Like doom, death or black metal? Nope? How about some noise, drone or pshyc music? That don't float…read moreyou boat either you say? How about some punk / reggae / dub or cool soundtracks, cause they have that too! It fair to say this new pop-up record store, nestled away in the basement of one of the West End's favourite coffee haunts, Offshore, will not be everyone's cup of tea (see what I did there), but if you have any sense of curiosity I would highly recommend giving this place a whirl. The two chaps that run this place mainly sell new and used vinyl, all of which is in near perfect condition. As mentioned already they don't really cater for the masses and their music is "niche" to say the least. However, if you are a fan of metal in any shape or form this place is for you! On first visit, I was totally overwhelmed with the amount of bizarre stuff they have. These guys are proper music geeks and I kinda felt a little bit intimidated tackling the huge record collection. However, the owners are incredibly friendly and I got chatting to them about their amazing stash of records, got some good tips and came away with two great purchases. Glasgow needs more amazing underground record stores like this, run by incredibly passionate people. Their prices where very reasonable for some of the rare oddities I spotted, so clearly they are more interested in providing good value rather than ripping punters off. As its only a pop up shop, they won't be sticking around for much longer, so go and show your support while you can :)

Owner is extremely rude . The phone number on his sign isn't the correct phone number to the…read morebusiness. Waited around for the shop to open. Left and the. came back, then left again and came back, then left again and came back, owner finally came an hour and 15 mins after the shop was suppose to open. I waited out front and the owner told me to leave and come back. His shop is surrounded by multiple business so I waited around away from the shop and was on my phone. He then told me that I was watching him set up which was slowing him down so I left. It was nuts. Don't waste your time going here

Play it Again is a wonderful gem of a shop hidden in the depths of Ruthglen Lane. Pick your time to…read morevisit it carefully, though, as the owner tends to open up shop only when he really wants to (i.e. give the early morning visit a miss). Although you will find some CDs and tapes - the only real reason for visiting 'Play it Again' is the vinyl. Don't have a record player? No problem, there are always four or five on sale in the shop. I bought one of them for my boyfriend's birthday a few months back - it's a 70s player, works perfectly, and was mine for the bargain price of £35. Buying it wasn't hugely easy though - I got the feeling that the owner didn't really want to sell anything. I suppose in some ways it's good that he wasn't being an over eager salesman - but he was apathetic to the point of being a little unhelpful! The record selection is amazing, though, and you could easily pass an hour or two in here without even noticing. There are piles and piles of records on every available surface, and you feel a little like you're in a really cool jumble shop. There's always something different on the owner's own record player, which makes for a good atmosphere. And the shop even has it's very own cat, who potters around the store and sits down on exactly the pile of records that you were going to flick through next. Or the ones that you've just bought. Whichever would mean that he was most in the way! Prices are cheap at Play it Again - most albums are priced around £3/£4 and you'll find bargain £1 boxes galore. Just yesterday my boyfriend came home with a T-Rex album that he bought for a £1. Doesn't get much better than that. Oh, and please note - Play it Again is cash only. They don't have any new-fangled things like credit card machines.

Fantastic little shop which offers more vinyl than you shake a tattered stylus at. Well, in this…read moreday in age anyway. Mixed Up Records is everything an independent record shop should be, with welcoming and knowledgeable staff who are more than happy to make suggestions and help you find what you are looking for. While other similar shops have lost the plot completely - CD racks sporting old and embarrassing covers as opposed to interesting and rare and chaotic set-ups which hardly lend themselves to a quick browse - Mixed Up looks the part too. Well ordered and clean, it is also peppered with recent gig posters which emphasise its popularity with music fans of today in the city. What's more, they continue to offer cash for your vinyl, CDs and DVDs they believe to be worth buying. My only concern is the fact that I very rarely see it make a sale. While it benefits to some extent from its inconspicuous location, the lack of passing trade means this place could be at risk in the future. Hopefully not, as too many of Glasgow's record shops have bitten the dust in recent years.

Record hunting in Glasgow is not an easy task. With the expense of a city store and the general…read morelack of music shops selling vinyl's, this hidden gem is worth looking for. Having owner a record player no longer than around 3 weeks, i have made various trips and have not been let down. With a great range of vinyl's on display and a friendly staff who will help you find something in particular if you ask, what's not to love? I have gathered their Fleetwood Mac; Stevie Nicks; Janis Joplin and ABBA records and bought them at very reasonable prices and they have been in almost mind condition every time. This store will be the reason i go bankrupt. Always having to hold myself back from taking a detour down Otago Lane.

If you just can't find that rare Barry Manilow 12 inch, or urgently need that sought after Michael…read moreBolton test press, then this is the shop for you. In all seriousness, despite having a lot of typical charity store classics like the above, Oxfam music does have it's share of goods you might actually want, including stuff like rareish Beatles albums in a glass case with a hefty price tag, or more modern CDs, DVDs or games at a bargain price.

