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Dave's Records
Category: Shopping Books, Mags, Music and Video Vinyl Records Vinyl Records [Edit]
2604 N Clark St(between Wrightwood Ave & Drummond Pl)
Chicago, IL 60614
Neighborhood: Lincoln Park
(773) 929-6325
- Hours:
Mon-Sat 11 am - 8 pm
Sun 12 pm - 7 pm
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
57 reviews for Dave's Records
Review Highlights
57 reviews in English
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Review from Jake G.
Chicago, IL
10/24/2011
I began collecting vinyl because I missed making an event of listening to music; gone was the excitement of tearing off the plastic, using a saw to get that annoying top sticker off, and flipping through the CD booklet for the first time. With vinyl, everything is bigger and better in terms of packaging, and albums I've loved for years have new life breathed into each song.
Dave's understands and promotes this ideology with a no frills all thrills record store. My first visit was a few weeks ago. I was searching for one record and came out with 8. Sure, my bill was $100+ but I snagged some fantastic, rare finds. My second time, exact same situation: eBay proved futile for a single-record hunt, but Dave's had the album at a ridiculously great price. The quality stickers have always been accurate, their selection ranges from low-fi indie rock to big bass hip hop. The two gentlemen who've been at the counter during my visits were friendly, knowledgeable, and provided a nice soundtrack for my flipping.
Make this a stop on your Sunday record shopping trips. Chances are you'll drop the most cash here. -
Review from Paige C.
Des Plaines, IL
1/22/2012
This record shop is tiny. Really tiny. They way Dave stocks his store is by placing records rather high up. How the hell am I supposed to reach those, bro? Don't even thing about asking for help from the sassy man behind the counter. I asked a simple question and I got the kind of sou-less stare that I usually see reserved for people asking why a "grande" at Starbucks is only medium and not large. Maybe its because I look like a 10 year old who jacked their moms makeup case, but why would you be nasty to a potential customer?
Besides that, I did find some decent stuff. Newer "hipper" music along with older used records that were in good shape. The prices are a bit high compared to other shops in Chicago, but I found some things I new I couldn't find other places.
Def. look at the records that are on sale or discounted! I've found some great stuff in there. It changes all the time so don't be discouraged if you don't find something.
I perfer Reckless, but Dave has some great finds for a higher price that you probably won't find at your run-of-the-mill shop. -
Review from Jeremy O.
10/10/2011
Dave's Records is exactly what it sounds like, a man named Dave who sells records. No CDs, just records. In fact, Dave takes a lot of pride in the fact he has never and will never carry those shiny discs. Although I generally think it is detrimental to a music store to only care one format, I applaud that Dave at least sticks to his convictions and doesn't just fall in the middle somewhere.
That being said, Dave's is tiny! I literally have had bedrooms bigger than this place. However, Dave's utilizes the space it does have by stacking records from the floor all the way to the ceiling. Although I found their selection to be pretty decent, I did think the prices were a bit high. In the end however, I was able to find a few things to walk out with.
Dave's Records is definitely worth a visit if you find yourself in the neighborhood, and as other users have posted, it can be a nice escape from the hipsterism that has made it home at other Chicago staples such as Reckless (although I do love Reckless). Keep it classy Dave! -
Review from Rudi r.
Fort Worth, TX
1/31/2012
over priced! its ridiculous. left empty handed and angry. this place serves more like a museum (if you get my drift) common albums at import pricing. enough said. good luck
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Review from Eileen Z.
12/4/2011
Strictly a vinyl shop with no CDs. Jazz section isn't massive but for a place that isn't centered around the genre, the available selection's really good. Walked out with a pile of Chick Corea lovelies on my last trip. The discounted .99/1.99 R&B-Soul picks are a hit or miss but perfect on those days you're itching to dig but are in-between paychecks.
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Review from Dan G.
4/14/2011
A great record store....Only vinyl! Dave himself, is a great source for new and old music. I don't know how the guy does it but he is able to keep a store that is stocked with the 'Hip' music of today and still has that nerd-like feel of being able to find an old John Lee Hooker album or an original pressing of a Minuteman album. Tons of music, priced slightly high but that is to be assumed if you want the real record store feel then you are going to have to pay a bit more for it....That's analog stuff in general.
If you dig vinyl and are seeking the advice of a music sage, visit Dave's. One of the best in the city! -
Review from Allen J.
Chicago, IL
10/9/2011
Dave isn't as knowledgable as his past reviews led to me believe. If you're selling and you'd like to deal people SLIGHTLY less snobby, I'd recommend going to Reckless.
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Review from Sean H.
