1187 Centre Street
Newton, MA 02459
(774) 340-6228
Barry Tilles opened Good Dog Records & Books in Newton Centre in 2023. The small store front claims an inventory of around 20,000 used books and 2,500 records. The records are mostly confined to a dozen or so bins in the center of the shop while books line the walls. There’s a separate area with some pricey 45s towards the back.
Good Dog was a mixed bag for me. On the one hand, I’d be thrilled to have a weird little joint like this in my neighborhood. The stock on hand clearly reflects the myriad idiosyncrasies of Barry, who grabbed a ringing phone and screamed “I don’t fucking answer to A.I.!” into it moments after greeting me rather shyly at the door. He has some niche collections (Surf, Exotica) that you don’t see everyday and Good Dog is open on Mondays when a lot of vinyl shops are closed.
But I’m not sure how often I’d travel here from distance again. Geographically, it’s wedged in between two superior shops: Cheap Thrills in Dedham for used wax and Wanna Hear It in Watertown for new releases and higher-end stuff. I went home with one consolation record, a recent Ramones re-issue that I could have got at Barnes & Noble, after coming up empty in the bins.
Looney Tunes Body Count
- Doors 13, The Doors ($? – 1989)
- Hot Rocks, The Rolling Stones ($? – 1989)
- Dookie, Green Day ($20 – February 2025)
- Bad Boy, Robert Gordon ($6 – February 2025)
- Rock Billy Boogie, Robert Gordon ($10 – February 2025)
- Sticky Fingers, The Rolling Stones ($25 – February 2025)