Rating U.S. record stores, coast to coast

Discussion in 'Music, Movie and Hardware Store Guide' started by steelydanguy, Sep 8, 2016.

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  1. steelydanguy

    steelydanguy Forum Resident Thread Starter

    Being a huge fan of brick-and-mortar, independent record stores and someone who often visits such stores when traveling, I put together the labor of love below recently.

    I utilized the website Yelp -- which compiles crowd-sourced user reviews of businesses -- to make a list of the "highest-rated" record stores in the United States. I also broke down each region of the country, digging into cities and towns large and small.

    This project was meant for fun and not to stand as the be-all, end-all list of the greatest record stores in the United States. I know of several really good record stores that, for whatever reason, don't receive a lot of Yelp reviews. Stores in large cities like Los Angeles undoubtedly get more reviews than stores in a small town in the middle of the country. And this really just serves as a snapshot in time. Some stores have only opened in recent years and are still building their reputations. Others have been around for years or decades.

    All that said, I think this (quite long!) list is a lot of fun and could be quite useful to anyone who enjoys brick-and-mortar record stores. I'm sure I missed some great stores in putting this list together, but hopefully I included the bulk of the best ones.

    The first number after each store is the average number of stars, out of a maximum of five, that a store received from Yelp users. The second number is the total number of reviews each store had as of Sept. 1, 2016.

    Any thoughts or opinions on this list are certainly welcome.

    Thanks!
    steelydanguy


    Yelp Record Store Guide (as of Sept. 1, 2016)

    Best-rated stores nationwide (that primarily are record stores and not also bookstores, cafes, etc.).
    (These stores have an average of 4.5 stars and at least 90 reviews.)

    Amoeba Music (Los Angeles) – 4.5-star average, 1,494 reviews
    Amoeba Music (San Francisco) – 4.5, 1,074 reviews
    Fingerprints Music (Long Beach, Calif.) – 4.5, 320 reviews
    Rhino Records (Claremont, Calif.) – 4.5, 207 reviews
    Twist & Shout (Denver) – 4.5, 188 reviews
    Sound Garden (Baltimore) – 4.5, 186 reviews
    Record Surplus (Los Angeles) – 4.5, 173 reviews
    Princeton Record Exchange (Princeton, N.J.) – 4.5, 172 reviews
    End of an Ear (Austin, Texas) – 4.5, 150 reviews
    Record City (San Diego) – 4.5, 136 reviews
    Freakbeat Records (Sherman Oaks, Calif.) – 4.5, 121 reviews
    M-Theory Music (San Diego) – 4.5, 120 reviews
    Shake It Records (Cincinnati) – 4.5, 119 reviews
    Stinkweeds (Phoenix) – 4.5, 110 reviews
    Vacation Records (Los Angeles) – 4.5, 107 reviews
    Electric Fetus (Minneapolis) – 4.5, 105 reviews
    Soundstations (Los Angeles) – 4.5, 101 reviews
    Music Millennium (Portland, Ore.) – 4.5, 99 reviews
    Sonic Boom (Seattle) – 4.5, 99 reviews
    Vintage Vinyl (St. Louis) – 4.5, 96 reviews
    Park Ave. CDs (Orlando) – 4.5, 95 reviews
    Radio-Active Records (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) – 4.5, 95 reviews
    Permanent Records (Chicago) – 4.5, 94 reviews
    The Record Parlour (Los Angeles) – 4.5, 94 reviews
    Grimey’s New & Preloved Music (Nashville) – 4.5, 93 reviews


    Northeast – New England

    Connecticut

    Redscroll Records (Wallingford) – 4.5-star average, 32 reviews
    Gerosa Records (Brookfield) – 3.5, 11 reviews
    Records – The Good Kind (Vernon) – 5, 10 reviews
    Music Outlet (Enfield) – 4, 8 reviews
    Replay Records (Hamden) – 4, 8 reviews
    Disc & Dat (Bethel) – 4.5, 7 reviews
    The Telegraph (New London) – 4.5, 7 reviews
    Integrity ’N Music (Wethersfield) – 3.5, 7 reviews
    Tumbleweeds (Niantic) – 4.5, 5 reviews

    Maine

    Portland
    Bull Moose (Old Port) – 4.5, 37 reviews
    Strange Maine – 4, 20 reviews
    Moody Lords – 4.5, 10 reviews
    Electric Buddhas – 4, 10 reviews
    Enterprise Records – 5, 4 reviews

    Brunswick
    Bull Moose – 5, 22 reviews

    Scarborough
    Bull Moose – 4.5, 19 reviews

    Bangor
    Bull Moose – 4.5, 7 reviews

    Massachusetts

    Boston area
    Newbury Comics (Back Bay) – 4, 183 reviews
    Newbury Comics (Harvard Square, Cambridge) – 4, 84 reviews
    Newbury Comics (North End) – 4, 66 reviews
    In Your Ear Records – 4.5, 61 reviews
    Record Exchange (Salem) – 4.5, 44 reviews
    Stereo Jack’s Records (Cambridge) – 4.5, 43 reviews
    Nuggets – 4, 43 reviews
    Planet Records (Cambridge) – 4, 42 reviews
    Déjà Vu Records (Natick) – 5, 30 reviews
    Turn It Up (Northampton) – 4.5, 28 reviews
    In Your Ear Records (Cambridge) – 3.5, 28 reviews
    Armageddon Shop (Cambridge) – 4.5, 27 reviews
    Mystery Train Records (Amherst) – 4.5, 20 reviews
    Somerville Grooves (Somerville) – 4.5, 19 reviews
    Newbury Comics (Burlington) – 4, 18 reviews
    Newbury Comics (Saugus) – 3.5, 18 reviews
    Cheap Thrills Music (Dedham) – 4.5, 16 reviews
    Electric Eye Records (Florence) – 5, 5 reviews
    RR Records (Lowell) – 4, 5 reviews
    Spin That Records (Springfield) – 4.5, 4 reviews

