I've been going to poo bah for almost 10 years now, and from the moment I walked in the door I knew this place was special. It is easily the oldest (and hands down coolest) independent record store in the Pasadena area. All kinds of media for all kinds of people. It's just too bad they stopped doing Beat Soup. This place is an institution. Mad love for Poo Bah!!! read more

I love this place! The staff is friendly and the selection is good. I bought 5 records for under $20. Can't wait to go back. read more

I've been here once but they know what products they have. They have alphabetically organization which is honestly the most important thing for me. I don't live near here, but the one near me was a bad store. They had a lot of selection and they know what they have. Last time I was looking for Elton John and the guy found it and was very nice about it. read more

Poor selection, overpriced items, condescending and unhelpful staff. This place gives the local record store a bad rap...sadly, businesses like this deserve to fail. Save money, find more and support employees and owners that care about you and your interest in supporting independent record stores and go down the street to Canterbury Records! read more

Although I somehow managed to walk out of this spot empty-handed (nothing was jumping out at me), I do have to give them credit for presenting an organized, clean store with defined categories and a great selection of vintage mediums. I don't think I saw a single CD in the joint, but there were plenty of VHS tapes. Spent most of my time browsing the soundtrack vinyl. They had a few decent LPs I was contemplating, though ultimately I wound up putting everything back. Not for lack of good pricing, since all of their records were very reasonably priced. I think the big problem is that, with vinyl being so in vogue right now, all of the top shops are being picked over so thoroughly that it becomes even more difficult to locate those gems. Seems like I keep running across the same generic stock over and over again at many top places, and it's got to be because people are buying so much damn vinyl right now. Not complaining, since I'm one of them, but it does get a bit frustrating. I'm not a hip hop fan, but they did have quite a large selection of records from that genre. Might be worth it for fans to check out. Love the VHS selection here. They had some sweet titles from the '70s and '80s in the horror section that I almost had to purchase. Lots of '80s screwball and teen comedies, too. read more

Mostly caters to DJ's with lots of re-issued vinyl. If you are a collector it's not for you. You'll enjoy suffocating on the patchouli while talking about the great mix playing in the background with the guy at the counter - but that's about it. P.S. don't ask him to sell/burn you a copy of the mix 'cause man ....that's like not for sale. read more

Let me start off by saying that the workers here are very accommodating and helpful, and they are never out of recommendations-if you need to ask. A lot of people give this place a hard time because they see the hands-off approach as disinterest. The guys here aren't going to hold your hand or put up in big bold signs where the new Beach House album is. It's filed under "B" in the new rock section, and if its not there you can ask them to order a copy for you. The selection varies from day to day. Sometimes they have everything you want, sometimes there's a bunch of weird stuff you've never heard before that will infect your soul of you give it the chance. Bottom line: if you enjoy the experience of getting lost in a record store, playing cartographer in the used vinyl bins, this store is for you. If you like walking in looking for one thing and walking out with something completely different (in a good way), this store is for you. If you enjoy knowledgable, accommodating staff that let you do your own thing as opposed to telling you what you want to buy this store is for you. It is definitely one of my favorite local places. read more

When I worked in the music industry and all I did was eat, sleep, and breathe music, and Poo-Bah was one of my favorite indie music stores to go to. Back in its original location off Walnut St in a house, I love the character of that! I felt I was visiting a friend that had the BEST music selection. I paid a recent visit to it's new site on Colorado...and for me, the charm has definitely been lost since moving locations. Genre of music has changed, for sure, so the selection isn't as vast as I remembered it. I used to spend 1-2 hours every time I visited Poo-Bahs...today, I was in and out in 10 mins. Things used to be better organized in the house. Here, there really is no organization and it's up to yourself to sift through it all and if you need help, good luck as the staff ain't friendly to even offer a glance. That's fine...again, if the selection of music wasn't crap to begin with. Sigh. read more

Every time I have been here, I have found good vinyl for pretty cheap. I will rarely pay over 10 bucks for a record and luckily, their used LP prices rarely go over 10 bucks. In the three times I have been here, I have never left empty handed. I even saw the Cramps' Gravest Hits there for just 10 bucks. That album is worth way more than that. I really shouldn't be telling you this if I want to continue finding good deals but maybe this will lead me to good record store find karma or something. If you like vinyl records, this place is gold. read more

