These six record stores are a vinyl lover's delight

Boston Globe

09-07-2025

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Cheapo Records
Mona Miri for the Boston Globe
With music, sometimes only a classic will do. That's Cheapo, a Central Square mainstay since 1954. The rarities behind the counter are the stuff of any collector's dreams (including plenty of original pressings) and the stock of new and used records is continuously being refreshed. Sellers can trust their pre-loved vinyl to the capable hands of curators paying fair prices for the good stuff. Just like it's always been.
Address:
538 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge
Phone:
Find online:
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Good Taste Records
Good Taste isn't the biggest record store — nor does it need to be. From rare grooves to the latest drops, the selection here focuses on quality over quantity. Offerings range from hip-hop to metal to nostalgia, and include a growing collection of used records. Always-friendly husband-and-wife owners Coty and Lindsey Smith are a draw themselves: Since opening shop in the North End in 2022, they have created a welcoming atmosphere for audiophiles and newbies alike.
Address:
4 Thacher Street, North End
Phone:
Find online:
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Music Research Library
Zachary Warf
This Beacon Hill spot is on Joy Street — and for vinyl collectors, there may be no happier place. Music Research Library has become a destination for its deep — and deeply varied — collection of clean, used vinyl. There are plenty of classics, but it's the rare and obscure selections, including many international artists, that have disc diggers coming back for more. With a staff that's eager to help, the experience is well worth the hike up the hill.
Address:
24 Joy Street, Beacon Hill
Phone:
Find online:
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Stereo Jack's
Mona Miri for The Boston Globe
Stereo Jack's was a Cambridge stalwart before packing up — with longtime employee Chris Anzalone newly at the helm — for Somerville's Ball Square in 2022. Now the reins have been passed to manager Wayne Rogers, who will own and operate the beloved store for years to come (we hope). With one wall dedicated to new offerings from pop stars such as Sabrina Carpenter and another to rare used editions, the store embodies the quirky diversity of the vinyl renaissance.
Address:
736 Broadway, Somerville
Phone:
Find online:
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Village Vinyl & Hi Fi
This Coolidge Corner spot is the place to find that record you never knew you needed until you got there. Congolese jazz? A Disney animated movie soundtrack? A throwback compilation of Soul Train hits? Check. Check. Check. The store is intimate and the staff are helpful — the type of people who care about music and sound quality. Speaking of which, there's plenty of vintage stereo equipment for sale, too.
Address:
307 Harvard Street, Brookline
Phone:
Find online:
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