Shangri-La Records

Great record shop with knowledgeable and passionate staff eager to answer questions and share recommendations.

Definitely my favorite record store in Memphis, and I think it qualifies as the best Memphis record store too due to their selection being very Memphis-​centric. They have a HUGE selection of used records, specializing specifically in blues, soul, jazz, and rock. I sometimes can’t find exactly what I’m looking for, but the employees I have encountered are generally pretty helpful, and I know that they are able to special order things if they don’t have the record you want in-​stock. I see that many other reviewers have commented on their high prices, but I have to argue that that’s only part of the story. Yes, their prices might be higher than some websites or big-​box national chains, for example, but they’re a local store that is fighting the good fight. I think people who say their prices are too high might not be people who are committed to keeping local music stores open. They have to make some sort of profit if they want to keep their doors open, and I am perfectly happy to pay a buck or two more on my vinyl purchase to interact with people rather than my laptop, and to have the experience of going in a historic local store to shop for my music. In my personal experience, their prices aren’t so high that it stops me from buying a record if I really want it or have been searching for it.

Quite overpriced, and the guy working was not very helpful or friendly. He was looking at his cell phone the whole time I was there. When I walked in, I was not greeted right away because he was clearly busy texting someone. Then when I walked up to pay, I had to just stand there longer than I should have because he was still using his phone. That kind of irritated me. They have a «no cellphone» sign on the door and in the store, so clearly the staff are hypocrites.

I love coming here, but you have to allow plenty of time to look around! For someone from the 50’s, it takes me back to the days when you could walk in a music store and just get lost going from one artist to another.
The thing that makes them so special is they employees who truly love music and know everything about all kinds of genres. In addition, they have a rich history of Memphis music which can be very enlightening.
Pick any genre and you will be pleasantly surprised at the huge selection. Every time we go, we always come home with something «new» to add to our collection. We have always preferred vinyl in music. That familiar «crackle» you hear when the needle meets the record is still the best way to enjoy your records.
I cannot say enough good things about Shangri-​La! For local music lovers and anyone making a trip to Memphis, this is one fun thing to do!

I cringe as I write this review, because I really have gotten a lot of mileage out of this store, and the staff are much more friendly than those at another big name joint not too far away. However, I really do feel they need a better way of rating their used vinyl/​being up front about condition. I’ve gotten into the habit of pulling out the media and spot-​checking it myself, because on more than one occasion I’ve dropped sizeable amounts of money on a rare record only to find it was horribly warped or unplayabe. In other instances, I’ve found Double LP’s only including half of their respective contents. I recognize the logistical problems of inspecting inventory on this scale, but it seems it would behoove them not to have their niche market customers leave feeling burned. I’ll happily continue patronizing this store, but I do think people should know spot buys in their used sections could be unwise.

Great store, but you won’t find any bargains. Do your research before buying anything pricey here. Every record that comes through the door is looked up on the internet and priced at the higher end of (and sometimes well above) its value. (Example: 1984 promo copy of Prince’s «Purple Rain» on purple vinyl marked at $ 250, Discogs has them starting at $ 60.) If you’re going to pay internet prices for merchandise, save yourself the hours of digging and just get it from the internet.
That said, I always find something to buy here, and the staff is friendly & knowledgeable.
Plus, they have a bathroom available for customers!

Oh, Shangri-​La. I love this place. I think at this point I’ve been to every record store in town (I own over 400 records so it’s required a bit of stepping to get that many), and this one is my favourite. Why?
— The size. The place is huge. They have, what, three rooms of stuff? It’s impossible for me to come out of this place empty-​handed (unless I physically will myself away from the shelves). I always find something I want, which is saying something.
— The selection. They have EVERYTHING. Pick any genre. They have a little of everything of said genre. I promise you. They sell old LPs and new LPs. There’s 45s (including some really cool ones like picture discs and stuff, and all those are separated off I believe). Of course there’s plenty of local stuff, so you can grab an Elvis record or any Memphis musician that you fancy. And all the genres you associate with Memphis like blues? They’ve got heaps of records. Of course there’s plenty of rock records too, as well as punk, they have every genre you could possibly want. There’s electronic, soul, country. All over the wall too is lots of groovy records (all for sale of course), stuff that’s maybe rare or just interesting.
— The staff. They’re friendly and knowledgeable. They’re helpful. Go on, ask them a question. Since there’s so many subcategories of rock, maybe you have no clue where to find a particular group you like. They can probably help you out.
There’s also some CDs (not heaps, but there’s some right up front, I think it’s just limited to local artists?) and another room full of music memorabilia.
This place isn’t just a record store, it’s a music store, in the sense that they sell all things music-​related. It’s the kind of place you can go and just spend an hour or four combing every bin looking for a hidden treasure. The best part? At no point will you feel like the staff is annoyed by your presence as can happen at some places. It’s all purely no pressure. There’s no hovering, no staring.
One final tidbit: if you buy a used record and it turns out to be scratched, you can bring it back. There’s no hassle or anything. Out of the many purchases I’ve made, only one record I’ve bought from here had a scratch that made the record skip, and I wasn’t made to feel like I should just deal with it or anything. They happened to have another copy of it, so I just exchanged it.