Only a shell of what the original location on Walnut(or was it Foothill) offered. I used to visit Poo-Bah Record Shop with my brother when we were in our teens and early twenties. It was always a blast looking for those rare import CD's. I found some really good music there. My last visit was sad because it doesn't quite have the same VIBE as the old location. I don't think that i will be going there again, but i do wish them luck. read more

Such fantastic shop! They always have something I "need". My collection of truly bizarre albums has grown since I stumbled upon this gem of a store. My 60s & 70s country and my disco & funk collection has also expanded thanks to Poo-Bah. Pricing is more than fair, I always feel like I am getting a good deal. Shopping here is always a pleasure. The store is always playing great music and the owner and staff are always friendly. Never pushy. Always helpful. And a smile every time. read more

This place is truly good for my soul. It has helped me in good times and bad. Just flipping through the albums brings peace to my mind. I love going through the extensive used LP collection. My mind often wanders as to who these records belonged to, what stories they could tell as to where they were played. Was it at a fancy mansion in the hills or in some herb smoked basement. You can go here with ten bucks and come out with two or three gems. They also have a very nice collection of newly released records, and there's always something eclectic playing in the store. The staff is knowledgeable and helpful. They also seem to know whether you just want to be alone in your space or need some help. A true Pasadena gem. Thank you Poo-Bah for the gift of all the music you have given me. Viva La Vinyl! Oh, and another perk is that you can go to The Colorado next door and have a beer to celebrate your fine purchases. read more

My home away from home. Great place to go and enjoy solitude listen to great music while you dig through the crates for other good stuff to add to your record collection. I have a great assortment of new vinyl vintage vinyl and everything in between. In an age where record shops are either dying out completely as did Pennywise a few years ago, it's refreshing to see that this place is holding on and is being supported by their core audience of DJs vinyl enthusiast and audio files of all ages who are looking for music from all genres. It's even more refreshing to know that this place is literally right down the street from my house and have it anytime I can go grab at least one new record that I have been searching for. read more

Poo-Bah is the spot! Every employee knows their stuff, and provide extremely insightful suggestions if desired. Poo-Bah prides itself on being musician-minded, and go to great lengths to cover their stock selections with local and underground artists ranging over a spectrum of genres and periods. You'll find items are reasonably priced--even rare and hard-to-find LPs. Their hip-hop section is unrivaled and you'd be hard-pressed to find a better or more relevant wall display than what's shown on the regular at Poo-Bah. Don't sleep! This place is an official banger... read more

The saying, "opinions are like assholes; everyone has one," applies directly to some of these reviews of Poo-Bah. I think people have forgotten the fact that Record Stores are a haven of escapism and hunting, rather than serving immediate gratification... If you are a regular at Poo-Bah as I am, you know the store very well. You are aware of their current music selection (I'm making direct reference to vinyl only here as I could care less about CDs, DVDs, casettes, etc.), potential for future selection, what to avoid, and what to be on the look-out for. In all honesty, I am often surprised by some of the rare European imports, and rare music from the 60s, 70s, 80s, 90s, early 2000s, and modern hard-to-find groups. Often times you go there to seek vinyl from one band and/or artist, and end up picking up vinyl from another artist or band that you know is rare, or will most likely be gone by the next day if you don't by it right now! Case in point, a person sold a rather massive and comprehensive collection of Smiths and Morrissey vinyl to Poo-Bah, including ultra-rare and hard-to-find singles, European imports, original UK pressings, the whole nine yards... In the midst of scrambling to pick out essential Smiths and Morrissey vinyl, whilst minding my budget internally, I decided no to opt with the "Sister I'm A Poet" Morrissey single that I found. Big mistake; not only was this a rather obscure vinyl, but the next day when I dug through the 80s singles collection, it was gone... Like the lines in Kansas' "Dust in The Wind," and blow up Charlie Sheen's nose, it ended up in the hands of some other Moz lover. I can't hate on that person however--for if they are fans of Moz, it is clear to me that they have great taste in music! As far as the customer service is concerned, I must say, they have always been courteous, kind, and good to me. Often times, I bring up a record I am looking for, or a band one week, and by the next week, they will have vinyl selections by that band in all of their waxy glory! In addition, I appreciate the "hands off, and let the customer browse by themselves because they are intelligent, independent creatures, while we keep to ourselves until they absolutely need our assistance" approach. Unlike their neighbors at Guitar Center who solicit you like homeless people, or car salesmen, the staff at Poo-Bah truly have respect for their customers. Some of the downsides of this record shop: I agree with the unique choices of background music playing while shopping--some of it is quite rubbish, and clashes with the ambiance of the store. I will admit that like the use of the incense... If it hasn't been brought up (which I'm sure it has), some of the vinyl is a bit pricey/over-priced, but I guess a local record shop has to do what it has to do to stay in business... Nevertheless, it won't stop me from shopping here. The decor, layout, and friendliness of the staff is enough for me to keep me coming to one of the best record shops on the east side of the 'Dena! read more