Wapella, IL
5/15/2011
I always try to hit Dave's whenever I'm in the city. Great place for record collectors. The selection of new & used is always solid. Very well stocked with the newest hits from Europe and the US, and the used selection is pretty epic too. A little pricey at times (not sure I wanna pay $100 for that Rest in Pieces LP) but overall, a great alternative to Reckless et al.
(Records ONLY. No CDs, etc. Hat tip to Dave for that.) -
Review from Kurt L.
Chicago, IL
9/22/2010
1. This place is pricey as hell. Everything I saw in here is priced above the competition. I hate to say I could get it all on the internet for cheaper, because that kind of defeats the purpose of record shopping, but I could definitely get anything I wanted here locally and at a better price.
2. Can you say mish-mash? I have no idea how Dave organizes his store, but he must be some kind of idiot savant, because I had to look through everything to find anything.
He has the prerequisite rock/pop section, then he has a "modern rock" section filled with things that looked a lot like the stuff I just saw in the rock/pop section. Then, he had an "audiophile" section filled with a hodgepodge of MFSL releases (of which I saw a few in the regular rock/pop section), 180g releases (again, which also occupied the rock/pop section) and then some of what looked like just regular 150g rock records upon first glance. Maybe they were blessed, or something.
That doesn't even include the shelves of records he has stacked up to the ceiling above the regular bins. I don't know how you're supposed to look through those. BYOLadder?
His 7" records were just up on a shelf in some inconspicuous plastic bins. Bleh. I also didn't get the impression that any of the records in the store had been handled all that well.
The selection was pretty large, but I didn't find anything special here and I think I'll take my business elsewhere, especially since I don't really hang out in this part of town (Weiner Circle, anyone?). -
Review from Jake P.
Chicago, IL
3/7/2011
Excellent selection, of new, used and reissued.
One of more extensive collections of reissued. Classic, 90's, early 00's. All of it. -
Review from Josh S.
Chicago, IL
5/12/2011
I use to love this place...notice the past tense! Went in there the other day, and I dont know who was working the counter but it wasnt Dave who is usually very nice and helpful. I got a duplicate Beatles Vinyl for my birthday, so I wanted to take it in to Dave's to trade on my way to get my hair cut. I was not expected the $19.99 that my buddy had just paid for the record, but just a fair price so I could buy another record. Instead, I was met with attitude, like this record wasnt good enough for Dave's, and he offered me $2.00 for the record!! When I stated that the $2.00 price was offensive and unreasonable, the guy responded with "You know how expensive rent is here?!"
Ridiculous...Reckless Records for me here on out. Dave you just lost a customer that spends an average of about $200-$500 a month on vinyl. -
Review from Kyle W.
Chicago, IL
7/3/2008
Let's go ahead and give Dave five stars for the amazing selection and variety available in his well-organized store.
Now take one star away for what an asshole he is.
And another one for how overpriced most of his stuff is.
I'd give half a star back again because there's always good stuff in the clearance rack, but Yelp won't let me, so three stars it is. -
Review from Austin L.
Los Angeles, CA
6/3/2009
New stuff, old stuff. Sealed in package, used to shreds. Something as popular as Fleetwood Mac, something as obscure as (insert hip new band you don't think they'll have). Dave's has it all.
Except CDs. Don't let the fact that CD stores call themselves (Blank) Records make you think there's anything but vinyl greatness inside this little shop.
And Dave and his always busy record store love it this way... -
Review from Jose G.
Chicago, IL
3/9/2010
I love my trips to Dave's. These trips typically involve slight inebriation and a stomach full of yummy veggie burger (thank you, Dunlay's). Needless to say, I head in the store in a good mood. But even when I enter from the north, I enjoy my time in this store. I almost always find something I can't walk away from.
Dave is extremely knowledgeable, helpful, and was patient with me when I called him one too many times to find out if a particular record had come in yet. I live equidistant between Reckless and Dave's but I just like the more homey, personal feeling I get when I walk into this store, even without a manhattan to guide my mood. -
Review from David D.
Wheaton, IL
6/26/2011
Great selection if you are into pop, rock, jazz, or soul. Ratings for the records are usually accurate. Only real complaint is that the prices are a bit high sometimes--this is not an across the board issue, however--it all depends on the record in question.
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Review from Joe T.
Cincinnati, OH
8/8/2008
I feel like Alice before the Queen of Hearts whenever I take a record up to the counter to be purchased.
Except the Queen of Hearts is a burly middle-aged man with a white beard. And I'm not a seven-year-old girl.
I smells like dust in here, which is comforting I guess, but if I spend too long inside I start to sneeze. I have to wash my hands immediately upon exiting, which is difficult because there are no sinks on Clark Street.
