You can try Academy Records and the Jazz Record Center. If you can make a trip down to Princeton, NJ, the Princeton Record Exchange will make your dad very happy.

Both of the Academy Records locations in Manhattan have jazz and classical. The one in Williamsburg has a bunch as well, but focuses more on rock.

At either of those places, it is probably a good idea to have in mind what you're looking for; you will get overwhelmed very easily. You don't need to think of specific records or anything -- if you know jazz music well (unlike me, for instance), you'll be fine.

Westside Records on 72nd and Broadway actually has way more stock than Academy when it comes to classical. But make sure to examine the records for condition... I've found that the condition of records bought from the Academy is usually better than the ones from Westside.

I second Westside. They can also be cheaper for classical. I haven't had quality problems with them yet, but you should always check.

If you're in the neighborhood, there is a thrift store between 74th and 75th street on Columbus (a "Housing Works"). They sell records quite often. They usually don't have much and they aren't organized (usually about 100 records or so), but they're only $1 a record and so far I've found them to be in fantastic shape (well, the vinyl anyway, the covers not so much).

There are also guys on the sidewalks that sell them around 72nd on occasion. Make sure you examine those, though. And bargain with them if you don't think they're giving you a good deal.

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There are also guys on the sidewalks that sell them around 72nd on occasion. Make sure you examine those, though. And bargain with them if you don't think they're giving you a good deal.

Yup. Some of the best $1 records I bought came from the street sellers on Upper West Side. There are few guys who sell near Columbia University, between 110th and 116th Streets on Broadway. Hit or miss, but there are days when they have unexpectedly good stuff. I picked up some RCA Shaded Dogs for crazy cheap, and they all played near mint, which is remarkable...