CAAAAN YOOOOU DIIIIIIG IT? Poo-Bah can! Poo-Bah Record Shop is a time machine disguised as a music store, and let me tell you--it's the place for anyone who appreciates good tunes and even better customer service. My recent visit felt like stepping into a live Spotify mixtape, and here's why. I went in on a mission: find some records as a Christmas gift for a high schooler who's super smart, learning to play piano by ear, and whose taste in music is a mystery to me. No pressure, right? I grabbed a couple of records with piano-heavy tracks and headed home. But something told me, "Maybe give these a spin before handing them off." Glad I did--one of the albums had lyrics I wasn't exactly keen on giving to a kid. Determined to support a small business (because, let's face it, every dollar counts more there), I went back to see about an exchange. Walking in, I braced myself for an awkward return situation. I explained my dilemma at the counter, saying I didn't want a refund but was open to suggestions. And that's when the magic happened. The guy at the register immediately hopped off and started digging through records to find something more suitable. Then, the owner joined in--tag-teaming the search like Billy Taylor and Quincy Jones putting together a jazz masterpiece. They didn't just recommend records; they curated options with the care of someone arranging the perfect piano solo. At one point, I half-expected Ray Charles to pop out from behind the counter, saying, "Now this is how you dig Baby!" They found me some Count Basie to keep things swinging, threw in some Modern Jazz Quartet for that cool, intellectual vibe, and made me rethink my entire approach to gift-giving. I walked out with four records instead of two, grinning like a kid at their first jam session. These folks didn't just help me solve a gifting problem; they brought me back to a time when crate-digging was an art form and music was the language of discovery. As a former DJ, I know the joy of unearthing hidden gems, and Poo-Bah's team shares that same passion and knowledge. If you're into music and crave a place where the love for it runs deep, Poo-Bah Record Shop is it. This place isn't just a record store; it's a soundtrack to the golden era of music and a reminder of why we love vinyl in the first place. read more

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I like coming here to add to my vinyl collection. You can find a lot of interesting records for $2-4, and I enjoy discovering new artists for myself here. The staff is very engaged and polite. read more

Poo-Bah Record Shop - Music & DVDs Near Me - Pasadena, California

I came in not too long ago and although I couldn't find anything that I couldn't leave there without, I did find a lot of hidden lil gems. It was nice to do some crate digging and just take it easy. There are some awesome pieces of memorabilia on the wall and some dope album covers. The parking lot out back is huge. There is street parking as well. I'm sure I'll be back again soon. read more

Poo-Bah Record Shop - Music & DVDs Near Me - Pasadena, California

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Such a great shop! Welcoming atmosphere, fantastic prices, and great selection. I spent about an hour there and walked out with 7 vinyls each ranging from 50 cents to $10, would definitely recommend! read more

I AM HOOKED ON THIS RECORD STORE!!! Just as much as a crack head is hooked with their dealer, thats me and my relationship with this shop. Love how the staff keeps it organized making it feel very inviting and a friendly vibe overall. It seriously is hard to walk out empty handed so thank goodness for trade-ins (this helps A LOT with my addiction). Just feel very fortunate to have this store nearby. The good taste with the selections makes me feel giddy to go back continuously and discover new treasures. read more

Friendly staff, and good selection. It's a nice little record shop. They provided good phone service and just as friendly in the shop.

Fantastic service found what I was looking for thanks to the support of the clerk, who was extremely knowledgeable and helpful great selection of music in this very cool vibe record store I highly recommend it read more

I've been supporting Poo-Bah Record Shop when they were in a converter house. It was such a cozy environment with tons of other music lovers. Nobody seemed to judge people by their genre of music taste, it was just a great place to hang out. Their current location doesn't have the same vibe, but there's tons and tons of CDs and vinyl to look through. You can find the hard to find items, plus get introduced to new artists. Everything is sorted by genre and alphabetical order, just as long as people put things back. But for the most part, things are well organized. Just make sure to allow plenty of time to browse around the store. read more

