Flipside Records

One of the best music stores in Michigan, period. They have a monumental selection of rare finds from retro video games, box sets, dvds, vinyl, compact discs and cassettes to every day items for your crib like incense, music players, speakers, consoles, arcade games, posters and much more. It’s difficult to leave empty handed because they cover so many genres that you’ll easily find something that’s a must have. They also take trade in’s for store credit or cash which is huge.
Their resident St. Bernard is one of the most hilarious characters I’ve ever met. I don’t think I’ve come across anyone less impressed with my arrival except for my last girlfriend. She kinda just chills out around the store and comes and goes as she pleases. If you’re lucky, she’ll let you pet her. Great dog!
The employees are all fantastic, friendly, informed and eclectic. Somewhat reminiscent of that movie High Fidelity without Jack Black decapitating your musical selections. They know their shit and will help you track down anything. I couldn’t recommend them more. A true staple of downtown Clawson and they’ve been rocking for decades.

Not a happy place… After patiently watching a few people being helped (while looking around on my own), the guy seemed annoyed, at my presence, by the time he was available to help. My question about an album was greeted with a curt «all out»
So, while they have a lot options… Don’t expect to find a friend here.

Not the friendliest place. I rarely get greeted or asked if I can be helped. The owner seems pretty short and annoyed by customers.

I took the trek out from Milford to give Flipside a visit in hopes of scoring some treasures.
Back-​lot parking was a snap to get to, and I got maybe two steps in before getting slapped in the face by some heavy patchouli. I had some serious flashbacks to the mid 90’s, which were further fueled by the wall of Star Trek toys from the late 80’s /​early 90’s. Incidentally, I say this all in the most positive way possible.
The vinyl selection is broad, but I can’t say it’s particularly deep. Want a used first-​pressing of Doolittle by the Pixies? Too bad. Want the new re-​release, sealed on 180-​grams of love? No problem. By and large, I found if something had been re-​released, Flipside had it. But, finding the originals didn’t turn up too much.
There are definitely some rarities in the electronic and indie sections, but both of those sections combined are about as big as their country section. My guess is the local demographic presents the demand for country, so I don’t begrudge them for having nothing to complete my Saint Etienne collection. The closest record store to me out in Milford is about 20 miles away — proof positive that you’ve gotta sell what people are buying.
Pricing seems to balance out, if you’re getting more than one thing. For instance, one of the new albums I bought was $ 3 more than Turntable Lab was selling it for. Another album was $ 2 cheaper. A couple of used double albums I would have been happy to pay $ 12 for were going for $ 7.99.
Could you do better at a garage sale? Maybe, but here’s one thing I noticed throughout the store: the used vinyl is in gorgeous condition. I’m 90% sure they wash everything before putting it out to sell, and they put sleeves on particularly nice /​rare albums. There is a lot of care that shows.
I overheard some staff members, and they seemed quite knowledgable. They have the proper outward disdain, without being inaccessible. That’s a hard balance to maintain. Who I’m guessing to be the owner was exceedingly nice.
Rounding out the trip, it seems you’re going to come up with more rarities in the CD section. The video game selection is substantial, and seems to cover Atari 2600 through Xbox 360 pretty solidly. Throughout the store, there’s what I’m guessing to be consignment home audio gear, and some weird almost pawnshop stuff in glass cases (e.g. GPS and radar detectors). They also seem to have a small head shop quality stock of detox items, should the need arise.
Lucky me, this is pretty close to work. So, I’m sure to be back pretty often.

Cool store. Lots of interesting stuff to fit any nostalgic taste. It’s popular, so the good stuff can go fast, and because there’s so many different kinds of media, there isn’t a very large library of any one type. Still, I have enjoyed harvesting my fair share of gems from this little diamond mine.

I used to shop at Flipside back in the mid to late 90s, right before digital downloads started killing off big and small music stores. At the time, CDs were the dominant format for anyone into music, and the place was usually busy with a steady stream of customers. They also used to have much more engaged and knowledgeable staff working at the store and the selection of rock, punk, and indie music was excellent.
Shopping here now after most independent record stores have switched over to being vinyl-​centric is a very different experience.
I will say that the overall impression of then vs. now is that the store has experienced a massive downward slide. Frankly, I’m not sure how Flipside manages to stay in business anymore or what their real client base is.
The selection of new and used vinyl is average at best. You will find some odd picks that no other store in SE Michigan would carry, such as LP reissues of fairly obscure 80s punk rock. I like that they still carry a fair amount of CDs but a lot of the stock seems like it hasn’t been turned over in quite awhile as there are very few new titles and newly released reissues that I’d be interested in.
The little corner where they keep used stereo equipment is worth checking out, though the selection can be hit or miss. Several months ago there were 4 or 5 reasonably priced 70s and 80s turntables on offer, but on my most recent visit, no such luck.
I’ll continue to stop by every now and then but I really wish Flipside would do something to get the store back in shape.

