Nuggets

Yes, Nuggets is a Boston institution and I treat it as such. However, so much more of this place could be better than it currently is and I leave with an unfulfilled feeling when leaving.
I get that record stores get a ton of constant new inventory and would probably need to hire 2 – 3 full time employees just to catalog it all and price accordingly but I still don’t get why all of them feel like a hoarders attic. I’d say, 75% of what Nuggets actually has in stock isn’t even up for sale and you aren’t allowed to go through the vast collections sitting underneath those already priced and ready for purchase. Why not let me see what you have that I MIGHT purchase to increase overall sales? You could look it up as it is brought to the counter and price it then. They must lose lots of business just for this reason alone and it’s quite sad.
A huge strike and pet peeve of mine for record stores is not having a listening area for customers. Much of what is for sale is super obscure and even though I have an interest in the genre that it is in, I don’t want to waste my money on something that I’ll hate once I have it home. The opposite holds true for those I was like, «meh, this probably isn’t that good» until you get it home and are blown away by that 70’s psych rock track nobody ever heard of but is now one of your favorites. I asked the owner and he said they have issues with people stealing the needles. If that’s the case, how about you invest in some wireless cameras and tell people they are being monitored ²⁴⁄₇ as a deterrent?
With my last visit, I walked out of here with about five pieces of vinyl and $ 20 spent. That sounds like a good deal but I didn’t buy any of the «name brand» bands I may have been going in for because to me, many were a bit overpriced. I wanted something like The Who’s second album but when it’s $ 40, I’m less likely to plunk down money on it, especially without being able to listen to it first. Other stores in the area may price the same album at $ 25 – 35, as a comparison.
I’ll still return and buy artists I’m both familiar with and are priced accordingly. But seriously, the $ 20 I spent could have turned into $ 50 if I just had a place to hear it first. And that added $ 30 would add up over hundreds of transactions a year, making those stolen needles much easier to replace.

Lots of choices to chose from… Had a great environment.

I’ve found some obscure/​interesting/​crusty stuff here.
And a pretty decently priced Danzig record once! Which is to say, I’ve found interesting and crusty stuff there. Obscure, no. Infrequently found? Sure.
Prices can be a bit north of expectations from time to time, but that’s okay. I always have a good time there, and at the end of the day, isn’t that all that really matters in this crazy hobby?

Decent little shop. Singles were a bit pricy. Large selection for a small little store, however nearly everything I was looking for wasn’t in the shop. Nice to have another record shop in the area, but not my favorite.

Great Place. They have many titles and have awesome hours wher I can drop by after work to just relax.

This record store is absolutely ridiculous, in a good way. It’s packed to the gills with old records spanning all genres. What really sets this store apart from others in the Boston area are the rare pressings and vinyls you can find here. From autographs to test pressings and hard to find first pressings, you’re guaranteed to stumble upon something awesome.
EDIT 1÷5÷2015: For some reason the owner has raised his prices on most of his records. While there is still a really good selection, the records aren’t worth nearly what they are asking for them

I am reviewing this as a vinyl collector only.
I have been going here since 2008 and had been a weekly, loyal customer until recently.
This establishment has always been the priciest record shop in the Boston area, and up until semi-​recently, it was tolerable. I was willing to pay a few extra bucks to get what I wanted. But now he has raised his prices again to a point where he is charging, literally, double for every record you would be looking for.
I go on record shopping days and go from store to store and have found records in other shops selling the same stock as Nuggets for twice as less with no decreasing product quality.
It is unfortunate because he does have a noteworthy, mid-​quality variety of records, but no collector who knows what they’re looking for would pay what the owner is asking for. Granted, it does depend on what you are looking for, but even for albums that are not high in demand or very popular, the owner charges far too much.
The owner is a nice guy, willing to chat with you and give you quality customer service however, if you plan on selling anything, go elsewhere. It is a lower than the rate you could get elsewhere.
Below are better record shops in the Cambridge and Alston area that are more honest with their vinyl prices.
Cambridge/​Harvard:
In Your Ear
Planet Records
Cheapo Records
Apocalypse Records
Stereo Jack’s Records
Alston/​Boston University
Looney Tunes
In Your Ear
My Personal Favorite in Worcester, MA
That’s Entertainment

Went in because I had time to kill while in the area on other business. I think it was the owner on premises judging from his age and attitude. I looked around for the music I wanted but could not get assistance. Owner (maybe he was a clerk) was at the counter buying CD/DVD’s from someone who had come in the store. The prices offered and accepted were alarmingly low. I tried to get someone to wait on me. After several minutes of being unable to make eye contact, I left. I was dressed in a suit and tie and had a wallet full of cash and credit cards in hand. Maybe you’ll get better service, but I left my selections on the counter after waiting and being ignored. The prices for used CD’s were fairly high. Bad experience.

