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Bagatelle Records
Categories: Shopping Books, Mags, Music and Video Music & DVDs Shopping Books, Mags, Music and Video Vinyl Records Music & DVDs, Vinyl Records [Edit]
260 Atlantic AveLong Beach, CA 90802
(562) 432-7534
- Hours:
Mon-Sat 11 am - 5:30 pm
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- No
- Parking:
- Street
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- No
27 reviews for Bagatelle Records
Review Highlights
"Bring cash cause that's all they take."
(in 4 reviews)
"Lots of great used cds too."
(in 7 reviews)
"You'll find a lot of gems for the cost of cubes."
(in 6 reviews)
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27 reviews in English
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Review from Gene M.
Carson, CA
9/28/2011
What a great store for finding soundtracks. Steve's had them all at one time or another, and that's why I feel confident whenever I happen to be in the neighborhood and stop by that I'll leave with a few "grails" of mine on vinyl. The only record store that's never disappointed me.
Yes, it's true, the shop is small and cramped, just don't go on the weekend. Visit during the week and spend some time thumbing through the boxes or shelves and getting to know Big Steve. He's a great guy, and his store is as good as it gets. -
Review from Gnarlos G.
Wilmington, CA
2/4/2012
Great place. A true vinyl shop in the same vein as The Record Recycler. Lots of records covering every genre from "new age" to "real people". Many boxes and shelves to dig thru.
I also like that there are listening stations so you can sort thru your finds and buy what you like. Prices are low and the owner is nice enough you can attempt to haggle with him just for laughs.
Only bad part about here is that its Long Beach and parking sucks, you only get 2 hrs before you have to move again to beat the "meter maid" -
Review from Jonah O.
Long Beach, CA
6/5/2011
It's THE best place to hunt for your vinyl selections. If you live in the area it's worth a look!!
The store is small but with LOTs of sometimes had to find covers it makes it fun to hunt. Also there are 45s and CDs.
It's a must for the vinyl. -
Review from Steven A.
Long Beach, CA
8/6/2011
Quality record shop for true vinyl heads. Massive collection, perfect for digging. This ain't no itunes or Amoeba all sorted out nice and neat, so if you need your genres spoon fead to you, you will be lost. I'm talking boxes and boxes of vinyl. Great fun sorting through and comming across suprises. The best record store out there at the moment. Great prices as well. Cash only, just a heads up.
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Review from chris c.
Long Beach, CA
12/2/2011
Best record store in LB...
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Review from Andrew H.
Winston-Salem, NC
3/19/2011
Okay, it's hard to rate this place because it's so awesome and so frustrating at the same time.
The Good:
Ridiculously large vinyl selection, good CD selection, extremely knowledgeable and helpful owner, turntables with headphones to test the vinyl, very fair pricing, I took home two used CCR albums and a used Queen album and was very happy with the condition of the records.
The Bad:
Without help, it's EXTREMELY difficult to find some things. Sometimes it's so cramped that you can't physically access some areas of the store. There are also a great number of unfiled vinyl records. -
Review from Geoff L.
Seal Beach, CA
9/23/2007 ROTD 2/14/2008
This is definitely not for the casual music fan. This is a vinyl mecca for major music geeks, like myself. Before you head down to see if they have that CD or rare vinyl gem you've been looking for, you may want to ask yourself the following questions:
Can you spend endless hours looking thru box after box full of records while being constantly bumped into by other record nerds?
Did you enjoy the smell of your grandparent's house?
Can you handle complete chaos, giant clouds of dust, and getting your hands covered in black mystery crud?
Can you maneuver around huge stacks of boxes and handle REALLY cramped, tight spaces?
Do you enjoy listening to grown men drone on and on incessantly about some rare jazz record that nobody bought or gave a rat's ass about when it originally came out?
If you answered yes to any of these questions, you, my friend, are most certainly a major music geek. If you answered yes to ALL, you may want to seek professional help.
Now, if I could just figure out a way to get this black nastiness off my hands...Listed in: A Bunch Of Reviews That didn't…
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Review from LuX P.
