SOME IMPORTANT NOTES:
1 - For this post, I am only reviewing places that specialize in or do a substantial amount of business in the sale of physical music and music-related items, and that exist as brick and mortar stores open to the public. I am not considering places such as dedicated flea markets and internet based businesses.
2 - Creating a scoring system, and determining how much to weight each item being scored, have been challenging. None of the ratings or reviews in this post should be taken as indicative of whether a particular store is worth your business or support. Some of the stores reviewed are corporate, but others are owned by individuals or families, and some play roles in their local communities that go beyond the sale of physical media. All are evaluated based strictly on how well they are likely to serve the buying needs of a music fan with somewhat broad/eclectic tastes - I'm not looking at things here from an investment perspective. Other factors worth considering, such as how well a particular store serves a specific music market, genre, or neighborhood, are not factored into the ratings. See an explanation of the ratings here.
(Special thanks to Alex Pogosov and Alison Pham for their suggestions and feedback)
Forever Young Records (Grand Prairie)
2955 S State Highway 360, Grand Prairie, TX 75052
This retailer has been serving the DFW area since 1984, and it's one I used to frequent regularly during my last year of high school.
Pros:
- The store features a very large selection of well-organized, new and used CDs and vinyl
- There is a good-sized new arrivals section for used CDs
- Compilation CD series (Time Life, etc.) are grouped together by series name
- There is a very good-sized collection of t-shirts for sale
- A large, fairly well-organized selection of 45s is on offer
- This is hands down the best place to go for vinyl related accessories, with every manner of record sleeves, plastic covers, cleaning equipment, etc. available for all formats including 7, 10, and 12 inch discs
- Thousands of used cassette tapes line the walls of the store, with a few brand-new ones on display by the registers
- This is the only place in DFW with a large selection of 1/4 inch reel-to-reel tapes, a boon for those of us who are able to play them
- The store has a loyalty program: buy 10 used CDs or 10 new CDs and get one of the same type for free
- There is a separate room for collectible vinyl
- There is a good selection and variety of vintage playback equipment (turntables, receivers, etc.) for sale
Cons:
- Nearly all music stock, new and used alike, is grouped by decade, which can be confusing when an artist's career spans multiple decades.
- Expect to pay collectors' prices for rare and obscure items, as the store is run by serious music collectors
- The building can be easy to miss when you don't know exactly where it is located
- Ratings:
- Selection: 5/5
- Inventory: 5/5
- Organization: 5/5
- Staff: 3/5
- Hours: 3/5
- Location: 3/5
- Item Rarity: 4/5
Overall rating: 4.45
Josey Records (Dallas)
2821 Lyndon B Johnson Fwy, Dallas, TX 75234
Josey Records is a new and (mostly) used retailer with locations in Dallas, Tulsa, Lubbock, and Kansas City.
Pros:
- There is a large selection of used CDs and vinyl, including a substantial number of items from the former Bill's Records
- There is a sizable, well-organized selection of used cassette tapes and even a few brand-new releases
- Listening stations are available for previewing both CDs and vinyl before purchase
- A wide array of music-related items such as shirts, mugs, stickers, lunchboxes, LP storage crates, and books are available to purchase
- They have a dedicated buying desk where you can sell them your used music and media
- Their frequent buyer program can result in discounts at the time of purchase
- A very large selection of bargain-basement priced CDs are stocked near the back of the store
- They have extended weekend hours, closing at 10 PM on Fridays and Saturdays
- The 45s are well-organized, with a small collection of collectible 78s on offer
- Many collectible items are for sale, usually displayed under glass
Cons:
- The stock on hand doesn't seem to change as frequently as one might like
- It can be very inconvenient to get into the parking lot, as there is no direct entrance to the lot from the nearby I-635 service road
- Ratings:
- Selection: 5/5
- Inventory: 5/5
- Organization: 5/5
- Staff: 4/5
- Hours: 3/5
- Location: 2/5
- Item Rarity: 3/5
Overall rating: 4.35
Born Late Records (Fort Worth)
2920 Race St, Fort Worth, TX 76111
Although Josey Records purchased the inventory of Bill's Records after its demise, this place is Bills' true spiritual successor.
Pros:
- A vast collection of t-shirts, posters, and ultra-rare bootleg music performance DVDs are on offer
- Walls throughout the store are absolutely loaded with music and music-related items
- Some local releases are mixed in with the other CDs
Cons:
- There is a lack of good organization across the store, particularly when it comes to the music DVDs (where organization is nonexistent)
- The inside of the store feels very cramped due to narrow walkways and multiple separate rooms.
- This establishment is not well suited to those lacking the time or inclination to spend hours scouring through legions of material in search of hidden gems. If you want to go into a secondhand music store with a list of items you're looking for and not have to dig, then this may not be the place for you.
