Good Earth Records Brings Vinyl to the Bay

Big Buzz Blog - December 2022

Bay St. Louis's newest retailer is bringing the vinyl revival to the Coast's coolest city - seems only fitting!

- by Lisa Monti, photos courtesy of Good Earth Records except as noted

Doug Page and Erin Warfield, owners of Good Earth Records | Photo by Kirby Rhodes

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​If you grew up listening to your favorite songs on records spinning on a turntable, or if you’re a new fan of vinyl albums, set your nostalgic calendars back and head on over to the newly opened Good Earth Records on Main Street.
 
Doug Page recently relocated his record store from New Orleans to Old Town and, along with co-owner Erin Warfield, he turned the new location into a combo retail space/plant shop/art store.
 

 
Doug, who grew up in Houma, Louisiana, named his new shop Good Earth as a nod to his French roots back home in Terrebonne Parish.
 
Good Earth Records is located behind Renewing Touch Therapies day spa at 212 Main St., between Sycamore House and Fleurty Girl. “We’re kind of hidden in back, so we are calling it The Back Porch,” Doug said.
 
Once you find the place, you’ll likely be amazed at the variety of music available, especially if you’re a fan of New Orleans classics.
 

 
“I have lots of New Orleans stuff - Dr. John, Fats Domino - all the classic New Orleans people on albums and 45s as well,” said Doug.
 
He’s also big into preservation of local Gulf Coast music history. According to one of his recent Facebook posts, he came across an “extremely rare local 45 the other day from Henry Jay and the Starfires, titled ‘My Lynda’ and ‘Shoestring’s’…. “
 

 
After a little detective work, Doug discovered that fewer than 500 of these records were made in 1963 at WRJW radio station in Picayune. This was the popular local band’s only record. (Read more about the band and the local early ‘60s music scene in this archived Shoofly story by Pat Murphy.
 
Doug is a longtime DJ, so his inventory covers broad musical tastes, from disco to blues, jazz, gospel, reggae, Latin, country and classic rock. Newer albums by artists such as Trombone Shorty, Tank and the Bangas and Mavis Staples are also available for sale.
 
Just don’t look for Taylor Swift.
 
“I want to carry things that the big box stores would never have,” he explains.


Prices for older albums start around $5 and go up to around $40 for vintage works. Classics by artists including Hank Williams and the Rolling Stones can go for $15 to $25.
 ​​

 
Most of the new shop is dedicated to vinyl records along with tapes, CDs and music related books and films. Doug also offers a few special items such as vintage phonograph needles and belts and provides consultations on vintage electronics repair.
 
Erin, who is from Gulfport, offers a selection of succulents and house plants in vintage pots. Erin’s artwork and Christmas ornaments also are available. The store offers a selection of original art and handmade furniture by local artists along with crystals, vintage jewelry and vintage clothing. “We want to do creative things with the space beyond records and plants,” Doug said.
​
 Customers in the shop are an even mix of out-of-towners and locals. “We’re getting a lot of young people from the area,” he said. “It’s good to see kids getting into vinyl. I started young, listening to my grandfather’s honky-tonk country records.”
 
Doug calls his new shop a collection museum with some of his prized musical possessions and memorabilia on display. Look for the self-titled album autographed by Bobby Charles, who wrote such hits as “Walking to New Orleans” and “See You Later, Alligator.”
 
Doug said the new store is off to a robust start, thanks to local support.
 
“This is a great community that has embraced us,” he said. “It’s a dream come true.”
 
 
Good Earth Records
212 Main St., Suite D
Bay St. Louis
(504) 356-2251
goodearthrecords@gmail.com
Open 10 am to 6 pm daily except Monday

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