Stereo Jack’s Records

Awesome store with decent vinyls at reasonable prices. This was the perfect place for me as I just got a player and was still exploring vinyls. They have a ton of lower cost records for even a dollar each, but also higher price points if that’s what you’re looking for.
High frequency of new shipments and purchases means that you’ll likely see something new pretty often. Décor isn’t great, but hey, you’re there for the records, not the view.

Found some hidden gems. There were some good deals to be had. $ 1 bins was great. No hip/​hop section was a let down. Good for Rock/​Jazz & Blues.
Major disappointment was that they had a bunch of records out that were no yet priced and not for sale. More importantly the 2 – 3 employees on staff were not able to give a price.

I recommend Stereo Jack’s Records wholeheartedly. The small storefront makes use of its space well. They don’t put out worthless records that no one will want and that will only sit there forever. So that means if something is in the bins, it has already been screened for usability. Most of the inventory is dirt cheap too. 90% of the records are $ 1 and 99% of the CDs are $ 2. The only downside to this store is that parking is frequently unavailable on the street. They are firm about a $ 10 minimum for credit/​debit card purchase.

Stereo Jack’s is still open and still stocks a little of everything with the best prices in town.

It’s not the largest selection of the Cambridge record stores, but it’s extremely well curated. For instance, they had a small section of Stevie Wonder records in the Soul section, but they were almost all his classic early 70’s albums, all in good condition and very fairly priced. There’s also a big $ 1 section in each genre which is an embarrassment of riches… I found one album in the Rock dollar bin that I had just paid $ 10 for last week at In Your Ear. The moral of the story: try this place first.

Check out this recent article on Jack’s:
Folks, really. Jack’s is the best there is. I stand by that. Good product, great presentation, give away prices. I have visited stores from Maine to Chicago and no where comes close when you look at the overall product, selection, convenience, price and service. I hope Jack never retires!

Really awesome collection of jazz especially big band and swing. There is other great stuff here too. Really impressed with the low prices. I managed to get an awesome Miles Davis record for only $ 3! In fantastic condition might I add. Got a couple of Ellington records for $ 1! And I got a Derek and the dominos record for $ 10. You could probably walk in there with $ 40 and leave with 30 great records

As a Jazz and blues Vinyl fan, i was fairly impressed with this store which seemed to cater to these genre’s. This store gets a 4 star just for that, as I rarely find a store that has a descent selection of jazz and blues. The records that were stocked when I visited were nice, hard to find titles generally in good condition and prices were right. However, the stock was pretty small. A large amount of the store was dedicated to $ 1 records, which is great for those interested in such things, and although i do enjoy a $ 1 record, way too much top shelf space was dedicated to them.
On another note, the store features another rarity, blues 78’s! If you enjoy 78’s, this is your shop!
The décor of the shop was in serious need of a face-​lift, just put something up on the walls you know, something to liven it up a bit. Some of the walls were decorated in old vinyl covers, however most of what was on the walls was faded so they were barely recognizable, and must have been put up many many years ago.
All in All, I enjoyed my visit, and appreciate their stock.
Walked away with a 1^st press of Cecil Taylor’s «Unit Structures»

Stereo Jack’s is exactly what I want from a record store — a great selection, reasonable prices, and a superhuman $ 1 section!!! Plus, the staff is friendly!!!
When I die and go to heaven, Stereo Jack’s will be the only record store there!

