Love the store, embarrassing how bad the employees are at their jobs. Recently I stood there while they took a phone call from a customer asking for Aaron Neville cd's. They put dude on hold, asked each other who/what Aaron Neville was, they determined it was probably like R&B, then picked up the phone and told the dude they didn't have it.
I heard this because I was standing 3 feet away from the counter, next to the cd's. Next to the Aaron Neville cd's that were right there. Hey, fine, they don't know who that artist is. It happens. But man, it would have taken them 60 seconds tops to just look it up, maybe less if they just looked at the cd section from where they were standing.
Absolutely this. God forbid you have a question about a specific vinyl you’re looking for or about your setup. I think I’d actually prefer a self checkout option when I’m there.
Vinal Edge is so good. They don't have as big an inventory of some places, but they have very good taste. It's just a very popular place most days so nothing truly incredible or unique lasts very long there. But it's also the kind of place where you could tumble in their and pick a record totally blindly and still come out liking it.
The curation is quite good and they get fantastic used stuff all the time. My only caution is that the racks get stuffed pretty full so you really gotta pay attention to see if the album you want might be warped. If you're pulling a popular new release off that side wall display it's not a problem, but if you're looking for a catalog release that might have been in the store for a year or something, buyer beware. I've learned this from experience there specifically.
Yes I love Vinal Edge! Managed to get Khurangbin's A La Sala CD there alongside a Takako Mamiya's Love Trip vinyl I never expected to find there the last time I visited.
Music Town is great, I think they claim to be the longest or second longest running vinyl store in Houston. That's where I purchased my prized disco Star Wars album.
If you like punk and stuff, I just happened to find 31 Records inside the antique mall at i10 and beltway this weekend. Had no clue it was there but they had a great selection of stuff. New and old records, some collector stuff and some old cds and tapes.
Not positive but I think there's another shop in there that focuses less on punk. Still a cool spot to check out one weekend.. there's other shops with movies/memorabilia/action figures/video games/etc.
Really depends on what genre you’re after and how frequently you can visit. Vinal Edge and Cactus have enough churn to drop in frequently to the newly arrived sections. Looking to support a good store homesteading, then try out Sound Exchange.
Right? If not for your comment I'd be really shocked.
If you're inside the loop, Cactus Music and Vinal Edge are the two must-visits I'm aware of. Cactus has been around for ages, too. It's an institution. Their stock is just more limited than you'd expect, because people actually travel from other cities to visit Cactus...thus nothing truly great lasts long on their shelves.
Anyone big into vinyl will visit Cactus as a tourist spot when coming through Houston.
My “home” record store is Cactus Music. Recently I found something that I’ve been holding out for ages at Vinal Edge, and I thought it was relatively competitively priced. If you’re ever in midtown though, Sig’s Lagoon off the red line on Main is a fun store to browse.
Vinyl Edge.
I’ll leave the rest to the others to post.
The employees at vinyl edge always act like they are doing me a favor by talking to me. Especially the owner.
Love the store, embarrassing how bad the employees are at their jobs. Recently I stood there while they took a phone call from a customer asking for Aaron Neville cd's. They put dude on hold, asked each other who/what Aaron Neville was, they determined it was probably like R&B, then picked up the phone and told the dude they didn't have it.
I heard this because I was standing 3 feet away from the counter, next to the cd's. Next to the Aaron Neville cd's that were right there. Hey, fine, they don't know who that artist is. It happens. But man, it would have taken them 60 seconds tops to just look it up, maybe less if they just looked at the cd section from where they were standing.
Absolutely this. God forbid you have a question about a specific vinyl you’re looking for or about your setup. I think I’d actually prefer a self checkout option when I’m there.
It’s like a miniature version of Waterloo Records
Nah, the owner is cool. He’s been running that store for at least 40 years.
Have you looked in the mirror lately?
Vinal Edge is so good. They don't have as big an inventory of some places, but they have very good taste. It's just a very popular place most days so nothing truly incredible or unique lasts very long there. But it's also the kind of place where you could tumble in their and pick a record totally blindly and still come out liking it.
