Flashback Records

One for the heads who still dig deep and get lucky! This place has come through for me more than once. It’s not over hyped or flashy, just a real shop with crates that reward time and patience. The basement’s where it’s all at, crates of second hand 12’s, dusty jungle/DnB bits, UKG, hip hop and soul which are all in rotation. About 10/15 years ago, I found a clean copy of Lewis Parker’s ‘It’s All Happening Now’ here, one of those records I’d been chasing for some years and I’d thought it was long gone. That moment’s stuck with me ever since! The staff know their stuff, but don’t hover. You’re left to do your thing. It’s a digger’s shop, through and through, for people who want to find records, not be sold them. If you’re into the same genres I am, Hip Hop, UK house & garage, jungle/DnB and broken beat/bassline etc, then Flashback Islington is always well worth checkin out. It’s not always loud about it, but the good stuff’s in there if you know how to look. Big up the team for keeping the secondhand scene alive. Still one of the best spots north of the river and honestly, a contender for top 5 across all of London.

All the Flashback stores are great shops for buying used records. They are detailed and precise in their descriptions, and the gradings fair. I particularly enjoy the downstairs part of the Islington shop where a couple of turntables are there for listening. The team are really friendly. I walked away with a bunch of great buys!

Awesome store with great collection, fantastic staff and reasonable prices. Thank you for helping me find a record I have been looking for forever.

Great record shop with loads of vinyl and CD's and not overpriced like some of the other shops I visited in London. Staff was also very friendly and helpful. Highly Recommended!!!

Great collection of records, wide range of genres also got vinyl essentials like sleeves and so on, will definitely come back for more

My beautiful and adorable guinea pigs Yolanda (mother) and Nikki (daughter) don't mind me spending money on records at Flashback as long as I feed them fresh parsley and romaine lettuce.

A gem of a place, all the staff are lovely (and extremely knowledgeable) two floor stuffed with vinyl records, both rare & bargain and everything in between. Really appreciate it’s so welcoming to newbies. Vinyl Heaven ❤️🎵

Great people and records. You will find many things in your Wantlist here. Highly recommend

Have experienced dentists available!! Don't farm out the work to lesser practitioners just to make money!!

LOTS to find in this shop. If you have the time you could be searching for over a hour. But everything is labeled and organized which is great. I had been looking for a vinyl for 5 years, I asked the guy working if he had it, he not only said yes, he grabbed it in a second. Really great experience.

Man i love Flashback. It sits so inconspicuously on a rank of shops on Essex Rd, that if you didn't know it was there you'd walk straight past. Amongst the 20 thousand items in stock at the store, they have an amazing and notable selection of jazz, soul and swing, maybe that's the music that gets donated most around Angel?! They also have a really good website where you can search their titles and request or search for rare or deleted cd's and vinyls. The staff are obviously really knowable, both about their stock and music in general and will go out of their way to help you find what you're looking for. Definitely take a look if you're in Angel, or even if you're not you should pay a visit, and the website is an amazing resource for music collectors.

Flashback is an absolute gem. On Essex Road, not far from Angel Tube Station, it boasts the three crucial elements for an amazing record store. They are: 1. Range - The key ingredient really. Flashback stocks so much vinyl and CDs that you'd be hard-pressed not to find what you are hunting for. And if by some slim chance they don't have it in stock, they will do their darndest to find it for you. 2. Staff - In record/music stores in general, staff really do make or break the store. I love nothing more than the guy behind the counter to rattle off five different B-Sides that I might love if I say, mentioned Micah. P. Hinson, and within 5 minutes has got one playing for me and the other 4 on the counter. To be honest, I have never witnessed anyone actually do this, but I think if they would anywhere, it would be here. 3. Price - I don't want to pay a fortune for music. Rarities yes, regular second-hand stuff, no. Flashback understand this and price their stock accordingly. Yes, Flashback has the trifecta - go in and check it out for yourself.

This is definitely the outstanding source of records in Angel. All the vinyl is downstairs, with DVDs, CDs and other ephemera on the first floor where you come in. The vinyl collection is relatively small, and strongest on 60s, 70s & 80s classic rock, with some rare jazz and soundtracks also adorning the walls. Its less strong on hip-hop or dance, but there are some gems from all genres to be found from digging in the 45 section, as I can attest. There are also regular 10p sales from the Manilow-infested bargain buckets outside the shop. Staff are very friendly, particularly downstairs, where you are encouraged to test vinyl for quality before buying. This is a welcome and thoughtful aspect given the non-existence of any politeness in the snootier record shops around east London and Soho. Another thing - if you happen to be cycling there, be careful when locking your bike up on the racks outside. The last time I did so, one of the locks came clean out of its concrete setting in the pavement. If I hadn't had noticed, someone could have slipped my lock off and been away! Just a small thing, and probably irrelevant, but anyway... happy digging!

Yeah Flash Back records is really really good. Just a good music shop, so good that they even got boxed sets and rarities behind the counter. That kind of a music shop. Upstairs, it's all cheap and second-hand CDs. And what a range. I've found A LOT in here. I used to buy Blur and Manic Street Preachers' singles on CD and I found a lot here. There's a big downstairs with a lot of vinyl. Staff, straight out of High Fidelity, and that's no bad thing. Well worth coming here for a browse, or to find something especially. It's qwality!

