Revolution Records

Revolution Records in Torrington, Connecticut is a carefully organized record shop carrying new and used vinyl, CDs, and sports and non-sports cards. The store has become especially known for heavy metal, classic rock, blues, R&B, and listening-party energy that draws both local regulars and record-crawl visitors from around the state.

The shop was founded by John D., who later sold it to longtime friend Ted Pirro after five years of running it alongside a full-time job. John is still involved on a smaller level, especially with cards and listening parties.

Interview with Revolution Records

Torrington is northwest Connecticut - hill towns, old mill city, a long way from the coastal record circuit. What's it like being the shop for that region?

Believe it or not, there are a few shops north of the coast. There is even another store in Torrington called Jeff's Records. However, it's a mess: completely uncatalogued, unorganized, and only used records. When I first opened, I tried to visit that store but they never seemed to be open. So I thought, let me see if I can do it better.

Everything in our shop is alphabetized. We carry both new and used records and CDs, and even sports and non-sports cards. The record buying public seems to appreciate our store and its selection.

Who comes through - locals, Litchfield County weekenders, people driving in from Hartford?

We get people from all over, literally. One guy was doing a "Record Crawl" up the coast and ended up spending over $400 in our store. We have local regulars who come in once a week. We have people who stop by when they're in town on business or visiting family.

One of the things we try to do a lot is listening parties. The labels put them together, and stores can sign up. It's helped bring in people from other parts of the state and make them aware of us.

What do your regulars ask for most - and what sells in Torrington that might surprise people?

When we first opened, I wasn't sure what to expect. But over time I started noticing a lot of people asking for 70s and 80s heavy metal. So we really put our focus on that and have built up one of, if not the best, metal selections in the state. New stuff, old stuff, it all sells very well in our store.

And, of course, the usual classic rock stuff like Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, Beatles, Doors, etc. I can't really say what might be a surprise. Maybe ABBA? We can't keep ABBA on the shelves, it sells so fast.

Which section has been quietly strong lately?

Over the past few months, our R&B section has gotten hammered. Earth, Wind & Fire is a strong seller, and anything to do with Parliament Funkadelic and its various spinoffs sells really well.

If someone in the hills wants to sell records, what's the best way to start - and what makes a collection worth the look?

Selling records on your own isn't hard. Just put a listing up on Facebook Marketplace. Just be prepared to be stood up a bunch of times. I've done it myself, and it's a slow, painful process: $5 today, $10 tomorrow, enough to buy a sandwich.

So the best way is to approach a record store, because you can do a lot more with one lump payment. However, and I always suggest the same to everyone I've bought from, always get a second or third opinion. I know what I can get for records. Other stores in more affluent areas can charge more, so they may pay more.

As for what makes a collection worth the look, I'd say ones that are personal. I love seeing collections where entire catalogues of bands exist. That tells me the person loved that artist enough to buy everything they put out, and generally those collections are in better shape.

That being said, we're usually looking for collections with bands that sell. If you have every Barbara Streisand and Dan Fogelberg record, it may be a solid personal collection but in our store we rarely sell those artists.

What condition problems show up most in collections from old New England houses?

Most records, when not in use, were stored in attics, basements, or garages. You see a lot of warping and mildew under those conditions, and if the basement or garage floods, you see water-damaged covers. I don't know if you see that more in this area or not; it's just generally what every store owner sees.

What's a find or customer story that captures the shop?

One of the reasons the store even exists is that we used to do record conventions and we just loved hearing the passion from customers and the way they shared experiences.

We have one guy who told us he went to see Mott The Hoople in Waterbury at The Palace, and the opener was a band who had never stepped foot in the United States prior to the show: some band called Queen. Their very first show in the US. I love living vicariously through our customers.

First visit to Revolution - what should someone check first?

Depends on what you're into, but most customers head to our metal section. Blues is also gaining a lot of traction, with the explosion of people like Samantha Fish and Christone "Kingfish" Ingram. We also have a very dedicated cadre of Pokemon collectors, so if you're into that you might want to see what we have on our shelves.

FAQ

Does Revolution Records buy used records?

Yes, but the store is selective. Revolution Records generally does not buy pre-1960s records except blues and jazz, and it usually avoids soft rock artists such as Barry Manilow, Barbra Streisand, and Neil Diamond. The rest varies, so sellers should contact the shop or bring/send details for review.

What kinds of collections are most interesting to the shop?

Personal collections with desirable artists, strong condition, and complete runs by bands tend to be more interesting than mixed boxes assembled from dump runs or inherited odds and ends.

What condition issues matter most?

Warping, mildew, and water-damaged covers are common problems, especially when records have been stored in attics, basements, or garages.

What music sells especially well there?

Revolution Records is especially strong in 70s and 80s heavy metal, classic rock, blues, and R&B, with Earth, Wind & Fire and Parliament Funkadelic-related records mentioned as recent strong sellers.

What else does Revolution Records carry?

Along with new and used records and CDs, the shop also carries sports cards, non-sports cards, and Pokemon-related collectibles.

Last updated: 2026-07-10