    Hyannis
    Spinnaker Records – 4, 20 reviews

    Worcester
    Joe’s Albums – 4.5, 7 reviews

    Somerset
    Sunset Records – 3.5, 6 reviews

    Haverhill
    Welfare Records – 5, 9 reviews

    New Hampshire

    Portsmouth
    Bull Moose – 4.5, 51 reviews

    Manchester
    Newbury Comics – 4, 16 reviews
    Music Connection -- 4.5, 7 reviews

    Rochester
    Skeletone Records – 4.5, 3 reviews

    Salem
    Bull Moose – 4.5, 10 reviews

    Rhode Island

    Providence
    Olympic Records – 5, 34 reviews
    Armageddon Shop – 5, 25 reviews
    What Cheer Records & Vintage – 4, 20 reviews
    Newbury Records – 4, 18 reviews
    Round Again Records – 3, 18 reviews

    Vermont

    Burlington
    Pure Pop Records – 4.5, 19 records
    Burlington Records – 4, 12 reviews
    Speaking Volumes – 4, 4 reviews

    Montpelier
    Buch Spieler Records – 4.5, 6 reviews

    Enosburg
    The Flying Disc – 4.5, 8 reviews


    Northeast – Mid-Atlantic

    New Jersey

    Princeton
    Princeton Record Exchange – 4.5, 172 reviews

    Fords
    Vintage Vinyl – 3.5, 55 reviews

    Hoboken
    Tunes – 4.5, 39 reviews

    Bordentown
    Randy Now’s Man Cave and Assignment Shop – 5, 11 reviews
    The Record Collector – 4.5, 8 reviews

    Jersey City
    Iris Records – 4, 21 reviews

    Summtt
    Scotti’s Record Shop – 3, 31 reviews

    New York

    New York City
    Generation Records (Greenwich Village) – 4, 96 reviews
    Black Gold Records (Brooklyn) – 4.5, 79 reviews
    Academy Records & CDs (Flatiron) – 4, 75 reviews
    The Thing (Greenpoint) – 4, 61 reviews
    Permanent Records (South Slope) – 4, 54 reviews
    Good Records NYC (East Village) – 4.5, 52 reviews
    Academy Records (East Village) – 4.5, 50 reviews
    Human Head Records (Brooklyn) – 5, 45 reviews
    CO-OP 87 Records (Brooklyn-Greenpoint) – 4.5, 40 reviews
    A1 Records (East Village) – 4, 38 reviews
    Westsider Records (Upper West Side) – 4, 33 reviews
    Music Matters (Brooklyn) – 4.5, 30 reviews
    Academy Records Annex (Greenpoint) – 4.5, 28 reviews
    Fifth Avenue Records & Tapes (Park Slope) – 4, 25 reviews
    Material World (East Williamsburg) – 5, 24 reviews
    Jazz Record Center (Chelsea) – 5, 21 reviews
    Downtown Music Gallery (Two Bridges) – 4.5, 20 reviews
    Bleecker Street Records (West Village) – 4, 17 reviews

    Buffalo
    Record Theatre (multiple locations) – 4, 18 reviews
    Revolver Records – 5, 10 reviews
    Black Dots – 5, 4 reviews

    Rochester
    Record Archive – 4.5, 44 reviews
    Bop Shop Records – 5, 13 reviews
    Lakeshore’s Alternative Music Com – 4, 9 reviews
    NeedleDrop Records – 5, 6 reviews

    Syracuse
    The Sound Garden – 4.5, 45 reviews
    Books & Melodies – 4.5, 15 reviews

    Albany area
    Last Village Music Shop – 4.5, 22 reviews
    River Street Beat Shop (Troy) – 5, 9 reviews
    Blue Note Record Shop – 4.5, 3 reviews

    Pennsylvania

    Philadelphia
    Long in the Tooth – 4, 99 reviews
    Repo Records – 4, 51 reviews
    Beautiful World Syndicate – 4.5, 38 reviews
    Main Street Music – 4.5, 34 reviews
    Molly’s Books and Records – 4.5, 33 reviews
    Creep Records – 4, 29 reviews
    Hideaway Music – 4, 17 reviews
    Philadelphia Record Exchange – 3, 11 reviews

    Pittsburgh
    Jerry’s Records – 4.5, 59 reviews
    Eide’s Entertainment – 3.5, 35 reviews
    The Exchange – 4, 22 reviews
    Attic Record Store – 4.5, 16 reviews
    Sound Cat Records – 4.5, 15 reviews
    Dave’s Music Mine – 3.5, 15 reviews
    Cruel Noise Records – 4.5, 14 reviews
    Amazing Books & Records – 4, 11 reviews

    Johnstown
    George’s Song Shop – 4, 5 reviews

    Allentown
    Double Decker Records – 5, 34 reviews

    Doylestown
    Siren Records – 4.5, 23 reviews

    Levittown
    Positively Records – 4.5, 15 reviews

    Bethlehem
    Play It Again – 4, 7 reviews
    Compact Disc Center – 4, 5 reviews


