For most hard core music fans, life consists of a series of little questions. The Beatles or the Stones? Blonde on Blonde or Blood on the Tracks? David Lee Roth or Sammy Hagar?

While these questions inherently have no absolute answer, some never seem to go away.

Since the compact-disc revolution of the late `80s, a debate has centered on the respective merits of CDs and vinyl records. Though most of the listening community is sold on the portability and sound of digital CDs, a good number of fans still swear by the crackle and pop of vinyl.

For the faithful, the record store remains a religious center, a site of devotion, veneration and, too often, lust and gluttony.

Harbored by the scenes in the book and movie versions of High Fidelity, record stores have come to be viewed as the impregnable fortress of the rock snob, where people who don’t know the Style Council from the Stylistics will be spit on with impunity. And though there may be a snobbish contingent to some record stores, it is no reason to avoid the treasure and nostalgia of vinyl.

So whether you are dusting off your parents’ hi-fi, searching for the latest sample to spin at the clubs or just looking for some album covers for room decorations, here are three of the finest record stores in town.

Record Exchange

5320 Hampton Ave.

Located at the former Buder Branch of the St. Louis City Library, Record Exchange tops the list for its sheer volume.

Aisles of rock, soul and country records await inspection, along with antique record players and rock `n’ roll memorabilia. The d?cor is a hoot too, as promotional cutouts of music celebrities, from Lionel Richie to Hall and Oates, are perched atop the racks. Be warned, though, that a large number of records does not necessarily equal the widest selection. I searched in vain for a Commodores album containing the 1985 hit “Nightshift” and failed to find anything by Billy Bragg. Record collectors are not easily daunted, so don’t give up if you can’t find that Feelies album; like anything else, persistence is the key. If you are just starting a vinyl fixation, start with Record Exchange for the sheer bulk.

Euclid Records Vinyl Shack

7905 Big Bend Blvd.

This Webster Groves-based satellite of the classic Euclid Records in the Central West End specializes, as the name suggests, in vinyl LPs. Though not as massive as Record Exchange, the Vinyl Shack is a fine place to search out those rare editions, picture discs and 45s. For frequent visitors not wishing to browse through the entire catalogue, there is a new arrivals bin full of records by the Band, the Yardbirds and many sides by the Sir Douglas Quintet.

While the rock and soul selections are choice, the real jewel is the basement, devoted solely to jazz records.

You can drool over those collectible and expensive Blue Note album covers while checking out the wall of cheesecake, which proudly portrays the girlie album covers of yesteryear. Though small in stature, the Vinyl Shack is great in scope and proves that a fine record store can exist outside of the city limits.

Vintage Vinyl

6610 Delmar Blvd.

The venerable Vintage Vinyl should be familiar to anyone who has lived in St. Louis for more than a year. Located in the University City Loop, Vintage stocks mostly CDs but retains its namesake by selling many stacks of wax.

More obscure titles are eschewed for big-name acts, but there is enough rare vinyl to make the dorks happy (Check out that sealed copy of Elvis Costello and the Attraction’s Armed Forces with free live EP for $20!).

Sizable space is devoted to punk and reggae LPs and, of course, there is plenty of music in its digital, compact form.

Records may not be the most advanced media for music listening, but there is an unmistakable charm in the grooves of those twelve inches.

Most timeless albums were intended to be heard on a turntable, before the advent of digital remastering and sonic perfection, and putting needle to wax helps to recreate this past.

And while you may not have been alive in 1966 to hear Pet Sounds in its original monophonic glory, St. Louis’ record stores will be happy to help true music fans to remember their roots. The revolution begins at 33 1/3 RPM.