Record Revival

Out of business.
Who didn’t see that coming?

Not a fan, this place is so close to my house and I avoid it. Records are usually in terrible condition, there is no order, which can have it’s charm but if I have to sift through thousands of throwaway thrift store records to get to a decent, yet common record? That’s just a waste of time. The newer records are overpriced and nothing special. Plenty of better stores to hit up around town.

This store has gone out of business. It changed ownership, and the new owner decided to pack up everything and leave after a few weeks. Don’t despair, there are plenty of other records stores in town to search for vinyl.

Vinyl is ALL OVER PRICED… then I figured it out. dude sells memberships and with that you get 50% off but even after that it’s still over priced. I’m not saying that they don’t have any good vinyl. I’m just saying that you will get 10 $ worth of wax for 30 $ and you better know your records or it’s gonna be a waste of a trip to this place.

Firstly, this store is not for the casual vinyl collector. The philosophy behind this store is that they markup vinyl so that you’ll buy the $ 20 membership and get half off everything you buy for a year. So if you’re more than just the casual pursuer of vinyl, figure that you’ll drop that $ 20 to even walk in the door. That being said, they have a great collection of rare vinyl you’re not going to find anywhere else in Phoenix, at least not in a walk in, take it off the shelf and buy kind of way. Unlike most other stores in town, they actually rate the condition of their vinyl. Therefore you will find a $ 50 copy of the original pressing of Physical Graffiti on the wall that the one-​time customer left there because it’s too expensive, as in all the people on here who gave it 1 star.
If you’re someone for whom vinyl hunting is a hobby, be willing to drop that first $ 20 for the membership. Then you’re getting first pressing Zeppelin for $ 25, and then the next time you’re in, there will be a VG copy of Wish You Were Here for $ 25…
TL;DR If you’re a collector, buy the membership and come here when you have a little extra dough to drop for a great treasure.

Even leaving aside the incense smell and the annoying layout (it’s a repurposed home), this is a terrible shop. As others have mentioned, the pricing is outrageous. My favorite example — a VG (at best) copy of Mahavishnu Orchestra’s «Birds of Fire» with a VG+ cover. Not exactly in great demand but priced at $ 20. One of the first listings on Discogs was $ 5 for a VG+/VG+ copy. Everything I looked at was similar — prices are 3−5x market. I don’t mind negotiating for something I want — I expect quality products to be priced aggressively — but having to offer ¼ the asking price to get a fair deal doesn’t sit well with me. I went up the street to Tracks in Wax and spent $ 120. I won’t be going back to Record Revival.

I’m giving ‘Record Revival’ two stars because it’s extremely expensive, unfortunately. I was disappointed with not only the unfair pricing (you can honestly go to other local record shops and find far better pricing), but the shape of the records as well. I’ll shop elsewhere.

This weekend, there’s a sale here. TONS of $ 1 records and everything else is half price.
The good:
Did I walk out with 18 records for under $ 60? YES!
Is there a solid selection of all genres spanning the decades? YES!
Are most of the records well organized, alphabetized by genre? YES!
The less than stellar:
Are the $ 1 records in boxes and crates with no organization at all. Sigh, yes.
Does the inside of this place REEK of incense? Sadly, yes.
The fantastic:
The owner knows his stuff and is easy to engage in conversation.
Will I be back? YES YES YES!

Scored a great jazz with a hint of blues vinyl from this shop. Great selection, fun to browse and a friendly dude at the counter. Next time in I’m grabbing a snap of the turntables — 70s vintage, cool.

Great selection that keeps getting better. Is easily becoming my favorite place for vinyl in the Valley!