I’m pretty green in the world of record hunting, and have only been to a few record shops, Stereo Jack’s in Harvard Square, Grooves in Union, the place behind Tres Gatos in JP, and Cutler’s in New Haven. Each has their place, and I wouldn’t turn down a trip to any of them. But this is a review of Stereo Jack’s because after a third trip, I feel I am equipped to provide a meaningful review for those who prefer to have some idea of what to expect before heading out to pick up some vinyl.
As far as location and retail space, Stereo Jack’s has a lot going for it. Located between Harvard and Porter, complete with two giant store front windows on the sunny side of Mass Ave, you couldn’t ask for a better spot. Maybe such a spot costs too much and has drained Stereo Jack’s ability to create a storefront that is in balance with its location and neighboring establishments. There is no denying that I am bit of a merchandising snob, but I can’t accept the overall presentation of their store. They have simply mailed it in. The signage is amateur, the windows are yellowing and unkempt, their window «displays» look more like storage, and the overall vibe of the storefront is that it’s closed, and has been for some time. But it hasn’t. I know they thought they were going to close, but their lease was extended and besides, it never looked any better.
That’s the outside.
Upon entering, you might wonder how one would decorate the inside of a used record shop. In a stroke of brilliance and a fresh approach, Stereo Jacks tacked LP album covers on the walls. Shocker. I am all for old thyme record shoppes, and understand that selling records at a dollar a pop isn’t going to pay for wall paint, a broom, a mop, Windex, a refurnished wood grained 70’s turntable on an enticing stand flanked by a nasty pair of DeVore Gibbon speakers basking in the sunlight of liberty and luring passerby’s to look in and reminisce. I get that. But what is the point of having a store that is depressing to look at, isn’t overly inviting, and is somewhat of an organizational mess? I am at a loss. Maybe Stereo Jack’s is one man’s dream, which is fine, I just can’t help but think it could be a whole lot better without a whole lot of effort. It took me this long, but I think that’s the word where Stereo Jack and I would disagree, effort. I see none. He/​they surely see some.
As an example, they have about seven bins of records filed under the «new arrivals» category. There is no order to these. In total they probably have about thirty-​five bins of records. They are broken down into some basic genre’s like, Rock, Jazz, Country, etc. A few notable performers get their own sleeve’s, but the rest are organized by the first letter of the band. Any alphabetizing is purely by chance. Thankfully, flipping through records isn’t a terrible way to pass the time, but, tactical strike missions are next to impossible with this type of organization. It wouldn’t help much, but I’m certain there is time in the day to file those six bins of new arrivals away as well.
I have purchased about ten records from Stereo Jack’s. Not one of them has a scratch, and not one of them isn’t good enough for the low price I paid. There is an older, soft spoken gentleman who normally works the register who is genuinely nice and knowledgeable. There is a turntable should you want to play a record first, though I haven’t tried and there are no signs suggesting that is a welcomed activity. I forgot to mention that some of those unorganized bins are labeled $ 1 and sure enough, all those records cost $ 1. There is even less organization to those as you might imagine.
The outside of the store matches the inside, they aren’t trying to be something they are not. So, for their honesty, their fair prices, the records that are good enough, and an ok selection, I’ll give Stereo Jack’s three stars.

The staff is really friendly and helpful, but I don’t love Stereo Jack’s because it’s all old stuff– you won’t find the newest Decemberists’ session on sale here.
If 78s are your thing, though, you may want to drop it.
I also appreciate that it doesn’t smell like musty junk, since they do sell old stuff.
And, $ 10 credit card minimum.

Solid record store with good prices. Most vinyl in acceptable condition and a wide selection considering it’s size. I’ll be back for sure!

I’ve done both buying and selling here and it’s always been great. You get a fair price if you sell stuff (hint: your copy of the white album with ripped cardboard and missing sleeves isn’t worth as much as you think it is). Other people complain about the staff but I’ve never had a problem. Maybe they get cranky if you ask stupid questions or try to haggle, I dunno. Never tried it.
It’s true, they have a minimum for credit cards. I used to be opposed to stores doing this, since it technically violates the merchant agreements. But now that all the banks have proven themselves to be colossal asshats, I really don’t have a problem with it, especially when it’s something low like $ 10.

Despite the fact that I only get back in to Stereo Jacks’s once every few years now, Jack continues to greet me as if I still come in every week.
Some things never change and I’m glad for it.
Stereo Jack’s mickey fickey rules!
Vinyl hounds, it’s time to start diggin’. I feel like a dachshund in a badger burrow. Woof woof.

One of the better surviving record stores in the Boston area. The records are usually in really good shape and the prices are pretty reasonable.
You’re not going to find much in the way of new music, post-​1990 rock and pop, hip hop or electronic. But if there’s a certain 80s rock LP that you’re looking to add to your collection and you don’t want to pay a lot, chances are Stereo Jack’s has a copy of that Cars or Billy Idol record you’re looking for. They’ll also have that Billy Ocean 7″ that you’ve been itching to hear again.
It seems like a big part of their clientele is older guys buying jazz, blues and early rock music. I don’t buy a ton of jazz, but when I do I prefer it on vinyl, and again Stereo Jack’s jazz selection is well-​stocked with rarities and dollar records alike.

Stereo Jack’s is the best place in Boston to find used jazz LPs. It’s not an enormous selection, but there’s a good level of turnover and I’ve seen LPs here that rarely pop up elsewhere. Prices are reasonable, with plenty of sub-​$ 5 LPs to choose from. If you’re interested in jazz or blues, view this as a five star review.
Their rock vinyl is less impressive. The vast majority of it is worn classic rock vinyl – Stones, Beatles, Dylan, Zeppelin – with reasonable prices. If you’re after those bands, it’ll be a good trip. If you’re after something more esoteric, you may have to visit a few times. Occasionally I’ll find something good, like a Cocteau Twins LP, Boys Life’s Departures and Landfalls LP, or a Colin Newman LP, but more often I’ll flip through everything and make a quick exit.
Remember to bring cash. The $ 10 minimum on credit cards coupled with their low prices often leaves me scrounging for filler buys.

