Great value and knowledgeable staff. Not too far a walk from the Ann/Ashley parking structure. Some great finds, the staff doesn't appear to take choice items for themselves to personally sell, as I found some gems much lower than what you'd pay on Ebay. read more

Love this place. They have a good collection that covers a wide range. Be sure to check out the file cabinets below the open racks. All my vocal jazz was in files. Lots of great hunting and a friendly staff. Found lots of things off my want list. read more

This seems like a reasonable used vinyl store. I was with some friends while visiting Ann Arbor and after a nearby lunch, one in our party wanted to find a specific singer's album that would include some of his hit songs. The singer died in 1964, so these seem to be rare albums to get as he was not a big name. He looked through some stacks and the rest of us looked also. I ran into several albums I used to have, but had moved on from them, when our turntable broke in the early 90s when CDs became the standard. We never bothered to replace the turntable. Now most of what I play is through digital sources, not in my house. The store was clean and well organized and the pricing variable. It was busy with staff available. But none of us found what our friend was looking for, so we then moved on to other options. I did look online later and found a source available by internet purchase but at a price I do not think our friend would pay. I think he will find it difficult to make this random purchase in person. read more

Vinyl never went away, not long ago before the hipster-driven resurgence I used to load up on 5-star jazz and blues records for well under $10. The good news is that you still can here, but there's more competition now. Strong suits here are jazz and classical records and CDs. Naturally, they have all genres, but even with the change in ownership in the last five-years the selection has remained strong and diverse. One plus is that they have various collecting books of reviews for most genres, but the thrill of the hunt is the best part for me. Don't be in a rush and enjoy the browse. Additionally, the employees are usually friendly and helpful. read more

Encore Records - Same as its ever been. - Music & DVDs Near Me - Ann Arbor, Michigan

See all

Encore Records, originally started out as the "Liberty Music Shop" in 1949. For many years, this is where everyone went in downtown Ann Arbor, for the latest 45s, LPs and even 78s from their favorite recording artists. Back in those days, Liberty followed a tradition of providing sound booths so you could listen to a demo record before buying a copy. Likewise, they carried a full selection of needles, phonograph accessories, and blank and prerecorded reel-to-reel tapes. However, one tradition that made them standout was their devotion rare record labels that you just couldn't find anywhere else, a custom that has carried over to this day. In 1973, Briarwood Mall opened just north of I-94 on State Street. While the record stores there were part of larger chains, they really cut into many of the mom-and-pop record stores that found it impossible to stay in business as the 1980s dawned; the Liberty Music Shop knew how to survive. By this time they had been around for over a quarter of a century, and had firmly established themselves as a niche record store, with a major following. If you were into Adult Pop, Broadway, Classical, Easy Listening, and Jazz, the Liberty Music Shop was the place to go to. Moreover, the store staff really not only knew their music inside and out, but certain people were major experts at knowing the rarest recordings and how to find them, even if it meant importing them at a premium from foreign countries. I can't tell you how many times my weekly allowance was spent on buying these rare musical treasures. In the early 1990s, one of the owners of the Liberty Music Shop decided that he wanted to retire. As such, this usually means that a business will fold up or move, however, in this case they underwent a metamorphosis. As we all know, the compact disk pretty much took over and became the dominant medium for recorded music in the mid-1980s. However, there were still hundreds-of-millions of records out there, and an endless number of turntables in use. Therefore, a burgeoning marketplace for used vintage records and even CDs, was becoming commonplace across Canada and the United States. Encore Recordings made a right move at the right time, and entered the used CD and vinyl business. The same high quality customer care and service that started in 1949 is still in place. If you love hard to find albums, or just like to collect vintage records because they "look cool" on your wall, then this is place to visit in the Ann Arbor area. I award them five stars all the way. read more

Ann Arbor's best all around record store. Great selection of new titles on vinyl as well as a great selection of used vinyl and CDs. Well curated, fairly priced and solid condition on the used items. The new location in Kerrytown is great! I like it better than the original (falling apart) location. Long live Encore! read more

