I really enjoyed visiting Melody's and memories. The owners were so friendly and welcoming. This place has such an expanse collection of CDs, DVDs, VHS, poster, physical merchandise, A tracks and vinyl, of course. There is some parking on side street as well as in the back. I loved all the records that I found. It was so much fun to take a blast to the past. read more

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Felt like I needed an airflow machine going in the other day...reeks of mold and prices are a few dollars higher than anywhere else...lots of records for sure, but most in poor condition and overpriced. Wish there was a better alternative on the eastside. read more

Anything and everything for everyone, from the casual browser to the hardcore collector looking for their personal vinyl Holy Grail. The owner is great, just tell him what you're looking for and he knows if he has it or not. Prices are great as well. read more

If nothing more, the place is an Institution! Tons of items but not the layout doesn't contribute to an easy shopping experience. The prices are higher than necessary for most of the LPs given their condition. I've been a few times but this most recent visit was probably my last. read more

This store is straight up oldschool - like a dive bar. There are stores that are really well laid out, plenty of room and they typically charge a premium for that. They have used vinyl that is in really good shape and/or new releases/reissues that are $25+ The oldschool stores, less organized, but this place is packed with volume. You will find things organized very loosely but it's rewarding if you have time and a list of things you're after, you may find it. And you may find it at a lower price because you have to dig for it. By digging, I mean getting on the floor and looking on the low shelves they have in some of the tight spaces. I found it fun to do some hunting and seeing what they have and didn't have. No, it would not be a place to go to all the time but one of those places to hit up and check out to see what things they have, it seems they get a fairly good influx of used vinyl. It's also a bit of an oddity shop with some memorabilia and t-shirts and more. It's worth a visit if you like digging a bit, but if you want pretty and well organized, don't go. It is true to it's nature, and that's cool read more

this was one of my favorite stores in Eastpointe, I've spent a few bucks in there over the years. went in there the other day. the guy that runs the place is always pretty friendly, but on this day i asked him a question and he acted like i was asking him to give me a kidney. surprisingly rude. well, that's it, won't be going back in there again. its a shame. read more

Melodies & Memories - Music & DVDs Near Me - Eastpointe, Michigan

My sister introduced me to Melodies & Memories about two months ago. I was initially excited about their selection of used 45s and have since made 4 or 5 trips, making high dollar purchases each time. Having purchased used LPs and 45s online and at other Detroit record stores regularly, I was very aware that Melodies & Memories was way overpriced, but I very much like to support local businesses so I didn't mind. I could've ordered all of the 45s I've been purchasing off of Amazon or eBay for equal or less than the money this store charges including shipping but again, I was trying to support them because they're a local business. A couple weeks back, I took a friend to this store to record shop for his birthday. As we were checking out, we both noticed a Syd Barrett 7" boxed set behind the register marked $40. When we asked about it we were told it is extremely rare, that these were the only two left and they would never be in stock again. My friend and I are big Pink Floyd fans so we decided to purchase them. This after we had already just purchased over $100 in used records. When we got home (over an hour drive) I opened mine to inspect it and everything was fine. My friend however opened his to find that the record itself was missing. He returned to the store today hoping to get a refund or store credit. The first thing he noticed was that there was another of the same boxed set sitting right on the shelf. The same boxed set we both purchased after being told how rare it was and how there wouldn't be anymore in stock. The store would do absolutely NOTHING for my friend. No return, no exchange, no issue of store credit. Nothing. On top of that, they chose to hide behind and lie about copyright laws as a reason to have basically stolen money from a customer. It's really too bad because now I'm forced to mark another Michigan business off my list of places I'll spend a lot of my hard earned money. Driving an hour to get to Memories & Melodies didn't bother me. Over paying by $1 - $10 per item didn't bother me. My friend and myself being blatantly lied to and ripped off, twice in the same interaction does. Avoid this place and their shady business practices at all costs. read more

I liked it. Tons of records, CDs, and more. The guy working behind the counter was nice. He pointed me towards a bunch of records that had just been put out and that were unsorted. I would have missed them otherwise and ended up finding a couple of gems. I felt the vinyl selection was skewed towards classic rock, but that's okay. My interests are varied. Prices were a tick high compared to other shops in the area, but not crazy. It is a bit cluttered, but once I figured out the system I didn't have an issue locating anything. It also had a nice neighborhood feel, with regulars coming in and out. Definitely worth a stop. read more