I enjoy that Dave doesn't waste any of his 500 square feet of store space on CD racks.
I can spend upwards of an hour and fifty dollars on one visit. But I also frequently leave empty-handed.
Dave's is the only record store where I have found Wooden Wand records. So bonus points for Dave's.
Sometimes I buy a new record at Dave's and then find it for a couple dollars cheaper at Reckless. Sometimes his records are cheaper. I guess you gotta shop around. -
Review from Dave S.
Chicago, IL
7/27/2010
Despite the unfortunate location, his store is great.
Great selection of new and old, and he only carries Vinyl. That is dedication! No sort of trendiness to it, just a place for vinyl people by vinyl people.
The selection varies as he gets new and old stuff all the time. so It's always worth a trip if you are in the area, stop by!
Plus, His name is Dave, so that automatically is worth the 4 stars. -
Review from chris s.
Los Angeles, CA
2/22/2010
What a letdown. High prices, false advertising, and no listening stations? I think every good record mart should have at least one listening station to be good in my book. The prices were high, the record selection was OK.
I find myself in the Soul/Disco Cheapos/dollar bin and the vinyl and casing is torn to shreds. They then have the guts to put a price tag of 4-5 bucks in the dollar bin with scraps of covers and vinyl? Get the hell outta here Dave! -
Review from Steve M.
Washington, DC
4/20/2008
if you don't want to deal w/ the hipsters in Reckless go see Dave! I don't know what those kids working at Reckless do all day. There's always 5 or so of them working, but they never so much as even look up at you, and when you ask for help they always make you wait so they can finish whatever incredibly important take they're doing.
Dave's is better, cheaper, and he's nicer. You get to meet the man behind the counter that your money will be going to. -
Review from Christopher T.
Los Angeles, CA
4/13/2009
I rarely find myself up in the northern part of the city but made my way up for a dentist appointment and stumbled upon Dave's Records.
Let me say that Dave knows his records well and can provide good suggestions and kind advice to those who ask for it. The prices are fair since the records he sells are choice and I'm at the point where I would rather look through one crate of decent records than 5 crates of shite.
My personal tastes are 90's east coast hip hop, past and current techno, no wave, new wave and good indie stuff which are all represented well in this shop.
Wish I spent less on my root canal and more on records! -
Review from Evan L.
Chicago, IL
11/28/2009
I love Dave's. I used to wokr in a used bookstore, and it has the same kinda vibe. Easy to look through, great selection, lots of the best new releases. Dave also has everything you'd want for Record Store day, and will pull things for you if you're on your way and have a history of actually buying from him, haha....
Great 99 cent and up section, audiophile stuff and heavy weight selection is good too. Basically, go buy some records, and get to know Dave, once he remembers you, he'll hook you up.
Although the new releases are about as much as you'll pay (other than the rip off that is Reckless Records), there are enough great finds, and enough charm to spend your money here. -
Review from Allie B.
Chicago, IL
3/29/2008
I have been to this place a handful of times and have never left empty-handed. I have found two very rare Tori Amos LPs there for around $40 each, which I didn't mind paying, considering.
The man behind the counter(the owner, I am assuming) is always helpful.
Definitely a place worth checking out. -
Review from A.S. V.
Chicago, IL
9/28/2005 2 photos
This is one of the few vinyl only shops left in Chicago. When 2nd Hand Tunes closed, the manager took over this store to keep it going. It's definitely a great shop with all sorts of surprising finds and decent prices (though some records are priced a bit high due to collectability). This is the first time I've browsed here in years, as my turntable broke in 1999 and I had no reason to replace it.
Beverly Records is supposed to be much bigger and better. But again, I don't do vinyl, so it's not worth the trip for me. -
Review from Julia P.
Chicago, IL
6/3/2008
You should see the way my eyes lit up when I first walked into this place. I was like a little kid in candy shop.. and boy, was that candy delicious. And pricey. If my roommate had let me shop around any longer, I probably would've spent all of my money that I'd just gotten paid that day from my minimum wage job.
The records are worth the money. They're in amazing condition and Dave really does price them well. I'm willing to pay $20 for my Morrissey. And if I want any indie or 80's, Dave's Records is the place to be. My roommate tells me that he's got a lot of great soul and funk too. I don't doubt it.. Dave knows his stuff. -
Review from SHERESSE S.
Chicago, IL
1/15/2009
Fuck Reckless.
Best selection of any vinyl store I've ever been to. When you first walk in it's small ,but eventually you realize great things come in small packages. Probably any record that you haven't been able to find Dave has or can get for you. This is what a record store should be, strictly vinyl.
