Based right in the centre of town Musical Goods and Exchange is a no frills vinyl seller/buyer…read more They are close to nostalgia and comics; however the music store is a little smaller in size. I came in here with a tonne of vinyl that I wanted to sell and they took every item and gave me a fairly decent price on what I had. These were the records that I couldn't manage to sell online so I was happy to get rid of them. The staff are not very friendly or helpful; they just keep an eye out for shoplifters and little else. But if you do have a serious question they will give you a serious answer. This place is a must for all vinyl collectors out there and for those that are looking to offload a few records in exchange for cash.

The Music and Video exchange on Smallbrook Queensway is fantastic for any DJ or Vinyl collector…read more They have a huge range of vinyl and it is categorised very well so it is easy to find what you are looking for. A great place to pick up bargains or find those gems you have always been looking for. I recently bought a very rare DJ Sneak vinyl for £3, probably worth over £20. Very recommended.

This is pretty much your average WHSmith, which you'll find on pretty much every high street of…read moreevery town or city in the UK, it is located in the Mell Square area of Solihull town centre, a short walk away from Touchwood The store does close fairly early, closing at 17:30 during the week, so it is one of the first shops in town to shut for the day, it would be nice to see them open until at least 18:00, which in my opinion is still early to close, but at least this is in line with the majority of other shops nearby, such as Boots next store and the Touchwood Shopping Centre. The store is a reasonable size and includes a Post Office, gone are the days of the gross old-fashioned carpet, and in comes a hard wooden floor, with the store looking much fresher since the refurb. The store had a reasonable selection, mainly in terms of stationery, cards and other miscellaneous type items you'd expect to find, I would say I was unimpressed by the fridge section however, with the choice of drinks very minimal. Boots next store had both lower prices and more choices! 3* - OK, pretty much filling the average quota that WHSmith must be on every high street, nothing too exciting or special, but far from awful.

This isn't the best WH Smiths I've ever been in. It feels like they try to cram to much stuff on…read morethe shop floor. The cueing system is laughable as they have only one line for counter and shelf service, which can equal to very long wait times. It's only shaving grace is that all the staff are pleasant and happy to help.

10 year ago there were one hell of a lot of music/records stores. The larger retailers like Tower,…read moreVirgin Music and HMV have all pretty much gone out of business. Tempest was one of the last greatest independent record stores and that has now gone the same way as all the others. Then smaller independent specialist stores went. Polar Bear still stands on a popular back street of King's Heath, like the one building that withstood the core blast at Nagasaki, it is still in business. The reason of course for the demise of music/record stores is due to the online competition, it doesn't take a brain surgeon to work that one out. However keeping a store afloat in these times is an act as difficult as brain surgery. Polar bear offers lots of vinyl, bootlegs and stuff you can't find anywhere else. It stocks music for people that love music and not those who like music as background filler whilst they work. The staff are friendly and competent and if they don't have anything in store then you can get it online......hang on a minute, did I just say that...... Yes, I did. To stay afloat in today's market, Polar Bear can also fill your orders online. Not surprising since there has been such a shock to the industry in recent days.

Places to buy physical copies of music are hard to find these days in Birmingham…read more The Polar Bear is one of the few record/cd shops still going strong. I've been a Polar Bear customer since I was 15 so I know it pretty well, sadly the amount I buy from there has decreased significantly over the years as I'm sure it has for many others. It's easy to download songs online but there is NOTHING like getting a new LP or CD and reading the sleeve notes, admiring the artwork and holding the record/cd in your hand. It's just better. This current culture of downloading odd songs here and there makes me sad, I used to love discovering an album, listening to it from start to finish and having my favourite tracks change over the years, it's a great experience. The Polar Bear is somewhere that carries on that tradition. They have a great selection of CDs and vinyl both new and second hand. A great place to find jazz, folk, blues, rock, punk, metal, noise and much more. The staff (as you would expect) are very knowledgable, and although manager Steve can be a little grumpy at times it's worth getting on his good side as he's a great story teller and really, really, really knows his stuff when it comes to record collecting. When Steve's not in Nathan (formerly of Tempest) is far more chatty and friendly. Even if you're not into rare cds and records there's a great selection of second hand stuff which includes classic pop albums like Michael Jackson and Madonna - it's not as pretentious as you might expect :) Do expect to get openly laughed at if you walk in asking for the new Lady GaGa or Olly Murs cd.... A great independent business that needs our support - get buying ;)

In the age of digital music, internet shopping and supermarkets undercutting everybody there will…read morealways be a place for an independent record store where you can guarantee the staff know there stuff, can make recommendations, get you hard to find Record Store Day vinyl without the need to trek to Rough Trade in London. If you like your Punk, Metal, Emo, Screamo, Hardcore and any other sub-genre of this ilk you can think of then you need to visit this little store tucked away in the Oasis centre. Rich at Ignite has been a long time face on the music scene in Brum. He champions local bands and puts out his own releases through his own indie label Speedowax. As a long time customer from his days working at Tempest before embarking on his own little operation he can soon help you part with your money as he soon gets to know your musical tastes and he caters to his customers. Support your local independent sellers, and sometimes it may cost you a pound more but its a shiny, actual object you can touch and read the lyrics and see pretty artwork and have in your hands there and then, knowing its been stocked with love and attention just for you.