- Expect to pay collectors' prices for collectible items.
- Ratings:
- Selection: 5/5
- Inventory: 4/5
- Organization: 2/5
- Staff: 5/5
- Hours: 3/5
- Location: 3/5
- Item Rarity: 5/5
Overall rating: 4.25
Good Records (Dallas)
9026 Garland Rd, Dallas, TX 75218
Originally situated in Deep Ellum, Good Records has been a home for vinyl-loving Dallasites for over two decades.
Pros:
- There is a good selection of both new and used vinyl LPs
- A decent sized collection of new 45s and 7 inches are also available
- New turntables and vinyl accessories are available as well
Cons:
- Only vinyl releases are on offer. This store does not stock any other formats.
- Parking in front of the store is extremely limited, though there is parking at the shopping strip across the street
- Ratings:
- Selection: 5/5
- Inventory: 5/5
- Organization: 3/5
- Staff: 3/5
- Hours: 3/5
- Location: 3/5
- Item Rarity: 3/5
Overall rating: 4.1
14 Records (Dallas)
9022 Garland Rd, Dallas, TX 75218
Garland-based 14 Records offers an alternative to its nearby competition, placing a greater emphasis on historical and collectible material.
Pros:
- There is an excellent selection of more collectible items on offer
Cons:
- Prices are very much on the high side, reflecting the emphasis on collectible material
- Parking in front of the store is extremely limited, though there is parking at the shopping strip across the street
- The location is literally three doors down from a more established record store with lower overall prices
- Ratings:
- Selection: 4/5
- Inventory: 3/5
- Organization: 3/5
- Staff: 3/5
- Hours: 3/5
- Location: 3/5
- Item Rarity: 5/5
Overall rating: 3.6
Recycled Books (Denton)
200 N Locust St, Denton, TX 76201
Located right off the town square not far from the courthouse, Recycled Books & Music has been a fixture of the downtown Denton area for decades.
Pros:
- There is an excellent, well-organized selection of used CDs, including a separate (though small) section for local artists
- The CDs for sale typically include a healthy selection of less common and harder to find items at very reasonable prices
- This is a good place to sell your old books and media; they are very selective, but pay well for what they take
Cons:
- Finding parking in the town square can be challenging, though parking is available in nearby free and paid lots
- The selection of vinyl and especially cassettes lags that of CDs, though this is to be expected in 2022
- No new (other than local) items are for sale other than new old stock, as suggested by the store's name
- Ratings:
- Selection: 4/5
- Inventory: 2/5
- Organization: 4/5
- Staff: 4/5
- Hours: 5/5
- Location: 4/5
- Item Rarity: 4/5
Overall rating: 3.55
Doc's Records & Vintage
2628 Weisenberger St, Fort Worth, TX 76107
Tucked away on Fort Worth's west side, Doc's combines the coolness of a music store with the retro appeal of a flea market.
Pros:
- There is a nice selection of less common releases from the rock n' roll era, though not quite as expansive as what you can find at Recycled Books
- The asking prices for both new and used CDs and vinyl are very reasonable
- The good-sized collection of 45s is extremely well-organized, which is a huge plus when looking for specific, out-of-print titles
- A selection of vinyl accessories are available, including plastic sleeves
Cons:
- No listening stations are available
- Very limited parking is available in front of the store, and the parking lot across the street is reserved for the nearby pet hotel
- Half the store's floor space is given over to the flea market, which may not be a plus for those only interested in shopping for music
- Ratings:
- Selection: 4/5
- Inventory: 3/5
- Organization: 5/5
- Staff: 3/5
- Hours: 3/5
- Location: 3/5
- Item Rarity: 3/5
Overall rating: 3.5
Panther City Vinyl (Fort Worth)
1455 E Magnolia Ave, Fort Worth, TX 76104
This independent vinyl specialty store is conveniently located within walking distance of the Fairmount-Southside historic district.
Pros:
- Prices are generally very reasonable, and the very helpful staff appears to be honest about record condition
- The location is good, with food and entertainment readily available nearby
Cons:
- This is a vinyl specialty shop, so the selection of CDs and cassettes on offer is extremely limited
- The jazz and blues sections are very small, with a limited selection of titles
- The overall selection seems to fall somewhere between collectable items and common titles while not quite specializing in either
- There is no dedicated parking lot, and parking in the area is likely to be difficult during busy times of day
- Ratings:
- Selection: 3/5
- Inventory: 4/5
- Organization: 3/5
- Staff: 5/5
- Hours: 3/5
- Location: 4/5
- Item Rarity: 3/5
Overall rating: 3.5
Record Town (Fort Worth)
120 Saint Louis Ave Ste 105, Fort Worth, TX 76104
A cultural landmark dating back to 1957, Record Town specializes in new and vintage vinyl.
