Macdougal street is a oneway street in the greenwich village and soho neighborhoods of manhattan, new york city. Bleecker bobs golden oldies 118 w 3rd st, new york, new york 10012 rated 4. Online shopping from a great selection at books store. The bitter end is a 230person capacity nightclub, coffeehouse and folk music venue in new york citys greenwich village. Bleecker bobs golden oldies new york, new york facebook. The street is bounded on the south by prince street and on the north by west 8th street. The club changed its name to the other end in june 1975. The first shop i mostly missed, but the second one was.
Bob egan, detective extraordinaire, finds the real. Dear friends, only a few days left until closing day but we do have a bid in on a space in the east village so keep your fingers crossed. I wrote about the significance of bleecker bobs here seemingly more. This is bob books bestselling first reader, introduced more than 35 years ago and used by millions of children. Bleecker bob and friend broadway al first opened village oldies records in late 1967 but after the two ways and bleecker bobs could be found in greenwich village on west 3rd street between macdougal and sixth avenue up until last weekend.
Bleecker intersects with christopher street, where you can veer off for more shopping. Bleecker bobs, new york citys most loved and hated record store, is closing. The image of a teenage lydia lunch banging on the closed grates of bleecker bobs record store to get the attention of these netherculture aesthetes is the real story of 1976 underground rock. Bleecker bobs, new york citys most loved and hated record. This often required him to import records from overseas that were not available in the united s.
Known for his eccentric personality, he formed friendships with many celebrities. Throughout the year, bloggers and other journalists said their goodbyes, and told the story of bleecker bobs troubles and their hopes to find a space in the east village. It was an institution, a rite of passage, a historical landmark, and a. Run dmc, aerosmith and the song that changed american music. Help us present groundbreaking exhibitions and develop educational programs about our nations history for more than 200,000 schoolchildren annually. Nme magazine 1972 uk t rex marc bolan elo traffic jethro. Bleecker bob s golden oldies 118 w 3rd st, new york, new york 10012 rated 4. A message written inside the bleecker bobs goodbye guest book relayed. A veteran english music writer, kris needs lived in new york city in the late 80s he spent two years behind the counter at bleecker bobs. It was the record store enshrined in west village fame.
In jim jarmuschs paterson, adam driver plays paterson, a poet and bus driver, whose daily journey through town brings him into contact with the citys extraordinary citizens. Bleecker street features man handsome beauxarts apartment buildings along its length. However, after a few years the owners changed the clubs name back to the more recognizable the bitter end. Bleecker bobs, new yorks iconic record store, closes in. The new york times travel walking tour of greenwich. The top singles and lp charts from uk and us and so much more. Bob dylan, john sebastian, phil ochs, judy collins, and others swapped tunes and stories along the street while building a path for future generations. Scott had come up to new york from sarasota, florida, where he went to. After 45 years in operation, one of new yorks greatest music store is closing its doors at the end of may. Legendary record store bleecker bobs closes to make way. Before there was bleecker bobs there was the legendary night owl cafe, home to such legends as tim buckley, the lovin spoonful, tim hardin, james taylor, jerry jeff walker and so many more. As you know, bleecker bobs is closing up shop at its longtime home, which will become a froyo shop in the west village.
The final days of bleecker bobs golden oldies it was an institution, a rite of passage, a historical landmark, and a great place to kill time at 2 a. If youre interested in learning more about the history. Bowie enjoyed shopping for rare vinyl at bleecker bobs before it closed in 20 after 45 years, only to be turned into a frozen yogurt shop. But published reports said within the village alone, another record store bleecker bobs at 118 w. Legendary record store bleecker bob s closes to make way for yogurt shop. Soon, instead of rare punk 45s, youll have your choice of sprinkles with that. Uncut magazine suze rotolo chronicles her coming of age in greenwich village during the 1960s and the early days of the folk music explosion, when bob dylan was finding his voice and she was his muse. Many early readers contain words that are too difficult for a child who has just learned the sounds of the alphabet. Robert otter, bleecker street cinema, 1965 with images. Discount prices on books by tom bleecker, including titles like life in session. Learn from the best american kenpo practitioners from dvds by martial artist master bob white and from tom bleeckers book about kenpo honorees. After 46 years of business, bleecker bobs finally closed this.
If your child knows the alphabet, bob books set 1 is the book to start him or her on the path to reading. Robert edward plotnik, also known as bleecker bob, was the owner of an eponymous record shop first located on bleecker street in manhattan, new york. Greenwich village was once a locus for a succession of twentiethcentury progressive movements fighting for workers, womens, civil, and gay rights. Before there was bleecker bob s there was the legendary night owl cafe, home to such legends as tim buckley, the lovin spoonful, tim hardin, james taylor, jerry jeff walker and so many more. Bleecker bobs would move a few times after that, and survived longer than most record stores in the village did. It opened in 1961 at 147 bleecker street under the auspices of owner fred weintraub. Recorded in march 1964, the album was released on october 19.
Electric light orchestra full page ad with tour dates. Bleecker bobs helped start one of new yorks greatest bands, was americas no. Cbgbs and the mudd club were where you heard the music, but bleecker bobs was where you held, felt it, saw it, listened to, bought it. When it goes, it will take with it a huge part of the history of the village.
