Scratched Vinyl — Local services in Barrington

Rainbow Records is hands down the best record store I've been to. Before stumbling upon it on the way back from a doctor's appointment, I would either order my vinyl online or take a trip to some overpriced record stores in the city. After one visit, I can confidently say that this is where I'll be purchasing the vast majority of my records from now on.

It's small, but makes good use of every last square foot. There are boxes full of great records - from classic rock to jazz - and if you look hard enough, you're bound to find a handful of steals. My first visit, I spent over an hour flipping through boxes upon boxes of records, and I could have easily spent a couple more.

I ended up walking out with an original pressing of Bowie's Station to Station for $20, and an original pressing of My Life in the Bush of Ghost by Brian Eno and David Lynch for $10. Don't get me wrong, not all prices are great. There were a few records that I thought could've been $5 to $10 cheaper, but most are priced very generously.

But pricing and selection aren't the only reason I love Rainbow Records. One of the biggest attractions for me is its owner, John. He is one of the most knowledgeable individuals I have ever met in my life, and I'd be hard pressed to say that I've spoken with someone more passionate about music than he. The man truly loves what he does. I spent over a half hour talking with him about Brian Eno, The Talking Heads, Lou Reed, and the Velvet Underground. It was the most pleasant and enlightening conversation I've had in a record store, period.

I can't wait for my next visit to Rainbow Records. If you're a music junkie living in the Northwest Suburbs, I highly suggest you pay this hidden gem a visit. You'll be...

There isn't a lot of choice with respect to record shops these days. Thankfully, Scratched Vinyl and its owner tick all the boxes in terms of everything you could ever want. The selection is great, and the owner graciously guided me around and made some stellar recommendations after I told him the type of music that I was looking for. He even played the records for me before purchasing to make certain they played well, and so that I could be sure it was the type of music I actually wanted. He does everything he can to help you get the music you want, and doesn't just push things along to make a quick sale. His stock is organized by artist, with a few areas dedicated to certain genres like blues and jazz, making it pretty easy to navigate. It also helps that the shop has a nice hi-fi system always playing some good tunes!

It has been a while since I've had a genuinely great and memorable experience while out shopping, which is what compelled me to write this review. If you want that old school vinyl record shop experience where you just keep wanting to go back, then Scratched Vinyl is...

If you're looking for a record store in the Chicago suburbs, there's no finer establishment than Rainbow Records. Their vinyl prices are excellent, and the range in selection is top-notch (especially punk records, of which there are many). And, of course, one can't fully review Rainbow Records without mentioning the owner, John. He is an absolute fountain of knowledge, as friendly as they come, and you can spend almost as much time talking with him than you can browsing their selection.

If you find yourself in the northwest suburbs, or are just looking for a great resource for new and old vinyl, head out to...