Hmm...this isn't the Poo-Bah I remember going to back in the 90s. This used to be the spot to go to for obscure, indie artists back in the day when Rodney Bingenheimer (Rodney on the ROQ) was still on the air. Now it seems like it specializes more in underground electronic and hip hop artists. I guess it's good if this is your style of music, but just isn't for me. I couldn't find a single thing I wanted. It does have quite a bit of used vinyl but many of them were located under the bins in crates in no specific order. read more

Poo-Bah Record Shop - Music & DVDs Near Me - Pasadena, California

Aight. Idk where to start. I went in today May 4, 2024. The 2 guys working today at around 4 pm are absolutely amazing. They recommended so many good albums. Showed me some stuff I haven't heard and you can tell they enjoy working there. To whoever hired them. Shoot em a raise! Those guys are killing it. The selection here is amazing and super diverse. This is now my go to spot ! read more

This place used to have a much better section, but overall it's still a great record shop and a Pasadena stable for many, many years.

Very nice record store with a solid variety of media for everyone to enjoy...even some new ones like all of Taylor Swift's vinyls!! What a great American staple! read more

I was on discogs and saw that the 45 I wanted was on sell by a retailer called Poo-Bah's, I've been going to this Pasadena gem since I was knee high lol! I called them up after they had closed and Greg took time to help me and found the vinyl setting it aside for me to purchase the next day saving me the shipping cost! Thank you Greg! Grade A+ guy & customer service, I will be back. read more

DO NOT SELL YOUR RECORDS HERE!!! Came here with well over 100 dollars worth of quality food condition records and they low balled me hard. They also would talk and chit chat with customers instead of looking through my records. Spent 30 minutes in there just to get ripped off. Gimme Gimmie records in Highland Park is WAY better. This business is disrespectful. read more

The first time I've left a record store without buying anything. Selection is very slim. Prices are unpredictable, with some going for really cheap and some really overpriced. I think this place caters towards casual collectors and beginners. Lots of Beatles records, along with new pop. Was expecting to find old hip hop classics, harder to find rock and punk. Nope. But I can see younger kids buying up the new pop vinyl, like Tyler the creator and Taylor swift. Air conditioning and staff are nice though. read more

The selection of rock records is just okay. I didn't recognize a lot of the records displayed on the walls, so this is probably a store that caters to a specific taste I'm not familiar with. My biggest issue is the person that works here. In the handful of times I've been here the person working there never acknowledges me. It's the same feeling as living in an apartment with a roommate that you silently pass by or rarely acknowledge. Unpleasant record store owners is a fad that I'll never understand. read more

This place is wack. When you go up to pay, they look up the prices online, even though the records are already priced. They they want to you pay more. Either learn to price records or get out of the game. This bait and switch is super annoying. And this isn't a case of people swapping price stickers, this is just greedy people that price things one way and then want more money. Lame read more

I've been meaning to write a review of this shop located on East Colorado Blvd. I like coming here because there is a Guitar Center next door, and my favorite Persian Kabob place. Although small, that is the charm. In the past I have found a few goodies, or nothing. My collection is so big it has to be special or an upgrade for me to open the wallet. Since Record Store Day had passed, I've noticed many shops are cleaned out in certain genres. That's my recent experience here. However, they have some desirable collectibles! Blue Note records is a famous jazz label that beautifully recorded the best musicians. The records were noted for their heavier weight (approximately 200-grams), and deep impression in the label that lent a knick name: "deep groove." On display were several by famous artists (see pics), while expensive, you'd spend more competing on eBay. I recommend checking them out. Their areas of expertise include electronic music and local artists. Eclectic, it's a nice touch to have a listening station to preview the vinyl before buying. read more

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Cool spot! Fun for trying to find vinyls that are rare or no longer available. Staff is friendly