Such a bummer of epic proportions today of all days. This was my second stop for Record Store Day and wouldn't you know it they filed all of RSD's offerings in with their regular stuff. Who thought of that? Most people at RSD don't know what's exclusive, so it does us a disservice if everything is everywhere. I left empty and heated. I don't know when I'll be back if ever. That second star is just for it being a vinyl shop. #istilllovevinyl read more

What the world needs now...an independent record shop! Love browsing through their used section...got some gems like The Cure's "Kiss me Kiss me Kiss me" for under $13, Cocteau Twins "Blue Bell Knoll" for $20, etc. Don't miss out on the new section too...I got my Grizzly Bear's record on the day it's released! On top of that staff is really nice...they play kick ass music there...Couple times I had to ask what they're playing and I was happier than a kid in Candy-land when they introduced me to some random band that only released their record on CASSETTE...Literally I had to dust off my Walkman. read more

Drew M. who reviewed on 3/28/2009 nailed it down. Like him, I am a record junkie. So much so I would even travel to UK to visit indie record stores. Poobah has nothing much these days. My last good memory of Poobah was in the old location and they had a good selection of records, much like what Amoeba has these days. But this recent visit really is a disappointment. Maybe I was hanging on to the past. Still I am giving this place 3 stars because at one pt, years ago, I enjoyed my visit to Poobah. read more

In the day of sterile digital downloads and shitty mp3 resolution, I was thankful to need a good handwashing from dusty LPs. I walked out with a used Deutsche Grammophon cassette, which cost me less than a cup of coffee. The corner record store is alive and well in East Pas. read more

This place has a really nice vibe. As soon as I walked in, the guy behind the counter gave me a big warm smile and a "hey, how ya doin?" I also liked the fact that there's a diverse crowd of music lovers all sifting through records with focused determination. Young, old, black, white (a little Asian girl)...all thumbing through some good vinyl.... It's a pretty small joint, but they've managed to add some character to it by lining the walls with an eclectic collection of jazz records, old-school, new-school and vintage records. Their collection is a little on the skimpy side, but they're nice and cheap. 99cents can get you a really good used record. They also have a good mix of classic rock along with a decent collection of hip-hop, house, dance, folk and international records. Their specialty is definitely on vinyl and not so much on cd's. So if you're looking for cd's this ain't your cuppa tea. But if you're a used-vinyl lover, this place is worth stopping by. read more

Went in to look for Broadway but the guy said they really didn't have any. However I stumbled on a CD of an old vinyl album I had and loved for $1.99. Had to get it. Now I'm listening to it in my car. You have to search through everything and you will be surprised what you can find. The staff was helpful with my questions and I had no problems. read more

Who still plays records? I do! I have my dads old record player, lucky me. I have lugged it around with every move. Some things from the past you do want to keep around. Not the annoying ex that still sends you pictures and text messages. I promise, these old records are way cool to browse and pick one up for your collection. It's always a fun stop, I work in Pasadena so it's a nice break from the day. Always friendly service and a good find. Neat little shop. read more

Waited in line with other people on Record Store Day only for this place to never open. They are even a pledged participant for RSD. Extremely disappointing. Would like to know what happened and why they didn't open on such an eventful day. I lost out on by choosing this record store to wait at instead of literally any other record store and get my limited edition vinyl. If you're not gonna be open then announce it or give some notification or memo because this was ridiculous. read more