When I walk into Melodies and Memories, I feel like I'm walking into a tomb; it's a dark, large store that has hidden gems. The collection of classic movie monster toys aside, I really enjoy this record shop. They have a great selection and very fair prices. The one thing that brings me back is their selection of electronic music; you wouldn't be able to tell by the looks of the marquee, but this place has a large selection of very great records. I'd choose M&M over any other record store in town if I was looking for electronica! Yes, they stock some toys, and films. I've found that most record stores that stock movies have them quite cheap; M&M is no different. If you happen to stop in to check out some music, take a gander at the films, and you may find something extremely cheap that you've been looking for all your life! (Or maybe something you simply wanted to see... I have a tendency to search for films like quests for the Holy Grail.) read more

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I an not a vinyl person at all, but even I noticed this place is overpriced. There is a TON of product here. Its cool to wander around and flip through. I like supporting local places, if you do too, and don't mind paying a bit more, then check this place out. read more

This is where all the vinyl goes that the rest of the record stores don't want. They should change their name to Last Stop Before the Landfill. read more

This place sucks, a big waste of time and money The owner was a complete jerk and a huge grump Everything in there is overpriced The place looks like it hasn't been cleaned in 20 years I would not recommend going here read more

I love this place. I don't know how anyone can call a 3 dollar 45 record overpriced. The owner has always been helpful. I don't mind bending down to pull out a box of records from the floor. The clean organized record stores all went out of business,they don't exist. This is the best place in Michigan to buy used vinyl. read more

I remember this place when it used to be in a little strip mall in the 12 mile and Hayes area near Macomb Community College. Their prices were high then, they still are. There's lots of vinyl in the Eastpointe store. Lots. The problem is it's overpriced dreck and, to add insult to injury, most of the records are at floor level so one has to bend over in awkward positions to rummage through. Some of the pop culture items they sell are cool to look at but again at inflated prices. The place is dirty and dusty too. Kinda like a heroin addicts apartment. One of the long time employees has a Texas sized chip on the shoulder and he's often moody and grouchy. Avoid the dude. Let's summerize the shopping experience...you get mold on your fingers, bruises on the knees, kinks in the back, you can smile at the vintage lunchboxes, avoid the creepy step-dad employee, and finally, big-time sticker shock at the checkout. Nope. P.S. Please shower when you get home. read more

Melodies & Memories has what may be the best selection of new jazz CDs in the Metro-Detroit area. With that said, I really need to state that they are relatively overpriced. In my review of Dearborn Music, I mentioned that they are high in their prices, but M&M have them beat...HOWEVER...Melodies & Memories carries more new/sealed out-of-print titles than anywhere I have ever been. I have visited CD stores from San Fransisco to Washington DC and I have never seen a selection like this! Overpriced, but amazing!! The jazz CD selections range from John Abercrombie to John Zorn and everyone in between. I have not found an artist that is not represented in their expansive jazz CD selections. I am increasingly pleased more and more with every visit. I do though, leave empty handed sometimes because I just can't dish out $22.99 for the Art Ensemble of Chicago CD that I wanted on that visit. The classical CD selections are alright, nothing to write home about. As far as vinyl is concerned (for both jazz and classical) I have to be honest and say that I have not really looked at their selections because I have mainly come here for their CD selection. I plan on up-dating this review after taking another trip to M&M to check out their vinyl. Melodies & Memories is right up their with some of the better stores in the area, which is why it gets my four start rating. The only thing that prevented this store form getting that 5th star was the high-prices. read more

A collectors paradise. In a world of downloading there are some things that are impossible to find. Here you have it all! I wish there were more music shops like this around. Staff is very well versed on any and everything. They have a section of Detroit rocknroll rarities- I scored with friday@the hideout. They also have the best price on vinyl that i've seen thus far. read more

great spot to dig for vinyl! all genres of classics and hits. you can be in there for hours and won't even feel it.

