Rattleback Records

Spent a lifetime in the world of vinyl and I can definitively say Squeezebox knows what they are…read moredoing. From variety to quality to customer service, they tick all the boxes above and beyond.

This place is a gem. I came in with some CD's to shed and they were so helpful. I wandered through…read morethe store for a few minutes as they went through my box. They have a lot of albums and CD's. It's well organized and the staff are everywhere but not intrusive or nosy. There if you want to ask a question. Not to try to get you to buy something. After a few minutes they paid me and I took the remaining CD's to Goodwill. They also buy used books. Super great to have in the neighborhood.

Inside

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Christmas items

Animal Records

4.8(15 reviews)

4.6 mi

I had a great experience shopping at Animal Records recently while visiting Evanston. I stopped by…read moreshortly after closing, and the owner Greg said "come in, as long as I'm here you can come in" even though it was after six. He was working on the window display. He found a Leon Russell "Hank Wilson's Back" vinyl album I had been looking for that was somehow in the country section! He knows his music, and turned me on to a CD collection that they bought with all kinds of great discs for reasonable prices. If you want to listen to a record or CD they can play them for you. The doggie Pogo is super friendly and they have treats to give him. I will be back for sure next time I am in town, so glad Evanston has a great record store again, it was sad after 2nd Hand Tunes closed. I also met Mary, Niko and Neil and they are all great folks!

It's funny to say, but this is a "new" records store. They were playing some 60s jazz when I came…read morein so I was immediately feeling welcome. Unlike most stores with retro content, the workers were young and friendly. Maybe it's an overgeneralization but I usually expect any antique technology store to employ anti-social experts which is usually just fine with me. I would rather someone know their stock and the answer to by esoteric questions rather than someone with a fun personality. However, these two were very nice, and did seem to know pertinent stuff, and tolerated me singing along (badly) with the LP they were playing.. I got four old CDs, one which I just almost bought for $20 on Amazon for $2.00 TOTAL.

The New Location.

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The New Location.

Round Trip Records

4.3(4 reviews)

2.5 mi•North Park

Really cool people here who will find what you're looking for if they don't have it for a fair…read moreprice. Movie buffs also!

Round trip is a great record store. The owners are super friendly and knowledgeable. They're the…read moretype of guys who will sit and talk about music for hours. They have a great selection, with everything from pop hits to weirdo free jazz. There's really something for everyone. The prices are good too! Go check it out and support local business!

Records

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Lps

Music Direct

3.2(70 reviews)

0.4 mi•Lincoln Square

I was in the area and wanted to spend sum money on vinyl records. Whoops! I had to pump my…read morebrakes. They sold off their inventory. I missed the sale the had...a box of albums for $10 then gave the rest out for free. I did find a rare pressing of Dee Lite's classic World Clique for $45. The guy that runs it always cool, informative. Tho I will miss the prior setup I will drop by from time to time. Good luck guys on your new direction.

I have purchased stereo equipment and cd/ LP formats. I have also returned equipment shortly after…read morearrival when it did nit fit as expected. Grat service and professional help. No qualms about dealing with them in the future,

Wharfedale EVO 4.4 Tower Speakers (Pair)

VPI - Signature 21 Turntable w/cart

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Fender x MoFi PrecisionDeck Limited Edition Turntable

Vintage Vinyl Records

3.2(68 reviews)

4.7 mi

•$$$

Was so happy to be able to shop here on the Global "RECORD STORE DAY"…read more With legendary knowledge of a multiple upper degree level holder in Music behind the counter, you have vinyl wisdom on hand (on site). Just Tell them what you are interested in, or what your favorite family member likes or is into, .., and they will serve you up proper. When I interview the owner of Vintage Vinyl Records live on Frequency Modulation Broadcast to be transcribed latter for publication in a music magazine and possible as well a local midwest print magazine, this is one of the off the cuff questions I shall ask him after he settles in and is comfortable in the LIVE MIC situation, "So Steve, quit playing around formal for one 'Cool Pink Jacket' question for me. You and your spot "Vintage Vinyl Records" has an amazing musical prior to cutting edge progressive musical historical important location for me and many others for well over (3) three decades, well over (30) thirty years. In Your and 'Vintage Vinyl Records' history was there ever a night, knight, nite; where you opened up vintage vinyl records as a little after-party for anything? (Concert, radio show, gig, date, ....)

