Let’s Boogie Records & Tapes

Are you kidding? Best of Chicago?
The records here are crap!
I guess if you want an ELO tape, check it out!

In some of my other reviews*, I’ve bemoaned the fact that the classic Chicagoland record store in today’s world (2015) seems to be fast becoming extinct. By classic, for me personally (a 39 year record collector who’s been buying music since I was 11), I mean here places like Hegewish, Record Swap, Threshold, Rose Records, or the Crow’s Nest. Other collectors who are bit older than me I know will use that classification for other places – Beverly Records back in the day, Val’s Halla also back in the day, Rolling Stones back in the day, etc, etc. There just aren’t many places left that have the «presence and feel» of those «classics.» This is not to say there aren’t still great record stores left in Chicagoland – Reckless, Dusty Groove, Dave’s, Jazz Record Mart, and Oak Park Records are all fantastic shops, in my opinion, and do a wonderful job serving the record buyer community. But although that’s the case, the «presence and feel» of those places is not like the others I mentioned above – each has it’s own quirks and differences that make them unique, but not in that «special way» the older places I’ve mentioned were like.
Let’s Boogie, a small but great shop in the Bridgeport area, is one shop left in Chicagoland that DOES take you back to the times of those classic record shops, and does so with style. Unlike Val Halla’s and Beverly Records, two of the stores I mentioned above which are still open, Let’s Boogie maintains that classic «presence and feel» while also NOT being a vinyl graveyard. They have also weathered changing markets better than say, Rolling Stones out in the suburbs, which has now become a bloated dinosaur with far too many CDs racks.
Because of this fact, they have maintained the «presence and feel» of the old shops, and they continue to offer selections on vinyl (as well as other formats) that aren’t just the picked over, fair or good records sold as being better quality than that, selections you find at places like Val’s or Beverly these days. Meanwhile, they offer the better quality LPs they do have at great prices. You will find deals here that match, or are better than, what you will find at the current crop of «great places» like Reckless and Dusty Groove, as well. Finally, the store’s owner also makes the place worth shopping at – a huge music fan who is very knowledgeable and who seems to be generally more personable than clerks at places like Jazz Record Mart or Dave’s tend to be.
One downside is that the place only takes cash. So, as other reviewers have said, come prepared. Another downside is that although the prices are comparable with places like Reckless and Dave’s, the overall selection of LPs here is more limited. They do a great job stocking classic rock, pop more generally, and stuff like soul, funk, r and b, and new wave, but are less strong in areas outside these. So I’ve docked them one star for these couple of issues.
(*To get a better understanding of the comparisons and contrasts I’m drawing here with other stores in the area, see my 40+ reviews of other record stores located in the Chicagoland area here on Unilocal.)

Important to note, it’s cash only here.
Let’s Boogie is a dusty time warp shop that’s fun to visit, be prepared to dig and you’ll find something good. Majority is rock oriented, but there’s a good amount of soul, funk, disco, new wave, etc. A limited amount of new vinyl that seemed to be mostly popular stuff and a little pricey.
Prices do leave something to be desired, but not outrageous. Nobody’s forcing you to spend $ 40 on 2 tapes and a record, guy… I spent the same and left with 6 records. Sealed LPs were mostly $ 10, which is a fair price for a mint record, even if it’s $ 2 – 3 above average prices you see online. Yes there were a few $ 20 records I skipped right past. For the budget buyer there are dollar bins with «no refunds» signs, though I didn’t venture through them.
The owner was friendly and chatted with us for a bit. I’d go back if in the area, but wouldn’t make a special trip necessarily.

Total ripoff. The owner charged me $ 40 for a 2 tapes and a common record. I guess it’s because I was visiting from out of town. The selection sucks and he doesn’t mind selling a scratched up record above market value. Save yourself a trip and just buy your records online or at Dusty Groove.

Stumbled onto this joint, had an amazing selection of vinyl records. It was deserted when I first set foot in this place. Every other record store I went to last weekend (Wicker Park, Logan Sq) was picked over. This place had a better selection and better prices. Friendly service, too.
Cash only.

Went once and loved it instantly. When I walked in, it felt just great, and when I started looking at the catalogue, I was amazed at all the records they had. I’m so glad I found this place

Great, old-​school record shop. The owner is a nice guy. Some good prices on records.
TIP: no cards allowed! Apparently it can be dangerous to pick up cash at the ATMs across the street, so come with some cash.
Also, we found it open at 2pm on a Saturday, if that helps. :)

Quality establishment. Glad to see a place like this is still around. Neil the owner is great and has been friendly ever since I first started coming to Let’s Boogie as a child.

One of my favorite shops in Chicago. I don’t know how it stays in business, but I hope it does! There’s hardly ever anynone in there when I go, which is often, so the owner plays close attention to you and what you’re looking at. It can seem a little overbearing, but he’s interested in his customers and what they’re looking for. He remembers me every time and lets me know if there’s anything new that I’d be interested in. Very thoughtful and attentive business owner, which I appreciate.
I highly recommend this shop – too bad it’s so far off the beaten path for most! Help support a small business.

This my favorite place in Chicago for both time travel and music purchases. This store has not changed one bit since I was a tween girl growing up in the 70’s & 80’s and it’s wonderful to be able to get the same experience every time I shop there. From the original 70’s posters on the wall to the 45’s behind the counter it is nothing less than a wondrous living museum of music & pop culture of the 70’s & 80’s. You can see everything from a Steve Martin promo Stand Up album holder to band collectable flair buttons under a glass case. This is where you can go to buy mint vinyl 45’s, 33’s, 8 tracks, cassettes and CD’s

When you can actually find it open, Let’s Boogie is like a time machine back to the age of vinyls and 8-​tracks and cassette tapes. There’s also an interesting selection of VHS tapes and collectable pins and accessories at the counter. Me? I was taken in by the E.L.O. posters…
I wouldn’t call myself an «old-​timer», but I still have devices in my house that play cassette tapes, and this is one of the greatest places to find something I can use in them and rock out like I used to.
Oh, and the guy who runs/​owns the place really knows his stuff and also helps promote the local bands, so if you stop in, be sure to check out the fliers and material he’s got at the counter and support the local bands as well!