Since nuggets usually closes at 6 or 7 or something — I’m usually rushing by as it closes on my way to dinner. One fateful day, after an early dinner and drinks, i saw that, at 8pm, the store was still open. Wandering around, we were greated by rows of DVDs CDs Records, VHS tapes from every genre and era imaginable. Okay, there weren’t any wax cylinders, so maybe not EVERY genre. And that is how I ended up with the entire Kaiser Chiefs collection.
Think used CDs, but all in immaculate condition (according to the owner, and my limited sampling). You flip through the album covers in plastic containers, and bring up your selection to the clerk, who finds the CDs for you, puts them in a new jewel case along with the cd. The ones I looked at were between 2 and 6 bucks.
It is VERY hit or miss, so if you have a good memory (unlike me) for band names, you will undoubtedly find some real steals. If you lack impulse control, the low price point may have you walking out with an odd assortment.
This place really should be open later — but I’m glad its not — because i would develop a strange collection of finds after wandering out of lower depths.

In a town that has lost many of its great record stores (Mars, Second Comings, Looney Tunes, etc.), Nuggets is one of the last shops still worth going to. Unlike many of the other stores, it’s not just rows and rows of filler. I always come away from here with a couple of good finds and reasonably-​priced ones too.
The guy who runs the shop is also super nice and isn’t afraid to chat you up about the record you’re looking at. I hope he and the shop still have many years ahead. Must be pretty hard to keep going in this day and age, especially in a city that has lost so much of its personality.

I just spent 40 minutes finding and 50 bucks on 9 awesome CDs, the first I have purchased in over a year. Sure, the place may be super old school and not have the best selection, but they have clearly figured out how to strike a balance that allows them to stay in business and offer the public what they are looking for. I can’t WAIT to play these bad boys when I get home to the Bay Area, where the best surviving record store, Amoeba on Haight, is a little overwhelming to someone like me.

Pretty good record store right in the middle of Boston. Came here almost two years ago after visiting Fenway Park, literally a stone’s throw away from the place.
It’s a massively huge place compared to the venerable stops in NYC. I bought a couple of good solid records here. I got a beat up copy of Metallica’s Master of Puppets for 3 bucks, but plays well on my turntable. Yet, I also got the vintage Wrestling Album for a whopping 12 dollars. Meh on the pricing of the other records, but this place is well-​stocked and a good place to find the standards.
Overall, it’s a good experience. If I’m ever in Boston, I’ll make sure to stop by here each time.

Grew up with this store. I remember the first CD I sold for credit — $ 10. Those were the days. At any rate, this store is an institution that I fear might die out with the digital age. Highly recommend supporting it — great selection of vinyl that you’ll never find anywhere most likely.

I don’t see how this place can survive, but it’s awesome! If I bought CDs or records, I’d be here all the time, but I just can’t justify it with a Spotify subscription. I wish they had more rare items (maybe you have to be on the look out and come here often to catch them). The CDs were pretty cheap!

Great store… I wonder if the owner is still local? Remember my favorite film, Cinema Paradiso?

Very solid collection, Aerosmith and the Stones playing overhead, and relatively helpful staff. A bit overpriced for the quality of a lot of the vinyl, but coming from Ohio perhaps I’m just used to midwestern pricing. Overall a lot of heritage and heart in this place — definitely worth a browse.

Nuggets 10 years ago — easily 4 stars. Nuggets today — 2 stars is generous. The second star is there merely because I’m happy to see that they’ve managed to stay in business. All I can say is that they must either own their space or someone signed a LONG lease a few years back.
Somehow, they’re still here. As is their stock, most of it appearing to have spent the last 10 years right where it is. Much of the vinyl is stuff you’d commonly find at flea markets and yard sales — dog-​eared copies of million-​selling but now mostly irrelevant 70’s-80’s rock and pop titles. But hey, if you ever need a Boz Scaggs record in rough shape, Nuggets has you covered.
As a Smiths fan, one way I always guage record stores is whether they have any Smiths/​Morrissey in stock, and if so, what they’ve got, what condition, and at what price? Why The Smiths? They’re a good indicator of how well a store keeps up with demand, as Smiths records are highly collectible and sell quickly when priced fairly. However, should you manage to find the Smiths section at Nuggets, you’ll likely find either an empty slot or a mis-​filed Patti Smith record. You might have slightly better luck looking in The Jam section, that is if you’re looking for old Style Council 12″ singles.
The bargain CD’s in the back are still a good deal at $ 2, and Nuggets is one of the few places still around to find affordable used CD’s. However, the selection is unpredictable and many discs are promo copies, so if you’re looking for a specific album you’re probably out of luck.
I hate to say it, but when it comes to killing time in Kenmore Square, you’re almost better of in the BU bookstore/​Barnes & Noble across the street. Coming into Nuggets just makes me depressed that it’s no longer a happening place full of cool records and cheap CD’s staffed by members of cool local rock bands.