I've been shopping here for 25+ years and it's maybe my favorite used record store on the planet. Great selection of new and used indie rock, metal, jazz, blues, experimental, etc. Found some real gems here over the years. Stopping here is a must for every visit to Ann Arbor. Highly recommend. read more

I was excited to take my twins to their first record store since they have really gotten into music. This was our first stop in Ann Arbor, while the store was good, we were unable to locate what we were looking for and walked in circles many times. We did not receive any assistance and left for another record store. read more

My boyfriend and I were in Ann Arbor for a wedding last weekend and had a chance to do some shopping at Encore. First of all, we couldn't believe it when we walked in, but they were playing our current-favorite album (check out the Country Funk compilation on Light in the Attic records!). Huge win for that. They have an amazing and extremely vast selection - my boyfriend buys a lot of rare/out-of-print stuff, and he was able to find a couple of used CDs he'd been looking for on Amazon and eBay that were a lot cheaper here. Also, listening stations are always a plus. We live in Seattle, and record stores like this are going the way of the dodo. Two mom and pop record stores have closed in our neighborhood just in the past year or two, and it's happening all over town. Ann Arbor seems like the type of place where these gems can continue to thrive, so hopefully Encore will be around for many years to come. We hope to visit again sometime! read more

Encore Records is awesome. They have a great mix of used & new vinyl and their selection crosses multiple genres. Prices are very reasonable and the staff is helpful and friendly. Unlike some record shops, Encore is nicely organized. It's easy to find what you're looking for and don't miss out on digging through the new arrivals as you never know what you're going to find. read more

Expect to spend hours here if you are a music lover, or if you know nothing about music. It is a smorgasbord of lovely vinyl and CDness -- super hot is the fact that they carry many local musicians all in one spot right near the register! This is where I got my Dabrye CD. And also Hummin Comin' at Cha by X-Scape. Remember them? "What I need from you is under-stan-ding..." Stacks upon stacks of treasures align these cases. If you're thinking of buying a CD as a gift for someone, try this place before getting it new. They also allow you to sample CDs as long as you bring your own headphones. If you're getting rid of some stuff that's in good condition, see if they'll take it here. You can get store credit or cash when you're in a slump. The staff knows their stuff and they are chill -- not snobby. Plus they have a little doggie that trots around for you animal lovers. read more

Encore Records - Music & DVDs Near Me - Ann Arbor, Michigan

Encore is great! When I used to work across the street, the biggest problem with it was trying to 'stop in real quick,' and get back before my lunch was long over with. My best find here was a collectors set of the Wax Trax Black Box set in the metal box with the old cassette, coasters and even the net that was originally wrapped around the metal box. I paid less for it than a friend paid for the cardboard box version. Timing is everything, but the odds of finding something really cool at Encore are in your favor. read more

Encore Records is a treasure trove of gems and jewels of CDs And vinyl records that still rules, and a myriad of media galore that come here from each corner of the world and every exotic shore. It is an emporium more so than just a store. Everything is clean and in great condition They've collected their collectable stock With the wonder of a secret magician, They've got every genre covered, From Jazz and Classical Bach To straight up Metal, and Classic Rock. In the heart of Ann Arbor Beats a brilliant collection, That offers something for anyones' predilection. My prediction? You will travel there And be amazed and buy some sounds Or tunes from any age And you will slowly become a sage, Then maybe you will thank me And Encore Records, for setting the stage. read more

Great place with an incredible selection. The new stuff is dead ahead when you walk in. It's my favorite new arrivals bin in the area and set up just like I like it: totally randomly. The classic rock is rubbing elbows with the edm and reggae. Old pressings are mixed in with recent releases. It's not alphabetical. It's like crate digging, but through a wonderfully curated collection of things you'll probably find interesting without the falling apart Song-Along with Mitch and scratched up Mantovani albums. Their world music section at the back of the store is killer. Their bargain shelf even further back has some great stuff in it, but make sure to carefully check condition - they have some sketchy stuff condition-wise mixed in. Their jazz and classical selections are FAR more extensive than any other store in Michigan. Excellent electronic music selection. Great rock selection. They definitely cater more to used vinyl here, which I definitely prefer, but they do have a healthy selection of sealed product. Service is great and the staff is knowledgeable, but you can't play-test records here and they don't seem interested in spinning anything they haven't queued up. If something doesn't play they'll make it right though. If you're passing through town, you can hit up Wazoo, Underground, and Encore by parking in any of the nearby garages. If you only have time for one, I'd be hard-pressed to choose between here and Wazoo, but I think Encore wins out because of sheer variety and ambition. It's a lot roomier and you could easily spend an afternoon here and not run out of places to dig through. read more

