Just Play Music

The store is too small, the people working there were oblivious to customers. The music was way too loud and most of their CDs are bootlegged. I was very disappointed. I will never go back there.

Cool place decent prices… Definitely worth checking out the bargain bin! The staff was friendly.

I don’t get it. Small selection in stock and a lot of things are very expensive. Narrow aisles and too many posters. Not impressed. Was visiting from out of town and I thought to myself, «I hope this isn’t the only music store in Santa Barbara?» The only time in my life where I wish I was at a Best Buy.

I am a vintage vinyl collector and this is one of the best places I’ve ever shopped. Nicest people and great T shirts as well.

Great one off Tshirts, vinyl and polite friendly service. Alex the manager had this place setup. This place is awesome!!!

It’s okay if you’re looking for older vinyl records. They have a good variety, but they are very overpriced. I went to Grady’s in Ventura and bought an Eric Clapton record, a Fleetwood Mac record, and a Rolling Stones double LP all in mint condition for $ 11 total. At JPM, the total would been about $ 50. They charge about $ 10 more than any other record store for the same records in (usually) worse condition. Not my favorite store but it’s all we got here in SB

Really great place. I’m a CD buyer but found at least five vinyl albums I really wanted, one was a purple record store limited edition OFF! Live at the BBC. I was tempted, even though I have no turntable. Have some great shirts too but you have to really hunt for the one you want. The guys that work here are super friendly and know their stock and very helpful. For a small place, pretty cool but yes on the pricey side. Bunch of cheap, used DVDs though.

Just went there with my wife today.
We’re getting back into vinyl after 20 years absence.
We live in Ventura and shop at Grady’s, Jockamo’s, and Salzers. — All 3 are great vinyl stores with Helpful, Friendly, and Knowledgeable people working there. (it’s worth the drive…)
— Before going to JPM, we went to Warbler Records. — WOW! What an awesome little store!
I found 2 Kate Bush albums in mint condition — total price… $ 27.00. (PS — all the albums we bought there were in perfect condition. And at Great prices!)
At JPM they had only one Kate Bush album (used) — re-​shrink wrapped (to give the impression of being new?) — and to add insult — wanted the same price as the 2 albums I found at WARBLER!
Based on other comments, I shudder to think of the vinyl quality inside the scuffed cover…
The prices of thier used albums was a joke.
Needless to say… We WON’T be going there again!
One other note. — About a year ago, we went there to find a rare Buckingham /​Nicks CD.
The owner said he had in his «warehouse»; we’d get it in 3 days…
After calling for 3 weeks — it Finally showed up.
Full price.
NOT an original CD.
Cover looked like it was printed on someone’s computer.
Poor quality…
Well, there it is. — Buyer Beware.

This place has no soul no funk no help over priced also no welcome last time i roll up to this spot i spend a lot of money on music not at this place what a waist of drive

Garbage. Staff rude as soon as I walked In with a bag. Began to angrily tell me not to come in with a bag from another store. Go elsewhere.

It’s been a couple of years since I checked out this shop. Im guessing the selection has been raided by the local Dj’s or maybe out of town Dj’s like myself. The vinyl selection used to be lush, now it’s slim Pickens. Customer service was okay and the store itself is still kept up. They have a nice selection of imported rock and reggae. I would come back to this shop if I need any of these genres.

Ridiculously over priced records. They actually have some really good stuff but you can tell the idea is to rip off tourists (it being on State St. and all). The most frustrating part was checking out the $ 1.91 record section. It’s all junk. Nothing that would come close to playing. I shop for $ 1 records all the time and the fact that they expect to be paid for that junk is just plain shady.

Very cool place tucked into State Street that has an extensive array of artists and records.
I am very excited and happy with Just Play Music as I found a Janis Joplin LP record that is no longer in print, and at a very reasonable price!
The staff here is very nice, as well. I called the day after I visited as I was looking for another artist but wasn’t able to get to the store to look. The staff member that answered told me he would go to check to see if the shop had that artist and was back on the phone within minutes to let me know what he found. He was very kind and efficient.
Definitely check out Just Play Music if you’re looking for some far out, groovy tunes and one-​of-​a-​kind old finds, as well as helpful and good service!

My step daughter bought a movie in a sealed package only to get home and find it empty. We live 1 ½ hours away so she called. It took them a month to mail her the movie because apparently there is only 1 person that works there smart enough to put a DVD in an envelope and mail it! Really?

So their record selection is pretty average. Not bad not great. But their CD selection blows. Like seriously? $ 16 for a CD that came out in 2001? I’m pretty sure I could get that for $ 5 on amazon. So anyways, their records are an alright selection, but don’t buy a cd here, unless you’re big on wasting money. I don’t know your life.

