Maybe you like music. Maybe you like music that you can hold in your hand. Maybe you like music you actually pay for. If any of these maybes describe you and you find yourself in the Greater Cincinnati area, you probably already know about Shake It Records. It's been called the best record store in town, and maybe even in the midwest but as a customer for years I can honestly say that it's the best record store in the country. I know, I haven't been to them all, but the ones I have been to pale in comparison. Upstairs you get a pop culture overload with their selection of used CD's & DVD's. In addition, what is often overlooked is the massive amount of other products they peddle. From books to strange but funny toys and magazines, Shake It has alot to choose from. But wait, is it vinyl you crave? Wanna spend an hour "crate digging?" No problem, just take the stairwell down to the vinyl vault where you can dig for wax as long as you want. Used and new records are always jumping off the shelves and into my hands. I gotta say though, it's the dudes that work at Shake It that set it apart. These are not your typical High Fidelity music snobs but instead are regular guys who run a regular business and care alot about their customers and the community. So whether you are local and a regular, or are in from out of town and want to know what record store to check out, Shake It wins. read more

Your favorite record store says a lot about you... Until recently, Shake It and Everybody's were the two big players in Cincinnati, but the new kid on the block is Plaid Room Records, of Loveland. Go check them out if you haven't already Shake It has gone away from the 99 cent bins, and more towards the Alt/Rock genres in recent years, which is cool with me. (Although I do miss picking up a cheesy cheap album from time to time) They have the largest local selection of new Country and Jazz/Blues, but lack in the Hip-Hop. Pricing is on par with the other shops in town, and cheaper than what I have seen in other big cities. Shake It also carries vintage equipment, which is great for those looking to score some quality gear and jump start their new obsession. They are known to buy used albums, CDs, and Stereo equipment so bring it in as see if you can barter a better deal with your purchase. I would avoid doing this on Record Store day as they will be slammed! Speaking of Record Store Day, they do have the most selection, and the most traffic in the area. If there is something you are looking for on RSD, this would be the place to start! read more

Great record store, we just happened to stumble upon it and were pleasantly surprised! Lots of metal mixed into the rock section but there was a metal section for vinyl among other genres if that's what you're looking for. Definitely worth a visit! read more

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They keep all their vinyl in the basement. That's where it's cool. Vinyl likes it cool. For that reason alone, this is why I rate it as my favorite record store. They respect their craft. read more

Best record store I've been to. In the last year I've really got into collecting records. And, there is no better place than this. The staff is amazing. The owners couldn't be nicer. The record basement is truly one of the happiest places on earth. Go support local music stores and buy from here and Everybody's Records. Cincinnati has amazing record stores. read more

Shake It is the go to place for music in Cincinnati. Whether you are looking for a new release or something from a back catalog, the chances of finding it are good. What is most exciting for me is a constantly shuffling selection of used records to search through. Digging for hours and coming up with something you didn't even know you were looking for is a true joy in life. With listening stations located throughout the building taking a risk has never been easier. Besides vinyl, Shake It is the place to find any CD's (i know, what is that) movies, books, posters or wonderfully weird trinkets you may need, or in my case buy anyway. Basically I love Music = I love Shake It. Without a doubt Cincinnati's best stop for all of your listening needs. read more

Shake It Records -- easily one of the best record stores I've had the pleasure of patronizing. It's a happy place. The staff didn't seem overly pretentious or snobby like many other record stores. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE pretentious snobs -- especially when it comes to music. I just prefer my snobs to be friendly and at Shake It, they were. And like everyone else has said, their selection is off the chain. read more

Absolutely the best record store in Cincy! Downstairs you will find a huge selection of vinyl records new and used. They always have some bargain bins, if you are looking to bulk up your collection and find a hidden gem. What makes this truly a great record store is also the help that you can receive from the people who work there. This is a must see for any vinyl enthusiast, or a casual listener who wants to go to a cool store in an awesome neighborhood. Cheers - to Shake It Records! read more