This is an excellent store if you're looking for jazz. Very fair prices, gigantic selection and a fun new arrivals bin. If I make a trip back to the Detroit area, this will be on the list. I went around and hit 15 record stores in 3 days in the greater Detroit area and this is one of the best. read more

New owners Jim D. and Bill M. have made some extraordinary changes. Encore has now evolved into something much more special. Shelves have been moved around to allow more breathing room for everyone. Make no mistake; TONS of records, CDs and DVDs are still jammed into every nook and cranny, but you have more wiggle room in which to find those hidden gems (who would've thought?). You'll also find some new (as in unused) CDs and vinyl on the shelves and in the bins: jazz, electronic, Japanese and Turkish psych, 1960s Thai pop, kooky reissues and craazy weird noise. Be still my beating heart! Stalwarts need not worry as the used selection is, as always, excellent (as is the local music selection). This sounds horrible, but one of the metrics by which I judge record stores to be good is how HARD it is for me to stay on budget!! Its been getting harder at Encore, let me tell you. Another reason for moving the furniture: every now and then Encore will present live in-shore performances!!! Last fall I caught a marvelously intimate jazz trio (featuring William Parker!!!). It is my understanding that live shows are now very much a part of Encore's mission. The shows will be sardine-packed, but WOW will they be worth it. BIG kudos to Jim and Bill (and the staff) for ensuring that Encore remains a thriving and essential force within the Ann Arbor music community (and beyond). read more

I heart Encore for the following reasons: (1) The ambiance: love how tiny and maze-like the shop is; it smells good; the staff always plays interesting music; and there's usually an animal of some sort running around the store (makes it more cozy). (2) Good selection of music: if I can't find something I want online (i.e., mp3) or anywhere else, I can usually find it at Encore (except for the Sloan "party album" I lost it years ago and have yet to find a replacement! drat!). Additionally, I have discovered so much (new to me) music just by spending some time digging through the crates of records and scanning the walls of cds. The music is well-organized, too. Also: bonus points for a relatively large selection of electronic music, in both cd-format AND vinyl! I've amassed a couple milk crates full of records, thanks to Encore. (3) The prices! Specifically, the prices are marked on each item so that if you round up to the next dollar, that is what you pay for that item. For example, they'll mark a cd for $7.55 which, with 6% tax (is sales tax still 6%?), will be exactly $8! I've always loved that about Encore. read more

Been going there for years - used to be my first stop always. But I've found you've got to be a bit careful with purchases. I found Wire Chairs Missing remastered cd - the digipack was in pristine condition. Bought a couple other things and walked out. Noticed long after I left that they changed digipacks and gave me one that was beat to hell. Made mental note. Few months later went back searching for remastered CDs of XTC to replace my original versions. Was excited to find Oranges and Lemons. Made the purchase and as I walked down the street I remembered my previous experience. I checked out my purchase. The jewel case was the same, but the CD itself was not a remastered version. I had to go back in the store and ask them to check their CDs and give me a CD where the serial # matched the jewel box. Can't say for sure that they're into baiting and switching - taking advantage of suckers who don't pay attention - could be they're just busy or half assing and not paying attention. Regardless, just check out your purchase to make sure you got what you wanted. read more