Nuggets definitely gives off the impression of a long-​standing record store when one walks in, for the place is huge and chock full of assorted dusty merchandise. These guys have everything that one may or may not think of: cds, vinyl, dvds, concert dvds, posters, and even adult dvds. Those movies have music in them, right?
I didn’t get a chance to look through the vinyl, but the cd section was quite comprehensive. They have a section divider for nearly every well known band, but many sections are lacking any cds. I’m not sure if the owners of music stores actively seek out filling in these gaps, but it can be a little frustrating not having anything to sort through when browsing. The prices are pretty good for used cds at $ 6 – 7, and one can even get a few sealed discs for as low as $ 6.
There’s an extensive $ 2 cd section with just piles of music in the back of the store. One can find quite a few fun ones in there, though if you’re a stickler for unmarked discs, somebody unfortunately put a black ‘X’ on the front cover of every $ 2 album. Real bummer if you care about that stuff. However, if you’re just there for discovering new music then that’s a great section to sift through.
I found the staff at Nuggets to be very friendly, laid back, and easy to chat with. I was asked a few times if I had any questions, but those inquiries came across casually so I didn’t feel hounded like one might feel at some department stores. With the nice staff and the vast array of stuff to look through, one can really spend a few hours here just poking around. Great place to pop by if you get a chance.

A pretty cool little dive of a record store, I found myself trapped in Nuggets for the better part of an hour after skimming through the old hip-​hop records. It’s basically an awesome trip back in time because you find all these old records and releases with songs you love and you can’t help but love it. At least, I couldn’t. Their record selectin is IMMENSE (imo…some people may find this a small collection, but I don’t have much experience with record stores). Many of the records were selling between $ 3 and $ 6 with the rare Michael Jackson albums and similar items reaching as high as $ 25. I can’t comment on the QUALITY of the vinyl in this store, but the selection is certainly appreciable.
Their organization system definitely follows the «Rock is the best, then Jazz is pretty cool, then everyone else can fill in around that» school of thought. So for the classic rock fan, this place is pretty great. Even hip-​hop fans will eventually find something cool in here, even if it takes a while.
I can’t say much for the staff since I didn’t want to buy anything and thus didn’t speak to anyone, but they sell record players apparently. This would be a great starting point for someone looking to start a collection of classic vinyl, I can say that for certain. Also, it’s quite easy to get to (right outside the Kenmore T Stop).

ME: Oh, Nuggets! I love Nuggets! We’re going inside.
HIM: Ugh. You can download any of this stuff on iTunes.
ME: Um, nooooooo… you can’t download a picture disc of Linda Ronstadt circa 1981 on iTunes, can you? Huh? CAN you?!
HIM: Okay, correction: You can download anything here WORTH BUYING on iTunes.
ME: Can you please shut up and humor me? *sigh* I used to spend my weekends in high school sorting through the stacks here. This place is very special to me. *hums Brokedown Palace*
HIM: Ugh. You and your fucking hippie music. If I have to listen to another Grateful Dead bootleg I am going to kill myse — OH LOOK! USED PORN!!!
ME: I thought so. Like I said, I love Nuggets.
Whenever I think I don’t really miss Boston, I let my mind roll back to some of the happiest moments of my teenage years– rummaging through the racks of records at the once-​bountiful used record stores in the Boston area – and the nostalgia kicks in.
Yes, I said RECORDS.
No, I’m not THAT fucking old, but I’m old enough to have spent $ 350 on my first cd player in the late 80s, and to remember when most cds cost at least eighteen bucks and came in very environmentally unfriendly packaging.
Back when cds first came out, the rich folks traded in their vinyl for the newfangled digital things, and kids like me took advantage of the huge influx of inventory at places like Nuggets, Disc Diggers, Looney Tunes, Mystery Train (Mystery Train was particularly awesome because they actually sold Dead bootlegs behind the counter, but you had to keep it on the DL). For the price of one cd, I could leave the store with seven or eight record albums.
I had a chat with the original owner of Nuggets the last time I was in Boston. Apparently all of the aforementioned used music stores have gone out of business, thanks in part to iTunes and Amazon. Despite his amazing inventory and my desire to stay for hours (he was just about to close when I got there), he did not seem optimistic about the future of his business.
«I hope I don’t have to go and get a real job soon,» he said.
«Ugh. Real jobs,» I sighed, and we both shook our long-​haired heads in dirty hippie resignation.
Then he rang up my copy of Dick’s Picks Volume V (on cd, *sigh* of course), the one with the Oakland Arena December ’79 show and that killer Estimated on disc two that, despite my heavy, heady Boston nostalgia, always seems to remind me that I love California, the «prophet on the burning shore» just a little bit more.
Nothing left to do but smile, smile, smile.

I like this place a lot. The older guy at the counter who I assume is the owner is super nice and always very mellow. He will chat with you about CDs and DVDs and just has a cool vibe to him. The store is laid out pretty well and I love the looking at the random stuff on the walls.