Author
Justin SloeThe Best Record Stores in Los Angeles
Updated on April 13, 2016
Right now is a great time for record buying in Los Angeles. For every Fair Trade, single-origin-bean coffee shop and kimchi churro truck, a new record shop seems to pop up next door every week. In the Los Feliz-Echo Park-Silver Lake-Highland Park area there are 20 record shops right now - and that’s 19 more than there were three years ago. If you want, you can buy records at Urban Outfitters - "if you want." There’s even a barber salon in my neighborhood that sells vinyl.
Nowadays, I play music on many formats. Still, there’s nothing better than digging through crate after crate and finding that one piece of vinyl you’ve been searching for for ages. Read on and find out where I like to do that.
Amoeba Music
What more can you say about Amoeba Music? Everyone has been here and spent heaps of money. It’s a monster and it has more vinyl than the rest of this list combined.
6400 W. Sunset Blvd. Hollywood, CA 90028Blue Bag Records
The newest shop in my area, Blue Bag Records is basically a much smaller Amoeba. They have a bit of everything - great for digging. Though the section was small, I found some great dub reggae on my last trip. Bloodclot!
2149 Sunset Blvd Los Angeles, CA 90026Gimme Gimme Records
Made up almost entirely of used records, Gimme Gimme Records has a constantly revolving selection. Even though the rock section is much larger, I usually end up walking out with more old hip-hop. Great prices.
4628 York Blvd Los Angeles, CA 90041Jackknife Records & Tapes
Things tend to be a little pricier here. They really do have a sizeable cassette collection – I know, I know, “Who cares?” If you do some vinyl hunting, you’ll find a gem in their great selection.
3149 Glendale Blvd Los Angeles, CA 90039Mono Records
Just a great old timey record shop that has the right record to keep your buzz going long after the bourbon has worn off.
1805 Glendale Blvd Los Angeles, CA 90026Mount Analog
When I first went to Mount Analog, I was thinking it was nice to have a local alternative to paying crazy postage rates for recent dance titles shipped over from the UK. It is that, but that’s just the surface. It’s a carefully curated shop that has everything from soundtracks to synthwave to Italo disco. Definitely worth a visit, even for people that don’t collect records.
5906 1/2 N Figueroa St Los Angeles, CA 90042Permanent Records
L.A. by way of Chicago, Permanent Records is not massive but the stock (mainly rock) is definitely interesting. Last time I was there I got a West German 12” of Genesis – That’s All.
5116 York Blvd Los Angeles, CA 90042PM Sounds
They had this on vinyl, which tells you all you need to know about PM Sounds: www.youtube.com/watch?v=8AqVtTVbZms
1115 Sartori Ave Torrance, CA 90501Wombleton Records
Do you want the 45 of Favourite Shirts by Haircut 100 but on red wax? They have that.
5123 York Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90042