The quintessential record shop. You really can't beat it. I love Underground Sounds and Wazoo, too, but Encore will always have my heart. I started going here when I still was calling it (incorrectly, I think) Liberty Records, when I was just a small town teenager. For a small town teenager, this place is/was heaven. The "Totally Wired" compilation I bought when I was in high school on the recommendation of some long-ago employee most likely changed the direction of my (musical) life. Delta 5, Mo-dettes, Gang of Four, Pylon, the Slits? How did they know how much some random 16 year old girl would love this stuff? The folks who work here are uber-knowledgeable and helpful, usually with a good sense of humor, too. I don't agree *at all* with the person who said the staff is snobby. Almost everyone in here is a local musician of one sort or another -- Peter does an excellent job staffing the place. Fair buy-backs, and all sort of treasures to unearth. You need to give yourself some time here, though. Time for digging, time for deciding, time for prioritizing what you can actually afford (I don't need groceries this week, right?), and what you absolutely can't let slip away. The 7"s are often worth digging through, and their local section is THE place to go if you're searching for stuff by any SE Michigan bands, from the whole Wolf Eyes/noise side of things to Ypsi folk(ish)ies to all sorts of other gems, some hand-screened or printed, or obviously done as part of limited runs. read more

From Indianapolis and happened to walk past this shop. There was a Martin Luther King, Jr. "I Have A Dream Speech" record that caught our eye. Went in to ask about it. They showed us where other MLK albums were, but they didn't have any additional copies of what was in the window. We asked if we could buy the one in the window and the shop owner told us he couldn't "break up the display". It cost all of $8 so not like a super rare record. He offered to ship it when he was ready to take down the display instead of letting us buy it while we were standing in front of him. We always support local and enjoy buying from small shops, but in this instance, I guess the display was more important than having a satisfied customer. Pretty disappointing. read more

Solid used record store. I like Encore quite a bit, though not as much as Wazoo. Still, it's a frequent stop whenever I'm back in Ann Arbor. The employees are helpful and the shop has a vast selection of rare or hard to find merchandise, which requires spending hours at a time wading through the shelves, which isn't a half-bad way to waste a Saturday afternoon. Be prepared to stick around an entire afternoon if you're looking for anything specific here because there is so much stock that you can only begin the scratch the surface of what they have after one visit. The place is wall to wall with CDs and vinyl records. They have an eclectic mix, featuring a lot of old rock, some punk and a bit of jazz. As a tip, be sure to stop in often as the the stock changes rather frequently. In other words, that coveted Sex Pistols record that you tried to hide somewhere inconspicuous probably won't be there next time. I love that the remnants of the old listening stations from the sixties are still intact. While their buy back/trade-in value isn't quite on par with that of Wazoo, it's still not bad. PS they usually have interesting items, like journals made from recycled vinyl record covers, for sale at the registers. I bought some with Blondie and the Rolling Stones on them. read more

I went here twice in 2005. It's been 3 years now and I miss Encore. One of the best music stores in the country that I've seen. One hint of that was that people from as far away as Columbus, OH came up for the day just to shop there. Encore has a great selection of new and used rock, jazz, and blues. I am obsessed with jazz so I spent many hours combing through their used and new jazz section. I had a pile so high I had to set it down, and that was only after the M's. I found tons of great European pressings of jazz CD's that I'd been looking for, as well as some Blue Note CD's to fill in my collection. The best find I had was actually made by my friend who found the originial longbox edition of the 24kt gold CD "Kind of Blue", for 10 bucks. How cool is that? The music that they play there is always good and the staff was very friendly. You can sometimes find things in piles that haven't been put on the shelf yet at the check out desk, so its worth a look see first before you actually check out. Keep on rockin Encore. We need more stores like yours. read more

Do you ever want to get lost in piles of music? A great pile of used music more or less organized. CD's, LP's, even cassette tapes. This place is all about music in tight places. Cramped in geometric configurations you never new possible. If I didn't have to wade through it all, it wouldn't be such a wonderful experience. If you find something you want to try, just let them know and they'll let you give it a test drive right there. Great staff too. read more

In terms of quantity and quality of music available, Encore Records is the best Ann Arbor has to offer. LPs, CDs, 45s, in mass quantities relative to this town's other offerings, could keep you busy looking for days. It helps that Encore occupies the largest retail space of the four indie stores we visited. They did not have the copy of Joe Cocker's Mad Dogs and Englishmen we were looking for (no one in Ann Arbor did!) but did have an impressive selection. Prices are fair but don't expect to find bargains. It seems that all the local establishments set prices based on prevailing Internet pricing so if you are looking for treasures you might try the thrift shops. It would be nice if you could find one or two items at low prices but business is business in this town's indie stores. read more

