Albemarle Neighbor: Blades' Shut Up & Listen Records becoming 'destination'

When Shut Up & Listen Records owner Kevin Blade was a kid growing up in Indiana, he remembers his parents were always putting records on the turntable in the family’s living room console.

“They were always playing music,” he says.

Blade also remembers his grandmother having a massive record collection — more than 5,000 albums in all types of genres. He also recalls going with her to the record store to buy albums. One of his cherished possessions in fact is a boxed set of Jimi Hendrix records his grandmother purchased.

By the time he left home for Navy boot camp, Blade had his own collection of albums that he carried with him wherever he was stationed.

“I’ve always had vinyl in my life,” he said.

But with the arrival of music on cassettes, CDs, and, later streaming platforms, Blade said he didn’t play the records again until he retired from the Navy in 2015.

He says his passion for music on vinyl was reignited in part by a decision he made at the time to purchase a 4,000-record collection someone was selling.

Blades says music on vinyl just takes you back.

“When I play an album it is going to take me back to a time in my life,” he said.

Blade said his wife asked him what he was going to do with all those records. After pulling out his favorites to keep, he began selling them.

Blade quickly discovered that he wasn’t the only one with a passion for music on vinyl. In 2022, he decided to quit his government job and open his record store, Shut Up & Listen Records, at 610 East Fearing Street in Elizabeth City.

Blade said the business attracts music listeners of all ages. Whether it’s the newest release from Taylor Swift, gospel, country, jazz, comedy, classical or hard rock from the 1970s, chances are good Blade has it at his store.

“I have everything,” he said.

Blade, who lives in Camden, said customers have traveled hours to his store because he is one of the few places in the region that carries a wide range of genres, including new vinyl releases each week.

“I have become a destination store,” he said.

Blade, whose store is open seven days a week, also sells both new and vintage turntables and speakers. A popular seller are new turntables with Bluetooth technology, especially for college-aged customers and people who want to listen to their music through headphones or Apple AirPods.

Blade recommends proper cleaning and care of albums even if they are new. In addition to albums and equipment, Blade also sells store merchandise, accessories and posters.

Blade also hosts live music in the store on First Fridays and on Black Friday in November when the store offers special and limited edition vinyl pressings.

Information about special events at Shut Up & Listen Records can be found on the business’s Facebook page.