Thank god for Dave.Listed in: Born to Shop
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Review from Jeff S.
Chicago, IL
3/5/2007
I have been collecting vinyl for about a year now, and have learned most of what I know from the guys at Dave's Records. This quaint little shop on Clark has garnered most of my vinyl business. At first, it was due to proximity. Now, it is due to quality and service. If and when I move out of the area, I will certainly still frequent Dave's for my vinyl needs.
They have a great selection of Rock/Alternative/Punk and Classical. Their Soul and R&B sections are smaller, but still full of gems. My only ding is the smallish Electronica section, but overall the place has a great selection.
The guys in the shop are helpful and uber informative if you have any questions whatsoever. They suggested the deck I now have and have made awesome recommendations on some of my current vinyl favs. If you're interested in learning more about a wonderful medium like vinyl music, go to Dave's. -
Review from Jason D.
San Francisco, CA
8/23/2010
What used to be a decent place back in the day is just tired now. When I visit Chicago I usually stop there since it's in the middle of town. I was there last week, and it was packed bins full of mediocre records, no listening booth, but the worst thing is the damn counter which rises above the customers so the worker(s) look down on you like you're so beneath them, which you are. It might have been the thing to do in the 90's when everyone was a fiend for records, it doesn't work anymore. It does get a point for having a lot of house records, although they should be priced at $1 or so, to keep them moving out. I highly doubt I'll ever be back.
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Review from Rick L.
Chicago, IL
5/20/2008
You have to love a store with a sign hanging in the door that reads "No CDs, never have, never will".
Dave's is one of the better record stores in Chicago. Lots of rare stuff for a pretty penny and lots of deals lurking in the bins.
I'll stop visiting Dave's when I stop buying records and that will be when I have then all. -
Review from Luc R.
Chicago, IL
7/6/2008
The perfect record store.
Small, cramped, and with a section titled Audiophile.
Easy to find records (and wonderfully priced at times...Black Sabbath's "Black Sabbath" on red vinyl for $9...damn.) and an insanely high counter.
Easy to spend hours browsing and remembering. -
Review from Tyler H.
San Francisco, CA
7/18/2010
I do love a record store with only vinyl, but Dave's ended up being a little disappointing. They had some cool stuff in stock, but no listening stations is a major minus. I can safely say it would have prevented me from buying a semi-rare 45 for $9 that wound up being scratchy as hell, and imagine my dismay to discover after returning all the way home to San Francisco when I discovered TWO records were in the wrong sleeves. They clearly don't check over their stock very carefully though they price like they do, so if you do dig at Dave's I'd highly recommend you check over your potential purchase very carefully.
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Review from Danny L.
Chicago, IL
5/14/2008
The owner is a fan of music and vinyl just like the rest of us. I spoke with him recently right before the store was closing and asked him about other record stores that have dissapeared and why his has stayed up and is actually doing well. He mentioned that ever since he has owned the store, he has been running it how he thought a record store should be. Good prices, great finds, great service, great music in the background. I have been going there for the last few years on a pretty consistent basis and Dave's Records is how I think I would image my dream record store to run.
The only complaint is that I wish he could take over part of the restaurant next door, knock down a wall or two and expand it. There are so many records that he is sorting through every day that youll find something new each time. The added bonus is that its by The Wiener Circle!!!! Go support this place! -
Review from Shonda D.
4/1/2010
In terms of selection, Dave's records is pretty tight. Being the jazz lover that I am, I'm stoked when the jazz section has more than 10 records! When I can find a J. Cannonball Adderley and Miles Davis collabo... this is an indication that this place means business. The vinyl pieces are in extremely good condition. I found several items that I really liked, but couldn't afford. So, my only gripe is price. Other than that, the store is on point! Oh and of course parking is a nightmare, but as Jose mentioned there are plenty of places to eat and drink, so why not.
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Review from MsAnthro P.
Bloomington, IN
9/17/2007
Thankfully there is still a record shop in Lincoln Park and, even more thankfully, it is Dave's. Dave's 99-cent "cheapo" selection alone has provided me with an awesome catalog of classic rock and new wave staples. And with the exception of the really hard-to-find or brand-new stuff, the prices are always reasonable and no matter what my mood, I always find a handful of things there. Even better is that, since it's not overrun with alt.hipster types at all times like, say, Reckless, you can often actually find the gems you're looking for. How I refrain from going there every day of the week is beyond me.
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Review from Ryan C.