Prices were quite expensive and the guy pointed me to an area that was off limits just to tell me…read moreit's off limits?! Wouldn't you know if your own area of your own store was closed down? Weird. Whatever, there are many other record stores out there and much better ones at that.

1st floor inside

Jazz and soul, small yet edited collections.

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Outside

Morpho Gallery Records and Art

3.3(12 reviews)

0.6 mi•Lincoln Square

Junk don't waste your time ... it's like goodwill records from a musty basement. All rock n roll…read moreand the non rock and roll is overpriced. Should have left it an art gallery

Overpriced junk. Ordered from them online (via Discogs) and received multiple vastly overgraded…read morerecords. Split jackets, massive foxing, a few divots on a Beatles record which caused playback issues. These were albums they graded VG+!!! Extremely dishonest (or incompetent) outfit.

0.0 mi•Andersonville, Edgewater

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Brown Elephant Resale Shop

4.0(319 reviews)

Great vibes and a nice selection of furniture, miscellaneous things like Golden Girls tiki glasses…read moreand dishes, great books and organized electronics. I got some wall art. Knocked a star off because they organize clothes by color and not size, so if there's anything in my size in that store I never found it. - Mrs. Dan

Am I into resale shops No - But this space is cool. It used to be the former Calo Theater, a…read moreSpanish Baroque Revival Theater built in 1915. When you see the theater area - you'll feel how cavernous it is. There are still see some of the architectural details left from its original form. I do like the CD selection and the couch lounge is just so inviting. Plus it's hot and humid outside this midsummer fest in Andersonville and this place has AC. Also the people watching isn't bad they really have all kinds here.

Brown Elephant

I found this Winnie the Pooh book set! It only costs $5.00.

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Amaranth Books

4.7(30 reviews)

4.7 mi

I've been to Amaranth a few times now, and each time I have been pleasantly surprised. I always see…read morean old book and a new book I want within ten minutes of walking in the door, but to avoid blowing all my money on books and forcing myself onto a diet of instant ramen and kool-aid, that's my limit per trip--one old book, and one new book. By "old," I mean one of many, many genuinely old books Amaranth has, in good conditions and for scandalous prices. I purchased a book of poetry published in 1920 for...drumroll...ten dollars. Not a torn page, not a dent in the cover, not a food spill to be found. I wouldn't call it mint condition, but it was in really great shape. On another visit, I found a book that was a little older, even, about the lyrebird. It just so happens that books about the lyrebird are not easy to come by, and I happen to love them. This book had photographs (black and white, but still), only one loose page, an embossed cover with no damage or flaking in the design, at a low, low price of $8. Regarding new books, I picked up a Sherman Alexie novel for $8 and a mid-90's edition of Anais Nin's "Little Birds" for $4. Again, there are no tears or stains in these books. I have my eye on a Diane Arbus biography that was published a couple of years ago for my next visit, and maybe an old-style illuminated prayer book that looks very pre-Renaissance but is actually from the early '70's and comes in its own slide-out box. You can't beat Amaranth for variety. They have books in several languages, a healthy little section of local history, books on travel, psychology, film, history, biography, and all manner of things, and mixed in with the old books are sometimes really unusual finds (like my book on the lyrebird). I was recently in with somebody who excitedly pulled something off a shelf, held it aloft, and exclaimed, "Ooh, Star Wars!" On another visit, I was all alone in the shop until a mother came in and found her favorite childhood book so that her little girl could enjoy it too. They might not have as many literary journals or last month's best-sellers like Myopic, but here's something that makes up that difference for me: as far as I can tell, if a book is damaged, it goes on the $1 shelf. I don't mean damaged as in, the binding is coming undone and ten pages are missing, because Amaranth doesn't sell books like that. I mean damaged as in, this is a somewhat new book that already looks a little old because of a scuffed cover or something like that. Other book stores will sell multiple copies of the same book, in varying conditions, at the same price. You won't be charged $18 for something that's in bad shape here. Instead, anything that's not in pretty good shape costs one measly dollar. Nice! Of course, this policy means the owner has to be a little discriminating. He can't pay you top dollar for everything you bring in; the store would close if it became one big dollar shelf. Some people can't understand that and get irritated because they want to fund production of a motion picture from the sale of some old Steven King novels or something nutty like that. Don't worry about those people. If you're a customer and actually need help finding something, the owner is wonderful. For example, I asked him if he knew what Sherman Alexie books were in the store, because Alexie writes novels, short stories, drama, poetry, autobiography, and probably something else besides that I haven't discovered yet. If the man also wrote travelogues and horticultural guides, I wouldn't be surprised to find out about it. Anyhow, rather than letting me comb the whole store, the owner said, "I know for a fact we have one of his novels, right...HERE." He pulled it off the shelf for me and the way I was smiling, you could probably see every tooth in my mouth. In addition to being helpful, the owner has also been nothing but friendly to me. I'd like to see a few more newer books, as in, from the past five years, but I'm happy going to Myopic for those, for now. I know I can always come to Amaranth and find a wonderful antique book, possibly on an esoteric subject, in great shape for a great price. Since I can go to Border's and pay only $2-$5 more for a new book than Myopic charges, the premium is really on good old books for me. I'm not trying to put Myopic down; I only want to distinguish between the various qualities and features of the different options available to book buyers. Also, if there's a heaven and I go to it when I die, I hope it smells like Amaranth.