The curation is quite good and they get fantastic used stuff all the time. My only caution is that the racks get stuffed pretty full so you really gotta pay attention to see if the album you want might be warped. If you're pulling a popular new release off that side wall display it's not a problem, but if you're looking for a catalog release that might have been in the store for a year or something, buyer beware. I've learned this from experience there specifically.
Yes I love Vinal Edge! Managed to get Khurangbin's A La Sala CD there alongside a Takako Mamiya's Love Trip vinyl I never expected to find there the last time I visited.
Music town at Louetta and Stuebner Airline is a fantastic shop in the Klein area.
Music Town is great, I think they claim to be the longest or second longest running vinyl store in Houston. That's where I purchased my prized disco Star Wars album.
Is James still the owner? I haven't been there in forever.
Lonesome Frog Records in Spring Branch.
Vinyl heaven in Dickinson and sweet spot audio in Webster
Love both of those
Sweet Spot's Friday Facebook live posts are awesome.
Sound Exchange, Gneiss Sounds
They’re out in Tomball but anytime I visit my parents I try to make it out to Sound Revolution. They’re not the biggest but they a decent collection.
Also Music Town which is nearby as well.
31Records also for punk.
Sound Exchange!
Cool Heads Prevail, Sound Exchange
Have to call out my local shop, Space City Audio. It's in Old Town Spring. Decent selection and have a selection of audiophile gear.
Come down to Dickinson for Vinyl Heaven
That’s my go to spot
I live over 100 miles away but in the 90’s,I did a monthly trip to Infinite Records!
Infinite was a good store; it felt more like an old house full of record bins.
no Houston record trip in late 90s / early 200s was complete without a stop at Atomic Records
Memo records
Music Town in Klein, and Half Price Books in Humble. Two best stores in Houston
Half price books has gotten so overpriced for what they offer.
They had an open Daft Punk Alive 2007 for $100 in their little caged section.
Yeah some of their stuff is ridiculous but I always leave with a handful of CDs
Sound Revolution in Klein also has a solid inventory.
The one on 249? That’s not Klein
Close enough…but there’s also one at louetta and champion forest if it matters that much
I did not know there was one on Louetta. I was referring to the one that’s over across 249. Thanks for letting me know.
check out cool heads prevail on the east end, especially if you like house. they do a lot of events n DJ sets and the owners chill as hell too
Did anyone ever take over or reopen Don’s Record Shop (Bellaire)?
No
😥
Sweet spot out in Webster.
Refried relics on the east side ;) they only accept payments through cashapp and cash. They also buy records and trade.
Lots of good recs here, but what are you looking for? I may have some other ideas.
2nd and charles
1981
If you like punk and stuff, I just happened to find 31 Records inside the antique mall at i10 and beltway this weekend. Had no clue it was there but they had a great selection of stuff. New and old records, some collector stuff and some old cds and tapes.
https://maps.app.goo.gl/uGFcQ3HkQRwSX9qB7?g_st=ic
Not positive but I think there's another shop in there that focuses less on punk. Still a cool spot to check out one weekend.. there's other shops with movies/memorabilia/action figures/video games/etc.
Yeah, there are a few in there. The punk one, another non-punk one and a third in the larger antique mall area that sells all kinds of older stuff.
If you’re ever close to Baytown and love classic soul and Country check out the guys at Evolution Records and Tapes
Really depends on what genre you’re after and how frequently you can visit. Vinal Edge and Cactus have enough churn to drop in frequently to the newly arrived sections. Looking to support a good store homesteading, then try out Sound Exchange.
Every resale shop and Traders village
Can’t believe Cactus Music hasn’t been mentioned yet
Op said other than Cactus.
TIL I can’t read
Right? If not for your comment I'd be really shocked.
If you're inside the loop, Cactus Music and Vinal Edge are the two must-visits I'm aware of. Cactus has been around for ages, too. It's an institution. Their stock is just more limited than you'd expect, because people actually travel from other cities to visit Cactus...thus nothing truly great lasts long on their shelves.
Anyone big into vinyl will visit Cactus as a tourist spot when coming through Houston.
My “home” record store is Cactus Music. Recently I found something that I’ve been holding out for ages at Vinal Edge, and I thought it was relatively competitively priced. If you’re ever in midtown though, Sig’s Lagoon off the red line on Main is a fun store to browse.