My favorite record store in the city so far!! The crates are amazing and organized, and you can always find what your looking for. The owners are cool dudes, there not douschey at all. Also the wall of autographs is real cool to see. Everyone from common to Afrika Bambaataa signed it! read more

Ok, I have heard great things about this place. My only question is why? If you want to peruse the vinyl collection, you better be really short. They're all stored underneath cd shelves throughout the whole store. Surely there is a better way to go about doing this. That's not my biggest gripe though. My biggest gripe is the price. These prices are not even competitive. Why would anyone in their right mind pay $10-15 for a used album in average condition when its an album you see everywhere else in the $2-6 range. That is this place to a T it appears, everything I picked up was priced about twice what I was willing to pay. I had to check this place out, now that's checked off my list, and I don't plan on returning anytime soon. read more

So...... again...... Melodies and Memories are selling Record Store Day merch after RSD is over at inflated prices. Just saw something in store a couple days ago that they didn't have when I was there the day of and it was marked up $30..... read more

Great selection overall, with lots of surprises throughout the store. It's especially useful for classic rock, oldies, jazz, old-school soul and so on. Tons of vinyl, too. It could be organized better--there are too many genres and useless subdivisions. Prices are in general list price or even above. It does carry a few bootlegs/grey market items as well, and in one case (based on the color photocopies of the front and back covers) I suspect copies of the original series. Lots of obscure and hard-to-find country and jazz box sets as well. But don't dare touch them, even if all you want to do is check the track listing. And you can't walk five feet without being reminded that shoplifters will be prosecuted and that there are security cameras. If you're a student you can't walk in with more than one friend. Oh, and no photography either. One of the employees even reminded me of this last policy when I took out my phone to check my wish list. Like ordering from the Soup Nazi, there are a lot of rules when shopping at Melodies & Memories. One of the memories I have is feeling welcome when I browsed at a music store. read more

There is no other place for miles that has so many amazing treasures as this place does. The ambiance of the store is truly unique itself because of how comfortable in there. It almost reminds me of walking through my grandmother's crowded basement because literally sometimes you have to walk sideways through the aisles. Now some of the reviews say that the place is overpriced. I will never ever lie on a review, there is no purpose of that, some of the prices are higher then you would expect. But all in all, you have to take in some considerations. One, you are paying for the convince of having EVERY CD or record you can imagine right in front of you. Two, it is a local business and just like every other small business, you can't offer the same prices as a major chain store. But to match the high prices, they have an entire room wall to wall with dollar merchandise. If you ever get the chance to swing in there, you will not be disappointed. read more

If I had all the time and money in the world, I could spend a huge chunk of it here. The biggest selection of just about every kind of music in every format that I've ever seen. Great prices too. The only downside this place has is that most of the LPs are kept in shelves on the floor, so you have to sit on the floor and dig, but its not the worst thing in the world. Definitely don't go here if you're crunched for time because you'll want to stay for hours just to see everything they have. read more

Best selection of vinyl in the SE Michigan area. Huge store, good prices and friendly people who always are willing to chat about music. Be sure to ask for the $1 room if it's not open when you're there (the back room is somestimes closed and it has all the electronica, dance singles, but also a dollar room full of stuff). I've walked out of there spending just a couple bucks and got some great LPs. I drive about an hour to get there from where I live..and it's worth it every time. read more

This is one of the most amazing record stores. Dan was very hospitable in sharing different hidden gems and the stories of the late great J Dilla. If you are on tour this is a must see before leaving town. Dan is also willing to talk Tigers baseball. I'm glad I made the time to come by and grab some rare vinyl. You should do the same. read more

Melodies & Memories - Music & DVDs Near Me - Eastpointe, Michigan

Ok shop. Prices vary. However, I quit going to this shop years ago because of rude owners/workers. They always think your going to steal something, it's ridiculous. They've accused me of switching records to get her cheaper prices. Paranoia will destroy ya! read more

This place has the widest selection of music period in the Detroit area. For whatever reason, they don't really get the buzz as say Record Time does. They don't necessarily carry the newest hipster/indie rock cd that comes out. With that said, they have the biggest r + b and electronic music in the area. The metal selection is good but may not have the newest release on the release date. For old school punk this is the ONLY place to go in the area. They carry a ton of vinyl and used cd's. Prices are a bit high for new stuff but the selection makes it worth it. read more

Not enough of these anymore, great owner, great store, little higher on prices...but I will pay for quality!