Reminds me of the movie, "High Fidelity" with passionate customers getting all weepy over vinyl. Lots of cds, vinyl, etc. Had a pleasant time browsing thru the stacks. Unfortunately, they didn't have either the soundtrack from the movie, "Room with a View" or a cd by the indie band Mother Mother, but I did find a birthday gift for a friend of a cd on the fiftieth anniversary of D-day. All old pop songs of the day! Funny exchange overheard(paraphrased): Manager-type guy:" I don't want to get into your business, but you are paid hourly and when you are late you cut into your paycheck." Sales associate-type guy:" Huh?" Only in Ann Arbor! read more

Encore Records is a store that I have been visiting for quite sometime. It's an essential stop for me anytime that I travel through Ann Arbor. Encore's selections are great, but the turn-over pales in comparison to my Detroit stores. I have found some of my more rare finds at Encore, but with less frequency then other stores. I find Encore also to be slightly overpriced compared to my metro-Detroit stores...but what do you expect when you are on the campus of the University of Michigan! In the scope of Michigan record stores, Encore would score a four-star rating, but since I have gone national...they only get three. read more

My biggest pet peave with Encore is that I never budget enough time to look around when I go there. Maybe that's more of a 'me' problem than an indictment of Encore though. Encore isn't really for a "Hey, I'm really looking for this one specific album, let's go see if I can't find it" trip. Encore is a "Hey, let's go record shopping!" place. Maybe you'll unearth a hidden treasure you didn't know that you were looking for. Maybe you'll take a chance on something that looks kinda cool that might end up being your favorite new thing. Maybe you'll wander around for an hour and find nothing, being frustrated by the stores lack of organization. But not likely. Just take a breath and revel in the mess. There's booty in them thar stacks! read more

The fifth star can be chalked up to a bit of hometown pride, but this is a very good shop, and I've gotten lots of good records here. Best (as is probably true of every shop) to go often to see what has come in recently. Stuff moves FAST. Not totally sure about the prices. Certainly, one can do better in Detroit on most things. On the other hand, the stock is massive and (as I already said) turn over is high. We're lucky to have a shop like this, and I'm willing to pay a bit of a markup to keep it. read more

This store was rated as one of the top used music stores in the country by Rolling Stone magazine, and for good reason. The owner and associates are experts on all types of music, rock, blues, jazz, classical, world music, etc. This store sort of reminds me of the store John Cusack ran in the movie "High Fidelty" very cool place. They also pay better when purchasing than the other 3 local stores do. It's looking like Encore will close when Peter retires later in the year, too bad if that happens read more

Encore, the best place to find your vinyl of choice in south east Michigan Stroll down the side walk, pull open the door and your slapped across the face with the with the musty scent of thousands of album covers as you simultaneously take in the view of thousands of records stuffed into towering shelves , hanging on the wall , sitting in boxes and shut away in drawers. Employees line the walls filing records,re filing records keeping general disorganization at bay, the image of bees on a cramped hive wall come to mind. If you can't find a Lp you like in this genre spanning variety of records you should be banned from coming with in a hundred feet of a turn table. + Positive + * Employees have a comprehensive knowledge of music which spans genres and can nearly pin point any album in the store. * Variety * Fair prices -Negative- * Space Is tight * One too many hipsters wandering though this vinyl labyrinth Advice when you come in relax take in a deep breath of dusty air and enjoy looking though the music. read more

I don't disagree that this is one of the best record stores around. Possibly in the country. But I can't give it five reasons for one reason and one reason alone: the strange way it's organized. But, this is probably something I have to get over... since it's probably a testament to the fact that they have so much stuff you can't have it organized any other way. I love the fact that no matter what, I can usually find something cool to add to my collection - that's the joy of a used vinyl shop that many, many people love! read more

