Goner Records

Having just moved here from Austin, I thought I’d be doomed when it came to finding a decent record shop, however, Goner Records has filled the void for my vinyl addiction! They have a great selection of Punk/​Rock! I found albums that I have never seen in person on my first visit! I do wish they had a better Metal selection, but overall they have a great selection of other genres at decent prices!

Mostly punk music. I’m more of a metal guy, so I wouldn’t exactly call it vinyl heaven. The staff was polite, but didn’t seem very good at communicating with costumes. The records were fairly priced.

I can only elaborate on what others have already said about this place. Goner’s records are legendary. They have had a plethora of different bands/​artists under their label. They have a plethora of music options on whatever format you need. The staff are always extremely polite and helpful. They seem to care about their patrons giving everyone the attention they need. I only say this because I have gone into many music stores where the employees believe because they work in a music they automatically know everything and you know zilch! It sort of like they see themselves as music gods and no one is worthy of their time and any music that’s not good in «their eyes» is bad and will gladly let you know it. But the Goner guys and gals are super sweet. Anything you need they will try to answer it with the best of their knowledge and do their best to not let their personal opinion damper the product if it is an artist you really dig. It’s ok, I like some Taylor Swift songs too, they’re kind of catchy! That being said I would feel no anxiety to ask the kind folks here about any Swift releases… even though I wouldn’t ha! This is a must stop in Memphis.

I don’t normally post on Unilocal,but I had such a great experience – I just had to. I LOVE Goner! Great prices, incredible selection, super helpful staff. I travel a lot and go to record stores in many cities. Goner is the best, I always find records. And the staff is great. I don’t know what they are paid but they should definitely get raises.

Just found this place on Saturday, Far and Away my favorite record store in Memphis! This will be a must stop for me anytime I’m in town. The prices are very good! Most brick and mortar stores prices are high and sometime on the verge of unreasonable, not this place. They have a great selection of new and used records. Some new records are priced literally lower than Amazon! My first time was this Saturday loaded up on a bunch of Zappa and some other must haves. Purchase 10 records for the price of 3 at many other places. Had records players and CD players abundant for you to demo your selections and super friendly staff. I look forward to my next trip to Memphis, thanks Goner Records

Very cool shop with competitive prices on records. They had a couple rare cuts & discs for special occasions. I ended up walking away with about 5 different albums. Would definitely visit again.

Very cool record store. They don’t have a dollar bin, but they have loads of zines, including back issues of things like Maximum Rock n Roll for $ 1! They’re pretty nice, too, and gave me some good suggestions of places to check out in the neighborhood.

I love this place. They’ve got an amazing selection. I’m addicted to buying records and while I’ve amassed quite a collection, I still manage to walk out of there with several records. Lots of brand new vinyl throughout multiple genres as well as used stuff. Everything’s reasonably priced, too. Whenever I go I always end up finding stuff that just amazes me… other people in town have heard of this stuff? So awesome.
Did I mention the prices are reasonable? Seriously, they are. They beat anywhere else I’ve looked, brick-​and-​mortar stores and online. There are used records to be found here for just a couple bucks that aren’t scratched up and beaten up. Not bad at all. They have a website that you can order from but come on… half the fun of shopping for records is going and thumbing through them! ;)

Good used and new selection of vinyl, the staff was friendly enough — I don’t really trust any record staff that is *too* friendly, but that is just me. It’s not as large as Shangri-​La and that is o.k. with me, since they specialize in more new and used garage and punk Lp’s. They have regular in-​store performances and the amazing gonerfest they organize each year. They love music and that is what really makes it great!

Probably my favorite record store in the world and one of the highlights of my visit to Memphis for Gonerfest 2011. It beats the prices of any other record store I’ve been to in Barcelona, Rome, Madrid, Amsterdam, Chicago, NYC… well, everywhere. I think between my partner and me we blew like $ 300 in one visit. We went for more another day but sadly they were closed (well it was good for my wallet at least…)
Their selection also beats any other record store. Found a few things I had been looking for without having to pay a crazy price. The mail order service is pretty good too. I wish every record store was like Goner Records!

There is a reason Rolling Stone Magazine has Goner as a top ten record store in the nation! Great selection! The store doubles as a recording studio. Check out great stuff from the Goner Records label!

