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    Going Underground Records

    4.6 (55 reviews)
    Closed 11:00 am - 7:00 pm

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    Leonard A.

    Keeping the underground sound up and not down and No catering to posers or clowns. So let me tell you what's up with this vinyl joint. If you're looking for rarities they've definitely got some. I'm talking about Forty Fives, Seven Inch and the almost extinct CD. Yes they do have a variety of new presses like The Weeknd double vinyl set with the limited edition color scheme. That was really eye catching and personally I don't collect vinyl like that but I was tempted to jump on that. Moving on, they carry posters and other cool knick knacks around the shop. I'm not sure if it was just me but I didn't hear any music playing during my visit and usually when I do visit record shops it's a standard. Oh well maybe not that day. The service was non existent and they never acknowledged anyone who was shopping there. Overall this record shop has a lot of cool stuff but if you're going to engage with customers or have music in the background it takes away from the experience. Hopefully my next visit will be a little better so I'll keep this Rating as is until then. And that's my on this record shop experience, Peace out.

    Yvonne B.

    Located in the heart of Little Tokyo, Going Underground Records is a vibrant vinyl store offering a selection of rare and limited edition vinyls. I love browsing their variety and each are for good value. They have a large section of indie alternative, rock, and even jazz. Love seeing their international world section too! They do have CDs and discounted selections too. The staff are kind and keep the vibe going with their funky playlist.

    Most valuable records are behind the checkout.
    Paul S.

    Little Tokyo is slowly becoming a record collector's destination with lots of little shops that carry some records. This, however, was a pleasant discovery since my last trip in the area. A "proper" record store with sections by genre and alphabetical by artist within those sections. Demand for vinyl has been so high the last few years that many shops have trouble keeping a diverse inventory, especially old "OG" pressings, many of which are entirely analog (AAA). That's been a controversy for years because many reissues use nebulous wording on the hype stickers with phrases such as "cut from the original masters" or some variation, when in fact the source tapes were converted into digital files of varying resolutions. Nevertheless, the best stuff is usually up on the walls and the most valuable behind the cashier counter. I liked the openness of the store and it felt proper in the sense that prices were commiserate with condition and availability. Old releases mingled with new and reissues. My favorite discovery though was the underground metal and punk area, there are some unique and uncommon music within. Given that it was at least 100° that day I decided not to buy anything because it would likely warp before I got home. This is the second location for an existing company so stock may vary between stores, and lots of records in the back being processed promises great rewards. Patience and frequency are traits that good collectors exhibit.

    Maruko X.

    The records store is located cross the street from japanese village plaza. The establishment itself is spacious inside thought they only carry limited shelves for music records.

    Dave H.

    Very nice addition to Little Tokyo - great selection of used and new vinyl in both LPs and 45's. Something for everyone from punk, rock, new wave, jazz to country. Well organized and good pricing. Very friendly helpful staff.

    stacks of records.
    Luis S.

    This spot is a music lovers paradise. The record store is stacked with vinyl to the walls. Everything is organized by genre and no matter what kind of music you're into you will find it here. They have the most popular releases along with rare finds and white label drops. Depending on the time you go you will find different things. On my two visits there I've found gems from MF DOOM, Frank Ocean, Mac Miller, Kid Cudi, and more. Additionally, they have used clearance records where you can occasionally find a come-up. Their prices aren't marked up and the folks here are nice. If you love music and are in the area, stop here and do some digging.

    Merchandise.
    Ken H.

    Slick liquid shine vinyl keeps the Going Underground inventory absolutely sick. I loved what I saw in the simply and neatly ordered new arrivals section. Some standouts were a brilliantly illustrated Lightnin' Hopkins LP, a supremely loud ESG LP, and a marvelously mint Candido LP. The straightforward layout to the Underground store makes finding such iridescent, black wax gems exceedingly easy. GU merits further lauds for its sensible approach to pricing its vinyl. That Candido record I mentioned earlier was priced at $15. The Lightnin' Hopkins was not too expensive either; I think it was $25 if memory serves. I have seen both records priced at $50 or higher in stores trying to crank up the exploitation in the vinyl gold-rush. Not so at Going Underground. Maybe the store-name has as much to do with bargain basement prices as it does cool and overlooked LPs. I can't wrap up this review without touching on the 12" singles section here. So many funky hits to be picked for the dance music fans. And, I did not see too many singles priced higher than $5. GU does have rare records, but even those tend to the affordable at around $10. I believe a left with a techno, house, underground single. Some places do live up to their good name(s) after all. (Special thanks to Adam for the rewarding customer service.)

    Julianna B.

    What a great gem!!! My bf and I stopped here tonight nov 9. We weren't expecting to find too many things but as soon as we walked in I realized how much they hand!!! Going Underground Records has a little bit of everything for a reasonable price. I saw an original blondie vinyl for $2!!!!! What the heck that's unheard of. Needless to say we had our fun here and can't wait to come back!!

    Richie W.

    I've been staying near Little Tokyo since 2013 and it's finally nice to have a legit vinyl record store near the hotel! When I mean legit, the have their genres separated and with a good amount of releases in their bins. Was easy for me to ch through the punk, metal goth bins and find what I needed to purchase. Kudos to Going Underground fulfilling my wants in a record store and naming the store after a cool song!

    Don't blink, you might miss it.

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    5 years ago

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    5 years ago

    Do not recommend. They don't have a good selection of records and manager is rude and needs some training in people's skills.

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    8 years ago

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    7 years ago

    Favorite record spot in LA as of now. Lots of well curated gems hiding in every section and staff is very accommodating and friendly!

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    7 years ago

    Worth the dig. Cool little shop with decent prices. The store is fairly organized too.

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    8 years ago

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    Review Highlights - Going Underground Records

    Was easy for me to ch through the punk, metal goth bins and find what I needed to purchase.

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    Going Underground Records - vinyl_records - Updated September 2026

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