Dropping in to ignite is always a pleasure to have a catch up with Rich and check for any new…read morestock. Having been a regular for many years of both tempest and ignite dealing with Rich is always great, he learns your taste in music and the specific bands you like, from which he will always find a new recommendation for you, specialising in all forms of alternative music. Rich is always happy to try and order those rare to find, limited editions and imports you can't get on the high street. Anything he does have in stock he will happily play for you to get an idea if it's up your street! Vinyl is a speciality at ignite with promising stock for every record day as well, he even recently took part in the first tape day stocking a limited number of new and re-release tape albums and EPs. Rich also runs a local record label Speedowax with which he helps promote and sell new and upcoming talent! I would always recommend shopping here for music over highstreet stores (support your local businesses!) even though some purchases may cost an extra pound or two, you may find some real talent you would otherwise never be exposed to...

There are Charity Shops and then there's Oxfam Book & Music!…read more Dedicated entirely to Books, CD's and DVD's, the shop is inviting and is well laid out with some fantastic stock which is regularly updated. While not a big store, it genuinely has a book shop feel to it with classical music playing in the background and a small area for sitting and reading. While the books aren't as cheap as other charity shops, you're much more likely to find a gem here. Recommended!

The Oxfam book and music shop in Knowle came up trumps today. I'd been experimenting with the…read morekindle i-pad app for my current read Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro and it hadn't been going too well if I am honest. With my next book club meeting looming I was in desperate need of a traditional copy of this work. So, as I was passing, I popped into this store on the off chance. Not for the first time my prayers were answered by an Oxfam shop. Sitting waiting for me was just the book I needed, in paperback and in excellent condition for a mere £2.99. I quickly browsed the rest of the store and it was in perfect condition. There is a nice reading area at the front of the store if you want to take your book purchasing a bit slower than mine. They also have a small but good selection of DVDs, CDs and vinyl. Thanks once again Oxfam!

Whether a serious record collector or just a music fan The Diskery is well worth a visit if you…read morewant to see a real old fashioned record shop before they become extinct. Seemingly dedicated to the analogue format, VHS tapes are also on offer out front with a rotation of weekly Vinyl specials on offer for the keen eyed passer by. Inside is a treasure chest of music memorabilia without an inch of the interior space left uncovered by music posters, think of the bedroom of a teenage music obsessive and your close to the dedication that's gone into this place. And no High Fidelity bad altitude here at least not on my visit, it was all smiles as regulars traded banter with the owner across the counter. Something of a legend in Birmingham music circles and even receiving an endorsement from Birmingham rapper Maleek of MD7, The Diskery is an essential destination for anyone who wishes to see a genuine bit of Birmingham.

The only way to describe this place is VINYL HEAVEN…read more When people bemoan the apparent death of the record shop, it is places like this that are called to mind. Not so much a shop as a museum of wax and a lifetime labour of love for the proprietor, this is a must-visit if you love music, and records in particular. The selection is huge and varied. Jazz, Blues, Rock and Pop, Classical....all arranged according to genre and/or value - bargain records tend to be in boxes on the floor, normally priced stock at a more comfortable hip level. What is on display is really only the half of it. Glance up at the walls, or peer around the corners into the groaning shelves of the storerooms, and you will see boxes - lots of boxes - all labelled with artist names, or genres. A whole box of Queen or Madonna 7"s. Boxes of Bluegrass, or Swing....anything you can think of, chances are it's there. Years ago you used to be able to smoke in the shop. Along every second heaving rack of old vinyl was an ashtray. They didn't just tolerate smoking in the shop, they encouraged it. Those days are long gone, unfortunately. Even if you don't buy vinyl, you should go to this place to have a look. One day places like this will only exist in the memory of sad, old vinyl heads like me.

Do you like, NO, do you love music? HMV is a must. Record shops are disappearing as we buy from…read moreiTunes, Amazon, listen to Satelitte or whatever it is that we do. It's a shame, because when you get to a store with an enormous selection such as the one offered here it's really a joy. To me anyway. You browse through, see CDs from artists you may have forgotten about, rare editions, everything! After the holidays there are many offers and we add a few more CDs to an already too large collection. CDs are on floor 4, beneath you can find DVDs, games, accessories EVERYTHING! There is an adjoining shop selling rock tee shirts and memorabilia and it's right on the High St, next to the Bull Ring and adjoining The Pallasades Mall. Great geeking!

For reasons that elude me entirely, this little gem of a record shop is tucked away in a corner of…read morewhat seems to be the food section of Birmingham's Indoor Market - you have to walk past stalls selling bags of frozen food and piles of chicken feet to find it. The focus here is quite clearly reggae and it's various off shoots, like dub and rocksteady. The sign promises cds, dvds and vinyl - the vinyl selection was looking a bit thin on the ground when I last went in but there's a healthy selection of cds and an intriguing selection of DVDs, some of Jamaican reggae concerts and others of movies with names like "Obdeah Wedding". (I'd love to be able to tell you what "Obdeah Wedding" is about, but all I could fathom from the cover is it's got something to do with a haunted wedding ceremony). The shop also sells tickets to reggae events up and down the country. If you're a reggae enthusiast, you should definitely make a visit as the proprietors really know their stuff and shops of this nature are what help keep the reggae scene going.

My first experience of Summit records happened completely by random. I was out with a friend and we…read moredecided to go for a stroll. Although they seem to specialise in reggae music which isn't my cup of tea, I could really feel the enthusiasm and passion for music from the shop assistants. They really appeared to love being there and sharing their knowledge with potential buyers. I didn't buy anything on this occassion but if your into this kind of music then you should definitely go down and give it a try.