Thanks for this photo - I loved this store. On every trip to Toronto (from the UK) starting in 1979, SAM's was on the 'must go' list. They had everything - and staff who really knew what they were selling and could find things from a (barely remembered!) lyric.
Thanks for reminding me of all those hours spent flipping through the LPs, and the struggle to get them all home on the plane! Luckily, I still have all the LPs, and a record player to boot, so SAM will live on...

excllent shot . bravoo
I like composition .

I'm glad I paid a visit at least once, when I was in TO five years ago. Someone I vaguely know worked there for a summer, too. I found a bunch of old SST stuff in the racks when I was there; I'm sorry I didn't buy any.

I also went to a big second-hand warehouse place on Bloor, opposite Lee's Palace. I can't remember the name of it now. Is it still around?

did a limo drive in front of you? whats that light thats above the red light from?

another walk down memory lane.... I can remember spending hours there on Friday and Saturday nights thumbing through the discontinued bins looking for rare finds. I like the effect of the vehicles in motion too. Wonder how many people will think, "What's a record?"

now that is one COOL!!!! storefront! :-)

great

Sam the Record Man is gone! That's horrible news - I went there everytime I visited Toronto.

I'm sorry to say, I don't think that the sign will be there for much longer. Ryerson University is thinking of purchasing the store to expand their campus.

Your technique is interesting which makes me glad you took this picture. I will look back on it and reminisce.

Thank you.

آقا این عکسه چرا این شکلیه؟؟ اون پا ها مال کین؟

Wow, saw this and it brings back memories. Visited toronto when i was a child to see Phantom of the Opera and I remember buying Smashing Pumpkin's Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness at this record store. I could see this wonderful sign from out of my hotel windows. It actually kept me up at night. :] Great shot, thanks the the nostalgia.

Like the Freudian slip “recognized sings on Yonge …” how fitting!!!

I got my first record at Sam's. I'll miss it!

Cool shot. I hope the sign stays too! That's way too cool to be torn down!

The sign will be retained, despite Ryerson's plans. The City designated the entire building as a heritage property with the intention that the sign be preserved.

Amazing shot... Perfect framing... Cheers!

No need to worry about the sign. The building's been designated as historically significant by the city so whoever buys it will probably have to keep them up. Or at least intact.

I saw the title and thought it was going to be a picture of 'Sam the Camera Man'... but there was no such self-portrait taken at night! Very cool shot; I like what you've done with the lights on the street. And for some reason, the lights on the records appear to flash when I scroll up and down.

Nice pic, I heard on the radio that the city of Toronto has deemed the sign as a landmark or something of the sort, and whoever takes over the building has to keep the sign. Hopefully this is true!

When did you take this? The signs haven't been on recently.

How sad~

Without the "SAM" signs, Yonge st. won't be the same anymore.

I guess I've left TO for too long. Miss the place a lot.

oh my god, they are closing down sam's record?!!

That´s entertainment! Real turntables.

Wow, great shot... I love what's going on in the foreground!

nice symetry

well done!

When I was a kid living in Scarborough in the 60's, I took the red rocket to Yonge Street and walked down to Sam's every Friday night to buy the latest hit 45, and pick up a CHUM Chart. I bought my firs LP there. It was Bob Dylan's "The Times They Are A Changin". Thanks for the memories.

It seems this store's been closing down for over a decade. The neon sign was nice in its time; it was a great store, but there are people who have grown up now, without having even seen a record.

There are many nostelgic memories of this place, but the big flashing neon could be replaced with something nicer. Though, if it were my name (and not Sam's) flashing in giant lights, I'd likely want the sign to remain too.

thanks for the image - the only time i lived in TO - for four months in the late 70's- i worked across the street, on the second floor, at Fran's Restaurant (Upper Deck) - right out the windows i was looking directly onto this significant store front - mr. Sam himself used to come over for lunch

Great, dizzying shot. Great energy in this!