Everything was fine when I visited Poo-Bahs on 12/22/20 except after spending about an hour there and selecting 4-5 LP's to purchase, I learned at the register that they do not accept cash. Since that's all I had on me at the time I had to return each record to their respective bin. There is a small sign at the register stating they don't accept cash but to avoid what I experienced yesterday Poo-Bah's should make this purchase policy more evident to their customers. I would suggest making several copies of the sign by the register and placing them at or near each category of music that's identified throughout the store and or taping a verbal announcement that is played for customers every 20 minutes or so. Further, I'm going to assume the "no cash accepted"policy was implemented to prevent possible exposure to the Coronavirus, but there is a fair percentage of the population that can't afford to carry a credit or debit card or just choose not to. Something for Poo-Bah's to consider if they haven't already. read more

Support your local record shops!!! I love this place to buy concert tickets, used vinyls, etc. But they are limited in their current selection and have limited records. But I guess that's also the beauty of this place, you never know what you will find. People sell/ trade-in their old vinyls/cds/ dvds all the time so every time I go, it's like a treasure hunt. The staff is nice, they try to give you your space so you can take your time and look through all the records. I tried to buy a few Radiohead vinyls here this week but they were out. They only had a couple Van Halen vinyls as well. I found their selection getting smaller and that's a shame. I believe they'll get better if there's more customers so... everybody, SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL RECORD SHOPS before they disappear and killed off by the internet and iTunes :( read more

I can't believe I havent yelped about this place this place is awesome if you are looking for one of those missing/hard to find records Ive bought so many Poo-Bah records, i think i have almost every design they ever came out with and random people sometimes come up to me asking for directions or think i work for the place but i dont i just love this place would i recommend this place to friends? hell yes would i go again? of course I will another good alternative would be Backside records in burbank, Amoeba on sunset blvd and the Basement(i forget the address of this place) suggestions: park in the back, I always go to Guitar Center and check up on stuff then head on over to Poo-Bah afterwards read more

Classic record store. Their used LPs start from 35 cents to 50 cents, and the better known used records will cost you a few bucks. I bought two Cat Stevens records and a Lou Reed album for under a dollar fifty. If these prices are still too high for your blood, there are a selection of free records (orchestral stuff, Christian hymns, etc.) outside by the door. The proprietors know their shit, too. Ask them about any new releases or interesting bands, and they'll impart their knowledge free of charge and with more credibility than a KCRW dj. You can also sample any of the used LPs on the two record players by the counter. Why be a sap/fckin' moron who shops at Walmart or Bestbuy for their music when stores like Poo-Bah are still around? read more

Poo Bah used to be my 2nd. home when I lived in Pasadena. I now live in San Francisco but when ever I go down to SoCal to visit, I make it a point to go to Poo Bah's. My LP collection has grew so large as a result of living so close to Poo Bah. They have an incredible selection of new & used vinyl LPs and their prices are unbeatable. Their staff is very friendly and knowledgeable too. If there is a hard to find limited pressing, Poo Bah will certainly have what you are looking for. I do miss their former location on Wilson & Walnut. read more

Great place to buy, sell and trade records, used CDs, etc. This place really has an interesting collection of music and media. I bought the soundtrack to 1950's Brazilian film, "Orfeu," that I happened upon in the used CDs section, but there's so much more. If you're into hip hop and experimental music and are in the Valley, its definitely a place to check out. This record shop also features the occasional live DJ performance, which is how a friend of mine found out about this place. It's a little too far from where I live, but it's a really decent little spot in the 'dena. read more

Yes, the old location on Walnut was one-of-a-kind--set up inside a lovely old Pasadena house, so the effect was like going to visit your crazy record collector friend who hoards vinyl but will gladly sell to you. Used to be a great place for bootlegs, both CD and vinyl. I still remember the cartoon panel posted near the register: "When I died it's like Elvis' soul jumped into my body." "Too bad none a his money jumped in too." It's evolved now in its Colorado location but seems mostly to be selling vinyls, though CD's are in evidence too. A strong trade in hip-hop titles, both premium and bargain. But mostly writing to say that they have fifteen or so 50¢ vinyl bins. So if you're looking for old New Age albums or the Association debut for way cheap, carve out some time and plow through the lot. Also a whopping supply of budget 45's (4 or 5 large cardboard boxes) but I need to stay away from those. Poo-Bah lives and I'd be sad if they were gone. But I still miss the house. read more