I love a store with a ton of records, but there are reasons stores have a ton of records. The worst is that the prices are too high. That's the problem with Melodies & Memories. For example, they have a room full of used house records that they're asking $4 to $10 each for. People used to pay those prices in the 90s, but those days are over. Those records need to be $1 or $2. Move them out, they've probably been sitting there for years. Nobody's going to pay those prices. This store is picked through. It's time for a storewide sale. Clean out the old inventory for new records. read more

Overall, kind of a mixed bag and not necessarily worth the drive for me to stop in on a regular basis. The last time I was in here, I brought a few CDs to the counter and only ended up buying one, which was a sealed, new CD. The used discs were scratched, and one of them was an out of print hip hop CD that turned out to a be a homemade CD-R bootleg. In this day and age, I'm not sure how any record store thinks they can get away with selling bootleg CD-Rs. The only reason to make a trip out here is if you are looking for out of print classic rock, jazz, r&b, oldies, etc. and you don't want to search online for a certain title and you absolutely must buy a particular CD sealed and new. Be prepared to pay $25-30 or more for that CD, but you will get a new, sealed CD. I'm guessing the reason the store has this kind of stock is because their prices on average are high, much higher than what you'd pay online or at other stores. For example, a classic Motown album that sells for $4.99 on CD would probably cost $14.99 here. High prices means that the it takes a long time for the store to turn over stock, so you may get lucky finding certain things here. Make sure you bring a fully charged smartphone so you can compare prices with eBay, Amazon Marketplace,etc. There is some used vinyl at the store, but I've never bothered checking it out. Part of the reason is because the store is so cramped that it makes for an uncomfortable experience, and the odds of finding anything you can't easily find somewhere else are probably pretty low. read more

Hmmm. I've been here three times, maybe four. I'm the kind who can always find something, and the selection is interesting. Some great rabbit holes, boxes on every level if you have the time to dig and the back muscles for floor crates. Prices are standard - but the help/owner (Lee?) has always been a pill. A few years ago, I asked if he had a special box of 45s behind the counter (as some do). He looked at me as if I'd spit on him. Another time, he was also rude to my Father-in-law, who is very pleasant and chatty with strangers. Father-in-law didn't like his treatment, left the store to wait for me and to date, other than a former mayor of Detroit, this is the only guy I've ever heard him disparage. One other time I went in and the owner was showing a friend some finds while I was waiting to pay, flipping thru a huge stack of lps. I asked when an interesting title would be out on the floor and he said 'They're. Not. For. Sale!' Plus hearing about the maskless when it was desperately needed = I. Won't. Be. Back. read more

I have to disagree with many of the other reviews. For a dance music aficionado, Melodies & Memories is one of the best used vinyl shops on the planet. They have a whole back room for dance music that is VERY expertly broken down by Techno, House, Classics, etc. Great selection and you can preview records up front. Back in the 90's this was THE place to get new records. Today they still carry new records from local Detroit artists and DJs on vinyl. The salespeople will help you dig for something if you ask them. I have found the prices to be very fair in the dance music area. They also have a great cassette selection if you also happen to drive a '96 Volvo like me. My only complaint is that they are not closer to downtown Detroit! read more

Vinyl heaven!! They have it all and more on LP. Reasonably priced and guys who go out of their way if you are looking for something hard to find. Also if that wasn't enough they have classic games and lunch boxes from your childhood. read more

On a recent trip to Michigan to visit the in-laws, I made this one of my must stops. I've been there before - it's somewhat oppressive with product but that doesn't bother me. (By oppressive, I mean you can barely stand in front of a stack in some places and God forbid someone wants by you.) I don't get to record shops much and I enjoy a little banter about what they have or if there's something special they can show me. I asked if there were special 45s and was told "the wife does all of that - look it up on line. That's where people go now." OK. What are those behind the counter? "Those are mine! I collect,too." Still ok. Do you have any suggestions about older local bands that aren't Motown? "Just look around. I'm busy here," and he turned back to whatever. I asked if I could hear some records but he had the Best of Steely Dan on cd playing. I don't like to be depressed in a music store but that product is out there so many other places. He graded a stack of 45s and a local album, charged me and I was gone into the snow. I do want to support local businesses and he may have had a headache or other troubles, but as a customer, I deserve his best forward sell. I visited three other stores the same day and this remains at the bottom. read more