What listings and notices fail to mention is that Amaranth's selection of rare/used books is…read moreinexpensive, in some cases surprisingly so. Thumbing through some mid-19th century curiosity it comes as a shock to discover such a seeming rarity priced at under $5!

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From http://suchabooknerd.wordpress.com

Broadway Antique Market

3.7(115 reviews)

1.0 mi•Edgewater

•$$$

Stopped in on a Friday after a quick snack and was amazed to see inside! There was a stunning mid…read morecentury velvet couch for sale and so many beautiful and lovely antiques! I wish I knew about this place earlier in my trip, could've easily spent hours looking at everything! I found a gorgeous vintage perfume ad from a 1945 Vogue magazine in mint condition! I spotted some iconic vinyls from legends like The Supremes and even a Tiffany paperweight. A must see for antique lovers! (They also have an online eBay page if you aren't in Chicago)

Definitely worth checking out if you are particularly looking for furniture, but they also have…read moresmaller decor and household items as well. This place is huge and should be on every antique hunter's checklist.

1.4 mi•Ravenswood, Lincoln Square

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Laurie's Planet Of Sound

3.8(189 reviews)

his place never ceases to amaze me! Talk about a store that caters to my audio/musical niches, BOY…read moreHOWDY! As a DJ / audiophile ( not to be confused with that hump leader of the free world, President Pedophile), this store COMPLETELY runs the gamut! From '70's and '80's IMPORT 12" Remixes, to 1930's Old Time Radio Shows. How about 45's for your jukebox? Yep, classic finds are here for those too! Picture sleeves also. Bootlegs anyone??? Nancy Sinatra said THESE boots were made for listening! And let's keep in mind the QUALITY of the product here! This is not stuff from your local second hand store, oh no! Sorry, no Lawrence Welk or Jim Nabors albums here. I haven't even mentioned the video aspect of things sold here or the books (music reference and personalities). They could very well have called this store Laurie's Treasures, because that's exactly what you'll find here! Happy hunting! https://youtu.be/1Wxf8bv9mG8

Best record store in Chicago, period…read more I lived in Lincoln Square for 4 years and made it a part of my regular routine to stop here on my walk home from the train station at least once a week. They are always getting new goodies in so you have to go often or you might miss something good! Very well organized. Insane selection of vinyl, CDs and actually a good book collection in the back. From brand new music to classics from the 60's, they carry it all. And eclectic stuff that is tough to find. The people who work there will become your friends. Gem store in the best 'hood in Chicago!

Casey Kasem radio show

Martin Denny

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Mr. Rogers RIP

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Desi F.

5 years ago

Love this place!!! Has a great selection including local music albums and live music!!!