Shake It Records was actually a factor in our buying a house in Northside when my wife and I moved here from New Orleans. Not only does it boast a massive selection of vinyl but it also has an astounding array of music on disc and DVD. I've actually been able to keep up with a lot of local music from back home in NOLA thanks to these guys. Additionally they run a label and have done so for 20 years. It was through the label and shows attached to it that I first became aware of them. I had no idea until my first visit to Cincy that there was a record shop as well. This place deserves it national renown. I've travelled all over and while I've seen many places larger, I can't recall seeing one that was better. (And yes, that does include both New Orleans and New York City. read more

My fiance and I are avid vinyl collectors, mostly for Indie/Alt music. We love coming to this place and just browsing for an hour because we always find something special. No where else in Cincinnati has such a larger indie vinyl selection as Shake It. We were here last weekend and picked up the new Iron and Wine and a rare Bright Eyes album. I'm really impressed by this place and that they manage to keep such a large inventory. The people that work here are nice and the prices are a dollar or two cheaper than Amazon if you're looking for new records. But if you want rare records, this place is also definitely worth digging through. Love this place! read more

Shake It Records - So much indie vinyl to choose from! - Music & DVDs Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

This place is SOOOO unbelievably cool. Enough people have talked about the awesomeness of their CD and DVD collection, so I wanna say something about all of the cool books they have. Categories include books about films (B-movies, horror movies, classics), humor (like Colbert's "I am America (And So Can You), novels (classics and contemporary), politics (a left-leaning bent), and street art. And just about anything (alternative) in between. Shake It also has the best T-shirt selection I've ever seen! Just look up. read more

I've been going here since high school and absolutely love it. Was there the other day and after running in and out a couple of times to check on my dog the owner offered her to come in! Very kind staff and a huge selection of good a*s music! read more

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You'll find something to love here at Shake It! They have a large collection of CDs and an amazing lower level full of vinyl goodness. The bf and I always stop here if we are in the neighborhood. We end up spending at least 2 hours looking around. The staff is always chill, and there's lots of other trinkets and indie stuff to waste your money on. Need a gift for a friend? Go to Shake It, and you'll end up getting stuff for yourself also! read more

Shake It Records is an independent record store right on Hamilton Ave. in Northside. Their main draw is the plethora of hard-to-find cd's and the stacks and stacks of vinyl in their stock. A music lover could spend hours thumbing through Shake It's vinyl collection; and subsequently leave spending a small fortune. Supporting stores of this nature is not only vital to a local economy, but it's vital to the music industry as a whole, providing an outlet for lesser known bands to make a splash (however small it may be) in cities across the nation. Occasionally larger acts do in-stores at Shake It (I saw Cave In there, amazing!) and they also have a good selection of collector's toys if you're into that kind of thing. Probably more enjoyable for the experienced music lover, Shake It is a place of refuge for music lovers across Cincinnati. read more

Any place that can be seen from a distance because of it having a mural on the brick outside gets my vote. This may lead you to think I vote easily for places, but that's not true; this place was just frickin cool. A week ago or so, myself and two friends were trying to kill time before dinner. They both are huge music fans( I am too, but I don't go looking for it like they do), suggested we walk over to Shake-It Records. I was totally on board, having been in very few specialized record stores. When I walked in, I felt like I was in the places you see in movies. It had everything you could think of, including players, cds, and an awesome array of vinyl in the basement. I could have flipped through the entire thing because that kind of stuff fascinates me; the presence of an object that came from an entirely different time. This place was full of 'em... Oh, and they had this for sale: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0099395/ read more