This is one of my favorite record stores in the country and I've been all around except west coast. It's great for the urban sound that I love -- Jazz, R&B, house, gospel, rock. The prices are a little higher, but I can understand why - a business like this is becoming more and more rare. The higher price is to keep this gem of a place open. No complaints about the price in comparison to the Amazon.com's of the world. The main problem is the aisle's; it is hard, pert near impossible for a fat dude like me to crouch to the lower shelves to check out what may be that rare gem that I came in there for in the first place, although those records are usually overstock, but you never know until you check it out (if you can). read more

I have been buying records in the Detroit area since the early 80s and M&M has been a spot in my rotation. Now that Record Time and Car City are gone, there isn't too much to choose from unfortunately. I feel that the prices are way too high at M&M and always have been. There selection is *okay*; nothing to write home about. The only thing that kind of creeps me out is that whenever I go there I feel like I'm being watched. Usually when I go record shopping, I'm dropping about $100 at a time so this distrust is not appreciated. It makes me feel like a sucker for buying anything. I have heard similar complaints from my friends. I wish the store success but I'd rather shop elsewhere if possible. Some tips for M&M management (if they are reading this): *Get the clutter out of the isles and the line of vision. *Light up your store; it's dank and uninviting. *Open up the isles and place the most popular items in the center of the store. Get rid of what doesn't sell well to make room for what does. *You might considering fully making the store over. Think open & bright store, big selection of category killers (focus on quality rather than quantity), FRIENDLY and HELPFUL STAFF, and competitive prices. Remember that after your own staff's helpfulness, your selection of goods and your store's presentation, ebay and Amazon are your your biggest concerns. People are not going to stop by if they can get something mailed to them for less money and none of the hassle. read more

While the selection in this store is daunting, they definitely engage in some shady business practices. I was in today and two out of the three CDS I bought were COPIES of the originals. I expected this from one, as I knew it was a bootleg, but charging customers money for a non-original item is scandalous, to say the least. This never would have happened at Car City or Record Collector in Ferndale. I will stick with Encore Recordings in Ann Arbor, or Flat Black & Circular in Lansing. If you are going to leave notices around your store warning customers not to shoplift, don;t make them pay good money for supposedly 'new' CDs. read more

Its big. Lots of stuff. But the collectables are all rough and covered in years of crud. All the used albums are over priced compared to other local shops. Owner is a tired looking, unhappy looking guy that doesn't seem to enjoy his business. Every 3 steps is a hand written sign warning one not to steal. This place is just bad vibes. I give him 2 stars simply because he has a ton of stuff. While he didn't seem interested in answering my question he wasn't a jerk either. There were a few things I would have bought. But all were way overpriced and I got every single one elsewhere that day for half, in great condition too. read more

I live in Los Angeles, Ca, I would never think of coming to Mich. without visiting M&M records. This is the highlight of my visit. I always make a list of the hard to find music I have been looking for and so far they have always had it .Sure, it's crowded, but that's half the fun of looking..My sisters know my visit is not complete without them taking me there. By the way, I am 74 years old and a collector from way back, got over 30,000 albums and CD's and still looking for more. Let's not talk about the PICTURE LP'S I have gotten from there, and check out the OWNERS PICTURE LP'S. See you again in 2014. I travel from Mt. Clemens to the store. V. MORRISON read more

My friend and I recently purchased two book/record boxed sets from this store. When I got home and opened it, the record itself wasn't actually in the box. My friend's boxed set, however, was intact. I tried calling, but got no answer, so I went back up to the store on my next day off. The owner told me there was nothing he could do for me, as the package was opened. I told him that I understood, but I was not trying to return it for my money back, but rather exchange it for the identical item he had behind the counter. He would not do anything for me. I would've even accepted store credit. I'm in retail management, and I understand what the federal copyright law is. You're not allowed to return opened music, movies, or software. You are, however, allowed to exchange for an identical item. I already felt that this store was overpriced, but I was willing to accept that for the great selection they have. Unfortunately, I will never return to this store after being sold a record that actually didn't have the record inside the packaging, and the owner was unwilling to correct the situation. I'm now out $45 dollars for the record, plus the $30 I've spent in gas driving back and forth from Canton to Eastpointe. It's highly disappointing that in the day of big-box stores, independent shop owners are willing to abandon customer service. read more