Rattleback Records - vinyl_records - Updated November 2026

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Dusty Groove

4.1

(151 reviews)

The store is very clean and has a helpful and friendly staff. This was my first visit and multiple…read moreemployees checked on me and offered assistance. I was there for less than an hour and spent over $100 on mainly used vinyl soul and disco. I informed them that I was from Charlotte and they offered to box and mail my selections to me. I took them up on the free boxing and decided to mail on my own. The prices ranged from $1-$12 for used vinyl cuts for me. Very fair and prices per record were specific and I felt appropriate. I will definitely come back on my next visit. The store is clean, vibrant and organized.

Honestly, I loved my experience here! I managed to find a couple of nice vinyls to get and was…read moresurprised by the overall selection they offered. It was clean and well-organized on the main floor. The downstairs is a tad neglected compared to the main floor. I didn't find anything downstairs to get. I was a bit shocked at the price of some of the brand new vinyls, but the prices for the older ones were comparable to other stores. I prefer shopping local, and was really happy to have stumbled upon here! Would definitely come back again! No bad experiences with the staff during my visit. They were actually more on the helpful and friendly side. Seems like they took past customer reviews/experiences seriously and improved.

Interstellar Space Records

4.9

(7 reviews)

This small record store opened at the beginning of the year, just before the pandemic. I live…read morenearby and had been intending to check it out, but didn't get around to it, and then you-know-what happened. Now they've reopened with limited hours so I popped in and I'm glad I did. It's a tiny shop, so small that when they first opened I thought it might just be a temporary pop-up store. But the selection is *curated* and the curation is what sets this place apart. Every record in the store is vintage vinyl, so there are no reissues or new stuff. So it's not a full-service record store. It's more like browsing the personal collection of someone with good taste. Despite the small size, I found more tempting potential purchases here than I usually do at a record store. Price-wise, there is a split between the higher-priced rarities that hardcore collectors can shell out for, and more moderately priced records for the casual browser like me. I found plenty of good stuff priced around $10, so there's something for everyone. It's across the street from Ravenswood Used Books, so this block on Montrose is becoming an analog media mecca! Make an afternoon of it and get your record/book shopping done on the same block. The owner seemed like a very nice guy too. I feel for the bad timing of opening a business right before the pandemic, so this place is worth supporting.

Very cool selection of records. The owner clearly has a passion for rare records as well as having…read morethe classics. Got to talk with him and he seems like a genuinely good guy. I highly recommend dropping in if you're a collector of rare records or you want to stock up on your first few records to get started.

Gramaphone Records

4.2

(81 reviews)

I made the mistake of visiting on a day that they were only open for deliveries. Door was unlocked…read moreand I walked in. I was immediately informed they were closed and I walked out and floated around looking for food. 2 minutes later I was told it was ok to visit. Wow! I had the whole place to myself. Michael Serafini, owner/DJ didn't have to do that for me. I was visiting from Charlotte NC and was excited to visit. The selection is wide and labeled very specifically from Rock to Jazz to Soul to House music new and old. I was there for an hour and they even checked on me a few times. I took my time and spent over $300 for two full bags of used and new vinyl cuts - Soul, Disco and Chicago House for me. Prices ranged from $3.99 to $25 for me. Some rare records were priced $25. They even had local DJ presses - DJ Darryn and Dave Maze were my favorites. I will be back next trip to Chicago and visiting Thursday through Sundays only! Thank you Michael for being so gracious and patient to a new customer!

Do not buy the grab bags at any cost. They say they are jazz, comedy, etc. but in reality they are…read morespoken word lectures about diabetes and shit. $15 worth of total garbage.

Bob's Blues & Jazz Mart

4.6

(14 reviews)

Quite possibly the best experience I've ever had at a record shop. The current owner/manager who…read morewas in today was incredibly knowledgeable and kind, and happily engaged with me in conversation about the posters on the walls, the history of the shop, the live jazz scene here in the city, and various other more random topics about artists and the evolution and various phases of jazz music over the years. Everything is reasonably priced and there are quite a few items that you can pick up and say "How is this so inexpensive??" Fantastic value, MASSIVE selection, and pretty well organized. It's one of those small places that's kind of a tight squeeze to walk around, but I personally think that adds to the charm and elevates the experience. The organization system is pretty easy to navigate once you've made a quick first pass through the shop. This is certainly a new favorite of mine, and I am very much looking forward to my next visit!