Oakland, CA
6/21/2007
Don't go there. Really, I don't want you to buy those rare ass records that I have been looking for.
Be prepared to dig and dig through boxes of potential. Sometimes I have come out with nothing and other times the things I have found made it necessary to rush home for a change of undies. Yep.
The only downside is that a lot of stuff isn't priced, but the prices always end up being fair or ridiculously low. Don't go there. -
Review from Linda R.
Long Beach, CA
6/22/2008
I've always heard of this place yet never took the time to figure out where it was... until one day, minding my own business riding down Third St. and Oh! There it is!
What a neat place. What a SHIT LOAD of records. Seriously, there are records everywhere. Like, don't worry about tripping over that box of records laid precariously on the floor because you would probably just fall safely onto another one. I think it would take me three hours to even look at half of the selection.
Last time I went I hadn't taken my Ritalin, so I confined myself to the 45s and went to it. An hour later I came up with some great finds for mostly $1 each. They weren't in great condition, but there are listening stations so you can make sure your shit doesn't skip.
And no, nobody on staff is winning Ms. Congeniality anytime soon, but if you're as much as a smart ass as I am then you'll have no problem holding your own.
Definitely my new favorite place to waste money. -
Review from Andrew S.
CA
2/3/2007
Warning: record snob review commencing. (using "comic book guy" voice)
Bagatelle is one of two record shops in Long Beach. It's your typical neighborhood spot, worth a peek, but don't get your hopes too high. They have a lot of hip-hop 12"s and rock LPs but other sections are a little sparse. In general stock is pretty thin. They don't even have a new arrivals section, which means you need to be in the mood to sort through ALL of an entire genre just to see if anything new came in. -
Review from Scott M.
Los Angeles, CA
3/31/2011
Some decent records but at a premium price. The real 12" nuggets live down under, covered by sliding drawers.
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Review from John O.
10/31/2008
My comments won't be adding much to what has already been said.
However, I found exactly what I was looking for here at a very reasonable price.
I was looking for a mint/near mint record of Thelonious Monk to frame above my piano. Vinyl album covers are a lost art. You just don't get that when you purchase digital music online. I've been looking for a Thelonious Monk record this for quite a while. Went to the section for Monk, found exactly what I was looking for. Mint condition. $7. Went home, framed it, put it in the house. Nuff said.
I also was interested in finding the same for Miles Davis, but didn't find that kick-a$$ record I found of Monk.
The owner seriously knows records and is flexible on price.
Also found some great Elton John and Stevie Wonder records here as well.
As stated by fellow Yelpers, LOTS of records, definitely a place for records collectors and place to just go through the boxes and squeal with delight (for those serious music fans that appreciate the great music of yesterday -- 50's, 60's and 70's). Very impressive jazz record selection.
Recommended. -
Review from Alex C.
Berkeley, CA
1/6/2010
Yes, the place is cramped. But if you came in here and saw how many vinyls they had here you'd be surprised at the fact that there's any form of organization to begin with. Steve's been running the place for as long as I can remember now, and if you're looking for any classic album to complete your collection, come here first. There are a few things I feel the need to emphasize.
1. Bring cash: He doesn't take credit or debit. The owner is very old-fashioned in this sense, and not all the albums are labeled with a price to begin with. But when you bring them up to him, you'll see that the prices are more than reasonable.
2. Vinyl is what these guys specialize in.Yeah, they have some CDs, I'm quite frankly not even sure if they even carry cassettes anymore.
3. Talk up Steve. That man is a character larger than life. He's a big guy to begin with, and what I picture as a quintessential ideal of an American man; Big, tall, assertive, doesn't take crap from anyone, all while making money. He even has a somewhat old AMERICA flag with a NEVER FORGET reference at his entrance. If he likes you enough, I'm pretty sure you can talk him down a couple dollars, especially if you buy a lot. What it takes for him to like you, well... I like to think as honesty being key.Listed in: My Neighborhood
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Review from C. J.