This is the store that always forces you to leave simply because they suddenly decide they want to close early. Years ago, I went through most of the store & a nerdy, curly haired, 20-something guy with curly hair told me he was closing the store 15 minutes early & scoffed at the notion that I only had one more trough to go through. I stayed away for years, furious at the way I was treated. I returned today & at 4:15 could not believe that ANOTHER employee was telling me & other customers that the boss had just called & they were closing early... in 15 minutes, at 4:30, ONE AND A HALF HOURS EARLY. What, the previous nerd became the manager?! Or are they all like this? I told him my story. He couldn't have cared less. I wound up there 1 1/2 hours & found nothing worth buying. I will never return. I had fond memories of Poobah's when it was in its original location & found great things there dating back to 1980. These days, I find nothing but anger toward flaky owners/employees who kick customers out ahead of time on whims. After closing up because of COVID then re-opening, they're lucky to still be in business. But they certainly don't deserve ours. F*CK YOU. 0 stars read more

Brought some records today so sell thinking they would offer a decent price. I want you to keep in mind I called ahead to ask how they price records and if condition matters, to which they replied they pay over median off Discogs and condition to them does matters but completely lied when they took over 30 minutes to check everything while talking to customers and then proceeded to low ball me. I brought og copies of Japan pressing and sealed rnb records worth between 600-700 in the median of Discogs. Proceed to offer less than $250 I would say they are disrespectful and trying to one up on customers. Saw a wolf album by Tyler the creator in the back for $85! You can buy it brand new for less than $40 online or even less used! They are definitely trying to rip people off. And like I said I called again just for them to lie to me for me to come in and sell to them I really do not recommend this place as everything is over priced I suggest checking Discogs, eBay, and Amazon for better prices as most of the stuff they had in the store are cheaper online. I know because while they were taking 30 plus minutes to check the records I was checking online comparing their prices with prices online. Do not shop here read more

One of the Best Record Shops in LA! Great place to pick up the wants and needs! Oooooh Ras G!

One of the last great record shops left in Los Angeles (the number is a joke these days) so I try and support these small local independent spots as much as I can. The owner Ron does a great job and cultivates a selection that highlights local beat makers, many who work or have worked at Poo-bah. It was always great to head in there and see friends of mine like Ras G or Nobody back in the day. They don't just focus on hip hop and electronic you can find plenty of other genres. They used to do a lot of live events here but haven't heard much since the pandemic. Fuck Spotify, to support your local record shop! Also to those complaining it's not the same as it was in the 80s and you can find any decent records, all I say is "ok boomer..." read more

Great prices, great selections. And my person favorite a "disco" section. Lots of little hidden gems if you have the patience and for records, I do. I came away with some great records under $15 dollars, some priced at 99 cents and $1. A lot of history and vintage memorabilia. I'll definetly be coming back!!!! read more

Great record store! Picked up a couple of nice used records recently including Little Richard, and the Cramps. Andrew was a pleasure to deal with, and very knowledgeable. read more

LOVE this shop. This is my go-to record store in Pasadena. They have a great collection of LPs - some very rare albums and many of the classics. The staff are incredibly knowledgeable and make me feel right at home. read more

Buy,sell,trade is the name of the game here.Fair prices and even trades if one haggles right.Jazz vinyl is king here,represses and new issues are always at your fingertips.They carry cassettes Vhs ,Beta and even picture discs.Whats even better they are right around the from Guitar Center,when one gets an itch to play around with musical instruments.Wide variety of Vinyl like R&B ,Hip Hop and Rock.In closing ,this is a great little shop in Pasadena,my home away from home. read more

I remember poo bahs In the old days. Still good stuff. One of the few places in the area where you can still find vinyl. Friendly staff and reasonable prices. Good place to trade in any old albums that might be taking up storage space. Nice to see this place still around. read more

Every visit to this place I leaves with great records. It's my favorite record shop in all of LA county. I wish they sold shirts.