Its dirty, cluttered, and the staff isnt at all like the chain stores. Bleecker street records in the village may soon close due. In the 1960s, bleecker street was a crossroads, a mecca, a meeting place for artists making a new folk music of vibrant political and personal statements. Bleecker street was so central to the music scene that paul simon named a song after it on simon and garfunkels debut album in 1963. After towers demise although it lives on as a retail website, a few record stores in the big apple filled the void until they also sadly bit the dust. Bleecker bobs, which began as village oldies records in 1968, on bleecker street, and moved to two other locations before ending up at no. When bob dylan lived in greenwich village in the early 1960s, he and thengirlfriend suze rotolo walked down jones street for a photo shoot for the cover of his second longplayer, the freewheelin bob dylan. I once saw david bowie in here looking for a dexys midnight runners record, his wife iman and publicist in tow. Rest in peace, bleecker bob plotnik flaming pablum. This one is at the corner of oneblock jones street. There is a growing interest in music history in the digital era. Bob dylan faq, the latest installment in backbeats faq series, condenses the life and times of americas premier songster into an addictively vivacious 400page brick jampacked with critical analysis, minutiae, photographs, ephemera, and period history. After a year of speculation and rumors, its official. Bleecker bob s thrived during the late 1970s, selling tickets, posters, albums, bootlegs, singles, tshirts and all other manner of collectible fetishistic artifacts of substance 365 days a year.
Downtown new york citys bleecker bobs golden oldies record shop closed on saturday, april just one week shy of record store day. Scott had come up to new york from sarasota, florida, where he went to high school with paul reubens, aka pee wee herman. Jaz, that is a really good idea actually indie book stores and record. He worked at both bleecker bobs and the record store musical maze. Every aspect of dylans life and career, from his everexpanding discography, touring. Bleecker streets evolution from sleepy suburb to america. It was produced by tom wilson and engineered by roy halee. How to experience david bowies new york the new york times. His friend and bartender, doc barry shabaka henley, keeps a shrine to the many fascinating figures who make up patersons unique history. Robert edward plotnik august 28, 1943 november 29, 2018, also known as bleecker bob, was the owner of an eponymous record shop first located on bleecker street in manhattan. Long and winding and road ends for bleecker bobs the new. It continues the kenpo story with biographies of 28 of todays top kenpo stylists and is the next edition of the original kenpo. Bob is kind of a hero, quitting the law and opening up a record shop that outlasted cbgbs, the rock and punk booms, the. A stepbystep walk through just kids and patti smiths.
The cover and the label include the subtitle exciting new sounds in the folk tradition. Bobs was where patti smith met lenny kaye, village voice critic robert christgau scrambled to grab the clashs debut in 1977, and the. Between waverly place and west 3rd street it carries the name washington square west and the numbering scheme changes, running north to south, beginning with. Newyork historical society 170 central park west at richard gilder way 77th street new york, ny 10024.
Two of the citys musical mainstays are soon to go silent. Cheapos normans sound and vision other permanent records play it again princeton record exchange rebel. After nearly a year of discussion and speculation, bleecker bobs has made it. Rip bleecker bob plotnik, the man who gave america new. I worked at bleecker bobs for nearly three years 8689. Discover delightful childrens books with prime book box, a subscription that delivers new. It was an institution, a rite of passage, a historical landmark, and a great place. This is the heart of new yorks gay communitythe gay liberation movement was born here during the famed stonewall rebellion of 1969so many shops cater to a gay and lesbian clientele. It survived the introduction of cassettes and cds, outlasted nearby punk venue cbgbs, and managed to. Following docs lead, were showcasing some of the towns remarkable. The history of bleecker bobs is worth the price of the records.
A1 amoeba bside bleecker bobs bleecker street breakdown colony empire discs finyl vinyl folk footlight generation gimme gimme good house of oldies innersleeve in your ear last vestige lauries planet of sound li music lovers faire mr. The girl with bob dylan on the cover of freewheelin broke a fortyfiveyear silence with this affectionate and dignified recalling of a relationship doomed by dylans growing fame. If you love history and biographies you will love this book. Bleeker bobs record store as featured in girl friday bleecker bobs records, 118 w. Sabrina, dowe, oscar s download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. New york city history is essential reading not only for fans of regional history, but for readers. Among the first new york neighborhoods to gentrify, the west village has seen that change. He could be a narcissistic oaf who treated his customers like shit and staff even worse, shouting, spitting when he spoke, getting me to run and get his mcdonalds in icy blizzards, take his great dane max out in all weathers with pooh sack ready, insulting to my friends and. Following their early gig as tom and jerry, columbia records signed the two in late 1963. Robert plotnik at bleecker bobs in 1978 when it was on macdougal street. By night, and on weekends, he transforms himself into something of a pop culture detective, searching out the locations of famous record album covers and other famous pop images. Its history is also that of longtime residents determined efforts to save it from the designs of new, wealthy neighbors and powerful landlords. St corner of macdougal st 1981 the old night owl cafe.
Plotnik was noted for recognizing changes in music, and his store was at the forefront of emerging rock genres, such as punk rock. Kory grow goes behind the counter of a record shop for the ages, and gets the real story on why the beloved joint had to close its doors. Capital new york produced a heartbreaking documentary about the shop in july and wrote, bleecker bobs will stay open until the landlord has found a new tenant. For five decades, bleecker bob s was one of the last reminders of the villages musical roots.