This place feels like a 90s store — I was impressed! It has a lot of great records and collectibles, and they play pretty cool music throughout the store. If you’re looking for older records, this is the place to go. Records and videos are pretty cheap if you know how to look — I’ve bought $ 1 records here before. Awesome and thumbs up!

This place is awesome. I walked in and felt like I was back in a record store from the 90’s. They have any CD or record you could ever want. Little chachki’s, posters, and old toys. They sell used video games, video games consoles, DVD’s and other items. The staff is wonderful. If they don’t have what I’m looking for, they have ordered whatever it is for me. For instance, Bruno Mars’ CD, Unorthodox Jukebox… they didn’t have it in stock, so the owner got it in for me and put it aside. That’s the kind of customer service I’m talking about!!!

Before I hopped into Noble Sushi next door, I figured I’d stop in and take a look. Being a musician, I am always on the hunt for new recordings, and Flipside did not disappoint. They even have a legit jazz/​classical selection! Dude that works there is very nice, and very knowledgeable.

I was introduced to this store a few years back by a friend & discovered a place that sells things I’m looking for at great prices. I’ve also done some side-​by-​side comparisons with other stores & amazon only to discover that Flipside’s prices beat the pants off their competition.
One can find everything from records & cds to movies, video game consoles & clothing, plus everything in between. This is, by far, my favorite place to look for movies, music & the old school video games I love! I’d recommend them to anyone.

Cool store and the staff were friendly and informative. I had a few questions and they were able to answer quickly and even order a few things for me. They have a variety of odds and ends. New records, old records, 45’s, CDs, Comic books, etc. Prices were exceptional. I like this place.

Great record shop for the collector or casual listener. Prices are on par with most stores and on a lot of things cheaper than what they are a couple miles south in royal oak or Ferndale stores. Nice selections of new and used vinyl, games, CDs ect.

Clawson is a confusing place to me. The small downtown area has all the makings of greatness. There’s food, bars, resale shops. However, I never seem to see people walking around. And in the center of this city sits what may be my favorite record store.
THE GOOD:
Flipside Records is the quintessential record store. They sell video games, old consoles, posters, cardboard cutouts, records, CD’s, tapes, oddities, T-​Shirts, patches, toys, BASICALLY EVERYTHING. I’m a big gamer, and whenever I’m hunting for games to play, Flipside has become a must stop. They have a bunch of used games that are reasonably priced for in-​store convenience. Furthermore, the vinyl collection looks pretty damn solid. They have a huge section, which is always full to the brim with records. And even I, with my limited record knowledge, have managed to find releases I couldn’t resist. Hell, I don’t even have a record player. Furthermore, the CD collection here is stellar. I never leave without at least 3 albums. I always find new things here. In fact, in disbelief I found a very rare Beastie Boys bootleg here not to mention I bought a VERY rare copy of Kid A at a laughable price. The good part about Flipside is that the music collection never disappoints. I could rattle on all day about how they have a nice selection of equipment to buy, or patches, or i-​pods and accessories, or how even their toy section makes the normal man a flaming nerd, but I wouldn’t want to bore anybody with the details. Outside of that, the staff here is cool as all hell. There are a couple guys here that are always polite to my friends and I and seem to be well-​rooted in the underground scene. Good people to shoot the shit with about favorite bands.
THE BAD:
A bit pricey. Here’s the thing, Flipside has normally priced shelves and they have «bargain bins.» I have to say I’ve learned to just walk past the normal shelves, straight to the bargain bin section because honestly, the «normal» prices tend to be high. Aside from their well-​priced oddities, they have stuff like The Black Keys on «sale» for $ 15. No thanks.
OVERALL:
Fortunately, I believe that the prices are anything but the staff’s fault. They buy new albums at new prices to sell to their customers for almost no profit. Otherwise, their stock and pricing is beyond reasonable. I could literally write about my Flipside love for a couple hours, but for your sake, I’ll try to sum it up as quickly as possible. Flipside Records is a must stop for music collectors. Or for vintage collectors. Or for merch collectors. They have a great selection of everything they carry, and if you’re lucky you might find an i-​pod for pretty cheap too. I try to go here every weekend because the staff does really well of cycling stuff around so the store always feels fresh. The verdict? COME TO FLIPSIDE. It might end up being your favorite store.