Glasgow is lucky to have several places where you can buy vinyl records, both new and old…read more Personally, for second hand records, I particularly like this branch of Oxfam Music. They have a good selection in stock and what they have available changes pretty quickly. Most of the music is organised by genre although sometimes organised alphabetically by artist name. There are also some collections of discounted records and "favourites" as well as a few more valuable ones that are kept in a glass case by the desk. Recently I spotted that they're offering lucky dip bundles of records. You get ten, wrapped in brown paper so it's a surprise, and it's just £2.99. They've even had a local artist doodle on some of the packaging. Sure, there's a very realy chance you'll get some records you don't like (or even by musicians you've never heard of) but I'm a sucker for a lucky dip. They cram a lot in here and it's a popular store so it can be a bit tricky to maneouver, especially if you're carrying bags. Apart from that though, it's a great store and one I really enjoy having a browse in.

With vinyl the fastest growing media format of the past few years it was only gonna be a matter of…read moretime until a new record store opened up in Glasgow. Unfortunately, LP Records opened up on the site of the legendry Lord Chord record store so we don't actually have an extra shop in town. However, its probably fair to say Lost Chord won't really be missed, after all, the place was just as famous for selling saucy videos as it was vinyl! LP Record has done away with the dusty clutter of its predecessor and has gone for a clean, minimal look. They have a couple of record decks at the back if you fancy a listen before buying and they stock a decent selection of contemporary music, focusing on pop, indie and rap. There is also a selection of second hand 60s-90s music on offer, but nothing particularly special that you wouldn't find in a charity shop. I popped in during their first week of opening and was a little concerned that it was verging on being overpriced. However, after another visit a week or so later I noticed that the prices had been dropped, which now makes vinyl prices comparable to what you'd expect to see online. As these guys are brand new on the block, their stock is limited, but I'm sure this will be growing with time. Hopefully we will see some more obscure / rare stuff come through the door along with some more electronic and metal music. LP is fine addition to the record store scene in Glasgow, so go out there and support these guys and you local record store. Its much more fun than online record shopping that's for sure!

New record stores are popping up all over the place, with the resurgence of vinyl increasing…read moredemand. This is a great thing to see, especially as this looks to be run by a young guy with a bit of enthusiasm for all of this. This replaced the Lost Chord, which became one of the most frustrating shops in the world for me: it used to promise a goldmine of decent cheap vinyl, but it was never open, and even when it was you could never find anything that was any good. Luckily, LP has improved this straight away by having fixed opening hours that they appear to stick to! Also, they've done a really good job with the look and feel of the place - it's now bright and inviting, where it used to be a dull guddle, and I'd now see myself wanting to spend some time exploring their stock. There is also a mezzanine space, which I think is for events and the like, but I didn't go up for a look. In terms of stock, it's encouragingly solid. One side has new releases, and R&B and Blues sections, while the other side has standard second hand stuff and a wee bargain bin. As Rocco said, the new releases don't go down the B roads of the music world, but the motorways (big sellers and reissues of classic albums) and A roads (US and UK alternative stuff - nothing really off the wall, but you'll know most of the stuff if you're a 6 music listener) are well covered. I did get something that I had been after for a while (latest Fu Manchu album - highly recommended), and the prices looked pretty good. Second hand stuff is a step above charity shop stuff, and if you like '70's and '80's FM radio rock you'll do quite well (the aforementioned blues and R&B sections also looked good). Yeah, it has the Best of Bread in 3 different versions like all other second hand shops, but on the whole it's not bad. With LP opening you now have the ability to do 2 good record shops on one trip, as this is definitely somewhere to visit if you're planning on going to Mixed Up. Hopefully events and other things get started (listening parties would be cool), and it's trying things to get itself known, like giving out free stickers and T shirts. I think regular visits are definitely going to be on the cards!

How can I not have reviewed Fopp before now? It's a veritable (and venerable) institution on Byres…read moreRoad. Although they did get into financial straits a few years back, the rescue plan by HMV has enabled them to keep going whilst retaining their independent funky vibe. I'm glad they're still here, because I just like being in the place. Although the astronomical rise in music downloads has meant they have had to diversify into books, DVDs and the like, somehow you can still feel as though you're in an old-school vinyl lover's paradise, thumbing through the racks looking for that perfect album. Well, I can anyway, because I'm old enough to remember when that was actually the case in Fopp! Nowadays I rarely know what I'm looking at in the new music selections, but they are great for deals on a lot of more established stuff and some patient browsing will usually unearth some really obscure CD or DVD box set that you simply must have in your collection. Take a bit of time to browse around - you might be pleasantly surprised at what you find.

I love Fopp. I love…read morethe layout, the selection, the fact that all the products are a nice flat price like £5 or £7 or £10 and I even love the music they play in store. This store is particularly nice and on a good location on Byres Road making it hard to walk past.. Dangerous indeed. Their selection of CD's, DVD's and books is a constant source of joy and there is always a bargain in here. I still remember that brief period when Fopp was gone-diddly-on. Just thinking about it.. makes me sad. Cant imagine my life without Fopp.

