Record Graveyard

Yes, yes, and yes again to the only record shop that has me finding the most incredible digs. This time it was a pressed for BBC broadcast 12 disc aural history of Motown. Yup. Read that again. I still regret not paying top dollar for the last record that the owner and i spend 30 minutes talking about. A must for any serious collector happy to see a surprise or two.

Great selection of used records (mostly 80s and earlier) in all genres.... reasonably priced!

If you're looking for some vinyl, don't let the name fool you. This tiny store tucked away in Hamtramck is definitely filled with great spirits and tunes. The albums are mostly old, of course, but not overpriced, unlike most others. Great selection of Motown. They are not annoyingly sealed so you're able to check the records for scratches before purchasing. That's a bonus, I'd say. Plus, read them. The sleeves in the olden days sometimes have the lyrics. It's not the cleanest or tidiest and depending on what day you're there, the staff member who's working might like to chat or doesn't. But no matter what, when you're there, they'll have a sweet vinyl spinning on the turntable. The music fills the room and puts a whole different vibe to the experience. Remember to check the posters, too. May see one from an old concert you attended back in the day. Definitely go.

Very Cool Old Skool Record Store. Highly recommend. 😎

Very organized for a record store. We could find records easily and when I did need help the owner searched through some special places to find a record and was very knowledgeable about his own stock as well. The records were more expensive then other stores I’ve gone to but still reasonable. Also their stock was the best that we had seen. I’ll be coming back for sure!

I remember when I was living in hamtramck with my ex. We would go to record graveyard almost every weekend. Jeff (the owner)always gave us a discount.

Amazing gem of a store in Detroit. The owner was super nice. The selection was really great. Decent prices, nothing was inflated like at other record stores.

Great place to find vinyl at reasonable prices. Lots of classic rock and R n B. 45s, Magazines and posters can also be found. A limited supply of CD's though. They do buy.

Record Graveyard is hands down the best record store in the Detroit area. No pretenses, simply the best way to add to my ecord collection.

Yes, the graveyard is super cheap. with gas over $4, there's some draw to anything cheap these days, wouldn't you say? But cheap doesn't always necessarily mean good - I could always shop for "cheap" at the Walmart bargain bin. What the RG brings to the table is quality records for a price that can't be beat. I was having a conversation about the graveyard with a friend of mine who's really into Jazz; he only has a few places he likes, basically because so few places carry quality Jazz these days. You know how picky those old fans can get. He took me here first. I'm not a Jazz hipster like him, but I do like records - and oh, they have a ton. I snagged quite a bit for very little - some records were as Misi said, literally $1. Even the new releases were inexpensive. I'm accustomed to paying over $20 per record sometimes for that "audiophile grade vinyl" junk. That doesn't seem to happen here unless its rare. So it didn't break the bank. It seems like they have a good rotation of stock going. I can see myself easily coming back at least once a week and not looking at the same old junk over and over again. It's like the thrift shop of records!

Cute little shop in a (not so) cute little area. Record Graveyard is old school in every sense. Old records. Old building. Old vibes. If you're sick of fancy record stores with Animal Collective rarities this is the place for you. That being said, If you're looking for new albums, turn around. This place has a lot of great older selections but as far as new stuff... There are some reissues by the front and that's about it. The selection is outstanding. Great selection of rock and very good selection of soul and R&B in particular. You'll spot a ton of familiar titles but popular artists but also some strange stuff; it's a perfect balance. No matter what you dig, you'll find something you want. The prices are mixed. I walked out with a very choice album that I couldn't have found cheaper anywhere else but there were certainly some titles that could have been found cheaper elsewhere. The market is tough for original stuff but some of the titles, given their condition were a bit high. Service is great here! Friendly and helpful. Make sure to check out the two dollar bins! Definitely some gems to be had. It may not be in your neck of the woods, but make sure to pay a visit to Record Graveyard. Shops like this are few and far between these days!