This place definitely has a cool old-school record store vibe to it. That being said, it also has the requisite extremely narrow aisles and occasional stack of CDs on the floor that you can knock over unwittingly. Regardless, this is a great place to snag that CD or record you've been thinking of lately and at a great price, no less. I snagged Neil Young's newest effort for $10 and a great Django Reinhardt collection that had 20 songs for $7. The staff was friendly and knowledgeable. You can hear them discussing music and other things while you browse which to me, is infinitely preferable to the faceless sales drones at large stores that offer music. Also, as I stood in line waiting to make my purchase, some people were trading in CDs - so I had a chance to hear how much they might take for your unwanted stuff, and what their policy was on it. Even though their hours say they close at 5 on Saturday, the guy at the counter said they were closing at 8. Not sure if that's a regular thing or if they just felt like staying late. Lately I've been enjoying of "re-discovering" the experience of listening to an album from start to finish as a cohesive whole. Encore Recordings, and another store down the street, Underground Sounds, are great places to indulge this interest. read more

Came up from Cleveland to scope this amazing institute of jams. Super friendly staff, insane selection of vinyl, cassettes and CDs. Listening station always a plus to preview vinyl. Can't recommend it enough! read more

Encore Records - So much music as soon as you step in the door - Music & DVDs Near Me - Ann Arbor, Michigan

See all

Love this place. They have a huge selection of records and CDs, and it is pretty much heaven. I've gotten many of my favorite records here, and they also seem to have rarities in the CD format - I got a Pearl Jam single and a Hole single, both at very reasonable prices, and I've also gotten at least half of my record collection here. Great place, great prices. This place is great. read more

Been to a few record stores in the country and this is by far the best one. Enjoyed the well organized vinyls and friendly, professional staff. Will definitely come back again next time I visit Ann Arbor! read more

Encore Records - Music & DVDs Near Me - Ann Arbor, Michigan

I've never walked into this place and they weren't playing Sonic Youth. Claustrophobic used section (in a good way) Friendly knowledgeable staff They had Zen Guerrilla's first release which I should have bought and relisted on eBay for a profit. read more

Walking around Ann Arbor on a cold and blustery Thursday mid afternoon, streets empty, I wandered into this shop. Browsing the "new arrivals" I found two or three I was interested in. Nobody else in the store except the two guys in the back chatting away listening to some interesting ethereal instrumental sounds. I placed my two albums on the counter, interrupted a discussion about jar jar binks (bad sign) and one guy stepped up and went to straight away ring me up. I looked at him and asked if he could spin one of the albums. He said "no. You can listen to it on your smartphone. That's our policy and if I do it for you I have to do it for everyone." I say thanks, tapped the album, and exited. What a jerk. If I wanted to listen to it on my phone I wouldn't be buying vinyl. Take two seconds to try to engage your customer and maybe you'll get a better review next time. We could have had a good discussion about the killer album I was about to buy.....but we will never know. Move on is my recommendation to a shop where the people who work there actually are interested and want to engage in chatter about music. read more

Excellent selection and very knowledgeable sales staff. They excel in used LPs and CDs. I go by to check the new arrivals every weekend. read more

Recently moved to Ann Arbor. Checked out Encore today, and all I can say is wow! Their collection is immense, both CDs and Vinyl. I chatted with either the employees/owners, and they were very friendly and helpful. They have a really great selection of vinyl, and I stumbled upon some really interesting albums. Towards the back, they have some old english literature albums, literature from other countries, and promotional records. Really neat stuff that I had never seen for sale in a record shop. Although I am not familiar with local bands in Ann Arbor, they seemed to have a fairly large selection of local stuff. In addition, they also have magazines, photos, and other music collectibles scattered around. This really is a treasure in Ann Arbor, and certainly one of the most enjoyable spots I have checked out thus far. read more

Still one of my favorite record stores ever, even though I haven't lived in the area in years. Growing up in Toledo, we had some pretty cool stores...OK, well, just one store, singular. And when we couldn't find what we wanted there, we trudged up to Ann Arbor (the royal "we," that is). I found many an import- or tour-only CD here back in the day. I went there this past weekend, and this is still the only record store outside of L.A. that I've seen carry multiple American Music Club CDs, a band that about 300 people in the world care about. read more