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    G-B's Books & Records

    4.8 (6 reviews)

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    8 months ago

    Went there the first time about a month ago. WOW! So much to look through, Bought quite a bit and will be buying more.

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    12 years ago

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    Reverberation Vinyl Records

    Reverberation Vinyl Records

    4.2(24 reviews)
    44.6 mi
    •$$

    Reverberation is an unusual record store. I've never seen so many records in one place from…read moreartists/bands I don't recognize, but at the same time, I've spotted some very obscure stuff in the experimental and jazz sections, so I wonder if they cater to people with a taste for lesser known music. At least for the styles I shop for (jazz, experimental, electronic), this store is full of strange, unknown things. I like how they have a special section for deluxe horror movie soundtracks (think Waxwork Records, Mondo, and the like). I also appreciate how you never know what kind of weird thing you'll find there (like an old DJ Krush Mo Wax 10" for a reasonable price). My main complaint is the difficulty of browsing. First, the record bins in the main area are so high that you need a stool to see the furthest back albums unless you're decently over 6' tall. The store has stools sitting around for just this purpose. Second, the bins are completely packed, so there's no flipping through records. You have to grab a chunk, set them aside, and then you can brows. It makes digging a real pain and is one of the reasons Reverberations isn't in my regular rotation. Some have written about the owner being rude. I didn't find him rude, but yeah, he doesn't usually say hello or goodbye or look you in the eye when you check out. Definitely not the gregarious type you find at a place like Exile in Champaign, but I never got a rude vibe. Maybe he's more effusive and warm if you're a regular. If browsing wasn't such a pain, I'd give it four stars. Any record shop that continues to exist is a good thing. Certainly worth checking out if you're in the area.

    I don't live anywhere near Reverberation, but I've had the pleasure of digging here 2x in the past…read moreyear, and this is a great record store. Friendly owner, ample parking, and an incredible array of new and used records. Items are priced to move not gouge the customers, and conditions are exact. And what's crazy is the depth of the inventory. Really, this store is stacked. Local collectors are lucky to have Reverberation as one of their brick and mortars. Highly recommend!

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    Reverberation Vinyl Records
    Reverberation Vinyl Records
    Reverberation Vinyl Records - The photo I took of the vinyl once I got home. Really great stuff.

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    The photo I took of the vinyl once I got home. Really great stuff.

    Exile on Main Street

    Exile on Main Street

    4.1(34 reviews)
    41.9 mi
    •$$

    Conveniently located in downtown Champaign near the Illinois Terminal (Amtrak, MTD buses) and a…read morestone's throw from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign campus, Exile on Main Street has a fantastic selection of new and previously loved vinyl, CDs, cassette tapes, and more. I recently met the owner, Jeff Brandt, at the store while my partner was on the hunt for Taylor Swift and Charli XCX vinyls. Jeff was immediately attentive and we struck up conversations about Taylor Swift, the positives and areas of improvement downtown Champaign could use, the area's history as a musical mecca, and much more. It was easy to see how much love and sweat equity he's put into the community and the store. An adjacent vintage store has closed but Exile regularly hosts pop-ups, underscoring its community-first vibes. When you're looking for vinyl finds, skip online, Target and chains and support institutions like Exile on Main!

    This is the THE record store to visit in Champaign-Urbana. Yeah, there's Record Swap if you want…read moreused classic rock or See You Vinyl with their dozens of records, but Exile is the place to be. The store itself has an interesting layout that promotes exploration and discovery. There's a nice mix of used and new vinyl, (mostly used) CDs, and even some cassettes and VHS tapes. I'd say Exile's strengths are all things indie, major artists from the 90s onward, classic rock, and a bunch of niche stuff. I like to find reissues of 90s and 00s electronic stuff there, and they typically stock new jazz releases from Blue Note and some of the other big labels (not a huge selection, but everything they have is good). Of course, this is just my perception. You'll find each genre well represented. If you don't see what you want, the owner is happy to get it for you. He's a great guy with a deep knowledge of music. He actually has a whole section that he's selling from his personal collection, which is an interesting category. It's like a bunch of great titles that have been out of circulation for a long time. Overall, this is a fun place to find good music. Check it out.

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    Exile on Main Street
    Exile on Main Street
    Exile on Main Street - In the court of the crimson king on the record floor !

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    In the court of the crimson king on the record floor !

    Polyvinyl Record

    Polyvinyl Record

    5.0(2 reviews)
    41.4 mi

    First and foremost and ultimately important is the fact that Polyvinyl has a handful of my…read morefavourite bands signed to its roster. But the obvious love for this record company that sprouts from that fact aside, the whole business is legit. The selection of merchandise rules, and they are always having awesome sales to get rid of backstock and excess inventory. If, by chance, a t-shirt size is wrong and the error is on my end, they will still replace it with the proper size at no additional cost. Only once in nearly a decade of supporting this company has my order been wrong, and even then they immediately took steps to correct it. Each package I receive always has extras as well: posters and stickers and samplers and promo material. And there is always, always an Airhead, which is awesome because they're delicious AND vegan. WIN. I will be a Polyvinyl fan for life, and although the record industry is changing drastically, I hope that people still continue to support the independent labels out there that are doing it right.

    I wish I could buy every record from Polyvinyl. I just got my 7" from the band STRFKR in and it…read morecame with another 7" of a band they wanted me to hear for free. Along with that was a couple stickers and as always an air head! Even with all of this included the 7" I bought was only $5.00 and shipping came the same week I bought it! definitely the best and quickest shipping I've seen beyond Amazon.

    Old Book Barn

    Old Book Barn

    3.7(15 reviews)
    6.1 mi
    •$

    My husband and I had read an adulatory article about the store and the many thousands of books…read morethere, so we traveled up from St. Louis to take a look. The thousands of books were there, all right, but in a building that smells overwhelmingly of mold. I don't know whether it's from a roof leak or a flood, or whether they have just bought a lot of smelly books, but my husband and I both stank of mold even after we left, and I was coughing. I didn't find much of a selection of unusual or uncommon books to tempt me, and the layout of the place is very strange. I couldn't find mystery books for over ten minutes. They were hidden away in a corner, and given far less prominence than romance or inspirational books. Even if I found out that the mold problem had been solved, it's not likely we would return.

    Don't let any negative reviews steer you away from this place, it's great!!! I was in-town…read moreovernight, and specifically looking for guitar tablature books. While they didn't have much, I did find their music section, and got a great book on the old ACE Records label. However, the best part of the experience was Lori, the owner (I believe). She was SO HELPFUL!!! I asked about her usual stock, and she was totally willing to have an in-depth conversation with me about various subjects. Also, when I went to check out, and told her that I was in town for a concert, she reached into a drawer, and pulled out an information sheet recommending restaurants for dinner, breakfast and coffee places. She even gave me some of her own, and some advice on where else to look for good used books!! Other than the concert itself, it was the highlight of my trip there. Thank you Lori!!!

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    Old Book Barn - Found in Old Book Barn

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    Found in Old Book Barn

    G-B's Books & Records - musicvideo - Updated September 2026

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