1/21/2009
So, Dave, do you sell CDs? "Nope." DVDs? "Nope...just records" Tapes? "Nope...just records." 8-Tracks? "Nope...just records." Starting to get the idea? Dave's sells only records...nothing else. Dave's carries records of all kinds from old to new and a selection worth spending hours thumbing through the bins with your grubby little fingers. The store may be a bit tight, but everything is organized by category which makes thumbing the bins substantially easier. I have yet to notice Dave's throwing out busted up records with split spines and scratched records. When you go to a record store, it's nice to have to worry if the condition is crappy or not. Like all record stores, it's a hit and miss on hard to find titles, however I have found many hidden gems here. I won't start a debate of which is better between Reckless and Dave's, but Dave's does not get picked through on the same day so you don't have to wonder if the only thing left is Rick Astley's Greatest Hits is the only good record left or not. Good selection of older rock, blues, jazz.
Mix it up Dave, J-J-Jamin... OH WAIT. Wrong place for mixing it up. Wanna sample a record there? That's fine, but NO mixing and scratchin'.Listed in: It's not Wax...It's a…
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Review from Zachary M.
Chicago, IL
4/12/2008
I've been to Dave's a number of times and every time I've walked out with great hauls. The staff is relatively friendly and the prices are at least somewhat reasonable (a little higher than Reckless but a hell of a lot better than Vintage Vinyl).
Listed in: Record stores of Chicago
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Review from Ashley W.
Chicago, IL
12/29/2008
I went to Dave's to buy some Christmas presents for my friend. I was impressed by the extensive collection that fit in this little shop, about the size of a CTA bus. Dave was friendly and helpful. I now want to buy myself a record player.
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Review from david g.
Chicago, IL
11/18/2010
Daves records has a great selection of old school hip hop, In fact it has one of the best in Chicago. However, it is on the expensive side, I can get everything I want on discogs much cheaper.
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Review from Chad K.
Chicago, IL
7/15/2007
As Kathy and I were wandering about looking for a place to eat, we stumbled across Dave's and that was bad, very bad. You see, we're addicted to music. Aside from having the radio dial fixed on Q101 for the latest in new music or surfing European Internet radio stations for global trends, our iPods are filled with nearly every genre of music, from classical, jazz, and surfer instrumentals to hip-hop, rock and alternative. On a day-to-day basis, we feed our mainstream addiction with iTunes or ripping our piles of CDs, but there's something really special about vinyl -- something so special that I replaced our entire home stereo system and are moving to having not one, but two hifi turntables (one new and one vintage). But I digress...
We collect rare, limited release, and simply odd vinyl such as an original 1983 pressing of New Order's "Blue Monday" on Factory Records (Fac 73) in the original die cut floppy disk album jacket, Joy Division's "Still" (Fac 40) from 1980, or more current items such as My Chemical Romance's "Famous Last Words" on a 7" square single (yes, square). Why? Well, because they're unique -- music as both aural and visual art.
Back to Dave's -- as I said, we stumbled in and started looking around. First and foremost, Dave's is not some hack used music shop. It is a place for people who are serious about vinyl. Second, there's a lot of inventory in a small space and it could take days to go through it all. We didn't have that kind of time, but we did do a little exploring and within minutes, we left with a few things. To give you a sense of the quality of Dave's collection, we walked out with a virtually untouched West German "direct metal master" pressing of Depeche Mode's "Some Great Reward" on gray vinyl. When we got home, we dropped the needle on the pristine record and dropped our jaws. The playback was sonically like nothing we'd ever heard. We know this album and it sounded like an entirely new release with amazing stereo separation. This pressing had to be what was recorded in the studio in 1984; the CDs, MP3s, cassettes, and ordinary vinyl of this album don't even come close.
So that's why one buys vinyl and why one goes to Dave's. If you love music and have a collector instinct, stop in (and stop in, and in, and in...). -
Review from Tyler L.
Chicago, IL
6/15/2008
heres the problem with Daves Records, i find too many records i want everytime i go, and they have an audiophile section...that being said this is one of the best vinyl stores that i have been too, no alot of used suff but where its really at is getting brand new vinyl from new and old bands...
even when im only looking for one thing i walk out with at least 3 different records...if your looking for cd's, tapes, 8-tracks, this is not the place for you cuz they are not to be found, and i admire dave for that...
pricing wise i would say they are about average...and i always kinda use there prices to guide me when visiting other vinyl shops...awesome awesome store, -
Review from Julia W.
Chicago, IL
3/15/2009
If you're looking for vinyl, Daves is the place to go. It's a tight squeeze, but well organized and easy to browse. Wall to wall records and then some! The largest selection or rock/pop, and I've found some decent Jazz stuff here. I don't think I've ever gone to Dave's and walked away empty handed, it's just not possible.