Great record shop. Huge selection. Good prices. Vinyl in a variety of conditions. Really friendly…read moreand helpful owner/manager. Not music snobby like some stores. Street parking pretty easy on this stretch of Irving.

Pinwheel Records

4.6

(35 reviews)

Visiting from out of town, Pinwheel Records was my first stop on the way to my Airbnb and it ended…read moreup being one of the highlights of my week in Chicago. Great little corner shop with a well organized selection and really welcoming. I stopped in twice during the week, Scott helped me one day and Kim the other. Both were super friendly and knowledgeable. They even suggested other record stores within walking distance, which made for a fun afternoon digging through stacks. I ended up grabbing a handful of records throughout the week, including a couple Record Store Day releases I had missed out on back home. Since I was traveling, they were also kind enough to ship my purchases for me, which made things incredibly easy. Really appreciated the recommendations on some local International Anthem label releases I wasn't familiar with. You can tell the staff genuinely loves music and helping people discover new stuff. Looking forward to stopping back in next time I'm in Chicago.

Tiny but mighty! Really cool place. Impressive variety of vinyl, CD's, and cassettes. It's…read moreorganized really well and they really maximize the space. The owners are friendly and super knowledgeable. Fun atmosphere. Cool decor and posters. There's a Pac Man video game in the corner. I appreciate that blast from the past. I hear they host fun events here for the community, such as listening parties. I'll have to check that out.

MetalEdge Records and Tapes

5.0

(3 reviews)

Buddy of mine recommended me this new shop that's near his house…read more Went about a month ago and their used metal cd collection is legit! Wide variety of metal throughout the store(and classic rock). The dude working (assuming the owner) was super nice and blasting and singing along to mercyful fate - come to the sabbath. At that moment I knew this was my store. Picked up few items and I'm definitely heading back soon!

New record store in the Edison Park neighborhood. Nice selection of 60s, 70s and 80s music with…read moregreat pricing. Vinyl, CDs, Books, videos and more. Friendly, knowledgeable staff and a good amount of street parking.

Out of the Past Records

4.5

(15 reviews)

Almost skipped this record shop due to my tight flight schedule, but I'm so grateful I went. This…read moreplace has hands down one of the most extensive, well-organized soul and R&B collections I've seen - and I've explored plenty of shops across the Bay Area, LA, and NY. It was like heaven to me - they had everyone from Baatan to Blue Magic, The Stylistics, Sly Slick & Wicked, Al Wilson, etc. What really impressed me was their meticulous organization. Unlike typical shops that only highlight popular artists and lump all soul musicians into one alphabetical section, they had a lot of artists despite popularity categorized. The service was great. I didn't catch her name, but she was incredibly knowledgeable and efficient at quickly locating every artist I asked about. Their inventory system seems really well-maintained. I'll definitely be back with extra suitcase space next time I'm in the area!

This place is the epitome of old school classic record store. The selection is DEEP! The prices are…read moreperfect...it's easy to grow my record collection without spending $20 -$35 a record. Service is great! They also carry CDs and tapes.

Groovin High

3.7

(47 reviews)

Awesome, eclectic, expansive selection of various physical mediums, but mostly vinyls!…read more This shop feels like your uncle or grandpas basement in the best way possible. It's cozy, it's inviting, and it's for music lovers. All different types of genres and decades of music. I popped in while waiting for my artist at Chicago Tattooing to finish their previous client. Ended up with 2 new vinyls for my collection! Very reasonable prices!!! Support Goovin High!

A game changer for us now wanting to sit outside for RSD. I usually get most/all I want and he…read moreopens earlier than any other locations.

Val's Halla Records

3.8

(59 reviews)

Excellent vibe, friendly service and a great record store nestled in the heart of a community. Well…read moreworth your visit.

I mean there was a rock band playing when I walked in so I tried to start a mosh pit as usual but…read morenot enough people were there. There was also a cheapo bin, 79 cents lol. As soon as I saw a Ray Coniff record I KNEW it was TRASH lol and nothing was there nor in the whole place. But I'm sure if you dug very thoroughly you'd find something eventually

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