Pros:
- The store specializes in both new and used vinyl, with used items constituting the majority of its stock
- There is a reasonable selection of 78s in stock
- The electric and acoustic guitars hanging on the walls are also for sale
Cons:
- There is no organization of used CDs other than by musical genre
- Used LPs are sorted by letter only, with no sorting of artists within each letter
- Ratings:
- Selection: 3/5
- Inventory: 4/5
- Organization: 3/5
- Staff: 3/5
- Hours: 3/5
- Location: 3/5
- Item Rarity: 2/5
Overall rating: 3.1
Half Price Books
Various locations around DFW
First opening its doors in 1972, the Dallas-based Half Price Books chain has been catering to the needs of bibliophiles and music lovers for half a century.
Pros:
- Locations typically have a large selection of used CDs and vinyl, and nearly any other media format is fair game as well
- Items in stock change regularly, making this a good place to look for hidden gems
- Stores typically have quite a large selection of bargain-priced CDs
Cons:
- No listening stations are available
- As is the case with the printed materials, a good chunk of the new, unopened music items are remainder copies and overstock
- Half Price Books deals almost exclusively in used and new old stock items, and as such isn't run by collectors. Don't expect to find professionally graded items here.
- There is no organization whatsoever for 45s and 78s, which tend to be lazily shelved (or even stacked) together without sleeves. As a consequence, their physical condition is often quite poor.
- This is the absolute worst place to sell your old books and media, as they take nearly everything but often pay very little. Make this a last stop if making the rounds to sell.
- Ratings:
- Selection: 4/5
- Inventory: 2/5
- Organization: 3/5
- Staff: 3/5
- Hours: 3/5
- Location: 3/5
- Item Rarity: 3/5
Overall rating: 3.05
CD Warehouse (Arlington)
1213 S Cooper St, Arlington, TX 76010
CD Warehouse is a chain I remember well from the mid to late 1990s, specializing in used CDs and also carrying movies.
Pros:
- The store has a bit of a nostalgia factor, as it is the last remaining location of what was once a mighty retail chain
- The store is very conveniently located down the street from the University of Texas at Arlington campus
- This is a decent place for a more casual music fan to go
Cons:
- There are no listening stations for previewing music purchases, unlike the locations of days past
- The absolute disaster of disorganization for LPs and nearly all 45s makes this a very unappealing choice for used vinyl
- Ratings:
- Selection: 3/5
- Inventory: 3/5
- Organization: 2/5
- Staff: 3/5
- Hours: 3/5
- Location: 4/5
- Item Rarity: 2/5
Overall rating: 2.8
Top Ten Records (Dallas-Oak Cliff)
338 W Jefferson Blvd, Dallas, TX 75208
As much of a community space and neighborhood icon as it is a record store, Top Ten Records is the only nonprofit retailer on this list.
Pros:
- There is a lending system for rare and obscure local music, the only system of its kind in DFW
- Live music (and other community events) are occasionally hosted in-store
- Since it is a nonprofit, supporting the store helps support its preservation efforts for local music and culture
Cons:
- There is quite a limited selection of items available for purchase
- Parking in the area can be exceedingly difficult during peak times
- The specialty is primarily local and indie music, which is great for fans of the local scene past and present, but not necessarily a boon for the casual record buyer
- Ratings:
- Selection: 2/5
- Inventory: 1/5
- Organization: 2/5
- Staff: 4/5
- Hours: 3/5
- Location: 2/5
- Item Rarity: 5/5
Overall rating: 2.45
Movie Trading Company
Various locations around DFW
Movie Trading Company is a movie and gaming retail chain with locations across the metroplex.
Pros:
- Locations are generally large and have a healthy selection of items
- There is the option to either buy or to rent music-related (and all other) DVDs and Blu-rays
Cons:
- Everything - new and used alike - is sealed in shrink wrap, so there's no way to see the condition of any music item before buying it unless you ask the staff to open it
- The music selection leans heavily toward more popular artists, so you're less likely to find anything especially uncommon or unusual
- Ratings:
- Selection: 3/5
- Inventory: 2/5
- Organization: 3/5
- Staff: 3/5
- Hours: 3/5
- Location: 3/5
- Item Rarity: 2/5
Overall rating: 2.6
The Spin Coffee & Vinyl (Dallas)
17290 Preston Rd Ste 106, Dallas, TX 75252
The only bona fide coffee establishment on the list, The Spin serves up various coffee and pastry options along with a curated selection of vinyl.