This is one of the most overpriced record stores I've been to. I could understand if this were a bougie suburb and they had high overhead/rent/taxes, but that is definitely not the case on a side-street in a residential area of Hamtramck. The store has the look and feel of a great record store - the inventory is there and they've cultivated an excellent atmosphere of organized-disorganization. But once you start digging, you'll be experiencing sticker shock 90% of the time you look. The other 10% is what you might be willing to pay if you really wanted that particular album NOW. If you're looking to go crate digging for deals, this is definitely not the place for you. If you want to search through 20,000 records for a particular album you need, and then hand over what you'd pay to have it delivered to your door plus a couple extra dollars for the pleasure, then you might like this place. For me it isn't worth the time.

First and foremost the location of the store is not the location listed here on yelp. The stores new address is 2926 Caniff (right next to Paychecks) so do not go to the location listed. The Record Graveyard is another store that has been off my radar because of the location. It's a bit of a drive and I really don't have any places around there that I frequent so naturally it would be a dedicated trip for me to go there. After a fruitful visit to Street Corner Music, I found that I was still hungry for more record hunting action, so I set my GPS for the Record Graveyard. After arriving at the old location (like stated above) I ran up to the door and read the sign posted and found out they had moved just a block or so up the road. I was not really sure what to expect when I was buzzed in by the store clerk. The inside was rather old and not super clean, so I was a bit suspicious about what I was going to find. The jazz albums are located on the left wall and they take-up about the entire length of the wall, so I was pretty excited to see such a large selection. In the two trips I have made here, I have bought about 30+ records. Not bad...hopefully the store will survive past their 1st of the year (2011) deadline.

The new location (2610 Carpenter) looks good, and is bit easier to navigate. There is no more dollar bin, but the $2 bin was loaded with great stuff- I think I picked up about 5 CTI LPs and a few others out of there on my last trip. The overall selection of used LPs and 45s is good, and the staff is very friendly. Still, some of the old issues continue to haunt Record Graveyard. The pricing is a bit high, especially given the locale. If I'm shopping at a storefront attached to a house in the rougher part of Hamtramck, I'm looking for better prices than I can get at, say, Found Sound in downtown Ferndale. However, my biggest concern is whether I'll be finding any rarities at RG at any price. At the previous location, it seemed that the best stuff never hit the floor, instead getting immediately put up for sale on line. I realize everyone needs to get a good price for their inventory, but would it kill them to let it hang out on the shelf for a month or so before offering it to the rest of the world?

This is my favorite record shop for digging. Every few minutes you spend flipping through records will reveal a new gem, or something you've been looking for for years. The new location is a bit less cramped than the last one, and it is still packed with good stuff. The prices are fair, especially for the selection. There are some nicer albums lined up along the wall, some are pretty impressive. Last time I was in there, my friend found a Toots and the Maytals record, I snagged a clean copy of Kind of Blue, an X LP, and about 7 other LPs i've been searching for. The jazz selection is unbelievable and worth a look. If you have any questions, Frank is knowledgable and likes to talk about jazz. It doesn't quite have the charm or friendliness of Lo and Behold, but it does have a hell of a used selection. If you are searching for new records, their selection is severely lacking. To me, that adds to the appeal, but I also have plenty of other shops to browse for those records. If you're into 45s, they have those too. If you like rock, you'll find a huge selection, and some coveted Zappa records amongst the stacks. If you can't find it here, try the other two shops in Hamtramck!

This place is great, I would say that it is better than Encore in Ann Arbor. Yeah, I said it... what! Anyways, good stuff for $1. What's that you say you don't have a record player? Well, get some records for your friends who do and they will love you for it.

The Record Graveyard has lots to offer ... more, I'd say, than is initially clear upon arrival. The shop itself is a little depressing. I'm not sure why, but it feels like all of the sadness of vinyl's fall from the pinnacle of media dominance has saturated the walls of the place. That being said, many good records are here for the picking. The prices are very good, although the pricing method is kinda weird. Things are marked rather high, but everything is 50% off all the time. Ok... Once you wrap your head around that cognitive shift, the prices actually tend to be very reasonable and the stock seems to be turning over at a healthy enough pace. Worth frequent visits.

