As far as I can tell from today's visit, Record Exchange has nearly everything one might be seeking at music store. Plenty of vinyl, used and new, as well as CDs. I'm a CD guy so I took note of the fact that most used CDs ran from $6 - $8, with a few out of print ones or imports going for $10+. Plenty of CD box sets to choose from as well. I didn't notice any other music mediums (cassettes, 8 tracks, etc) but perhaps they were hidden somewhere that I missed. As for the store itself, the place is outfitted floor to ceiling with music so while one might be waiting in line or looking for the next place to wander the eyes will inevitably find something music-based to look at. The two older men working there (one whose name was Paul, didn't catch the other) were very friendly and talkative. They actually quizzed each other from time to time about bands, songs, etc while I was there. It was a very friendly and inviting atmosphere. Certainly worth a stop! read more

Was in Salem for the day and found the store was closed. Who closes on Tuesday? My teenage son is collecting old vinyls. This would have been a great find! read more

Great shop. Lots of vinyl. Knowledgeable staff that answers questions. Can sometimes be challenging to find things on the lower shelves but most everything is easy to find and fairly priced. Highly recommended. read more

Greatest record store ever. Note I didn't say "greatest USED record store ever." This place is the real deal: amazing selection, owners who've been there forever and care about music, and prices that can't be beat (most of the time). I started coming here in high school, to buy vinyl. Cassette tapes in college. CDs since. It hasn't exactly been a place for discovering artists, though I've found plenty of new records by artists known to me. Mainly it's a place I go to browse, at my leisure. To flip through the stacks and talk shop with the guys behind the counter, who (to their credit) seem to recognize me each time I go in, even if only once a year. We seem to be simpatico musically, which makes it easy to reconnect. Today, I joked that Linda Thompson was still in the Richard Thompson solo section, "something she probably wouldn't be pleased to see." They countered that Linda and Richard seem to be more on speaking terms than they have in the past. Today's haul was typically eclectic: The Cure's "Standing on the Beach," a recently released official R and L Thompson bootleg, and Bob Mould's "Black Sheets of Rain." All for around $25. The music playing overhead was Ennio Morricone's gorgeous score from "The Mission," followed by some live Al Stewart. I could have browsed for another hour. In the end, that's why places like the 'schange have to stay around. They're more than just stores. They're shrines. Long live The Record Exchange. read more

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Rad record store! The owner and other employee who was there were incredibly knowledgable and friendly. Great selection of new and used vinyl (and CDs) at excellent prices. There was so much to choose from that I finally had to cut myself off from adding more records to my pile to buy! I came home with several rare finds including a promo only vinyl pressing of the Clash. I will most certainly visit this record shop again next time I am in the area!! read more

The fact that this place exists in Salem is perplexing but awesome. Record Exchange is one of the increasingly few record stores that knows how to maintain a well-curated inventory. And even more surprising, they don't charge astronomical prices for their records. I saw two Suede records there and I couldn't believe that 1.) they were in Salem, MA and 2.) they weren't marked up too high hell. Unfortunately when I was there, I didn't have a lot of time before they closed. But next time I'm in the area, I hope to have an hour or so to dig through everything and take some goodies home. read more

One of my favorite record stores! These guys have been doing it right for a long time and they are a Salem institution. The place is packed wall to wall with records, CDs, DVDs, and Blu-Rays. You may even find a LaserDisc or two if you look long enough. This is a great place to find hidden gems at great prices. Note: A lot of their records on the floor are unpriced, which means you'll have to go to the counter to get them priced. Sometimes, the owners are not there which means you will need to leave your name and number for one of the owners to contact you with a price. The good thing is that their prices are VERY reasonable and the owners and staff are friendly, passionate, and knowledgeable. Paul specifically is an absolute goldmine of knowledge and can tell you pretty much anything you want to know about pressings or the like. Highly recommended! read more

I came here right after the holidays so there was a lot of the favorites already gone. I will be back and maybe I can find some more records. I gave only 4 stars because there isn't a very large rap section but they are just selling what the audience wants, which is a good business decision just not good for me. I'll definently be back for more. read more

The owner, Paul, is one of the nicest people that I've met. He clearly enjoys what he does and is knowledgeable about a wide range of music. Great selection and you never quite know what you may find. A wonderful place to do business. read more