    Midwest – East North Central

    Illinois

    Chicago area
    Reckless Records (N. Broadway Street) – 4, 176 reviews
    Laurie’s Planet of Sound – 4, 159 reviews
    Permanent Records – 4.5, 94 reviews
    Dusty Groove – 4.5, 88 reviews
    Logan Hardware – 4.5, 89 reviews
    Reckless Records (E. Madison St.) – 4, 80 reviews
    Dave’s Records – 4, 74 reviews
    The Exchange (N. Milwaukee Ave.; multiple locations) – 4, 66 reviews
    Rolling Stones (Norridge) – 3.5, 66 reviews
    Gramaphone Records – 4.5, 62 reviews
    Val’s Halla Records (Oak Park) – 3.5, 47 reviews
    Shuga Records – 4.5, 43 reviews
    Old School Records (Forest Park) – 4, 39 reviews
    Groovin High – 4, 38 reviews
    Transistor – 4.5, 37 reviews
    Hyde Park Records – 4, 36 reviews
    Vintage Vinyl Records (Evanston) – 3.5, 36 reviews
    Kstarke Records – 4.5, 32 reviews
    Music Direct – 3.5, 23 reviews
    Oak Park Records (Oak Park) – 4, 21 reviews
    Beverly Records – 3.5, 21 reviews
    Bric-A-Brac Records – 4.5, 19 reviews
    Record Breakers – 3.5, 19 reviews
    Audio Archaeology – 4.5, 18 reviews
    Squeezebox Books and Music (Evanston) – 5, 17 reviews
    Mile Long Records (Wheaton) – 4, 13 reviews
    Reckless Records (N. Milwaukee Ave.) – 4.5, 11 reviews
    Algonquin Records (Des Plaines) – 4.5, 8 reviews

    Champaign
    Exile on Main Street – 4.5, 17 reviews
    Record Swap – 4, 12 reviews

    Springfield
    Recycled Records – 4, 12 reviews

    Carbondale
    Plaza Records – 4.5, 5 reviews

    Joliet
    Disc Replay – 4, 14 reviews

    Rockford
    Culture Shock – 4.5, 15 reviews
    Toad Hall – 4.5, 12 reviews

    Bloomington
    Reverberation Vinyl Records – 4.5, 10 reviews

    Normal
    North Street Records – 4.5, 10 reviews

    Indiana

    Indianapolis
    Luna Music – 4.5, 51 reviews
    Indy CD & Vinyl – 4.5, 36 reviews

    Bloomington
    Landlocked Music – 5, 24 reviews
    Tracks – 3, 14 reviews
    TD’s CDs and LPs – 4.5, 10 reviews

    Fort Wayne
    Neat Neat Neat Records – 5, 5 reviews

    South Bend area
    Orbit Music (Mishawaka, Ind.) – 4, 9 reviews

    Michigan


    Detroit area
    UHF (Royal Oak) – 4, 39 reviews
    Found Sound – 4, 36 reviews
    Peoples Records – 4.5, 33 reviews
    Flipside Records (Clawson) – 4, 27 reviews
    Hello Records – 5, 21 reviews
    Melodies & Memories (Eastpointe) – 4, 21 reviews
    Dearborn Music (Dearborn) – 4, 20 reviews
    Solo Records & Tapes (Royal Oak) – 3.5, 19 reviews
    Street Corner Music (Royal Oak) – 4.5, 18 reviews
    Record Graveyard (Hamtramck) – 4.5, 11 reviews

    Ann Arbor
    Encore Records – 4.5, 60 reviews
    Underground Sounds – 4.5, 37 reviews
    Wazoo Records – 4.5, 34 reviews
    PJ’s Records & Used CDs – 4, 16 reviews

    Grand Rapids
    Vertigo Music – 4.5, 44 reviews
    Corner Record Shop – 4.5, 13 reviews

    East Lansing
    Flat Back & Circular – 4.5, 28 reviews
    The Record Lounge – 4.5, 13 reviews


    Ohio

    Cleveland area
    The Loop (coffee shop, too) – 4.5, 115 reviews
    The Exchange – 4, 24 reviews
    My Mind’s Eye (Lakewood, Ohio) – 4.5, 23 reviews
    Blue Arrow Records – 5, 19 reviews
    Bent Crayon – 4, 12 reviews
    A Separate Reality – 4, 10 reviews
    Record Revolution – 3.5, 10 reviews

    Columbus
    Spoonful Records – 4.5, 74 reviews
    Used Kids Records – 4.5, 61 reviews
    Magnolia Thunderpussy – 3, 42 reviews
    Lost Weekend Records – 4.5, 34 reviews
    Elizabeth’s Records – 4.5, 19 reviews
    Records Per Minute – 4.5, 19 reviews

    Cincinnati
    Shake It Records – 4.5, 119 reviews
    Everybody’s Records – 4.5, 36 reviews
    Plaid Room Records (Loveland, Ohio) – 5, 18 reviews
    Another Part of the Forest – 4, 14 reviews

    Toledo
    Culture Clash Records – 4.5, 19 reviews
    Allied Record Exchange – 4.5, 7 reviews

    Akron
    Square Records – 4.5, 15 reviews

    Dayton
    Omega Music – 4.5, 12 reviews
    Second Time Around – 4, 10 reviews

    Canton
    Checkered Records – 5, 6 reviews

    Wisconsin

    Milwaukee
    Bullseye Records – 4.5, 26 reviews
    Rush-Mor Limited Music and Video – 4.5, 25 reviews
    The Exclusive Company (multiple locations) – 4, 18 reviews
    Acme Records – 5, 14 reviews