About a year ago I really started to get into vinyl and with my little lack of knowledge of record shops I would just go to Amoeba if I ever felt like getting something. I could order online I suppose but there is some kind of enjoyment of searching through stacks of vinyls trying to find one you are looking for. So when I finally ventured to Poo-Bah seeing it as I drove through Pasadena a few times I finally think I found my go to record store. It's a small space when comparing to something like Amoeba, but it feels comfy and easy to navigate where the sections of music are. They have both new and used sections for pretty much every genre so you might find some hidden treasures in both. There is also a cd section and dvd section if you are looking for that as well. Everyone who Ive spoken to there is super chill too. The one downside of Poo-Bah might be their inventory in comparison to something like Amoeba is smaller so you might not find everything your looking for. However as a counter to that I have found some really awesome indie artists that I doubt would be in Amoeba. Most of the time if I am going to buy a vinyl it is some indie artist anyway so that works for me but just letting you first timers know. If you're in Pasadena and you're looking for a great record store Poo-Bah's it read more

A good selection of classical and jazz. Prices are fair. Workers were really knowledgeable, kind, and the music they were playing were great. One of the used records I got had a different vinyl from the sleeve (same artist but wrong album-- must have been the sellers fault) but it turned out to be a nice surprise since I liked the tracks anyways. I'd double check next time though. Couldn't take a star off for this because I just adored this place. Would likely come back sometime in the future. read more

I've been a customer for decades, from back when they were on Wilson. A Pasadena institution, I gather there's been ownership changes but it's always a great way to kill an hour or two and come home with some gems read more

Sick place and the dudes behind the counter are super cool and knowledgeable. A lot of oldies type stuff. Came in for the first time looking for some house but walked out with Isley Bros, Peggy Lee, Herb Alpert, and some other obscure cultural records. Great prices too from what I saw read more

Excellent, excellent record shop! The owner is so nice! I came in and found a great selection of records. Anything you want, he can order for you. What is so great about this spot is the history of the business and the huge variety. Also...some of the best record prices I've seen. read more

Had a chance to stop by on a Sunday and easily spent at least an hour going through the various record bins. This place strives at keeping a great selection of hip hop and funk.. I'm talking that old school flavor from the 80s and 90s (early 2000s) that to me really is the golden stuff. I'm not a fan of what is played on the radio today and I was glad I did not find any of that stuff here. This record shop has a great selection of discount vinyl ($1 to $3 at most) and all in very good condition. What I like most about this vinyl record shop is that the staff is very knowledgeable of the items they have, and you can find a lot of other cool items here like shirts and cassettes. I would definitely come back to this spot when I am in the area because I walked away with 5 record for about $5. Had a lot of jams I wanted. Poo-Bah is old school baby, and I love that they keep it that way. They also had turntables in the back for some events they do with DJs. read more

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One of the best record shops I have been too. They have an immense collection of great music, all the way from jazz, classic rock, and a great collection of hip-hop. The staff is overly kind and willing to help find records that might not be out in the main portion of the store. read more

Poo-Bah Record Shop - Music & DVDs Near Me - Pasadena, California

Poo Bah is my favorite record store! The staff is super knowledgeable and PASSIONATE about vinyl - not like these newer record stores that just care about sales and "new" records. Also I like that they're literate and don't call their albums "vinyls" (who started that sh*t?) Poo Bah is the last old school record store in Southern California and maybe if you stopped complaining about stupid sh*t, like the "smell" or "the owner eats vegan sandwiches", you would actually learn something about music and records. PS - Karl the manager is awesome! read more

Amazing selection of underground hip hop, THE best selection of r&b CDs. Everyone who works here is super nice and makes you feel welcomed upon entry. Always find something I like each time. Thank y'all, y'all are f'ing dope. read more

Poo-Bah Record Shop - Music & DVDs Near Me - Pasadena, California

A cool place to browse and kill time. Some good finds if you dig and I mean really scope. Funny titles like " Birthday sex" and " Shotgun wedding" my favorite find, " Ain't no Fun" Snoop, Nat and Kurupt's Doggy Style album. Keep looking I'm sure you will find what you're looking for! Eventually. read more

I've been going to poo bah for almost 10 years now, and from the moment I walked in the door I knew this place was special. It is easily the oldest (and hands down coolest) independent record store in the Pasadena area. All kinds of media for all kinds of people. It's just too bad they stopped doing Beat Soup. This place is an institution. Mad love for Poo Bah!!! read more