I love iTunes as much as the next guy, but sometimes it's such a pain to click on things and wait for pages to load and buffer the streaming samples. That's where Record Exchange comes in. You see, someone had the incredibly original idea of taking an online shopping experience like iTunes and bringing into the real world! I can't believe no one has thought of this before!! Instead of mp3, mpeg4 and other digital files, they sell these things called records, compact discs and cassette tapes. For video, they sell these other things called digital video discs (or DVD) and video tapes (called VHS). The best thing is, you don't need to find the right codecs or plug-ins or anything to get this stuff working. In most cases, you can pop it right into a computer and start watching or listening! For the records, cassettes and video tapes you do need to purchase a small converter box, but they're readily available on Amazon.com (or BestBuy for you brick and mortar shoppers!). Steve Jobs really needs to pay attention to the guys at Record Exchange because this idea of not needing to log into a computer to buy music and having an instant physical backup copy might really catch on. Not to mention the artwork is a lot nicer than the digital sleeves you download on iTunes. So head on over to Record Exchange and ride the latest wave in music and video technology. I think they refer to themselves as a "record store" and I'm guessing it's just a matter of time before more of these "record stores" spring up all across the United States - you better watch out, iTunes! read more

I absolutely love so much about this place, but I have to give it three stars only because of a serious qualm. First, the great: Amazing selection, especially the rare gems on the wall. There are real finds in the uncategorized section, as well. Employees are friendly and some know A LOT about this stuff -- and they LOVE music. So that's awesome. The not so great: A lot of the categorized records have price tags that are not the actual prices. And a lot of the uncategorized records are not priced at all. There are two problems. One, the process of bringing a record up to the counter is frustrating in that it gets looked over and many times someone else is called on the phone to determine the price, which is solely based on the title and the description over the phone, which is not always accurate (in my opinion). Second, why would anyone want to go to the counter and pay MORE than the price sticker? This often happens. So my three star review is an opportunity to explain my qualms and ask that they please price records before they put them out. Otherwise, this is a five-star place. And a rockin' one, at that. read more

A music lovers dream come true!! I've been going to this place for close to 25 years and I hope it's around for another 25. Give yourself time to browse through the amazing collection of CD's and old records. They now carry used DVD's too. And rest assured, there's no stereotypical multi-pierced, tattooed, "cool" kids behind the counter showing expressed signs of boredom when you ask them a question like they would be at your local Newbury Comics. This place is the best!! read more

I have a soft spot in my heart for The Record Exchange. When I was a freshman in high school, a punk friend of mine told me about this record store in Salem, where they had a secret stash of old punk and hardcore 7" in the back room. "You have to ask the dude about it, " he said. "He'll go out back and bring out a stack of records for you to look through." Sure enough, I went down there and started talking with one of the dudes there. "Yeah," he says. "You into punk? You like 7 inches? Okay...wait here." He went into a room and came back with a shitload of 80's hardcore records. I must have spent a few hours there perusing slowly through each one. Needless to say, if I ever felt like buying more records I would hit up this place. I bought the Embrace LP on Dishord Records here. I think I bought a Nico record too. I don't have an extensive collecion, but i do have a select collection of certain stuff...much of which I bought here. They always seemed to have The Smiths, Morrissey, Misfits, and Joy Division rare records displayed on the wall, some with ridiculous prices like $89.99 for a signed copy of "Walk Among Us" or something. I like to dig and dig and dig and look in the corners where records get missplaced, hidden, or whatever. I like to sift through stacks to find that one gem. This is a good place to do that. It's a fun atmosphere and the guys are chill from what I remember. read more

I went to get a record for a friends birthday and everyone was nice and super helpful! Highly recommend! I was really impressed by the collection of records and cds! read more

This is a must go to if you are a collector or just a music lover. The record exchange has a great selection of great music. New and used Vinyl and Cd's and lot's of it! They have really good prices. Stuff you can find everywhere, but also some rare gems. The people who work there know pretty much anything and everything about music and what they sell. They are really nice friendly. read more

Sweet. lots of nice vinyl, good overall selection. Lots of tapes and cd's as well. No doubt that this is the best record shop for miles and miles. It's neat and organized, everything that I saw was priced, and the staff seemed pretty cool. There are so few cool independent record shops left, so stop by & pick something up. read more

Great store, amazing selection, good prices, and the owner, Paul, is incredibly knowledgeable and friendly. Probably the best record store in the greater Boston area! Highly recommended. read more

Holy cow, they've got an impressive record collection. And the folks who work here tend to be extremely knowledgeable about music; good folk to chat with. Not too much emphasis on the latest pop music releases, but they have a decent cd collection where the used cds number about as many as their new discs. All in all, this place rocks. read more

