Oil Capital Vinyl

Oil Capital Vinyl carries a Tulsa name with Route 66 and local history behind it. Daniel's answers are direct and practical: clean LP collections, desirability and condition, new-arrival bins, and the reality that photos or lists can help only so much before records are examined in person.

Interview with Oil Capital Vinyl

Oil Capital Vinyl is a great Tulsa name. What's the story behind it, Daniel?

After an exhaustive search for a clever, original, name for the store, a friend of mine suggested something with a local flavor, with a tie in to Tulsa history, especially the nearby Route 66. For decades, mostly from the 20s to the 70s, Tulsa was known as the "Oil Capital of the World". There are several other local businesses such as Oil Capital Electric, Oil Capital Diner, etc., so this wasn't particularly original, but it has worked out well, especially with my t-shirt sales, some of which I've shipped all over the country and world.

You're always looking for good clean LP collections and make fair offers based on desirability and condition. What makes a collection an easy yes?

Clean, sellable titles that I know my customers will get excited about. Sometimes I have to take a gamble on random, cheap, unseen collections, knowing there has to be a few gems in there somewhere.

You'll take a list or photos - even texted to your store's Google Voice - before someone hauls records in, to make sure you don't waste their time. How well does that pre-screen work?

Not particularly well, really, but it has to be done. That being said, one really need to examine them.

What do your Tulsa customers reach for most in the bins?

Classic rock, jazz, funk, and 80s pop. Grunge, metal and punk are always fast sellers, but unfortunately, hard to find.

What comes through in Oklahoma collections that surprises you?

Good jazz titles. Conditions can be disappointing, but good ones are al;ways surprising and exciting.

What's been quietly strong lately?

CDs. Maybe not quietly, really. I've sold more CDs in the past year than I have in the previous 6 years as a whole.

What condition issues do you see most in local collections?

Poor storage.

First visit to Oil Capital - what should someone dig through first?

The new arrival bins, obviously. The freshest stuff goes there.

Last updated: 2026-08-08