I went to college in Cincinnati but the job that I landed out of school relocated me to the East Coast . Luckily, I get back to Cinti about twice a year due to business or personal visits & I ALWAYS make Shake It one of the first 2 stops on my list ... the other being Arnold's Bar. Shake It isn't close to the biggest record store in the US, but it ranks among the best ... probably Top 3. I lived in Cincinnati from 2000 to 06 & loved watching it grow from a tiny storefront to a 2 floor music junkies wet dream. Number One reason for the excellence of this record store is they don;t pretend to know it all & when are asked about an artist they've never heard of that I'm (and I presume other customers as well) are looking for , they are as eager to learn something new as I am about getting my hands on it. SOOOOOO refreshing in a sea of record store know-it-alls. Two... The selection is pretty much unbeatable. They manage to cover alot of bases ( well, not classical ) and do so well. Some sections ( world for example) aren't big but are well manicured with strong selections & seem current, etc. The rock/indie & Americana sections are probably the best I've seen in the US ... not the biggest but the best stocked.... don't need to flip through tons of crap to get to the good stuff. Three ... I love that the records are downstairs... they have their own floor where ya can take your time & browse for hours with no pressure. When I lived in town I was always amazed at the constant flow of really great used records that came through. And... the records are priced VERY fairly & they buy back at a nice price, too. Fourth ...or maybe first actually - I once ordered an LP that was out of print and when they took my name & contact, they told me it could take awhile. Right after I placed the order, I found out that I was being relocated. About 2 weeks after I landed in Prov, RI I got a call from Shake It saying that they had found a copy of the record. I sadly told the caller that, I had just moved out of town & was strapped because of moving expenses. The response....? "No problem, give me your address & I'll send the record. Just send a check when you have the cash." That is why I will spend as much as I can at Shake It every time I'm in town. There's plenty of other reasons but I'll let you discover those on your own. read more

Shake-It is the best record store in Cincinnati. They have a great selection of music (the entire basement is filled with vinyls as well), as well as quirky books and magazines and tons of collectibles (e.g. Kid Robot). read more

Shake It Records - Main Floor - Music & DVDs Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

Before the world of Napster and iTunes, record stores connected us with the music we needed to survive, especially during those wrenching teenage years. They also helped us pursue the sometimes uncomfortable or impolite ideas about who we were and who we wanted to be. The internet has supplanted the record store in both functions to a large degree. Which is sad. You can't see people on iTunes. You can't smell their colognes or decide whether their corduroys are pretentious. There is no there there. Shake it knows it can't compete with iTunes, which is why it has moved to a more central Guardian of the Counter-Culture role with a small but careful selection of books, a mighty section of Japanese imports (what ARE all those little plastic thingies?) and one of the rudest, most shocking collections of comics I have ever seen. (My brother-in-law kept walking over as I perused them, and I kept having to slam them shut.) You can buy "Suburban Nation: The Growth of Sprawl and the Decline of the American Dream." You can buy McSweeney's. You can buy wacked modern and retro t-shrits with wittier slogans than you have ever seen at the mall. And you can leave with the niggling sensation that somebody just reintroduced you to yourself. read more

This record shop is such a gem. They have so much more than just records. I love shopping for random gifts here, they have some of the weirdest books and random amazing crap. Plus, it gives me that flash back feeling...even smells vintage. read more

Surprising or not, Northside's Shake It Records is one of the better, if not the best, independent record stores in the country. Record stores in larger cities have largely been marginalized by big chains like Virgin, Tower, and even Best Buy, so the two floors of listening stations, CDs, and lots of vinyl are well worth the trip. Frequent instore performances by bands that won't even stop to play at the Southgate or elsewhere are also welcome. read more

Shake It Records - Shake It Records - Music & DVDs Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

Like I've hardly ever been here when they didn't have what I was looking for. This is the best record store I've ever been to. It's worth coming to Cincinnati to go to this store. I wish I could give the store a hug, but I'm not that big. I love everything about it here. read more

Great store, good selection and if they don't have what you want they will order it. Support this store!