Pros:
- Both new and used vinyl are available to purchase
- As per the name, the establishment features a full-service coffee shop with the regular coffee shop fare
- The pleasant atmosphere and personable owners are a plus, and board games are available for play
Cons:
- The inventory consists of "name" artists, so don't expect to find very much indie or local stuff
- All new items are vinyl; the selection of used CDs and cassettes is extremely limited
- Ratings:
- Selection: 2/5
- Inventory: 1/5
- Organization: 2/5
- Staff: 5/5
- Hours: 5/5
- Location: 3/5
- Item Rarity: 1/5
Overall rating: 2.1
Growl Records (Arlington)
509 E Abram St, Arlington, TX 76010
Growl Records is Arlington's premiere vinyl + live entertainment venue.
Pros:
- There is dedicated (though small) area dedicated to local releases
- A good-sized selection of used LPs are available
- The store connects to a local brewery (Division Brewing) with an outdoor patio, and drinks can be brought inside
- Growl Records hosts occasional live music, and is available for bookings.
Cons:
- The overall selection of CDs is extremely tiny, and (as of this writing) the items in the local section are not very current
- There are no jazz or blues sections
- The selection of new vinyl is small
- Ratings:
- Selection: 2/5
- Inventory: 2/5
- Organization: 2/5
- Staff: 3/5
- Hours: 3/5
- Location: 3/5
- Item Rarity: 1/5
Overall rating: 2.05
Spinster Records (Dallas-Oak Cliff)
408 N Bishop Ave Ste 102, Dallas, TX 75208
Located in the heart of the Bishop Arts District, Spinster Records is a specialty shop offering both new and used vinyl.
Pros:
- The storefront location is great for when you are spending an afternoon in the area
- The store has an appealing look and a hipster vibe consistent with its location (possibly not a plus for some)
Cons:
- This is a specialty shop which sells vinyl only, so no CDs or cassettes are on offer here
- The inventory is rather limited, and (as is customary for new, sealed vinyl) prices tend toward the high side as compared to digital formats
- The organization can be confusing, and a sizable section consisting of used items of varying quality is labeled "ask for price"
- Parking in the Bishop Arts District can be nearly impossible during peak times
- Ratings:
- Selection: 2/5
- Inventory: 2/5
- Organization: 2/5
- Staff: 2/5
- Hours: 4/5
- Location: 3/5
- Item Rarity: 1/5
Overall rating: 2.0
Off the Record Craft Beer & Vinyl (Dallas-Deep Ellum)
2716 Elm St, Dallas, TX 75226
Barely qualifying as a record store, Off the Record is a craft beer establishment located in Deep Ellum.
Pros:
- None to speak of at the time of this writing. If you want beer you might consider coming here, but if you're looking to buy music, you'd be better served elsewhere.
Cons:
- Extremely tiny (virtually nonexistent) selection of vinyl, in less than ideal condition and with no titles of note
- Move along, nothing to see here
- Ratings:
- Selection: 0/5
- Inventory: 0/5
- Organization: 0/5
- Staff: N/A
- Hours: N/A
- Location: N/A
- Item Rarity: 0/5
Overall rating: 0.0
Ratings Key:
Selection - The diversity and (physical) quality of inventory at any given time, or an informal measure of how much variety there is by genre, artist, etc. A score of 3 is average. An excess of poor quality items can bring this score down. (See the note below)
Inventory - The quantity of relevant music recordings and musically relevant items available for purchase in-store; in other words, the literal number of individual items available for purchase regardless of selection. This score is determined based on where a particular store falls in a ranking from largest to smallest (in the case of chains, an average is used). Higher scores are better. (See the note below)
Organization - A measure of how convenient it is to look for specific items when browsing through inventory. Well-organized inventory gets higher scores, while badly organized areas can bring the average score down.
Staff - Knowledgeability and/or attitude of the staff based on my visit(s). Rudeness or disinterest can bring this score down. A score of 3 is average.
Hours - How convenient the hours of operation are for the average customer (i.e., the average person who works a day job during the week). A score of 3 is average.
Location - A measure of how conveniently located a vendor is, based partly on the greater surroundings and partly on parking (in)convenience. A score of 3 is average.
Item Rarity - How likely you are to find something unusual and/or uncommon (in other words, a hidden gem). Scores normally range from 1 (not at all likely) to 5 (very likely to a near certainty).
NOTE: Selection and inventory are rated relative to the kind(s) of physical formats a store carries. For stores with significant offerings in multiple music formats, scoring is based on a comparison to other establishments carrying multiple formats. In the case of vinyl specialty shops, scoring is based on how a particular store's selection and inventory compare only against those of other vinyl specialty shops. This should be kept in mind when comparing the overall ratings of different entries on the list.