Hard Boiled Records & Videos

I’m amazed and very pleased that this joint hasn’t been priced out of the neighborhood yet and replaced by a Caribou Coffee. This store is a lot smaller than the other Chicago mainstays (Laurie’s Planet of Sound, Reckless), but what is here is a great selection of used and new records, books, etc. The clerks are always really friendly and helpful, and they didn’t sneer when I picked up some early Eddie Money records! Maybe because I mixed it with some Blue Oyster Cult and Elvis Costello. Point being: excellent selection in this small indie store that I love supporting.

This place is solid. Bought an awesome book and some vinyls on the cheap. The guy in there left me alone while I browsed, but was friendly when I checked out– my kind of salesman!

I always like visiting this store. It’s small and sort of hidden, but it’s a gem. I’ve found some really great records here: Husker Du, Modern Lovers, etc. Mark is also really friendly, you just need to break the ice. Prices are always very fair. The selection of vinyl may not but huge, but it’s choice.

Hard boiled is a cozy shop nestled in a nice area of Roscoe Village. The selection isn’t huge but you can find some killer stuff. The owner is a really nice guy and knows a buttload about music. Anytime he hasn’t had something I’m looking for he can pretty much tell me where I’m going to find it in the city. He was once playing something that I really dug and when I asked about it he took it out and sold it to me for practically nothing because it didn’t have a cover. Its things like that that will keep me coming back. I just wish he had a bigger garage/​psychedelic section.

Great place to pick up the latest releases by your favorite indie artists. Owner is friendly, though seemingly stand-​offish. Used vinyl is hit-​or-​miss, but well-​priced. Excellent selection of Asian cinema.

Hard Boiled has been our go to place for a fresh selection of used vinyl for many years. The owner, Mark, is very helpful and knowledgeable. His music collection is obscure and eclectic with a focus on vinyl, both new and used. Mark’s prices are always reasonable, if not cheap. He has found a way to incorporate interesting music related crafts, like bowls and clocks made out of records. Mark handpicks the used book selection and it’s easy to find a good book for a good price. He no longer carries videos, although he may have a few hanging around. Hard Boiled is for sure a one-​of-​a-​kind record store!

I was just in Hard Boiled and found the first 6 issues of Grendel along with a number of other Wagner stuff for 12 $. I don’t understand how this guy stays in business selling things this cheap. I always find some book or cd I’ve been wanting for years and it’s hardly ever more than 10 $. Mark, the owner, is more than willing to answer any questions or put a disc on the sound system so you can test it out and loves to talk about the music he likes. I just wish I could get used to his strong accent because sometimes I have a hard time understanding him, but I did just move to Chicago. I will definitely be stopping in here after a Costello’s visit, which is pretty often,

Great prices for some really great records. I would have liked it if the selection was a bit bigger, but I found a Bob Seger and an old school Eric Clapton double LP for under 10 dollars total, both in really great shape.
Great music playing while I shopped, too.

Its rainy… I just got done with brunch at Orange and neither myself or the fiancé has an umbrella. We run across the street to this place for some shelter. I decide to look around, and I find some tribute album to William «The Fridge» Perry. I figure this would look pretty sweet on my Bears wall my office (next to the Super Bowl Shuffle signed by Sweetness).
So thats why this place rocks.

Hard Boiled has the right idea I feel, but doesn’t deliver. I rarely see many new arrivals in the used vinyl section. Mainly just the same stuff for the past 4 years. I’ve found a few good finds there, but mainly I just look around wishing there was something worth buying. When you do find something good, expect to pay a pretty high price.

A great handpicked selection by one of the most knowledgeable and friendly people on earth.

AAAHHH! sick! greatest record store for hard to find IDM and obscure bands. the owner is a total music nerd, he often gives out free tickets to concerts in the area. really cool guy. i love his weekly emails about the new stuff they got in. i wish i lived near here so i can go more often.

Quality, not quantity is the key to this place. They don’t have a huge selection, but they do have a good selection, limited in size. Plus the guy who works/​owns/​runs/​whatever the place is friendly and British, so A+ to that.
I usually walk out of this place with something outside my usual comfort zone. My most recent purchases consisted of a compilation of Mexican psychedelic rock from the 60’s, a Gentleman John Battles tribute comp, a King Tubby album and a Pink Reason CD.
Also, there’s a Silver Abuse t-​shirt for sale, which is awesome.
Plus, they have a good video selection, but I don’t rent, so uh, that does nothing for me.

A-​OK. That’s what it is. The record selection is small. Well, it’s not really small. It’s just that there are lots of records but no one wants any of them. There are some used books, and DVD’s. Mark is the owner and he’s a nice guy who is knowledgeable enough. If you are looking for something specific, call ahead first. If he got an online archive of his current stock, it would improve the store greatly.
I did once find 7 Dylan records there, though. ;)

This used to be my go-​to DVD rental store, before the owner determined that the rentals weren’t bringing in enough revenue and decided to liquidate the collection.
It was a heartbreaking experience, walking into the store intending to rent some twisted Korean horror flick only to find that everything was marked for sale. HARD BOILED had one of the greatest «small» collections of DVDs I’ve ever seen on display.
There, there. I dried my eyes, and I’ll continue to support the store. The prices Mark quotes for special orders are generally less than what it’d cost from his competitors, although I’ll occasionally have to wait a few weeks for it to come in.
And indeed, while aloof at first, the owner is in fact very friendly and knowledgeable, and everything he has ever recommended has been top notch. He is also extremely fair about returns. Whether it’s used or new vinyl, I’ve never had a problem getting my choice of cash back or store credit.

Alright well this place didn’t let me down so far, the vinyl and CD collection is fair for the size and regularly updated, the fellow in charge seems knowledgeable enough. No doubt they catalogue all sorts of obscure stuff and you can order through the store anything that pops into your head. He’s also unintrusive save for a courtesy nod on the way in.
The selection on show is not nearly as extensive assome other record stores around, and a little pricier, even more so than you might find online.
There’s also a fairly keen selection of magazines, films and pulpy literature. I wouldn’t venture in with anything specific in mind to spill your hard earned cash on, as they most likely won’t have it, but what they do have stands up well under sharp perusal. Though it may be telling that I left there with only a book under my arm.

If you listen to boring indie rock shit, this store has what you’re looking for! in CD format only. Just like… everywhere else.
Sometimes the gentleman owner has some used LP’s that you might not really want, but you guess you wouldn’t mind owning. at least they’re generally in good condition.
If you’re into pathetic self-​loathing rape fantasy comic books like love & rockets or some shit, this place sure is stocked on that too.
i’d give it 2 stars to you, 3 stars for me because it’s walking distance from my house, so even after frequent disappointments… i’m not really put out at all by it.

Great selection of pretty cool Asian films. Best to my knowledge. I got Shaolin Soccer here before it came to America. Also bought Hero before it was released in the US.
The guy at the shop is pretty helpful at picking some great movies.
Music. Yeah… they have music. Go for the movies for sure. Some never making it to Netflix.

I always spend too much here and that’s why it’s not getting 5 stars.
Lots of interesting records and books. You can go in here and the owner will find you something amazing/​weird/​awesome any day.

It’s good to see a small indie store thrive, let alone survive. Mark recently moved to a different space a couple doors down. I’m not sure if it’s bigger, but it seems nicer. Hard Boiled specializes in ‘Cool and strange music’ along with movie rentals (specializing in music-​related, kung fu and animé). HB also carries a small selection of books and comics, and is often the first in the city to get the latest issues of U.K. magazines like The Wire, MOJO and Uncut, usually weeks before places like Borders and Tower.