Old-​school record stores are dying out quickly and this is the first one that I have walked into in the past 8 or so years.
It is funny how they build these things with the desk that is built up really high so the clerk can see everything that is going on in the store. If people want to steal music, they just download it vs going into a record store and lifting some vinyl, a cassette or a cd.
The guy that was working treating me fair. I do not expect high level customer service at a record store. I do expect the clerk to be somewhat knowledgeable and able to complete my transaction. This went down without a hitch and he was also a Rush fan so we talked about the 2112 album a little bit which was cool.
They have a great selection of old school rock n roll posters. I already have my music pretty much covered so I decided to pick up the following two posters.
Rush — 2112
Iron Maiden — The number of the beast.
I put them on my office wall pretty much right next to each other.
Eddie & Geddy… Classic!

Ok — this review is based on staff and customer service. I called and inquired if a specific album was in stock. It was, which I was very happy about, and they were kind enough to hold it for me. Good on them for that.
I came and picked the album up a couple of hours later. The staff member ran my card and then asked me to hand it to him again, because apparnetly someone called their phone line while it was processing. He swiped again. I ended up getting charged twice for the album. I called and told them the problem. The girl was completely rude and unhelpful and said that I needed to bring my card back in to get a refund. What? For something that is their fault. I stated that and she said, «Well, I didn’t do it. I have to go.» I asked her to put someone else on and she said, «No. Sorry.»
REALLY? Great customer service guys.

I liked the shop because they had used selections that I was interested in that were selling for a good price. I try to write reviews for the record shops I visit because they seem to be a dying breed and I enjoy them. Just Play Music has interesting offerings in both CD and vinyl. There are some items in store that I just don’t see in the music department of a large store such as Best Buy or Target.
The staff was nice and I had a good time rummaging through the bins. They have a CD player that can be used to listen to Used CD’s. The location is a small one but in a nice area. I enjoy record shops like these.

Funny.
Friends of mine have started to keep an eye out for my current affinity for vintage stuff from the 30’s through the 60’s. That would encompass furniture, books, and vinyl. Anything by Glenn Miller and Tommy Dorsey is tops. I’ll take those over flowers from a woo in any day.
So this day found us meandering the long pretty street that caters to tourists and locals alike that is otherwise known as State street. My fave part of exploring a new town are the numerous little retail shops, coffee shops, and of course, used cds/​vinyl shop!
A welcome nod to stores from up North such as Amoeba and Dimple. The storefront reflects a scene from Pretty in Pink with records decorating the outside display. Step over the threshold and inside it is black paint galore and casual. Of course, I ran straight over to the Jazz vinyl section and nearly fainted with joy in locating a pretty mint condition Tommy Dorsey record featuring a young Frank Sinatra. On top of that, an album consisting of two records that of Artie Shaw for $ 2.99. What a find!
In addition to a decent vinyl collection they also play host to newer cds and songs, not to large, however, to overplay their existence. Just enough to keep people interested. Given the feeling of the high cost of rent here, I do hope they stay. A shop that grounds the existing shops is a welcome addition to a strip that is obviously driven by tourist dollars.
Helpful staff upfront and no pretentious vibes from anyone here. If I am down here again, count me in as visiting for yet another record to add to my growing collection!

Just Play Music has that air of a college town record store that hasn’t changed much since my high school days. The feel is a little bit dark and grungy, but in a hip, rather than a gross and musty way. The selection is pretty decent, with lots of vinyl and plenty of posters, too. I couldn’t find the two CDs I came looking for, but I walked away with two others.
The one guy on staff was very helpful and earnest. When I asked him if they carried Broken Bells or Miles Kurowsky, he first searched the store, then checked the inventory, then called the owner. He informed me that Broken Bells was out of stock, and that they didn’t stock Miles Kurowsky. As I continued to browse, I overheard him talking on the phone to the owner and it was clear that he had researched Miles Kurowsky and become interested in obtaining the album. As I checked out, he asked me if I wanted to special order it and also let me know that they would be getting it in for the store anyway. He then commented on the albums I was buying and recommended another band I might like and put on one of their songs. He was on point. Anyway, point is, he was really cool and enthusiastic, above and beyond the sort of disaffected or snooty staff you tend to find at such places.
I’d probably give this place a 3 if it weren’t for him, as the store itself isn’t anything out of the ordinary, and its prices are not ideal. That said, the service was good enough that I’d go back and throw some business at Just Play if I were to pass through town again.