    Madison
    Strictly Discs – 4, 28 reviews
    MadCity Music Exchange – 4.5, 14 reviews
    B-Side Compact Discs & Tapes – 4.5, 12 reviews
    Ear Wax Records – 4, 7 reviews


    Midwest – West North Central

    Iowa

    Des Moines

    Zzz Records – 4.5, 17 reviews
    Wayback Records (West Des Moines) – 4.5, 8 reviews
    Jay’s CD & Hobby (multiple locations) – 3.5, 6 reviews
    Red Rooster Records – 4.5, 3 reviews

    Iowa City
    Record Collector – 4, 17 reviews

    Kansas

    Lawrence
    Love Garden Sounds – 4.5, 33 reviews

    Minnesota

    Minneapolis area

    Electric Fetus – 4.5, 105 reviews
    Treehouse Records – 4, 30 reviews
    Hymie’s – 4.5, 23 reviews
    Extreme Noise – 4.5, 21 reviews
    Cheapo Records (Minneapolis and St. Paul) – 4, 19 reviews (for older St. Paul location)
    Down in the Valley – 4.5, 16 reviews
    The Fifth Element – 4, 14 reviews
    Vintage Music – 5, 12 reviews
    Roadrunner Records – 4, 11 reviews
    Mill City Sound (Hopkins) – 3.5, 8 reviews
    Barely Bros. Records (St. Paul) – 4.5, 7 reviews
    Homestead Pickin’ Parlor (Richfield) – 5, 5 reviews
    Rice Street Music Memorabilia (Little Canada) – 4, 5 reviews
    Eclipse Records (St. Paul) – 3.5, 4 reviews
    Go Johnny Go Records (St. Paul) – 5, 3 reviews

    Duluth
    Electric Fetus – 4.5, 10 reviews
    Vinyl Cave (Superior, Wis.) – 4.5, 2 reviews

    Missouri

    Kansas City area

    Mills Record Company – 5, 37 reviews
    Vinyl Renaissance and Audio (Overland Park, Kan.) – 4, 17 reviews
    Records with Merritt – 4.5, 13 reviews
    Josey Records – 3.5, 11 reviews
    Revolution Records – 4, 5 reviews

    St. Louis
    Vintage Vinyl – 4.5, 96 reviews
    The Record Exchange – 4.5, 42 reviews
    Euclid Records – 4.5, 29 reviews

    Springfield
    Stick It in Your Ear – 4.5, 10 reviews

    Nebraska

    Omaha area
    Drastic Plastic – 3.5, 31 reviews
    Homer’s – 4, 14 reviews
    Kanesville Kollectables (Council Bluffs, Iowa) – 4.5, 11 reviews

    Lincoln
    Lefty’s Records – 5, 5 reviews
    Backtrack Records – 4, 4 reviews

    North Dakota

    Bismarck
    Rhythm Records & Café – 5, 6 reviews
    Fargo
    Orange Records – 5, 5 reviews

    South Dakota

    Sioux Falls
    Ernie Novembers – 4, 1 review

    Rapid City
    Ernie Novembers – 5, 3 reviews
    Black Hills Vinyl – 4, 1 review


    South – South Atlantic

    Delaware

    Wilmington
    Jupiter Records – 5, 20 reviews

    Newark
    Rainbow Records – 3.5, 25 reviews

    Florida

    Tampa/St. Petersburg
    Mojo Books and Records – 4, 57 reviews
    Microgroove – 4.5, 25 reviews
    Banana’s Music (St. Petersburg) – 4, 25 reviews (5 stars, 6 reviews for the separate warehouse)
    Daddy Kool Records (St. Petersburg) – 4.5, 22 reviews
    Sound Exchange – 4.5, 20 reviews
    Planet Retro (St. Petersburg) – 4.5, 19 reviews

    Jacksonville
    Deep Search Records – 3.5, 15 reviews
    Yesterday & Today Records – 5, 7 reviews

    Orlando
    Park Ave. CDs – 4.5, 95 reviews
    Rock & Roll Heaven – 4, 74 reviews
    Retro Records – 4, 21 reviews

    Fort Myers
    Joe’s Record Exchange – 5, 7 reviews
    Beach Records – 5, 4 reviews
    Echo Vintage Books and Vinyl Records – 5, 9 reviews

    West Palm Beach area
    Top Five Records (Lake Worth) – 3.5, 3 reviews

    Fort Lauderdale area
    Radio-Active Records – 4.5, 95 reviews
    Big Apple Books – 4, 26 reviews
    Record Rack (Pompano Beach) – 4.5, 18 reviews
    CD Trader (Hollywood) – 4.5, 12 reviews

    Miami area
    Sweat Records – 4.5, 57 reviews
    Yesterday & Today Records – 4.5, 22 reviews
    Museo Del Disco – 5, 6 reviews

    Tallahassee
    Retrofit Records – 4.5, 9 reviews
    The Other Side Vintage – 4.5, 13 reviews

    Gainesville
    Hear Again Music & Movies – 4.5, 18 reviews
    Arrow’s Aim Records – 4.5, 12 reviews

    Georgia

    Atlanta area
    Criminal Records – 4, 135 reviews
    Wax ‘N’ Facts – 4.5, 55 reviews
    Moods Music – 5, 50 reviews
    Decatur CD (Decatur) – 4, 42 reviews
    Fantasyland Records – 4.5, 28 reviews
    Wuxtry Records (Decatur) – 4, 25 reviews

    Savannah

    Graveface Records & Curiosities – 4.5, 30 reviews

    Athens
    Wuxtry Records – 3.5, 21 reviews

    Maryland

    Baltimore area

    Sound Garden – 4.5, 186 reviews
    Celebrated Summer – 5, 29 reviews
    True Vine – 4.5, 29 reviews
    Trax on Wax (Catonsville) – 4.5, 20 reviews
    El Suprimo Records – 4, 17 reviews

    Silver Spring
    Joe’s Record Paradise – 4, 49 reviews (Closed? Moving?)
    The Record Exchange – 4.5, 8 reviews

    College Park
    CDepot – 3.5, 28 reviews

    Annapolis
    Ka Chunk Records – 4.5, 18 reviews

    Frederick
    Record Exchange – 4.5, 20 reviews
    Rock & Roll Graveyard – 5, 15 reviews
    Vinyl Acres – 5, 9 reviews

    North Carolina

    Charlotte

    Lunchbox Records – 4.5, 56 reviews
    Manifest Discs & Tapes – 4, 50 reviews

    Raleigh/Chapel Hill/Durham
    McKay’s Used Books & More (Raleigh) – 4, 75 reviews
    Schoolkids Records/CD Alley (Chapel Hill) – 4.5, 22 reviews
    Record Krate (Raleigh) – 4.5, 17 reviews
    Chaz’s Bull City Records (Durham) – 4, 17 reviews
    All Day Records (Carrboro) – 4.5, 15 reviews
    Hunky Dory (Durham) – 5, 13 reviews
    Sorry State Records (Raleigh) – 5, 9 reviews
    Carolina Soul (Durham) – 5, 5 reviews

    Asheville
    Harvest Records – 4.5, 36 reviews
    Static Age Records – 4.5, 16 reviews

    Greensboro
    CFBG – 4.5, 8 reviews
    Winston-Salem
    Earshot – 4.5, 6 reviews

    South Carolina

    Columbia
    Papa Jazz Record Shoppe – 4.5, 29 reviews

    Charleston
    Monster Music & Movies – 4.5, 22 reviews
    Vinyl Countdown – 4.5, 5 reviews

    Greenville
    Horizon Records – 4.5, 17 reviews

    Virginia

    Richmond
    Plan 9 Music – 3.5, 52 reviews
    Deep Grove – 4.5, 34 reviews
    Steady Sounds – 4.5, 21 reviews
    Vinyl Conflicts – 4.5, 17 reviews

    Norfolk
    Skinnie’s Records – 3.5, 23 reviews
    Book Exchange – 4.5, 22 reviews

    Charlottesville
    Plan 9 Records – 4.5, 7 reviews
    Melody Supreme – 3.5, 6 reviews

    Virginia Beach
    AFK Books & Records – 4.5, 24 reviews
    Vinyl Daze – 4.5, 21 reviews
    Birdland Records – 4.5, 14 records

    Fairfax
    Record & Tape Exchange – 4, 42 reviews
    Mobius Records – 5, 25 reviews

    Falls Church
    CD Cellar – 4.5, 38 reviews

    Manassas
    McKay’s Books & CDs – 4.5, 117 reviews

    Vienna
    Vienna Music Exchange – 4.5, 26 reviews

    Washington, D.C.

    Red Onion Records – 4.5, 73 reviews
    SOM Records – 4.5, 45 reviews
    Smash Records – 4, 41 reviews
    Hill & Dale – 4.5, 18 reviews

    West Virginia

    Charleston
    Sullivan’s Records – 5, 6 reviews

    Morgantown area
    Assumption Records – 5, 3 reviews


    South – East South Central

    Alabama

    Birmingham
    Charlemagne Record Exchange – 4, 19 reviews
    Renaissance Records – 4, 6 reviews
    Seasick Records – 4.5, 7 reviews

    Kentucky

    Louisville
    Great Escape – 4, 22 reviews
    Guestroom Records – 5, 17 reviews
    Matt Anthony’s Record Shop – 4.5, 17 reviews
    Underground Sounds – 4, 17 reviews
    Better Days Records – 4.5, 10 reviews

    Lexington
    Pop’s Resale – 4.5, 24 reviews
    CD Central – 4.5, 14 reviews

    Mississippi

    Clarksdale
    Cat Head Delta Blues and Folk Art – 4.5, 8 reviews

    Hattiesburg
    T-Bone’s Records and Café – 4.5, 69 reviews

    Jackson
    Little Big Store (Raymond) – 4, 5 reviews
    OffBeat – 5, 3 reviews

    Oxford
    End of All Music – 5, 2 reviews

    Tennessee

    Nashville
    Grimey’s New & Preloved Music – 4.5, 93 reviews
    Third Man Records – 4.5, 85 reviews
    The Great Escape – 4, 56 reviews
    Earnest Tubb Record Shop – 3.5, 40 reviews
    The Groove – 4, 26 reviews
    Phonoluxe Records – 4, 22 reviews

    Memphis
    Shangri-La Records – 4.5, 30 reviews
    Goner Records – 4.5, 28 reviews
    Spin Street Music – 3.5, 23 reviews
    Memphis Music Records & Tapes – 4.5, 11 reviews

    Knoxville
    The Disc Exchange – 4.5, 22 reviews
    Lost & Found Records – 4.5, 16 reviews


    South – West South Central

    Arkansas

    Little Rock
    River Market Books & Gifts – 5, 8 reviews
    Arkansas Record-CD Exchange (North Little Rock) – 3, 4 reviews

    Fayetteville
    Block Street Records – 4.5, 2 reviews

    Louisiana

    New Orleans
    Louisiana Music Factory – 4.5, 57 reviews
    Peaches Records – 3, 53 reviews
    Euclid Records – 4.5, 41 reviews
    Domino Sound Record Shack – 5, 39 reviews
    Skully’z Records – 4.5, 18 reviews
    Mushroom New Orleans – 4, 18 reviews

    Baton Rouge
    Capital City Records – 4, 3 reviews

    Oklahoma

    Oklahoma City
    Guestroom Records – 4.5, 22 reviews

    Norman
    Guestroom Records – 5, 6 reviews

    Tulsa
    Gardner’s Used Books & Music – 4, 24 reviews
    Starship Records & Tapes – 4, 17 reviews

    Texas


    Dallas area
    Good Records – 3.5, 110 reviews
    Forever Young Records (Grand Prairie) – 3, 53 reviews
    Josey Records – 4.5, 30 reviews
    B4 – 4, 19 reviews
    CD Universe – 4.5, 13 reviews
    Spinster Records – 4.5, 13 reviews

    Fort Worth
    Doc’s Records & Vintage – 4.5, 31 reviews

    Austin
    Waterloo – 4, 247 reviews
    End of an Ear – 4.5, 150 reviews
    Breakaway Records – 4, 63 reviews
    Friends of Sound Records – 4, 35 review
    The Sound Gallery – 5, 33 reviews
    Antone’s Record Shop – 3.5, 31 reviews

    San Antonio
    Hog Wild Records – 4, 53 reviews
    Imagine Books and Records – 5, 13 reviews

    Houston area
    Cactus Music – 4 reviews, 60 records
    Vinal Edge Records – 4.5, 48 reviews
    Sig’s Lagoon – 4.5, 36 reviews
    Soundwaves – 3.5, 30 reviews
    Heights Vinyl – 3.5, 27 reviews
    Sound Exchange – 4, 22 reviews
    Vino & Vinyl (Missouri City) – 4.5, 19 reviews
    Sound Revolution – 4, 13 reviews
    Allrecords – 4.5, 11 reviews
    Black Dog Records (Bellaire) – 4.5, 10 reviews
    Joel’s Classical Shop – 4.5, 4 reviews


    West Pacific

    Alaska

    Anchorage
    Obsession Records – 5, 2 reviews

    California


    Los Angeles area

    Amoeba Music – 4.5, 1,494 reviews
    The Last Bookstore – 4.5, 1,214 reviews
    Fingerprints Music (Long Beach) – 4.5, 320 reviews
    Record Surplus – 4.5, 173 reviews
    Freakbeat Records (Sherman Oaks) – 4.5, 121 reviews
    Vacation Records – 4.5, 107 reviews
    Soundstations – 4.5, 101 reviews

    Atomic Records – 4, 131 reviews
    The Record Parlour – 4.5, 94 reviews
    Rockaway Records – 4, 93 reviews
    Poo-Bah (Pasadena) – 3.5, 83 reviews
    Mono Records – 4.5, 82 reviews
    Canterbury Records – 3.5, 79 reviews
    Jacknife Records and Tapes – 4.5, 58 reviews
    Touch Vinyl – 4.5, 57 reviews
    Headline Records – 4.5, 56 reviews

    "Inland Empire" area
    Rhino Records (Claremont) – 4.5, 207 reviews
    Dr. Strange Records (Alta Loma) – 4.5, 63 reviews
    Mad Platter (Riverside) – 3.5, 58 reviews
    Groovers (Riverside) – 5, 50 reviews
    Penny Lane Records (Upland) – 4.5, 16 reviews
    Analog Record Shop (Tustin) – 5, 15 reviews
    Zoinks Records (Pomona) – 4, 15 reviews

    San Diego area
    Record City – 4.5, 136 reviews
    M-Theory Music – 4.5, 120 reviews

    Lou’s Records (Encinitas) – 4, 158 reviews
    Access Music – 5, 64 reviews
    FeeLit – 4.5, 49 reviews
    Taang! Records – 3, 49 reviews
    Cow – 4, 45 reviews
    Folk Arts Rare Records – 5, 16 reviews
    United Records & Sounds – 4, 16 reviews
    Beat Box Records – 5, 15 records
    Red Brontosaurus Records – 5, 15 reviews

    San Luis Obispo
    Boo Boo Records – 4.5, 79 reviews

    Fresno
    Rasputin Music – 3.5, 41 reviews
    Spinners Records – 4.5, 22 reviews
    Tower District Records – 5, 7 reviews

    San Jose area
    Rasputin Music – 3.5, 255 reviews
    Streetlight Records – 4, 188 reviews
    On the Corner Music – 5, 56 reviews
    Needle to the Groove (Fremont) – 4.5, 50 reviews
    The Analog Room – 4.5, 38 reviews
    Needle to the Groove (San Jose) – 4.5, 29 reviews

    San Francisco/Bay Area
    Amoeba Music – 4.5, 1,074 reviews
    Amoeba Music (Berkeley) – 4, 286 reviews
    Rasputin Music (Berkeley) – 4, 208 reviews
    Aquarius Records – 4, 157 reviews
    1-2-3-4 Go! Records (Oakland) – 4.5, 86 reviews
    Rooky Ricardo’s Records – 4.5, 73 reviews
    Dimple Records – 4, 60 reviews
    Mod Lang (El Cerrito) – 4.5, 58 reviews
    Phono Select Records – 4.5, 54 reviews
    Down Home Music Store (El Cerrito) – 4.5, 46 reviews

    Sacramento

    Dimple Records – 4, 60 reviews
    Phono Select Records – 4.5, 54 reviews
    Records – 4, 41 reviews

    Davis
    Watermelon Music – 4, 45 reviews
    Armadillo Music – 4.5, 40 reviews

    Hawaii

    Honolulu
    Idea’s Music and Books – 4.5, 14 reviews
    Hungry Ear Records – 5, 10 reviews
    Connect – 5, 3 reviews

    Wailuku
    Request Music – 4.5, 14 reviews

    Oregon

    Portland
    Music Millennium – 4.5, 99 reviews
    Everyday Music (downtown) – 4, 89 reviews
    Tender Loving Empire – 4.5, 68 reviews
    2nd Avenue Records – 4.5, 65 reviews
    Mississippi Records – 4.5, 60 reviews
    Everyday Music (Northeast Portland) – 3.5, 54 reviews
    Clinton Street Record & Stereo – 5, 36 reviews
    Jackpot Records – 3.5, 35 reviews
    Green Noise Records – 4.5, 34 reviews
    Crossroads Music – 4.5, 33 reviews
    Exiled Records – 4.5, 29 reviews

    Eugene
    House of Records – 4.5, 36 reviews
    CD/Game Exchange – 4, 26 reviews

    Salem
    Ranch Records – 4.5, 13 reviews

    Washington


    Seattle
    Easy Street Records – 4, 410 reviews
    Sonic Boom – 4.5, 99 reviews
    Everyday Music – 4, 81 reviews
    Jive Time Records – 4.5, 69 reviews
    Zion’s Gate Records – 3, 63 reviews
    Singles Going Steady – 4.5, 49 reviews
    Spin Cycle – 4.5, 43 reviews
    Porchlight Coffee & Records – 4.5, 38 reviews
    Neptune Music Company – 4, 29 reviews
    Silver Platters – 4, 27 reviews
    Holy Cow Records – 3.5, 25 reviews
    Georgetown Records – 4, 22 reviews
    Sub Pop Records – 4.5, 21 records
    Golden Oldies Records, Tapes & CDs – 4.5, 21 reviews

    Bellevue
    Puget Sounds – 4.5, 5 reviews
    Silver Platters – 3.5, 4 reviews

    Tacoma

    Hi-Voltage Records – 4, 25 reviews
    House of Records & Turntable Treasures – 4.5, 19 reviews
    Golden Oldies – 4, 7 reviews
    Drastic Plastic – 4.5, 5 reviews

    Olympia

    Rainy Day Records – 4, 36 reviews

    Spokane
    Garageland – 4.5, 31 reviews


    West – Mountain


    Arizona

    Phoenix area
    Stinkweeds – 4.5, 110 reviews
    Zia Record Exchange (Thunderbird Rd.) – 4, 61 reviews
    Zia Record Exchange (Camelback Rd.) – 3.5, 53 reviews
    Revolver Records – 4, 51 reviews
    Record Room – 4.5, 46 reviews
    Zia Record Exchange (Tempe) – 4, 22 reviews
    Tracks in Wax – 4, 17 reviews
    Zia Record Exchange (Chandler) – 3.5, 17 reviews
    Asylum Records (Mesa) – 4, 16 reviews
    The “In” Groove – 4.5, 11 reviews
    Vinyl Record Dude – 4.5, 6 reviews

    Tucson
    Zia Record Exchange (Miramonte) – 4, 45 reviews
    Zia Record Exchange (3655 N. Oracle Rd.) – 4.5, 15 reviews
    Toxic Ranch – 4.5, 12 reviews
    Wooden Tooth Records – 5, 6 reviews

    Colorado

    Denver area
    Twist & Shout – 4.5, 188 reviews
    Black & Read (Arvada) – 4.5, 121 reviews

    Wax Trax – 4.5, 67 reviews
    Second Spin – 4, 67 reviews
    Angelo’s CDs and More (Aurora) – 3.5, 23 reviews
    Angelo’s CDs and More (Denver) – 4.5, 12 reviews

    Boulder
    Albums on the Hill – 4, 21 reviews
    Absolute Vinyl Records and Stereo – 4.5, 16 reviews

    Colorado Springs
    Independent Records Main – 3.5, 14 reviews
    The Leechpit – 4.5, 13 reviews
    Independent Records & Video – 3.5, 11 reviews

    Grand Junction
    Triple Play Records – 4.5, 6 reviews

    Idaho


    Boise
    Record Exchange – 4, 43 reviews

    Montana

    Missoula
    Rockin’ Rudy’s – 4.5, 46 reviews
    Earcandy Music – 5, 9 reviews

    Nevada

    Las Vegas
    Zia Records (Eastside) – 4, 124 reviews
    Zia Record Exchange (Westside) – 4, 93 reviews
    Wax Trax Records – 2.5, 57 reviews
    Moondog Records – 4.5, 36 reviews
    Record City (downtown) – 4, 28 reviews
    Record City (Sunrise) – 4.5, 25 reviews
    11th Street Records – 4.5, 25 reviews
    Vegas Vinyl – 5, 9 reviews

    Reno
    Recycled Records – 4, 36 reviews
    Discology – 4.5, 12 reviews

    Carson City
    Play Your Own Music – 4.5, 8 reviews

    New Mexico

    Albuquerque
    Astro Zombies – 4, 22 reviews
    Charley’s 33s and CDs – 4, 14 reviews
    Nob Hill Music – 4.5, 8 reviews

    Santa Fe
    The Good Stuff – 4, 8 reviews

    Utah

    Salt Lake City
    Randy’s Record Shop – 4.5, 26 reviews
    Graywhale CD Exchange – 4.5, 16 reviews
    Sound & Vision Vinyl – 4.5, 11 reviews
    Diabolical Records – 5, 6 reviews

    Wyoming

    Cheyenne

    Ernie November – 4.5, 8 reviews


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    Last edited: Sep 8, 2016
  2. JPagan

    JPagan Generation 13

    Location:
    South Florida
    Nice job!
     
  3. TLMusic

    TLMusic Musician & record collector

    :thumbsup: Many thanks for compiling the list!
     
    steelydanguy likes this.
  4. steelydanguy

    steelydanguy Forum Resident Thread Starter

    You're welcome. As I mentioned, it was a labor of love. I hope to get some use out of it myself in future travels!

     
  5. mur

    mur Hyperactive!

    Location:
    South Florida
    Thanks for putting the list together!! It will be a handy tool on my next trip!!
     
    steelydanguy likes this.
  6. Long Live Analog

    Long Live Analog Forum Resident

    Location:
    West Tn. Mid South
    Great job and thank you for the list...
     
  7. Mr. LP Collector

    Mr. LP Collector Forum Resident

    It took a lot of time and effort to get this info out!

    Thank you!
     
  8. Santo10

    Santo10 The Hot Corner

    Location:
    Oregon
    I want to bump this thread because I've searched for it several times in the past six months and it has never let me down. Truly outstanding, @steelydanguy.
     
    steelydanguy likes this.
  9. steelydanguy

    steelydanguy Forum Resident Thread Starter

    Thanks for the nice words. Much appreciated.

    I'm glad you find the thread useful. It was a labor of love, trust me. Exploring record stores is one of my favorite activities, at home and when I'm traveling.

     
    puffyrock2 likes this.
  10. spanky1

    spanky1 Forum Resident

    Location:
    East Tennessee
    As much as it pains me to do so, I thought I'd let you know that THE DISC EXCHANGE in Knoxville, TN is no longer in business.

    Great list.
     
  11. ClarkFan

    ClarkFan New Member

    Location:
    Fort Collins, CO
    Mild warning - Twist and Shout in Denver is a bit of a mixed bag for vinyl. Selection is good, but they don't provide any real information on condition and the DJ-style turntable/headphone combos in the store aren't good enough to learn much by playing records there. You're left hoping you can discern with a visual inspection.

    My recent experience with Absolute Vinyl in Boulder was very good. The selections is smaller, but records are graded and based on the ones I purchased the grades are accurate. Prices were very fair. Talked with the owner and he is passionate about vinyl and determined to provide accurate information about the condition of the records he offers. And you can use a Rega RP2/Elys combo through an actual stereo to demo potential purchases.
     
  12. Andrew

    Andrew Chairman of the Bored

    Turn It Up (Northampton) – 4.5, 28 reviews
    Mystery Train Records (Amherst) – 4.5, 20 reviews
    Electric Eye Records (Florence) – 5, 5 reviews
    Spin That! Records (Springfield) – 4.5, 4 reviews

    The above four are currently listed under the "Boston" area but are actually in western Massachusetts.
     
    Hep Alien and MikaelaArsenault like this.
  13. auburn278

    auburn278 Forum Resident

    Location:
    Baltimore, MD, USA
    Awesome list! I am going to bookmark this for reference. Every time I go somewhere, I always try to hit up the local record stores.

    Joe's Record Paradise in Maryland recently moved to a new location.

    In Maryland, Trax on Wax in Catonsville is hands down my favorite record store. They sell primarily vinyl and have an amazing selection paralelled only in by Joe's in Silver Spring and The Record Connection in Ephreta, PA. Trax is well organized and the owner and manager super friendly and knowledgeable.

    The Sound Garden sells both CDs and vinyl. Their prices on new releases in any format are the best around; however, they have started to overprice their used vinyl for certain artists and genres.

    Celebrated Summer is a great shop. I don't get down their much, but can attest that they tend to have a strangely high number of rare or hard to find albums when I go in there. I always break the bank because I can't walk out without at least a few pricey albums I had been looking for a long time.
     
    steelydanguy likes this.
  14. steelydanguy

    steelydanguy Forum Resident Thread Starter

    Thanks for the correction.

    I did my best to get everything as accurate as I could geographically, but undoubtedly I made some mistakes as I haven't visited several of the states and cities I list. Hopefully the ratings info is still valuable, even if the geographical info isn't perfect.

     
    Andrew likes this.
  15. vinyl_puppy

    vinyl_puppy Der Weaselschnitzel

    Location:
    Santa Rosa, CA
    The Last Record Store (Santa Rosa) - 4.5, 56 reviews

    Could be filed under San Francisco/Bay Area
     
    steelydanguy likes this.
  16. Audionerd

    Audionerd Forum Resident

    Location:
    New England, US
    Might want to add Rough Trade NYC (Brooklyn). Not a mom-and-pop, but a good one that calls itself independent (the original location is in London).
     
    steelydanguy likes this.
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