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Phil's Records

4.9 (8 reviews)
ModerateMusic & DVDs

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Andrew B.

I like Phil's Records. A lot. It's a very bare bones kind of record shop that just has tons and tons of records and cds and dvds to look through. No crazy frills, just the music, and that's really cool. Their hours are a bit weird and they seem to change a lot , but that's okay. It feels good when I drive past and realize they're open..it makes you feel like it's your lucky day or something. Like I stated, they have a pretty big and vast assortment of music, especially records. They seem to have a lot of rare, obscure, and hard to come by titles. A decent amount of bootlegs. I've gotten some really cool and interesting things from here. Their pricing for used merchandise is pretty reasonable, the new stuff can get a little pricey..pretty much the same as anywhere. The guys that work there, I'm assuming one of them is Phil but I'm not sure, are always really nice, helpful, and pretty knowledgeable when it comes to the stuff they're selling. I feel like Phil's falls through the cracks when it comes to music stores in the Cincinnati area..but seriously any music lover/collector should do themselves a favor and check this place out.

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Another Part of the Forest

Another Part of the Forest

(18 reviews)

$

Over-the-Rhine

This is one of the strangest record stores I've been in, which is apparent from the moment you walk…read morein. It's a rather large space with records shelved everywhere, on every wall, on every surface in fact except the ceiling. There is nothing new here, and the only nod to "record store conventions" is a small selection of newly arrived used records right up front. They have one of the largest selections of records I've seen at any record store anywhere, but the organization is a bit disheveled, so be prepared to spend a couple (enjoyable) hours here. Once you work your way to the back of the store, you'll notice a dimly lit staircase going downstairs. You'll think about whether or not you're supposed to go down there, but when you finally decide to, you'll find another equally large space in the basement, filled even more haphazardly with much more obscure stuff. You'll see a corner in the back with thousands of records tossed into a heap on the ground, and you'll find really obscure genres and collections from vinyl's infancy down here. This is my favorite part to visit, even if it can be frustrating navigating through it all. The pricing in general is fair. I get the impression the prices are determined on a whim without any research in advance. On any given trip I find records that are both greatly overpriced and insanely cheap. I tend to ignore Discogs when I'm here and just go with the flow. If you're in OTR this is a must visit, even if you don't buy anything. And when you're done, stop next door for a coffee at Iris, which is owned by the same folks.

I cannot begin to explain how excited I was when I heard the news that there was a record store in…read moreCincinnati that had somehow slipped under my radar. So excited, that I am ashamed of how long it took me to actually get down to Another Part of the Forest and check it out for myself, a shame that was only compounded after I completed what was truly a good record store outing. Although Another Part of the Forest is located directly on Main Street, it can still be very easy to miss during the day time (at night you have the luxury of being able to see the records through the window), so for any future visitors just look for Iris Book Cafe and it is literally directly next door to that. Once I made it inside the store, I was immediately struck by two things, how cramped it was and how friendly the owner was. As I mentioned, the place is very cramped due to the immense amount of vinyl stuffed into this small space. Although the selection was pretty good, I have to admit that the physical quality of the records here are not as high as they would be if you found them at Shake It or Everybody's. However, the prices very reflect what it is you are buying and what condition it is in. What really made this a four star review for me and not a three star however, was the friendliness of the owner. I didn't catch his name but he greeted us with a smile and a hello as soon as we walked in the door and you could tell he was genuinely excited we were showing interest in his shop. On top of this, I had about $20 work of records I had picked out and he knowingly sold them to me for only $15. I have NEVER had anyone at any record store knowingly sell me something for less than what I was willing to pay. I hope that the friendliness and devotion shown by this man and Another Part of the Forest allow this store to thrive in what is becoming one of my favorite Cincinnati neighborhoods for years to come.

Fye

Fye

(5 reviews)

$$

This FYE location is probably one of the better ones in the area, but that's not saying too too…read moremuch. They seem to have a slightly better selection of music than usual, but I have noticed that the section has been shrinking in recent visits. I have the same issue with the pressures to join clubs and sign up for things at checkout here that I do with other locations (I won't go on my rant again, if you want to hear it refer to my previous FYE reviews). That will always be my biggest problem with any of these stores. In the off chance I don't get the harassment at checkout I take note and really appreciate it. Seeing the direction these stores have been taking lately I can't see them being around too much longer, especially the locations in the more dying malls (like this one in Tri County). In the meantime I'll continue to attempt to patronize them..and regardless of my issues I'm sure I will really miss them when they are gone.

Here is another review I could swear I'd done already…read more I've been dealing with FYE since around 1998 when I lived in Florida and they opened a store (with video arcade!) near my house. Since they were in the mall, they were expensive. You expect stores in malls to pay extra for rent, etc., correct? I was amused by the "100% used guarantee" stickers on the DVDs and CDs traded. That's easy to guarantee that they were used. I suggested that they change the stickers to "Used, with 100% guarantee" but that still didn't make the point. I guess blank stares are what people on minimum wage do best in Florida. I saw a lot of them. Okay, so you're making your own right at this moment? Yay! I'm consistent. FYE, in my experience, runs great manager's special sales. When things aren't moving, they drop the price drastically, and you should buy it then, and don't look back. My first time at this location, they had some 3D movies for $19.99, which was about $20 cheaper than FYE, Best Buy, or even Walmart. You generally have to shop there regularly to spot those deals. Employees at this location are sometimes incredibly friendly and other times, very quiet. Does Tri-County Mall do that to a lot of employees? I see that across stores.

Phil's Records - musicvideo - Updated May 2026

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