Naples, CA
9/28/2009
i really like this place. Steve is a crack up, and so is the random record-store banter you'll hear while digging in this place. Prices are fair, but condition is sometimes a little suspect. I have found many, many gems here, but you have to be willing to DIG! There is stuff stacked all over the place. Best part is I walk in the door and Steve knows exactly what I look for and will let me know if they have anything new worth checking out. I'm in here a couple times a month. Turnover is pretty high, which is great, so you're not digging through the same junk every week.
Remember, Cash only! -
Review from Mike S.
Los Angeles, CA
1/5/2010 1 photo
The best vinyl record store in Long Beach. Prices are very fair and the selection is great. They're the kind of store that only seems to carry stuff from before vinyl was replaced by CDs/cassettes, so don't expect too many titles post-1990. Few (if any) records from the recent resurgence of vinyl production. But who cares? That's what Amoeba/Fingerprints is for.
The store can be a little bit of a mess, and more than four or so people in the place make it feel a bit claustrophobic, but both those issues are worth braving.
Bonus: they'll make sure all your record covers have a plastic sleeve around them before you leave. -
Review from Romeo H.
Long Beach, CA
7/5/2009
For those who aren't wiling to make the trek out to Amoeba in Hollywood, this is the perfect place to go. Thanks to Google and a failure to resist the record buying temptation, I stumbled across this place and instantly got hooked. Upon entering, my jaw dropped as I desperately tried to contain my excitement -- I knew that I found a home away from home -- and I could've sworn I heard a chorus of angels singing "aaaah" as a bright light shined down on me from the heavens.
After about 30 minutes of digging, one of the guys asked if I needed some help, so I told him I was mainly browsing for some Soul records. Next thing I know, he pulled out a few boxes that I completely overlooked (they don't have the best organization methods) and ended up finding a ton of gems.
The only downside is a lack of pricing on a lot of the records, so you'll only find out at the time of purchase. I didn't want to look like a cheapskate and put some of them back, so I left having spent more money than expected (which seems to be a common occurrence), but it was well worth it.
Even though I've only been here once for a brief time, it was enough to have me dreaming about my next visit whenever my wallet will allow it. If you're looking for an alternative to Amoeba or Fingerprints, this is the spot! Just make sure to bring cash since they don't accept cards. -
Review from Graham G.
Long Beach, CA
11/20/2007
The General descriptions of this place below are perfect so I'll just add my couple points. This place is a vinyl mecca, I really wouldn't waste the time looking for CD's here as you can get them anywhere and you'll need that time to search the stacks. Second, the vinyl jazz selection here is second to none from Blue Note, CTI, Atlantic, they have it or have had it pass through these doors. I have never found a better collection of jazz vinyl than Bagatelle. Finally, you really can't beat the scene in this shop from the secretive nervous records nerds who try to hide what they're buying, the random street person wandering inside, to the vinyl old timers who have been visiting this place for years this is definitely a unique and special place. Make sure and bring cash...
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Review from Dj H.
Long Beach, CA
5/11/2010
WTF! I thought this place was my little secret for the past 16 years! This is a great record shop. I recommend this place to all vinyl junkies. I have found some gems here. Be prepared to spend hours apon hours "diggin" for that records. Just don't let anyone else know about this place!
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Review from Tim S.
Laguna Hills, CA
7/8/2007
Just ignore this place it's no good. ;)
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Review from Kris J.
Long Beach, CA
6/5/2008
Best spot in Long Beach for records. Excellent selection, fair prices, and free shit talking old man service while you shop. It's a little more expensive here than most record stores but the selection blows everybody else out of the water. This is where I go when I have money to spend or decent records to trade
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Review from gary f.
Long Beach, CA
12/9/2009
Bagatelle is one of those sshhh!....don't tell your friends record shops. Great used selection and always getting new collections. Prices are fair and Steve will hook you up if your buying a stack. Bring cash cause that's all they take. The store is fairly easy to navigate, not too much clutter. Lots of great used cds too!
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Review from Miguel A.