I love me some Flashback! I find it impossible to leave empty handed and can always spend an age inside browsing. Just a regular looking shack from the outside, the inside is... also quite regular. But, importantly, filled with some books, many DVD's and a load of CD's and vinyl of varying genre's. Something for everyone. Surely. They even sell a few computer games (not many though). Being second hand, the prices are very reasonable and I've never experienced poor quality with anything bought. One could even purchase a 'Flashback' t-shirt if inclined. I never have. Yet. TTFN Ian

If you're like me and you wanna buy some second hand old school vinyl records but don't want to spend a lot of money, then this is the place for you. GOOD: - They've got a wide selection of vinyl records also in genres that I was quite shocked they had: Hiphop, UK Garage, dancehall, etc. - Their prices don't break the bank...they range from £0.99 and upwards with a average price of £12.99. - Their basement floor is only vinyl records....yeah! You'll spend a good day just going through their collection of vinyl before your done. - Their £0.99 vinyl (at the stand outside) is a good collection of musical collection to suite anyone's taste. I bought 10 records....yes, paid only £9.99. - Other than vinyl they also sell CDs and DVDs...so a one stop shop for all of your record needs. BAD: - I can't think of one.

A really great record shop that does exactly what it says on the tin. Too cool for school but very knowledgeable staff, a huge stock of predominantly 60s-80s guitar music, cheapo CDs. Briefly had a clothing branch which was also really cool but that closed down pretty quickly. Just a really good place to come for an extended browse to see what bargains, rarities or classics you can pick up from the well ordered racks. They also sell a big selection of second hand videos and DVDs.

I will always be a fan of vinyl shops and passing the time in places like Flashback Records. I actually have one nearer to me in Crouch Hill which is just as nice and cosy. Overall good to browse through. Bit up from Angel on Essex Road but along the stretch of the road that has a good few places to stop at too as neighbours.

Flahback is truly a time warp in record-mecca form. Except rather than go back in time as their name would suggest, I seem to jump forward. I'll go in at 1pm for a "quick browse" and won't come out until well past dinner time. The first time they mentioned they were closing, I remember thinking that it was a poorly executed ploy to sneak out back and enjoy some, um, herbal remedies. Nope. I'd just been in there for 2 hours, and it really was closing time. Whoops. It's like a DeLorean ride to vinyl heaven. Enjoy it.

There is something about vinyl that is purely magical. I am relatively certain that I listen to records more than I do CD's. All the great records came out on vinyl and that is how they are meant to be listened. Devoid after having to leave my vinyl collection in storage back in the States, I made the trip down Essex Road to Flashback. In all honesty, I have not see such a wide collection of great music in varying genres. After a fairly reasonable look through, I had myself a good base of records to listen to. Basic essentials like The Clash, Who, Johnny Cash, Bob Marley, White Stripes, Muddy Waters and James Brown. This place is definitely a must for all vinyl junkies. They also have a large selection of CD's and DVD's. The staff was super friendly and helpful!

Sister needs a present for boyfriend but she's in SA and the vinyl selections is few and far between there. Me (Emma C.) to the rescue cause you know, I live in the Great-Smoke and we have EVERYTHING...but wait, I've never needed to buy vinyl before (though read to the end of the review - this reviewer might change her mind yet) so where does one go? With limited time hence limited distance to go I turned to Yelp to tell me where my closest record shop were. Flashback and Haggle Vinyl came up - it's good to have 2 options in case you can't find what you want in one shop (this reviewer is no fool). Little did I know, I really only needed to go to one place. It's Flashback - they have it ALL. The place was overwhelming with records, CDs and DVDs at every turn. Old records were downstairs and new releases were upstairs with the CDs and DVDs. (In my head, I felt like some kind of fraud, I don't belong in here in my flowery dress and I'm sure they all knew it.) Even though there was loads of records everything was clearly labelled and I was able to find what I wanted super fast. I took some extra time to look at the other records on offer and really wanted to buy some (loads) but I stopped myself cause come on, I don't have a record player. I paid and it was very reasonably priced (I checked with friends just to make sure I wasn't ripped off). The guy who served me was very kind, helpful and I even had a bit of a chat with him. Off I want with my purchases and even as I left I knew I wanted to come back soon......right after I buy that record player*..... *Send me a message if you're selling a record player (for real).

don't bother the staff are a bit snotty nosed. I stood at the counter trying to buy a record and I had the cover in my hand but no one seem to notice me although I am not very slim then I kind of throw the cover somewhere and left never to return. Alan's records in East Finchley is much, much better in terms of prices and friendliness

Awful service, the records are ridiculously overpriced ranging from £22- £60, The staff were incredibly rude and unhelpful. I am never going back here again!

I was in here a couple of weeks ago to pick up a Christmas gift for my fiance. I got a record for 14.99. When I left the shop, I looked at my receipt to see they'd only charged me 1.49! Guilt struck me, so I went back to tell them. The guy at the counter was so sweet and grateful and said to just give him ten and we'd call it even! Just another reason I love this place.

This store has good selection of DVDs. It is a 10 - 15 minute walk from Angel underground station. The staff were ok

Usually just come here for the used DVD's as they usually have a great selection and great prices.