New Orleans Record Haul: Exploring NOLA's Musical DNA at Euclid Records
New Orleans section at Euclid Records
I just got back from an incredible trip to New Orleans, and you already know I couldn’t leave without doing some serious damage at one of NOLA’s iconic record stores.
Euclid Records is an absolute staple in the NOLA scene. I managed to score three records that basically tell the entire story of the city’s musical DNA, from the roots of traditional jazz to the grit of bayou funk and the royalty of soul. Today, I’m breaking down this haul: we’ve got a legendary clarinetist who never left home, the "Aretha Franklin of New Orleans," and a native tribe that changed the sound of funk forever.
Turntable setup at Euclid Records in New Orleans
Located just a 20-minute bus ride from the French Quarter, Euclid Records is often ranked as the top record store in New Orleans for a reason. It’s the second branch of the St. Louis original, spanning two floors with a massive selection. It’s truly a haven for music discovery. Their turntable setup is top-tier, and while I found some of the reissues a bit pricier than what you might see on Discogs, the used bins are fairly priced and exceptionally well-sorted.
💻 Website
Year Released: 2025
Country: Europe
Format: Vinyl
Genre: Funk/Soul
Style: Soul
Favourite Tracks:
Take A Look
You Don't Miss A Good Thing (Until It's Gone)
Anyone Who Knows What Love Is (Will Understand)
You can’t have a NOLA haul without the Queen herself. Originally released in 1966 on Imperial Records, this is a 2025 reissue from Music On Vinyl.
About Irma Thomas
Irma Thomas is known as the Queen of New Orleans Soul. Often compared to Etta James or dubbed the "Aretha Franklin of NOLA," she has a southern flair that blends perfectly with a polished soul sound. While she had a more modest global career than some peers, she is a household name in New Orleans.
The Big Hit: "Anyone Who Knows What Love Is (Will Understand)"
This album features her most iconic track, which has found a second life as a recurring "Easter egg" in the show Black Mirror. It has appeared in six separate episodes, most famously in "Fifteen Million Merits" (S1, E2), becoming the series' unofficial, haunting theme song.
The Sound
The production is incredibly polished, with many tracks written by the NOLA legend Allen Toussaint. Their chemistry was at its peak here, even touching on a Motown-esque sound on tracks like "What Are You Trying To Do."
Year Released: 2025
Country: US
Format: Vinyl
Genre: Funk / Soul
Style: Bayou Funk
Favourite Tracks:
Handa Wanda
Smoke My Peace Pipe (Smoke It Right)
(Somebody Got) Soul, Soul, Soul
Saints
This is the pinnacle of Bayou Funk. I picked up the June 2025 Jackpot Records reissue on a stunning "Feather Blue" vinyl.
About The Wild Magnolias
The Wild Magnolias are a native tribe formed through the integration of African American and Native American communities, famous for their extravagant Mardi Gras costumes. Before this 1974 debut, their music was primarily percussion-based. This record was a massive cultural moment, the first time a Mardi Gras Indian tribe recorded traditional chants with a full, electrified funk band.
The Sound
Imagine if James Brown walked down the streets of New Orleans during Mardi Gras. It’s a heavy blend of funky basslines, brass elements, and African call-and-response.
Year Released: 1970
Country: US
Format: Vinyl
Genre: Jazz, Blues
Style: Dixieland
Favourite Tracks:
Jerusalem Blues
Dallas Blues
If you want to know what "Traditional" or "Dixieland" New Orleans jazz sounds like, this 1970 Delmark Records reissue is the blueprint.
The Legend of George Lewis
While Buddy Bolden invented the genre and Louis Armstrong transformed it, George Lewis did something rare: he stayed in New Orleans his entire career. He is credited with reviving the classic NOLA sound when it was being overshadowed by swing and bebop in the '40s. He was a regular at the legendary Preservation Hall.
The Sound
The album is somber and blues-infused (four out of seven tracks have "blues" in the title).
