At first, the task seemed simple. But then it got tougher as John Packer literally spun the vinyl in his mind while attempting to reveal his top-three desert island albums.

That’s the way of the ardent record collector, and while accessing a dual role of newly-minted shop owner, in Packer’s case.

After glancing around his new Mercer Island store, Volver Records, Packer nailed down his trio of favorites (which may change at any instant): Tatsuro Yamashita’s “Ride on Time,” U2’s “Achtung Baby” and Mötley Crüe’s “Shout at the Devil.” Packer gushed that side A of Yamashita’s album is especially stellar, the U2 record is his all-time fave and the Crüe’s metal ripper forever changed his life upon first spin at age 12.

Those three albums sit in vastly different areas of the music spectrum and represent Packer’s taste pretty well, he said. Packer, now 32, will bring those sounds — plus copious others — to Islanders when he unwraps his music and movie store with a grand opening at 10 a.m. on Oct. 18 at 7785 Sunset Highway, #249, just across the street from the Greta Hackett Outdoor Sculpture Gallery at Aubrey Davis Park.

Music is Packer’s passion and his eyes lit up when discussing opening his first record store: “This is something that I always knew that I was going to do. And I listen to people. I listen to what people want. But at the same time, I do what I know.”

Packer loves talking with people and sharing stories about music and movies — whether it be his or customers’ favorites. It’s all about discovery for everyone, he said.

“Every single one of these records has a story. That’s what’s fun about it. If you know that story, that will sell those records,” said Packer, adding that if a customer purchases Led Zeppelin II, perhaps he’ll broaden their horizons and point them toward Budgie or Camel records. Customers may steer him toward some bands that he isn’t familiar with as well.

Originally from Trumbull, Connecticut, and now living in Bellevue, Packer knew that the 769-square-foot shop would be ideal right when he walked through the door. The shop features a main room that contains heaps of records and a side room where he’s placed Blu-Ray DVDs (including OCN Distribution titles), VHS tapes, CDs (including Japanese imports), vintage T-shirts and music books. Plus, it’s 10 minutes from his home, there’s the sculpture park where his corgi Sophie loves to romp and it’s near the soon-to-open light rail station.

“It all just made sense. Mercer Island is perfect for me,” said Packer, noting that the store is named after his favorite movie, “Volver,” starring Penélope Cruz (a large framed movie poster hangs prominently on one wall). Posters of Japanese punk band The Stalin, Kate Bush, Poison’s Bret Michaels, Joan Rivers and many others are also featured in the store.

Within the vinyl bins, customers can find everything from rock, Japanese city pop, punk, jazz, hip hop, funk, soul, avant-garde, Tibetan monk prayer music to soundtracks and comedy offerings. Packer sells vinyl pressings from Japan, the US and all over the world that he and friends have procured during their buying trips. Packer recently bought a large folk collection in Portland, Oregon, and some progressive rock records in Chattanooga, Tennessee.

“You never stop looking,” said Packer, whose first record-shop job was at Clockwork Records in New York under the tutelage of his friend Mike Lorenzo. Packer later sold records on his own as a dealer in the Los Angeles area, and then moved on to Reno, Nevada, and Austin, Texas.

Following in his father’s footsteps, Packer got into record collecting as a youngster, experienced his first concert with Shania Twain at the helm and got his dad on board to witness the Crüe and Slipknot on wild back-to-back nights a year later at age 13.

“I was blown away. That just immediately kick-started seeing a ton of stuff,” said Packer, who has 976 of his concert tickets displayed at Volver Records. A current band who rattled his mind twice in June was Militarie Gun during their Spain concerts.

A few days before Volver Records opened, Packer said he was initially afraid that apartment residents in his building might be worrisome about a record shop coming into town and unleashing loud music so close to their abodes.

“But every single person I’ve met in the apartment building has been excited more than anything else. And that makes me really excited,” he said. “A lot of what we do here is giving back to the community by introducing people to new things, new ideas, new cultures.”

Packer is aiming to make the record-buying experience a fun one for customers. He wants Volver Records to be a place where they can positively interact with others while learning and sharing along the way.

“The one thing that I tell every single person that has ever worked with me in the past, is every customer always gets a greeting,” he said.

And then the enjoyment begins.

Volver Records’ hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday, Thursday and Friday and 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. The shop is closed on Monday and Tuesday. For information, visit: https://www.instagram.com/volverrecords/