Los Angeles, CA
8/25/2008
Say what?! All of a sudden this place got yelped 12 times? I wanted to be the first to review it, but then I thought that I should keep this place a secret. So now that the word is out, yes, this place is the bomb. Dude, I forget his name, is extremely helpful. You'll find a lot of gems for the cost of cubes. I think he said that his shop has been around since the 60's/70's? Looks like he didn't change much of it since then except that he has a small cd section. As I walked out of that place, he mentioned that I should tell my friends cuz he has kids he needs to put in college. I hope he's getting the help he needs now.
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Review from Kevin M.
Los Angeles, CA
1/21/2009
want to correct andrew's way off base review, if nobody else has:
first off: bagatelle is one of at least five record shops in long beach. others include: dyzzy on vinyl, fingerprints, tape and record room, and VIP. read up, dude.
second: there are new arrival bins at bagatelle, admittedly they don't say "NEW ARRIVAL" on them but if you ask any of the employees they'll point you to the giant cardboard boxes filled with totally worthwhile records. all these are new arrival records that have only been sorted by genre, not by name or title.
third: selection is huge. don't expect a perfectly alphabetized collection of records BUT if you have an hour to kill it's completely worth digging through. the two guys have organizing systems that occasionally conflict (IE one would file leonard cohen under folk, the other rock. one would file van dyke parks under "V", the other "P". don't feel afraid to ask! -
Review from Dennis O.
Long Beach, CA
5/4/2007
Where do I begin? For almost 30 years, Bagatelle Records has been supplying vinyl junkies like me with a truly stellar selection of used vinyl (and used CDs) at very (sometimes very VERY) fair prices. But, be prepared to dig. Give yourself a good 2-3 hours of time (minimum) and just treat your experience there like a treasure hunt. There are records EVERYWHERE. I never come here with a game-plan. I just find things that look interesting and listen (yes, they have listening stations). I've found the majority of my gems this way. I've been shopping here for years and this place is like music school to me. The owner, Steve Mintz, may come off as a tiny-bit gruff when you first meet him, but he has a heart of gold, as does his lone employee, the very smart-assed "little" Steve. I could go on at length about this place. I will say this: it's not the most user-friendly spot. It's organized fairly loosely and it's hard to maneuver around the store, but I don't go there expecting a Sam Goody-like experience. I love this place.
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Review from Davud B.
Seattle, WA
7/13/2007
if you enjoy digging through boxes and boxes of appropriately priced records to find inexplicably low priced rarities this might be the place for you. if you like overpaying for your records go to Black hole. they'll take care of you.
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Review from mark c.
Long Beach, CA
2/13/2008
As much fun for the people coming in trying to run scams--i.e. trying to unload boxes of water damaged lps from their grandma's basement, trying to flip boosted R&B cds--as for the records. Well, maybe the records are more fun than that. Even though Bagatelle's organization/alphabetization may be "loose," I was impressed that they managed to keep up some semblance of order, despite vinyl covering every square inch of the place. I was also impressed that no matter what artist I thought of (keeping in mind of course to think of artists making music in the vinyl era), they seemed to have something by them and in many cases (Nilsson, for instance) almost complete discographies. My only complaint is that I wish that all the albums that are on the shelf were priced, rather than having them priced at the counter. Almost everything is less than $8, but I don't want to seem like a skinflint and have to put things back once I'm already up there.
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Review from Flora W.
Aliso Viejo, CA
9/26/2009
music is one of the other most important things in life besides delicious foods, and there is an abundance of goodies in this place if you are able to spend a nice long day in here going through everything. It's so nice to find a record store here in socal where you can listen before you buy-that's probably the biggest difference between places like these where more random discoveries of hidden gems are made than in someplace like amoeba where you're better off heading in with a list of pre-determined purchases in mind/hand. My only wish is that they move stuff around more because I was trying to get to the one lone blues section on the wall but two rows of records were in my way :( but LOVE this place regardless. I don't know about the cds there but the prices for vinyl are very reasonable and if you're buying a scratched up record (dunno why one would) you can probably get it for much cheaper.
