The loss of the "real" Tower Records web site, and alternatives.(RAMBLINGS)

Last year, Tower Records went bankrupt and shuttered its stores, but the web site remains. Caiman Inc acquired Tower Records' logo, Tower.com, and the company's intellectual property for $4.2 million in a March bankruptcy auction. For purchasers of classical music, the site is a shadow of its former self. Inventory appears to be way down. The advanced classical search engine is gone. We now have only the scantiest of information on each classical CD. Searches can no longer be arranged by release date and MP3 clips of individual tracks have been stripped from the classical material.

Amazon is probably the first site that comes to mind as a replacement* Their software engineers have added an advanced classical search capability in the manner of the former Tower site. You can sort by six different methods including release date and price. Unlike Tower, all-label sales and special deals are anathema at Amazon. Indeed, it is even impossible to identify what is on sale. Even when Tower was at its height, Amazon was the go-to site for used recordings. You can often get a better deal used, but be warned that every disk not direct from Amazon is hit with a $3.00 shipping charge.

My favorite site is www.recordsinternational.com Their mantra is "Records International specializes in bringing unusual repertoire to collectors of classical music. We assume that you already have enough versions of the "standards" and know them well enough to be curious about what else was going on."

With so many sources offering standard fare, from terrestrial radio to satellite radio to your cable box, I find the less traveled path more intriguing. Many of these unknown composers rival the best. Every month, Records International presents one-hundred new releases, each carefully annotated with an introduction by the owners of the web site. These summaries are indispensable in guiding you through the selections. Without the descriptions, it is impossible to distinguish the Von Klenau from the De Grandval. I gobble up the Vaughn Williams derivatives and stay away from the material they say is for fans of Richard Strauss. Twenty percent of the titles are exclusive or very difficult to get from other sources. The balance may be found slightly cheaper elsewhere, but if you cheat, the company goes out of business. All recordings from a given month's catalog are in stock* Annotated catalogs dating to 1997 are on the site. These items have to be backordered and many may no longer be available. For this reason, ordering each month is the best way to avoid disappointment, although this approach costs more in handling fees than if you try to ...