This review is of mail order: great. timely and a great selection. Definitely buying from here in the future. If I find myself in Memphis I will stop on by. Well done Goner family…

Compared to the overpriced record stores of Chicago where I come from, this place was rather… boss? My family was dragging our tired souls around Memphis, so bored we were considering clawing our eyes out when I shouted «LETS GO FIND SOME EFFING RECORDS». And we were off.
I blew 80 dollars here easy sifting my way through the punk bins and generally driving my family insane while mulling around the giant room. The record prices weren’t jacked up too high and there was a decent selection. The staff is super friendly –or friendlier than most record store staff that I’ve encountered– and the atmosphere was chill.
There’s tons of free crap laying around like posters, stickers, all that jazz. I snatched a CD of some band out of a bin that was free. I think the band was called something like «little darlings» and the music sounded like some bad middle-​age-​liberated woman folk. I didn’t care. I was happy with my new purchases and free stuff (I’m a sucker for anything free). If I every find my little booty in Memphis I’ll pop in again! Well worth it y’all.

Here is my review of Goner in 3 acts:
Act I
What. The. Hell. A to Z rock records and it’s all classic and stoner rock. Oh, wait, here’s one worthwhile thing in the dance section. This sucks but that money I’d budgeted for this store can just be spent when I get to Shangri-​La.
Act II
Oh…what do we have here? At least there’s a punk section. I’ll give it a little flip-​through before I bounce.
Act III
Holy Crap! This über rare record is only $ 15! What?! This sealed copy of an album I’ve never seen before is only $ 8! I freaking love this place!!!
Epilogue
Apparently, everything that was cool and made after 1970 is classified as punk. Also, they have a small metal section that really is metal. Prices are fair and the atmosphere is really hip. New favorite place to buy records in Memphis!
The End.

The Goner Records store is like your confused, messy, genius cousin who you just have to accept for what he is. Like Russell Crowe in A Beautiful Mind or something. Don’t try to dress up Russell Crowe and make him something else. Don’t try to clean him up. Just accept him for what he is and then he’ll be all solving crazy math equations on your chalkboard while he’s sweeping your floors after hours.
Wait, I think I got a little mixed up there.
Anywho: Goner. I made the mistake once of coming to Goner with a specific record in mind that I was looking for. Not that the odds weren’t on my side for finding it – though it’s just one small room, the place is wall-​to-​wall vinyl and the variety is endless. And had I gone with a specific Goner artist in mind? I would’ve been golden. But aside from that you need to know that this isn’t the place with the intricate index of records, the perfected alphabetical system that allows you to put your finger on exactly what you’re searching for, wherever it is in the store. And on days when I’m not looking for that one specific record, that is precisely why I love it. I love to dig. I love to just flip through records for hours on end and see what I find.
And inevitably when you do find something, you’re probably going to find some great deals here, too. I got three Herbie Hancock records in mint condition for $ 8, plus a brand new copy of The Clash’s London Calling for $ 9. If you like hidden treasures and you like vinyl, you’ll love Goner. Just come in ready to be leisurely, spend a little time and browse. It’s a Memphis attraction in and of itself.

I’ve heard so many good things about this place that my friends and I drove from St. Louis to Memphis to check it out. If you’re wondering, it’s about a 4 – 5 hour drive. We were pretty tired by the time we got to the store, but that was quickly taken care of once we walked inside.
When I record shop, records fall into one of four categories: 1) The «There’s no way on God’s green earth that I’m not walking out of here with this» records, 2) the «I will probably buy this if it doesn’t break the bank» records, 3) the «Mildly interesting» records, and 4) the «I see you in every single damn record store» records. I would say that 1 of every 10 records fell in category #3 here at Goner (which is a lot for me). I ended up with about 15 in category #2, and 2 in category #1. To be clear, I don’t ever expect to find records in the first category, either because they’re so rare, or I already have them. I feel like Goner Records knew exactly what records I needed in my life, which made me giddy, yet mildly concerned at the prospect of spending a month’s paycheck on vinyl.
I managed to walk out with a stack that wasn’t too large, but still felt like I made out like a bandit with the two category #1’s. I’d say that I’d come back here if it was a shorter drive, but that’s a dirty lie: I’m probably going to make this 5 hour drive again in the near future.