When I Cha Cha'd "used record shops in Cincinnatti," this place came up, and it was certainly grand! Time here was limited, but I found some interesting finds. My new prized possession is the Rosanne Cash album Seven Year Ache, with "Goodbye John" (mentioning Lennon) etched into the record. Only about 10,000 were made, and I found one in the 99 cent bin! HOLLA! Prices are the same as in St. Louis, so I am satisfied! read more

Shake It Records is what a record store should be. They are always well-stocked in new releases, and they manage to cram tons of new and used CDs upstairs as well as tons of new and used vinyl downstairs. The vast amounts of stuff in the store make it a little tricky when they do in-store performances, but it all works out somehow. The staff is incredibly helpful and nice (no Jack Black from High Fidelity here) and I have only gotten amazing recommendations from them when I've asked them to point me towards a great album. If they don't have what you want, they'll order it for you, and they also have an interesting if unpredictable selection of books, stationary, toys, t-shirts and other random stuff for sale, just in case you want some of that as well. Oh, and they have a sweeeeet gift-card exchange program, where you can trade in your unwanted gift cards to chain stores for store credit at Shake It. Don't want that Best Buy gift card? Turn it into a Shake It gift card! Seriously, if there was an 8-star rating I would give this place 8 stars. I love it that much. read more

I worked in what I thought was a great record store, but Shake It is a real "underground" icon. Magazines, vinyl collectibles, books - oh - and music. A wonderful collection of CDs and reasonably priced vinyl (nothing I hate more than over priced vinyl). Whenever I'm in Cin City I block out a couple hours to hit Shake It. read more

I'll echo Christopher G's comment about not buying physical music media, at least in the amount I used to. (Hey, anyone remember MediaPlay? ahh memories...) That being said, I have bought some random stuff here and attended my first record signing with the New York Dolls. (David Johansen was actually smoking in the place (hope I don't get anyone in trouble for saying that)) I subscribe to their email newsletter and its a great way to know about all the new products and special deals in the store. One of the coolest things they do (at least in the past) was to take your used gift cards (as long as the value is verifiable) and give you the equivalent in store credit. How cool is that? Warning, to the guys out there, don't take all your wedding gift cards for Bed Bath and Beyond and convert them into Shake It Records credit. She might just kill you. (but if she doesn't then she's definitely a keeper!!) read more

Best Feature: Absolutely amazing selection of vinyl, toys, CDs, magazines, etc. Worst Feature: I always want to spend all my moneys! ... I jest, no complaints! My fiance first introduced me to Shake It Records as he has a love for vinyl and they have an amazing selection. We parked at the small parking lot near the store and walked inside. Immediately I was greeted with a variety of colors, products, and a friendly staff. In fact, they've greeted me the many times I've stopped in, and I love them for that. I got hooked on the toys - if you're a custom toy fan, this place is packed with unique toy lines made by amazing artists, and you can usually find something to enjoy; from mainstream to eclectic/unique, you'll find a lot ranging from a few dollars to around $15-20. They also have a lot of CDs and albums available on the first floor as well. I've never picked one up but I have perused their selection and holy jeebus do they have a lot. There's a staircase to the lower floor which is where you'll find all their insane vinyl selections. I could probably leave for a good hour and my fiance would still be in vinyl heaven by the time I returned. :) So their selection for vinyl is great as well and prices are decent. The staff is super friendly and will help you with anything you're looking for. They even were kind and gave a friend of ours, a very frequent customer of vinyl, a trophy for being a great customer since he stops in so often for vinyl. I've even grabbed gifts for family members here before and added a bunch of their custom toys to my growing collection at home. If you're in the area and looking for unique gifts or a great music selection, stop in at Shake It! They're fantastic - 'nuff said. read more

Hello Yelpers! Having used Yelp's user reviews many times now in my travels, I decided it was time to give something back and what better establishment to start with than Cincinnati's own Shake It Records. I have been shopping at Shake It Records since my high school days and I can honestly say I have never left the store empty handed or had a single bad experience. In fact, I would go as far to say that it is everything the perfect record store should be. The selection is phenomenal, including both CD and vinyl, which span every imaginable genre and sub genre. In addition, Shake It also boasts other goodies such as DVDs, rock tees, and books!. Best of all, their prices are extremely fair, even border line cheap. On top of all this, Shake it has something a lot of record stores strive for and fall short on and that's atmosphere. For lack of a better term, the place is just hip. The super friendly staff makes finding what you are looking for enjoyable and easy, a big plus considering most record store employees nowadays are too busy being better than everyone around them to care. Bottom Line: If you are in Cincinnati and in need of a music fix, this is the place to go. Having been to great record stores in Chicago (Reckless, etc.) and San Francisco (Amoeba, etc.), I can honestly say that Shake It Records holds it own, and then some. read more

