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Best Record Stores in Los Angeles (from a musician)

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Even though we all have Spotify and Apple Music accounts, record sales are at a 25-year high.

Streaming just doesn’t have the same feeling as buying a brand new vinyl or CD from a local record store.

Digging through crates and the smell of record jackets is irreplaceable.

Whether you’re an LA native or just visiting for a few days, below are some of my favorite record stores in the entire city of Los Angeles

I hope you find something unique and inspiring to listen to!

🦠 Amoeba Records

Location: Hollywood

Best Known For: Big selection of popular music and collectibles

Amoeba is an integral part of the music scene in Los Angeles—Thousands of music fans from all walks of life walk through their doors daily.

One of the best parts of Amoeba is their staff. Their knowledge and expertise is unmatched—almost encyclopedic. Browse through jazz, German techno, and show tunes all just a few aisles from each other.

What really sets Amoeba apart is their “music venue” quality.

They regularly host live bands, artist signings, DJs, charity events, and release parties inside the store. It’s no wonder it tops the list of the best record stores in Los Angeles every time.

Parking here isn’t too difficult. You can find a free parking lot in the El Centro parking center right next door. If you buy something at Amoeba, they’ll validate your parking.

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I recently wanted to get some new CDs for my car (I prefer them to Bluetooth). I was able to take the Red Line train from North Hollywood to the Hollywood/Vine station, which is right across the street from Amoeba. For a few dollars, I grabbed a Wilco CD and an Annie Lennox album for the glove compartment. I also spent some time going through old show posters and fliers from the 1970’s rock scene in LA. It’s easy to get lost and spend tons of cash here if you’re not careful!

You can contact Amoeba Music at (323) 245-6400 or visit them at 6400 Sunset Blvd, Hollywood.

📼 Poo-Bah

Location: Pasadena

Best Known For: Crate digging and rare finds

If you go into Poo-Bah without a specific agenda in mind, you just might end up discovering your new favorite band.

The store has a wide variety of music, including albums by local bands as well as disco, funk, soul, hip-hop, and jazz. As a result, it's not surprising that the shop has become a regular haunt for DJs and producers seeking inspiration.

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Most of the record stores in Los Angeles are in neighborhoods like Hollywood or Silverlake. But Poo-Bah is is tucked away in East LA like a local favorite. This store is really easy to get lost in. They specialize in vinyl records and rare cassettes, but their used CD collection is impressive too. Expect to find bootlegs and other rarities that other record stores skip over. Poo-Bah is ideal for collectors and people who want to go wherever the musical river takes them.

Call (626) 449-3359 or visit 2636 E Colorado Blvd, Pasadena, CA to find Poo-Bah Record Shop.

⛰️ Mount Analog

Location: Silver Lake

Best Known For: Eclectic records and community support

Mount Analog is primarily an artist management and cultural hub. They also operate a record store of the same name.

The store's minimalist design fits in with the spare rhythm of a European trance beat. And the vinyl, books, and cassettes fill in the gaps.

An eclectic and curated music selection make Mount Analog one of a kind.

Get lost in bins of deep cuts, remixes, and even pick up a record from a well-known pop artist if it makes a cultural impact.

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After moving the store to Silver Lake during COVID, owner Mahssa Taghinia said this about this shop: ”I'm looking at the wall now and it features records by Sarah Davachi, The Weeknd, Traxx, Charli XCX, Stephen Mallinder, Kalyani Roy, Nicolas Jaar, Hiroshi Yoshimura, Elysia Crampton, Duval Timothy, Idles and Yaeji just to name a few... so the focus is what connects this all!”

The shop succeeds because it doesn't dabble in every passing fad. Instead, it’s focused on community and building a sustainable music center.

Check the store’s Instagram for in-store performances and live events happening every month.

You can find Mount Analog in Highland Park at 5906 1/2 N Figueroa St. (323) 474-6649.

🟡 Rockaway Records

Location: Glendale

Best Known For: Music collectibles and rare records

Feel like dumping your life savings on a record you didn’t even know existed until you walked inside the store?

Rockaway is a shop for collectors and those after the eccentric.

To start, Rockaway has an enormous selection of rock and classic music memorabilia. Signed albums from the Beatles and Beach Boys are on the wall. First-edition records are abound.

Need a shirt from a Grateful Dead show in 1974? It’s probably hanging up at Rockaway.

Rockaway is a well-curated record store for serious fans and collectors alike. Pick up copies of the newest rock records pressed on wax. Or dive deep into jazz classics that you haven’t heard in years.

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Rockaway is appointment only. You may find an occasional pop-up sale on their social media profiles. But in order to get the full experience, you need to set up time to come and browse. More info about scheduling an appointment to tour Rockaway Records is here.

Silver Lake's Rockaway Records can be found at 2395 Glendale Blvd. (323) 664-3232.

🧌 Freakbeat Records

Location: Sherman Oaks

Best Known For: Neighborhood record store vibes

This shop proudly displays its weirdness in its name. Freakbeat Records is a nostalgic neighborhood record store and online shop. Not everything you want is here, but everything you need is.

Freakbeat is filled with collectible records and it’s about a 50/50 split between used and new vinyls.

They’re primarily an online record selling business (eBay, Discogs, and Amazon). But their real-life brick and mortar is filled with jazz, soul, disco, and hip-hop record bins stuffed to the brim. You can even pick up classic KROQ singles for just a few dollars!

Get lost in their impressive collection of blues, folk, and reggae music too. The best part is if you find something you like, Freakbeat will let you crack open the seal on the record jacket and give it a spin before you buy.

Freakbeat offers unusual and interesting music DVDs too. Pick up a gift of a vintage poster or music book for a friend.

Finally, be sure to check out the legendary 99-cent room. An LA mecca for bargain buyers trying to build out their record collection.

Sherman Oaks' Freakbeat Records can be found at 13616 Ventura Blvd. (818) 995-7603.

📦 Record Surplus

Location: Santa Monica/Sawtelle

Best Known For: Enormous record selection

Everything about the store, including the name, is as straightforward and practical as it sounds.

They’ve got 100,000 albums inside the store and they’re proud of it. Come by 7 days a week to stick your head into some vinyl crates.

Record Surplus has everything you could want in a record store: a large selection, an easy-to-navigate website, an abundance of gently-used records in excellent condition, and a number of listening stations to test out potential purchases.

Aside from records, CDs, DVDs, and Blu-rays are also available, making Record Surplus an excellent destination for last-minute holiday shopping or to get lost for a few hours.

The Sawtelle location of Record Surplus is 12436 Santa Monica Boulevard. (310) 979-4577.