I’ve never bought anything here. I’ve been here a million times, but I’ve never purchased. They have some cool stuff here. Lots of vinyl for the hipsters and vintage video games for the nerds.
The place is quite big and covered floor to ceiling with cool crap like posters and toys from our childhoods. Prices are pretty decent, but I may have overheard that they charge more if you use your credit card. If so, that would suck, but I’m not completely sure, so I’m not going to dock them points for it.
They have a great selection of old video games at pretty standard prices. You can get cheaper on eBay, but you’re paying for convenience. Record selection is quite large, and the prices are «record shop» level, not «resale shop» prices, so don’t expect to pay a dollar for an LP.
The staff seems somewhat friendly, although no one has actually said anything to me on all my trips by. I’m usually okay with being left alone in a store, but they don’t know that. I was uncomfortable to ask for help with something in the front of the store when the staff is all in the back of the store being cooler than I am. I just wanted to know how much the N64 was.
If you’re looking for a fair and honest record store, this is probably the place. It’s also good if you want to find a Skeletor toy.

For a music store or more so a record shop, this place has some real personality. Never mind the disheveled feel of the shop, they have used game systems, games, vinyl, stickers, comics, posters, toys, paraphernalia, etc. If you’re looking for something in particular, you’ll have to spend some time searching but they have alot of merch to check out. If I was into vinyl I can see myself spending hours here.

This is a great shop. I’m not sure why people are so down on the staff and selection. My experience with the staff was pretty much on par with every set of record store people ever (which isn’t really high praise, but it isn’t criticism either). They basically leave you alone and are polite. I’m sure if you give them a hard time, they retaliate, but that’s one of the luxuries of working in such a place, and why would you want to give such people a hard time?
I can only speak to my own interests re: selection and pricing, but I thought they had some very good and surprising stuff. I got a very nice copy of Moby Grape’s first one, Talking Heads’ Remain in Light, a Lloyd Cole and the Commotions record (Rattlesnakes) and several other things.
They also sell CDs, so one can trade digi for analog. A plus in my book.

This is one of the few places where I can find decent vinyl. Flea Markets and Garage Sales only seem to be selling their ‘Liberace’ «Mantovani’ and ‘Andy Williams’ records anymore. It’s a small store that just has a cool selection of anything. They have a huge Dr. Strangelove poster on the wall that I always get a sudden impulse to buy when I go in.
The prices are modest and reasonable and the staff is very relaxed and not at all like the usual media salesmen that constantly bug you at Best Buy or FYE. They sell Super Nintendo and Sega games! They sell kitschy toys (I found a Skeleton Warriors action figure last time).
Their bargain bins are very well organized, most places don’t really tend to their bargain bins much, so that goes a long way in my book.
I like to dig through all the cheap 45s when I go here, I always find something good. A must stop for music lovers. I never can make it through Clawson without stopping at Flipside.

Flipside Music, much like Rock-a-Billy’s is a small CD/​vinyl store that many of my friends in high school would visit. Though unlike the latter, I actually visited this store in the 1990’s. Though the store looks a million times better than it did in the 90’s, the selection has not changed much.
The CD and Vinyl selections in this store are separated into the two halves of the store. The CD being the left and the vinyl on the right, with a wall of old action figures and toys taking-​up the right wall. In the back of the store old video game systems and paraphernalia take-​up the remaining space in the store.
The jazz vinyl in this store is a pretty decent size but lacks variety and the quality titles you would expect to see. A few Brubeck records and Turrentine and Laws CTI records mixed in with the common bargain bin selections from Cart City hardly constitutes a wide array of music. There are two rows of new/​used jazz CDs in the opposite aisle with very slim pickings… bummer.
Classical in this store for both CD and vinyl is sad. Not even worth your time to stop… unless that is you need a new copy of Beethoven’s «Greatest Hits» on EMI Red Label.
This store has a decent selection of rock and indie CDs and vinyl. If that is your style, then you probably would enjoy a visit to this store. However, in all of my trips to Flipside Music, which have taken place over the last 10 years, I have yet to make a purchase.

Flipside has been around since the early 80’s. They have a decent selection of independent music. By independent I mean the whole lot… they carry metal, punk, indie rock, etc. Worth checking out if you are into those genre’s. They also have a good selection of pop/​classic rock. Yes, they do used… I think they are a little pricey. They carry some vinyl, including indie stuff. Decent store if you are in the area!

Flipside has been around since forever!
My first experience with Flipside was when I was 13; I had my dad drive me way out to Clawson just to shop. He ended up talking to a 6’4″ guy with foot-​tall red liberty spikes, while I picked out my first punk tape — Operation Ivy — Energy!
I’d say that since, Flipside has consistently stayed up to date with their collection; some places are good for certain kinds of music, and I’d say that jazz being the exception, Flipside is good for any genre, any FORMAT you’d want! They have a decent selection of movies as well, both new and used.
They do have a buy/​trade service, but I’ve never used it, so I can’t say much else other than they do that sort of thing.
Suggestion: bring a portable music player, grab some music, head next door to the café for a bit of listening, and then down to the Lotus for pints!