It is what it is: a record store. A genuine historical artifact. Cast in amber for the benefit of future generations to explore. It's like Colonial Williamsburg. I was struck by this fact when leaving the neighboring tattoo/piercing parlor with my 14 year old daughter. She needed help with her nose piercing. She's a music nut and because we had some time, I said, hey, let's go in. It was only when we were inside did I realize: She'd never been inside a music store. Piercing hut, yes. Record store, no. I taught her how to wade through the bins and flip through the stacks. It has the whiff of the lock-step conformist rebellion required of rock and roll along with the self-satisfaction and self-regard of the indie music stores of my youth complete with condescension filled clerk left free to comment over the idiocy and tastelessness of customers questions and choices, respectively. A real blast from the past. Complete fun. And records and CDs galore they have. But it was also a reminder of why record stores no longer exist. No one smirks at you when you download from iTunes. You also don't get the joy of being overcharged for not so great stuff. Want that one track, here's the $10+ album you gotta buy to have it. I can't ever imagine buying a CD or vinyl again (or a DVD for that matter) but if I do, this will be the place. Heck, where else am I going to go? read more

Shake It really is the best record store in Cincinnati. The staff is always really friendly and appreciates the business. Shake It is the place to go to discover new things (books, music, crazy toys). Fun fact: Shake It will accept Best Buy (and other stores') gift cards. read more

There is no record store like Shake It Records in the Midwest as far as I'm concerned. It's got Amoeba to deal with. The store contains gobs of memorabilia, posters, records, and CDs. Their collection is selective (i.e. you can't fit everything into one store) but they have the best of what you're looking for I'm sure. They don't have that new opera solo CD that my mom wanted, but they have the Imogen Heap album that I was looking for. That may give you a sense of the style here. Their prices are average, about what you'd expect to pay for a CD or record, maybe a little bit more. The location is also very nice. The Northside shopping district is super cute and there is always parking. read more

One of the best music stores I've been to outside of Encore. Shake It is an up and coming neighborhood, that is slightly industrial, slightly office building oriented. The store is well organized and has an extensive collection of new and used rock and jazz CD's. Their selection is so good that I literally had the shakes after 30 minutes in there. That and a pile of CD's that i could barely carry. I did look through some of the jazz LP's downstairs, but he had so much good stuff that I had to flee. Otherwise I wouldn't have had gas money to get back to school in good old Virginny. I'm already planning my Jim Strikes Back sequel visit here in December. If you see some guy shouting with glee and covered in CD's and LP's the weekend before Christmas, you'll know its me. read more

Best place for music in Cincinnati. Period. Shake It is a music mecca. You'll find a just unbelievable selection of great music you know, and great music you are about to discover within Shake It's hallowed walls. CD's, both new and used, of every genre are in abundance at reasonable prices. The selection of great music releases from local bands found in abundance within the Cincinnati area's immensely talented music community is unparalleled. Shake It's basement is full of music records just moments from being added to your precious vinyl music collection. I understand they have other stuff besides music here, I see it all around me on shelving whenever I am there. I understand there are books, collectible toys, and other such things. But I simply have tunnel vision for the music. if you can't find it here, the Blase brothers will get it for you. You won't be disappointed. read more