The Magpie's Nest is the most happening charity shop ever and it's in Govan. It even puts some of…read morethose West End ones to shame. Not only does it collect and sell the usual charity produce but it has a project called Starter Packs Glasgow. This project puts together packs of essentials household items for homeless who are aquiring permanent tenancies. They work through referals from housing officers, social workers etc. It's such a great idea and a very worthy project. Starter Packs Opening Times: Monday - Friday 10.00am - 4.00pm Please call prior to making donations by delivery. The Magpie Nest also run the Magpie Eco Fashion. Here they offer tution in dressmaking but using only reclaimed, vintage and retro materials. Not only do they have MEF but they have Fashion Workshop Classes too. They have a teacher/designer Annie who will help you in learning fashion design. The price for classes is excellent at £10 a head and they will supply the fabric and the resources. They also always have plenty events running from Rag & Bone Collections to Womble Up Your Scheme. Check their website for event updates. And to top off what they can do they also have gorgeous Govan gals 'Magpie Models' for hire. Contact Magpie's Nest for rates. The staff are always friendly and very helpful, and if you can't find what you're looking for they'll always check to see what's in the back. They have never let me down. Magpie's Nest - not just any charity shop!

You know a place is worth going to if I got up early and went on the subway to Govan just to see…read morethis shop. It's so close to the subway which is ideal if you end up coming away with loads of items! Stepping into The Magpie's Nest is like going into an Aladdin's cave of treasure - theres so much stuff! I love the amount of old crockery they have so if you love vintage looking teacups and saucers you will want to come here. They have two shops and both are really close to each other, the other shop has bigger items like sofas, tables and wardrobes and showcases handmade crafty items from local talented people. I remember being really impressed by the low price for things, if you're an up-cycler you will have a ball in this shop! The good thing about spending money here is that it's all going to a good cause as they give out starter packs to people who are struggling to afford basic but needed items for their homes.

After buying my item, I was then asked, if I wanted my change. I found this a bit much. I have…read morenever been asked this in a charity shop before. A lot more expensive than the shops in Partick.

A decent Cancer Research UK store over on Byres Road…read more It's full of the usual, with clothes, books and kiddies board games and such. It's quite small inside but it's not packed full of stock, so you can move around. It never gets really busy either. I've got rid of a few books and clothes in here rather than firing them on ebay or that. Would rather pass on my old gear for free to a good cause than make a minimal amount of money on them. Friendly staff, as usual.

A definite 'why not?' in the Byres Road charity shop trail. OK so it doesn't have the same cool…read morefinds as the Oxfam up the road, or the sheer explosion of choice as the Salvation Army on Dumbarton road but its still another one to stumble into, do a quick once over and stumble out again...with charity shopping you just never know. No really much else to say except why do these places insist on putting vinyl on the floor where you have to squat to have a look at them. I've got bad knees you know and after 10 mins of un graceful puffing I've just about had it. Save the Children??, what about my knees?

Save the Children is yet another of the seemingly endless charity shops on Byres Road. It generally…read morehas a pretty good selection of items - not just clothes and shoes but also toys, books and general second hand paraphenelia. Even if you're not of the thrifty charity store type, it's worth keeping an eye on the window of this place as you pass by. They generally stick their best products in the window display with a great big fluorescent star stuck on it telling you the price. Recent such items include a nearly-new top of the range pushchair for £60 and a cute pair of Chanel pumps for £20. See what I mean? Worth keeping an eye out.

I'm always a fan of charity shops - bargain hunting with a good cause - this one ticks all the…read moreboxes. Even though charity shops never have consistent stock, what I have noticed from my years of trawling them is that they each seem to have a special niche. This one frequently houses good quality furniture at very affordable prices and an intersting vinyl collection. On the last occasion I jingled the bell on the front door of Maryhill's Maxie Richards, they were on the hunt for new furniture and it was looking a bit barren. That isn't usually the case, however, and if anything the notice in the window will further encourage a spring clean on the locals' part - tis the season for a tidy, after all. They did however have a pleasing assortment of 70s ornaments, and I purchased a few despite the cashier letting out a wee chuckle at my choice. It was all in good humour though, and I mean I did buy an owl ashtray for 50p! I don't even smoke but I've started storing charm bracelets in it - it's ugly but I like it. And I like this shop, which is always well organised and the staff are very accomodating. Get your spring clean sorted so I can buy yer old junk!

I got a few bits and bobs here for my new flat when I had the unfortunate luck of finding a flat I…read moreloved which came minus the furniture. Boo! Nevermind now, thanks to Maxies I have my very own pretty little glass brunch table which is fab. I also got a computer desk that was hardly used, looked brand new. Perfect. It is just the same with all charity type shops, you just keep going until you hit the jack pot.