The Boston-area stores that I ranked lower could take a page from Record Exchange - it's well-stocked, organized, and has records that are actually worth buying. After seeing the shape many of Boston's stores are in - few customers, very little new stock, poorly organized - I was surprised that this spot up in Salem is doing so well, or appears to be at least. You'd be hard-pressed to find a genre that they don't have covered at least respectably. They don't have a ton of hip-hop or electronic, though they did have an impressive number of Sugar Hill 12" singles from the early 80s. One wall is covered with rare albums (at higher prices), and up there I've seen the type of stuff I'd expect to have to visit Amoeba to find (Australian Smiths singles, Joy Division live bootlegs, early 90s alt-rock titles that were pressed in very limited quantities). I've said before that the presence of Smiths records indicates a healthy store - many are rare to begin with, they sell fast and fans tend to hold onto them (vs selling them back frequently). The downsides - many of the records don't have price tags on them. You can take them to the counter and have one of the staff price them for you, but I've seen fluctuation of several dollars for the same record on different days. Some of the selections can be a tad overpriced - there's a lot of 80s 12" singles that ought to be $1.99 or less and they're asking a few bucks more for. But those are really the only complaints - it's a well-laid out store great for browsing. read more

I am so proud to say that Salem has one hell of a record store, and that is Record Exchange. I never noticed it until I walked past it one day. It's a few doors down from Major Magleashes (so I suggest stopping there first to get a SoCo & Coke, $4 + insanely strong)...anyways I got off track... So this place is quite the gem. They have a great selection of records. My other half got a mint Real Kids original pressing for 12 bucks. And they even had Cabaret Voltaire records!!! A+++ Cheap Rare finds No bullshit read more

The selection here is pretty great. Prices are fair -- not dirt cheap but definitely affordable. All of the albums I purchased were under $10 - ranging from $2 to $9. (I had been searching for Lene Lovich and Kate Bush albums everywhere and this place had quite a selection of both!) - The only downside was how long it took to price some albums at the counter. We were at the counter for quite a while. However, considering all the albums I found for such good prices, I'm not complaining. The man at the counter actually cleaned my boyfriend's records for him after examining a small scratch on one album. Nice employees, nice prices, nice selection, very nice place. An added bonus - there's a chill vibe to the place. I've been to so many record shops where I've felt judged and out of place. Didn't get that here at all. No arrogant vibes to be found. read more

I used to shop at this store frequently back when I was going to school in Salem in the '90s, but haven't been in too often since then. However, I recently jumped on the vinyl-revival bandwagon, and thought I'd go see what I could find. What I found was a lot. First I looked through the bins up top, and ended up with a nice pile of '80s synth-pop/rock. Then, I discovered the shelves below the bins. At first I thought that it would just be overstock, mostly doubles or triples of things that were represented up top. Nope. In the lower shelves I found a treasure trove, including two Europe-only EPs by my favorite band that, even having been a die-hard fan since the early '80s, I had literally never laid eyes on before on American soil (including one I'd never seen before in person anywhere, period). Astoundingly, I did not pay over $7 for either one of these. With all the great records I found, I ended up spending twice the limit I'd given myself before walking in, and that was after making a lot of hard decisions and putting a bunch of stuff back. A couple of the not-so-rare records I felt they maybe could've let go for a buck or two less, and that's pretty much the only reason this is a four-star review instead of five. The guy who helped me out (and priced many of the records that didn't have a price sticker on them) was cool. He was knowledgeable about the bands I was buying and engaged me in conversation about them, even though they were a far cry from the type of music that the store's usually playing and seems to specialize in. In short, I didn't get any of the 'record store guy' attitude, which was nice. All in all, it was a great experience that I look forward to repeating soon. [My haul from this visit (all vinyl): ABC, "The Lexicon Of Love" / Duran Duran "DMM Mega Mixes" (German EP) / Duran Duran, "Mixing" (Italian EP) / EBN-OZN, "Feeling Cavalier" / Naked Eyes, "(What) In The Name Of Love)" 12" single / Andy Taylor, "Thunder" / Thompson Twins, "Runaway" 12" single / Wire, "Silk Skin Paws" 12" single] read more

Great shop! Knowledgeable staff, always good for conversation and info about music. The selection is fantastic! Grading of vinyl is well done! Prices are good(of course some great higher priced collectibles on the walls). Location and parking are good. Another of my regular record shops. read more

I've lived in Salem for the past 12 years and have frequented this store many times because the selection is pretty varied and the prices are comparable to online ones. In fact, that is how the staff bases their prices by logging onto to Amazon and Ebay. So whatever I can't find online, I give them a call. I'd say the staff are friendly and answer any questions I may have regarding locating a CD. On the negative side, I've sold some of my records there and they give you only 50 cents if you're lucky on average. Keep your vinyl or try getting more for it on Amazon or craigslist. I know it's a long shot, but it's worth trying out. read more

I have been going to the record exchange since I was in high school. Early on it was easier than heading to the mall. As I got older I realized how cool this place really is. I try to stop in at least once a month and usually spend 45 mins or so, combing through the thousands of records, waiting for something to jump out at me. Rebuilding my parents record collection one album at a time. They're always playing cool quirky records, and the staff is always friendly and appreciative of your business. It's the perfect haven to revist your past... the smell of each record brings you back to a simpler time... give it a spin. read more

After moving to Salem, I was desperate to find a cool music store. Thanks to Yelp (should I say, thanks again!) I found the Record Exchange. What fun! Huge selections... records to thumb through all day long, plus more in back. The staff is super friendly and funny, carefully cleaning up each record when you check out. They also note interesting points on the sleeve of some of the records, just so you don't miss it. They also have tons of advice. The store sells new and refurbished record players, which is awesome... but best of all, no stuffy, too cool for you attitude! Love it. read more

I give this store an A for Organization. Or an O, I guess. I really liked how the LPs were all alphabetized by artist, neatly written on the dividers. Maybe I hit it at a bad time, but the selection was just ok for what I was looking for. Seems like they specialize in jazz/blues. I found the store to be slightly cramped and musty. Found it very similar to In Your Ear in Warren. I intentionally brought cash to avoid grumbles from the (of course) grumbly record store guy, turns out I still put him out! He would've rather I used the card. I guess I would recommend to anybody in RI thinking about taking the drive; save your gas, unless you are a hardcore record fanatic. read more

Not much else to say that hasn't already been said, but I will reinforce that this is a great music store. Very good selection of vinyl, good stock of used cds and dvds. The owners are super friendly also. I have found quite a few obscure albums I have been looking for here. I always come home with something new. Highly recommended. read more

This is the Best record store I have ever been to in my whole life! I have been to many stores all over New England but this one has the BEST selection and the BEST costumer service. The record exchange was the reason I got into records in the first place. I have been coming here for the last 4 years and I don't plan on stopping. They have the best prices and everyone who works there is like family to me. Would recommend this store to anyone who is looking for great priced records and knowledgeable employees. read more

old-school record/music stores like this are all but extinct these days. RE is a true gem. I think their selection of vinyl records is limiteless! Their prices are very low--new CDs cost about $13 average and used CDs are around $5-$8. They almost always have that 70's classic or 80s New Wave record that I need. If you don't see the record you want in the bins--ask a salesperson! They have more under the bins and in the back. The staff is extremely knowledgeable, and they're meticulous about buying used stuff. All the records I've bought from them are in excellent condition. Record Exchange is a music lover's dream. Free parking is available in the Riley Plaza lot a half-a-block away. read more

Fairly priced, friendly and helpful staff and you can find the one 12" you have been searching for! Very relaxed vibe to it. I came here and found an LP I had been hunting for almost a year and got it for $10. The men behind the counter know where everything is and are very kind. The VHS they have is cheap too and I found some rare tapes as well! 5 stars hands down! read more

Gem after Gem!!! Anyone into old school records/cds used or new this is the place for you. I've been going here since i was in middle school when my uncle use to take me. He was a huge Jazz fan and always said this was one of his favorite places to go in the area. Still til this day i go here from time to time when I'm trying to find a rare/older albums mostly ones that are out of print. If you can't find it there the guys will even recommend other stores for you to go check out (any chain-type music store would NEVER do that) which really struck me as music-purist type thing to do. I highly recommend this place if your into Jazz, Punk or Classic Rock because they have albums,cd's and memorabilia (sometimes autographed) galore. Yes its not located in the greatest neighborhood, yes it doesn't have a ton of parking but for a REAL old school music store experience you come here. read more

In short the Record Exchange rocks! Unfortunately those looking to sell rock memorabilia won't be successful. I was just there this afternoon hoping to liquidate a few pieces of merchandise including a rare vinyl interview disc and was told that I would need to consult with the owner on Wednesday morning. I was told what I had to sell would most likely NOT be anything the Record Exchange owner would be interested in. This should NOT reflect negatively on the Record Exchange. As far as selection, price, overall qaulity/ condition of vinyl, cds, dvds etc. that they have aquired, I have to say the Record Exchnage is A-1. I have bought and sold inside of the Record Exchange over the past 12 years and had a very positive experience overall. If you are attempting to sell anything, please be sure and ring ahead to see if the owner is in, or if someone who is assigned the task of receiving and pricing what you are selling will be in on that particular day. This will save you from making a wasted trip. The bottom line is this, the Record Exchange has longevity at a time when record stores are fast becoming obsolete. The reason is that the Record Exchange was and will always be a cut above the rest. read more

Reminds me of the 'Mom & Pop' record store of my childhood. The owner seems to know a ton about everything that they sell and music in general. I really hope this place survives the digital music era we're in as it's so nice to find a place like this at this day and age. read more

So my experience is this ... you pick out a bunch of records ... and then you bring them to the front counter ... they ask you to leave the records... if you don't live near there THEY MAKE A PHONE CALL TO THE STORE OWNER TO PRICE THEM ... and you get to hear the clerks say "ohh yeah these are all in good quality" as the owner on the other side of the phone figures out a price. Of course they are ... I spent an hour sorting through the 20 copies of each title til I found the most acceptable one ! Do you want bad quality for your money ? The best part is they start asking me "what's the song on this record?" ... what does that matter ! Yeah they have a lot of records. Yeah 99% of them are in bad quality. If you don't care you can find what you want there. No I won't ever be back. read more

Huge selection. The employees are ridiculously knowledgeable about music, and will go out of their way to help you get what you want. It's nice to see a local small music store that hasn't allowed themselves to be pushed out of business by the bigger chain stores. And it's clear that these guys legitimately love what they do, too, as opposed to the kids that work at other music chains who tend to either act like they're better than you, or act like they'd rather be anywhere else. read more

We used to make an annual trek here. Fun, knowledgeable guys with used lp's in great condition. We got a Yardbirds Live at the Anderson Theater there on the original Epic label. Most of my John Renbourn, Robin Williamson, Clannad, Planxty, Bothy Band, etc. are from here. Time for a visit. read more

It blows my mind that I shopped here for the first time in 1984. The Record Exchange is a flat-out institution. I recently went in for the first time since the '90s. Unfortunately, I only had an hour to shop - I could have stayed all day. Great, great selection, very fair prices, excellent staff (Paul and Barrence are straight-up dudes), and tons of cool posters, promo items, rarities, etc. on the walls. All of this, yet totally non-claustrophobic. In short, Record Exchange is everything you could possibly want from a record store. Plus, I left with a solid stack of vinyl, which is always a good thing. Here's to another 30 years. read more

First let me say that I've been a customer here since the 90's. I don't even want to know an estimate as to how much $ I've spent here. I've found some great items here, and usually at decent prices, but in the past year I've grown increasingly irritated with the place. I'd estimate nearly 2/3 of their vinyl is not priced. This is seriously annoying as it seems everything I bring to the counter needs to be priced on site and I continually get the rundown of "Oh, the manager does the pricing, let me see if I can call him... bla bla bla" One employee in particular has been working there ever since I started buying music there in the 90's and you mean to tell me that he doesn't have enough knowledge to price an item? Give me a break. Recently, I found a record there which I was genuinely excited to find. It wasn't even a complete album - it was a 12" single. After TWO calls to the manager to figure out a price (and no, I was not haggling) the price I was given (after a google search of some sort was performed, I'm sure) was $35.00 and the explanation that it's a very rare LP... It's not. I can get it for $18 on discogs. Needless to say, I didn't buy it. During the same visit I bought another record and got the explanation that because it had an orange price sticker on it, that it may no longer be the actual price and a third call was placed to the manager who increased the price by a damn dollar. Mind you, there were 3 other copies of this particular LP (none of them priced) and they still felt the need to charge an extra dollar even though they're never going to sell the other three copies as they're "underneath" (meaning not filed in the bins) and not priced.... This is simply BAD business and horrible customer service, not to mention that in roughly 25 years no one seems to ever remember me or make an effort to perhaps learn the name of someone who's come in regularly for 20+ years. It's just plain ridiculous. Rather than being thanked for being a loyal customer I feel like I'm an inconvenience simply because they don't have their shit together by not having their inventory priced. read more

Still love this place 3 years after my original review. They know me now and give me suggestions upon arrival. Plus they have expanded their new vinyl selection and have even more of the cutting edge bands than they did previously. read more