If you love vinyl you need to go here. The obsessive travel far distances like dessert dwellers following a star. If you prefer your music in a compact form or can handle large groups in small places, Shake It is also a record label and hosts incredible daytime shows. Reverend Payton's Big Damn Band is coming Aug. 22 and I'm out of town, grr. I was lucky enough to catch Camper Van Beethoven from the front room one afternoon when I played hooky from work and went shopping for some local music. The music selection varies and they support our local music scene like no one else. Alongside all the great music are fringe toys and publications that you usually only see online. My favorite is High Fructose but I'm already a subscriber. I haven't seen such a great selection of pop-surrealism any where else in the city. My last visit I browsed the small book section and discovered the Book of Lies series by Richard Metzger. read more

Shake It Records has the best vinyl and CD selection of any music store in the region by far. This nationally renowned store sometimes hosts local musicians and always supports the local music scene in any way it can. The staff is helpful and friendly and the selection is mighty. There is rarely ever a time where I leave this place empty handed! read more

Awesome store! Can never wait to go back and Shake It always has the best selection- even beyond music!

This is definitely a destination spot. Well worth the over two hour drive to get here. Very well organized storefront. The employees are extremely polite and helpful. You can easily spend hours looking through everything. Don't sleep on the recently added used CDs either. Their buyers do an outstanding job of bringing in nonstandard fare (which hits my sweet spot). Highest recommendation in Cincinnati. read more

It doesn't get any better than this. As a designer, I'm sad to see the music industry going digital for two reason; the quality is just not as good, and artwork on the albums is becoming a thing of the past. I love everything about this place, from the smell of the joint (no, not that kind of joint), to the wide variety of music and books. It's like stepping into the movie High Fidelity with John Cusack. The people working there are very knowledgeable and hand out samplers, as well. I hope they are around for many years to come. read more

From what I gather, this place and Everybody's are the only real game in Cincinnati as far as record stores go. I visited them both on the same day and must confess that I preferred Everybody's by a very slim margin, but Shake it was still pretty cool! First off, walking into this place is a treat. There are t-shirts up on the walls for sales and all you can see when you walk into the store is racks and racks of CDs. As per usual, I immediately gravitated towards the Used CD section and I wasn't really impressed by what I was finding as far as selection. Underneath the Used CD section is the section of ULTRA cheap CDs...and I can honestly say that I had never heard of 99% of the bands in those bins. Usually, you'll find a lot of 90s alternative CDs and whatnot in those sort of bins, but these were SO obscure. The section of new releases wasn't really much better...they had an alright selection, but the prices were really nothing to write home about. I enjoyed the selection of music books as well as the small room with the stereo equipment in the very back of the store...very cool! And if you think there's only one floor to this store, you'd be wrong! There's a basement and it is entirely devoted to Vinyl. Their selection in vinyl was actually very good, although I didn't have a big bag with me to bring back many records so I only ended up picking up a reproduction of the Glenn Danzig 45 "Who Killed Marilyn" for $5.99. This place seemed to cater more to the fan of indie and lesser popular groups, which is totally cool. Every town should have a place like this. All in all, this is a cool place. Will I be a frequent visitor when I stop through Cincinnati a few times a month? Probably not. read more

With 59 out of a possible 60 starts from 12 Yelp reviews, I had to see what all the hype was about for Shake It Records in Northside. Even before I stepped inside, though, I began to see why everyone liked the store so much, as the store front alone is enough to show that Shake It Records is a pretty neat store. They buy, sell, and trade LPs, CDs, and DVDs, while they also have books, magazines, a few little toys, and a ton of cool t-shirts, among other things (I'm trying to avoid repetition). Fans of all kinds of music will enjoy this store and their huge selection of music and other items. They store is pretty colorful inside too, and the overall appearance and set up of the 3,200-square foot record store is great. I personally love the creaky wooden floors upstairs, which seem to fit in perfectly with the whole theme and niche of the store. I also noticed some sections with "low dough" music, great for anyone looking for some cheap music. Overall, they have such a vast collection of music, books, and more, and whether or not you are big music fan, if you live in Cincinnati you must check out this store at least once. read more

Shake It Records - Music & DVDs Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio