The Best Record Stores in Los Angeles

Amoeba Music is less of a record shop and more of a music department store. It is large, busy and, frankly, can be a little overwhelming. Once you adjust to the abundance of stimuli here, you’ll be able to find everything from the latest pop releases and vintage classical vinyl to black light posters and music magazines. Amoeba’s location on Hollywood Boulevard - it's just a half-block from the Hollywood/Vine Station - makes it very convenient for tourists staying at Hollywood hotels, as well as for those heading into the neighborhood via the Metro B Line (Red).

Don’t be fooled by the size of Arroyo Records in Highland Park. You’ll need to carve out a good amount of time to dig through this small space on York Boulevard. The record shop’s collection is heavy on the classics across genres and there’s a lot packed into those bins. Whether you’re looking for funky 45s, psychedelic full-lengths, or new wave dance singles, it’s unlikely that you’ll leave here empty-handed. Be sure to check out the hefty bargain bins before you leave.

A hidden gem off Hollywood Boulevard, As the Record Turns is located in a small courtyard down a narrow walkway between McCadden Place and Las Palmas Avenue. For more than 30 years, the shop has been a source for collectors and archivists in search of rare pieces - they’ve even sourced vinyl for films like Straight Outta Compton and Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. In addition to shelves and bins that heave with rock and soul classics, As the Record Turns is home to a large selection of soundtrack albums and a hefty stock of exotica titles.

Inside Deadly Wax, a mural by artist Joshua Jacobs greets customers with the store's logo - an eyeball wearing a cowboy hat and holding a 45 - perched atop Stoney Point, a nod to Chatsworth’s geography and its history as a location for Western films. Rock and jazz account for much of what you will find in the bins, where new and used records are mixed together. As you dig through the rock bins, keep your eyes peeled for ‘90s indie rock and related subgenres, and scope the wall for some of the most coveted releases of that era.

If your preferred medium is compact disc, Freakbeat Records is a must for your shopping list. Close to half of the Sherman Oaks store is lined with CDs. As for vinyl, rock dominates the stacks, but Freakbeat is a low-key stellar resource for dance music fans - there's a sizable selection of used 12” singles and a small section dedicated to the DJ remix service releases that were popular in the 1980s and 1990s. Take a look at the rare 45s on the wall near the register, but don’t neglect the dollar bins, where you might find some budget-friendly goodies.

After a few years in East Hollywood, Going Underground Records relocated to Little Tokyo and their new shop on 2nd Street is an essential spot for anyone visiting the neighborhood. The selection is heavy on an eclectic mix of new releases, so whether you’re a diehard Charli XCX fan or adding to your King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard collection, you might find what you want here. Mixed in the stacks is a nice assortment of used records, particularly if you’re in the market for building a collection of indie, alternative and related genres.

For more than 20 years, Headline Records has been keeping punk alive on Melrose Avenue despite changes in trends, record shopping habits, and the Fairfax District neighborhood itself. You’ll find a lot of music inside this small shop, with releases from the icons of punk and related genres mixed in with much more obscure albums and 7” singles. Moreover, Headline is a great place to stock up on memorabilia, from band t-shirts and mugs to videos.

Located in San Pedro’s historic downtown district, JDC Records has a long history - not only as a record store, but as a record distribution company and label. JDC released and distributed a slew of dance music records, primarily during the late 1970s and 1980s, and that connection to genres like disco, freestyle, electro and hi-NRG is still present in the store’s stacks. For DJs looking to expand their collection of classic 12” singles, JDC is a fantastic source, but the store’s stock is eclectic and has a little something for everyone in it.

The Midnight Hour is a spacious San Fernando record shop with a good sense of humor. Near the front of the store, you’ll find "Dad Jams" and "Mom Jams" sections. Dig in the former if you’re looking for anything from Blood, Sweat and Tears to AC/DC; and flip through the latter if you’re on the hunt for disco, funk and freestyle. The rest of the inventory is fairly standard, with bins ranging from punk to pop. There’s a small book section too, with a cool selection of music-related comics. Head to the back of the shop to check out the vintage store-within-a-store Cry Baby’s Rodeo.

You can comfortably dig through bin after bin of vinyl at the expansive Record Safari in Atwater Village. Their collection is ample across genres - there’s a lot to discover, whether your interests lean towards funk, punk or rare international grooves - and it's nicely organized. Be sure to check out the large section dedicated to new arrivals to pick up some vinyl heat before it ends up in the regular stacks. It’s easy to lose track of time inside Record Safari, but, if your shopping buddy is still combing through the rock section when you’re done, just head over to the arcade machines for a few rounds of Ms. Pac-Man while you wait.

Situated on the border of West LA and Santa Monica, Record Surplus is stocked with everything from rare soul 45s to the latest releases from artists like Khruangbin and Tame Impala, to global funk reissues from labels like Mr. Bongo and Habibi Funk. Step into "The Attic," which is actually located on street level near the front door, for finds that cost less than a buck.

With its stack of TVs and a portrait of Madonna hanging on a wall, East Hollywood's Rubycon Records & Tapes has an ‘80s-meets-today aesthetic that extends to the shop’s music collection. It’s a go-to spot for lovers of synth-heavy tunes, whether they’re seeking out classics from Soft Cell and The Human League or looking to pick up the latest release from Boy Harsher or Nuovo Testamento. While best known for genres like synthpop, industrial and techno, Rubycon also stocks a good amount of disco, boogie and house heat.

Tucked inside the same Echo Park strip mall as Button Mash, Sick City Records is a compact shop packed with goodies. Although you will find a cross-genre selection of music, the store’s specialty is 20th century alternative and 21st century indie artists. Sick City is a very good spot to hit up for releases from artists like Depeche Mode or Chromatics. If you’re an analog culture collector, make sure to check out the VHS stash here as well. Beyond records, Sick City has a fantastic selection of band t-shirts and related merchandise. Plus, there’s a small barbershop in the back of the shop.

Touting itself as "the only record store in Boyle Heights," Sonido del Valle practically overflows with vinyl. If you have a soft spot for freestyle, hi-NRG and other styles of 1980s and early '90s dance music, you’ll be pleasantly surprised with some of the jams that turn up in the bins here. The shop’s biggest strength, though, is its large cross-genre collection of Spanish language music. If you love surprises, keep an eye out for when they drop producer boxes, where you won’t know what you’ll get.

Soundsations Records has endured decades of changes in music consumption habits, and the posters lining its windows and walls - everything from well-loved album promo prints to 1990s metal show flyers - are testament to the shop's longevity. The vinyl bins are loosely organized by genre, with new releases and used records mixed together, so you’re as likely to come across a budget-friendly Jan and Dean album as you are to find the latest from Japanese Breakfast. Soundsations is also home to sizable collections of used CDs and DVDs. Be sure to check out the collectibles case, which is filled with fun and unusual retro pop culture artifacts. The store’s Westchester location makes it an ideal spot to hit up if you're heading to or from LAX.

Located on a red-hot stretch of Sycamore Avenue, Supervinyl is the brainchild of Lucky Jeans co-founder Barry Perlman. The sleek, modern design by LA-based Standard Architecture features a black brick and glass storefront and a minimalist interior with black oak shelves that display albums like an art gallery, rather than hiding their cover art in the usual record store bins.

Along with the latest and greatest releases, the Supervinyl selection includes rare Japanese pressings and an audiophile collection of turntables, amps and speakers. If there's a couple grand burning a hole in your pocket, a hand-painted Rega Planar turntable could be yours.

As she did with Renaissance, Beyoncé took over Supervinyl for the release of her latest album, Cowboy Carter, and Queen Bey herself stopped by to sign records.