Stores like this are so rare these days, and one of the things I do love about the Cambridge area is that there are some gems still around! Their specialty here is jazz/​blues, however they have an excellent selection of various types of music. rare vinyls! 2 buck cd’s! what’s not to like? Only the 10 buck minimum on credit cards. a few times I wanted to grab a ouple of those cd’s but didn’t have cash on me. this definitely a place to visit if you’re a music buff of any kind. they esp cater to those who are into imports, which i’m not. I care more about the music then simply buying the same music album that was made in another country. but hat i’m getting at is that no matter where your music tastes run, there is something you’ll love in here.

In a town where record stores either close or move to smaller locations, it’s nice to see Stereo Jack’s still holding up well between Harvard and Porter Squares. It’s really the only music store that is relatively close to Somerville and Arlington, so for us music nuts in those areas this is as accessible as it gets. It’s a great place to stop if only because it could be the first stop on a nice music shopping trip on the way to Harvard Square’s bountiful music store ‘scene’.
As has been mentioned before, Stereo Jack’s primarily deals in jazz and therefore should be one’s main stop if one is interested in that genre. There are a few rows of jazz vinyl that look comprehensive in artist and album, but since I’m not much of a vinyl shopper these days I am unsure if the prices are competitive. What *is* competitive are the prices of the used cds, which range from $ 4 – 7 for all sorts of popular artists in every genre. If you need to fill in some jazz back catalog, or pick up a few pivotal albums, they’ve got quite a few available. The rock section mostly consists of the popular classic bands instead of the modern stuff, but the prices, like are said, are pretty good.
My favorite spot, the dollar bin (or in this case the $ 2 bin), has a really nice selection. About half of the selection is jazz-​related, so if don’t know much jazz you really won’t know much about the dollar bin artists. The other half has proven to be relatively decent in that one has a chance to pick up some quiet classics (i.e. Ride’s «Nowhere») or a few fun records from the modern or retro age (i.e. Eddy Grant!). Unlike other dollar bins that tend to be full of true filler, Stereo Jack’s usually has a few good ones on every visit I make.
Aside from the music, the atmosphere of the place is what truly makes Stereo Jack’s a good visit. The people who run the register, including the owner at times, are always very helpful and kind. When browsing these people are likely to engage in conversations with patrons who seem to be regulars in the store, so such discussions give off a neighborhood feel. I’ve also been in there a couple of times when a full-​fledged jazz discussion is going on between a few people, which put me in a state of awe and humility simultaneously. I, uh, quietly stuck to my dollar bin sorting but made sure to hold up a few obscure jazz artists at random and nod approvingly.
Good store and certainly worth a stop on a Boston trip for music, especially if shopping for jazz and some comfortable privacy.

Stereo Jack’s is a mediocre used music store. As far as vinyl is concerned the selection isn’t huge, but what they do have in stock is generally in good shape. They have a lot of Classical records for 1 dollar, but the condition varies.
The owner/​older rotund gentleman who works the counter could use some attitude adjustments. I haven’t been into vinyl for as long as he I’m sure, but when I simply asked him to play a record on the turntable to ensure that a mark on it was not audible he treated me as if I had never used a turntable before. He continued on to give me a lecture about how it was just a scuff etc and would not be audible (while manhandling the record and putting his greasy fingers all over the grooves) when he should have kindly said «sure» and played it. As it turns out it was audible, and as that record is a relatively quiet pressing I’m glad I had him play it before I purchased it.
The prices on most records are reasonable, but having to listen to the owner talk condescendingly to potential customers is pretty weak, and probably enough to keep me from making frequent visits to this store.

GREAT local spot to find every random record on vinyl you ever dreamed of and every cassette you wished you’d never thrown away. And some cds.
This is a hot spot for vinyl. Organized by category, you’ll be amazed by the extensive selections in rock, folk, jazz, soul, country, and even classical. Find everything from Aretha to Bob Dylan to Herbie Hancock to the Cure to Joni Mitchell to the soundtrack to Rocky Horror. Prices range from $ 1 (there’s a $ 1 bargain bin, too) to up around $ 25 for the really rare/​mint stuff. On average, most vinyl runs about $ 3 – 5. Plus, not to be forgotten, there is a whole wall of 45s.
You can also find cds, used cassettes, a few scattered dvds and vhs tapes, and some used music-​related books. And they even sell furniture, like shelves suitable for your cd and record collection. How convenient!
Digging through a classic selection of old records is always a great way to spend an afternoon.