Thanks place has good titles but beware, most of the records I looked at were not in great condition. The lighting is poor in this place. Luckily he had a makeshift listening station. The records I was going to buy didn't leave the store. Bring your own headphones and a quarter inch adapter. The store cans suck. Also. Very inconsiderate owner blared shitty 60s acid garbage the whole time I was in there. Prices are hit and miss.

Makes me want to buy a record player. Or better yet, I'll buy some as gifts and listen to them at my friends' homes.

wOOHooooO.....The Record Graveyard roks my soks in terms of dolla-bin shopping. Not only are tons of records a buck, it's a buck no tax, so you can spend a flat $20 and come out with 20 records. The Math is very simple. If you relish the feel of dusty fingerz then this is your spot. The guy at the register is kind of old and crochety but all in all you can unearth some gems here...

Hadn't been to the new location on Caniff yet. Didn't remember the other location being that large, but this is about the size of Car City in St. Clair Shores. One of the best layouts of all the current Metro D record stores. Most things are at waist level and comprehensibly laid out. There is also a small stand of new vinyl in the front. Not sure what makes me think this, but between depth of selection, size, intuitiveness of filing and overall integrity of the stock, this is the closest we have to a Jerry's Records of Pittsburgh (maybe it's just the Polish thing). The average sticker price here is a usually a buck or two above what other record stores would have - but the good news is everything used is half off!! I guess the deal runs until June 2011, when it's very possible that this place could close.

Good prices, great selection of older/used records. If you're looking for rock/pop, this might not be your place, but as far as jazz, soul, R&B, and everything else, you gotta stop here. The owner is very knowledgeable and friendly.

Not a bad place. Location is just plain awful. Prices are higher than most for what I look for. Not much in the way of metal which I was told is a thing of the past. Yet UHF has a massive Metal section and other shops have a fair bit as well. Its hot right now with the aging guys buying old favs back. Anyway a decent shop with a nice older fellow behind the counter. Much of the "collectable" vinyl was very overpriced. Ebay asking price high. If I hear shops say "that's what they are going for on Ebay" I am going to puke. No that's not what they actually sell for on Ebay and after Ebay takes their cut and all the potential fraud ... well ... I think Graveyard does a lot of Ebay. Another person mentioned the depressing vibe .. it has that indeed. You just feel like all the sadness of the industry is pressing down. Maybe its the cardboard or the long tube like layout. I would not discourage anyone from checking it out. But its not my #1 either.

Have been a fan for years, Jeff ,Frank and the rest are a pleasure to haggle with. A collector can still find a jewel that hasn`t made it to ebay. I feel a bit giddy as I enter the store. Shopping for vinyl is still like the old days, at the graveyard.

If any of you are old enough to have graced an old record joint named 'Desirable Discs' (having an East & West Dearborn locations along with a hole in the wall Garden City location which after a messy divorce his then ex-wife Ann aka QUEEN BITCH ran into the ground) once upon a time (I am a veteran ex-employee of 4 years)?! The 'Record Graveyard' is owned by the same guy, Jeff Garbus. Jeff has been in the record game for quite some time now and really, REALLY knows all of the ins & outs. He is more than fair with his prices, plus once he sees you frequent the shop a few times he'll consider you a valued customer and be more than willing to work with you on a quanity purchases. If you're in search of a lost vinyl gem, if he ain't got it he will be more than willing to keep his eyes peeled for you and hold onto it until your next visit... All in all Jeff & his 'Record Graveyard' is a DEN OF MUSTY DUSTIES & RECORDS FROM THE TOMBS!!! A 'MUST VISIT' for the avid vinyl lover & a 'FOR SURE HEAVEN' for you vinyl junkies! AFTER YOU GET DONE PLUNDERING THE VAULTS HERE BE SURE TO MAKE A DETOUR OVER TO WOODWARD AVE, NOW ATTACHED TO THE GARDEN BOWL & MAGIC STICK VENUES IS ANOTHER ONE OF DETROIT's VINYL HAUNTS *****PEOPLES MUSIC***** another really killer shop with super hip & well rounded owners. Be sure to dig it ! HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!