Ya know, most of the time I am quite content just switching through my satellite radio channels. I know, blasphemous, right? Truth is, I love so many different genres of music, I can usually find something that I like on the radio. That’s why I’ve never spent much time at Goner. Until now.
I checked out the place for the first time lately and I was blown away by the selection. Lots of punk (to make the hubby happy), and lots of indie and soul (to make me happy).
Memphis is so rooted in music, and Goner is a part of that rich history. A huge champion for the indie music scene here, the Goner record label is something for Memphis to beam about. A great place that has been doing phenomenal things on the music front for a long time, I’m sold on Goner.

I am a certified music-​whore. I said it– and if you are reading these reviews, chances are you are too. The question is, will you admit it? Goner Records is a TRUE music lover’s paradise. I emphasize true simply because of what happened when we were leaving the store. There was a group of 2 guys and a gal who were in the store while we were. They looked pretty bored– and aimless. As they were leaving, I heard them complaining on the sidewalk. What came out of their mouths was a sin. Not a forgivable one in my book either. I heard the gal utter the sentence «Why would anyone dig through all that crap?» to which one of the guys answered «Dude, I know– that shit was seriously messed up.» My husband immediately grabbed my hand and pulled me in the other direction– simply because he knew what was about to come out of my mouth.
If you love vinyl– and wonder why on earth anyone ever invented CDs and cassette tapes– you get what I am smelling. Please don’t go here hoping to find a nicely laid out, clean, urban-​sprawling record store. This is simply not what it is, and I for one, am supremely happy about that fact. Goner Records is a true gem to Memphis. I could spend hours flipping through their endless vinyl choices– and even the used CD options are fantastic. Reasonably priced– and an ultimately wonderful selection of old, new, indie and underground music.
Just to give you an idea of the happiness this place can give a true– music lover, let me tell you about my experience. When I walked in, I took in the 5 or 6 folks perusing the albums, and the sales guy behind the counter. Once I got settled into my surroundings, my ears picked up the most amazing sound. What I later found out to be a man by the name of Gabor Szabo, playing an instrumental version of Paint It Black by the Stones. It was rock meets bollywood. The already haunting melody of the song was met with sitars and had an added Hungarian– Jazzy funk to it. I urge you to go You-​tube some of his music. It was so amazing, I stopped right in my tracks and met eyes with an older gentleman. Our eyes locked as we both took in the sounds, and smiles slowly spread across our faces. I turned and immediately asked Marcus– the sales guy– who this was and where I could find him. Though they did not have the album in store– it was a sample sent to them– he let me know it was always awesome to get feedback so they knew to order in the future. He then proceeded to write down the artist’s name, and a list of other folks I might enjoy based on that one song. When I got home I looked them all up, and fell in love. Marcus, will you be my music friend for life?
FYI– I picked up a Goner bumper sticker on my way out and immediately placed it on my non-​bumper-​sticker laden car. I will advertise for this place any day, any time, any year. Goner you get an A+ in my vinyl music store class. And to those folks who were bashing my new found love– you suck. Majorly.

I had a avoided this place for a bit, as I’d assumed all they’d have were stacks of Operation Ivy and other ska punk acts that I’d never really listen to. I was wrong. Pretty impressive store. They have a great selection of punk, yes, but also other genres of music as well. I spent a good half hour poring over their indie titles and plan on returning to do some more looking and listening.

Goner Records is by far one of the best record shops in Memphis. They carry new and used vinyl and CDs, t-​shirts, posters, books and singles. Check out their complete but well-​curated selection of garage, indie and punk rock. Goner also has one of the best selections of current Memphis music.
Their staff knows their stuff and will make recommendations, help you find things or play records you’re interested in buying. They’ve also been known to stock records specifically because they know one person will buy them.
Goner is more than a store — they’re a record label (they’ve released records for the Reigning Sound, Harlan T. Bobo, Cococoma, and Box Elders). Goner also puts on the annual Gonerfest, a four-​day long rock’n’roll ruckus that invades bars all over Midtown Memphis.