Judging by the reviews recently, this place may very well have gone totally downhill. This review is based on the Poobahs I knew from 5 years ago or so. The selection there was the best I've ever seen. Something for every taste and always some cool stuff from artists you'd like. I'm a Frank Zappa junkie and could always count on some recording of his that I'd never heard of. I'd always browse the jazz and blues sections, too and I'd routinely find something cool there. Great used section, too. Prices had the tendency to be kind of high, and if you're a germophobe, this place is probably a nightmare what with the filthy plastic sleeves they put the album jackets in. Again though, the place could've totally changed but even if it's gone downhill a little, it's probably a lot better than most other places. read more

OLD SCHOOL- Poo Bah has been a vinyl institution and a Pasadena institution for a generation.... or two!! No frills. Just records (and VHS and DVDs!). Nothing "hip" about it- just come here and dig for goodies. read more

Despite living in Pasadena for years - as a relatively new "vinyl guy" I went in for the first time last week. The owner was super helpful, super friendly - even taking the time to go through some of the records I'd pulled from the bins to make sure they were good quality, playable etc. Really had a great community vibe and some great selections and great pricing. I'll definitely be going back on the regular. read more

To all my fellow crate diggers... Pretty dope spot. It's kinda small so crate diggin' won't take too much time. Really cheap vinyls too!! I'm sure they have a lot rare gems. I only got to spend about 20 mins before they closed. Would def pay this spot more visits. The staff is chill. They host their podcasts from inside the store too. read more

Poo-Bah Record Shop - Felt like a kid at Toys 'R' Us. - Music & DVDs Near Me - Pasadena, California

I purchased a record player for my wife last Christmas, so we are always on the hunt for a new (to us) record. This place is fantastic for that thrill of the hunt feeling. My wife and I spent a couple of hours in here and had a great time. The staff is super cool, really helpful and friendly. We're just dying for them to open back up, since they've been closed for filming for what seems like forever. read more

After years of shopping here at Poo-Bah Records, I had a bad experience today. I've slowly reduced my shopping visits due to lackluster customer service, in fact I stopped going for a while. I returned today hoping for a pleasant visit...not so. I walked in to fairly load music which I didn't really mind, it's been worse in the past with less than desirable music (swearing) blasting extremely loud! Not an exaggeration and I walked out then as well. So I was the only customer at the time of this situation, I was using my cell phone to view a trailer of a movie to which they had a Blu-ray that I was interested in, store music playing loudly and I suddenly hear the employee shouting at me across the store from behind the counter. I walked over toward him and he asks me if I have headphones, "no I don't" I answered. He proceeds to berate me and says "every time you come in here you blast your phone". I explained what I stated previously about watching a video to determine whether I wanted the Blu-ray or not, he continues on his tirade and I repeated what was a legitimate reason to use my phone, all this while the music is still playing loudly and he's still seated behind the counter. He should've gotten up and walked over to me and asked me to turn it down, instead he hollers at me across the store over the loud music. If that's how you treat your customers that's sad, I will never return or shop at Poo-Bah Records again...they probably won't even care. Poo-Bahs isn't the only game in town, there is another record store across town and I'll be frequenting the other guys more often. read more

I have been going to poo-bah's for years. Maybe only a couple times a year but still.. a long time. I always enjoy my visits. I kind of miss the old location but the new one suits me well. I am so glad they still exist! If you dig you can always find some sort of bargain or gem.. cd or vinyl. Friendly staff. good incense burning. read more

Really awesome, local record shop. Very nice staff and very reasonable prices for great selection of records. They are also a record label that puts out work by some great local artists. read more

Soooo many Sun-Ra records! And Charles Mingus *sigh*. I'm in heaven! PS. Watch out for the AS-IS label on some records! Eep! read more

The first thing I noticed when I walked in was the strong cigarette smell. It reminded me of a motel 6, gross! Cool shop overall but don't expect to go home with much stuff because these guys know their stuff and the prices are right. I'll come back and update my review on my next trip. read more