OH how sweet it is to be back at Shangri-​La Records in Memphis! This is a fantastic landmark of a record store! It has one of the finest selections of singles I have ever seen! Really cool old soul and blues stuff that would be almost impossible to find anywhere else in the country! The lp selection is fantastic as well and if your going to Memphis on a Music trip (Graceland, Stax, Sun) you might want to also include this store! To pick up the records that made Memphis famous for being the birth place of rock n roll!
The staff is super nice and generous and will chat with you about the tunes that inspire you! The location of this store was perfect for me, as I was working at Ardent Studios a couple blocks away! So it would be fun to shoot on over to the record store during the lunch hour and flip through the vinyl!
I had been here once before and enjoyed it so much and I’m glad to have gotten the opportunity to come back and flip through the stacks!

Hands down the best record shop in Memphis. They always have some rare gems in excellent condition. Their Soul, Blues, and Jazz selection is phenomenal.

Great record shop with a huge selection. We found a few great records there and they were reasonably priced.

A good record shop — maybe I’m not being fair because I had just returned from 2 other shops and was a bit burnt out. The vinyl was in good shape and is very well organized. By that point I was shopping more for post-​punk and rock vinyl. What I found was new and priced fairly, but nothing that I couldn’t really find at another shop. There wasn’t a big selection of what I was looking for, but if you’re a big blues or jazz fan then hit this place up.
One of the best parts was the staff: the guy behind the counter was kind and when I asked him what he was playing he answered me without that snotty «how did you not know what was playing gosh» tone that I get all too often. He even found the record for me, which I promptly bought.

Every time I’m in Memphis, I make it a point to stop into Shangri-​La. When I was a youngun, I loved this shop with all my little teenaged heart and so perhaps that’s why I continue to visit long after their prices started to rise (or were they always that high and my memory is just rose-​tinted?) and the sections devoted to the music that interests me have dwindled.
If you are looking for blues, local music, jazz, old country in CDs or vinyl, Shangri-​La has a seemingly enormous selection that is really well organized and easy to browse through. If you’re looking for 80s, punk, new wave, no wave, post-​punk, goth, industrial, metal, or anything even vaguely related then there are slim pickings. And the prices tend toward the higher end of moderate. For instance, new rock vinyl (of which there is a small selection) ranges from $ 14.99 for singles to $ 19.99+ for albums. Average price for a used piece of vinyl is around $ 9. While I admit to being a miserly bargain-​hunter, that’s a little too high for someone like me who often resells her doubles (and triples). One great bonus, the staff went out of their way to greet us and to offer assistance which might possibly be a first in the dozen or so music stores we’ve visited over the last week.

Great shop! Good used and new selection of vinyl, lots of the old Memphis and Mississippi bluesmen, some Hi/​Stax, reasonable prices, a few new guys, local stuff… what’s not to love!
Also, the staff was friendly and un-​pretentious, which is pretty cool.
I currently live near Nashville, and have spent a lot of time in Grimey’s, and if you’re familiar, this place is as good or better. That’s saying something.

I’m from Los Angeles, and i just simply enjoyed this place!
Biggs ups!
Marc’

Memphis is kind of a weird quirky town in a good way and Shangri-​La is the same.
There is a lot of music crammed into a small little place, I ended up picking up about a ½ dozen 45’s which I was able to listen to before purchasing.
If you are looking for Memphis music, it is a great place to go. I definitely will go back when I go. I also recommend it as a place to ask about what one should go see in terms of music because you probably will get recommendations that don’t have to deal with Beale Street and might be a whole lot better.

Hands down best selects.
Always no-​scratches.
By with confidence.
To the other reviewer that found it overpriced:
This is a primarily Used/​New Vinyl record store staying in business in 2010.
No small feat.
If you want to save a few bucks, dig at the thrift store or the other record stores.
But I assure you, you will not find the range of selection in VG condition.
No attitudes within.
Great local insight.

Shangri-​La is by far and away one of the best record stores I have had the pleasure of stepping foot into. I cannot get over how huge the selection is! This place is 3 rooms full of vinyl, cds, LPs, books and posters. They also have a pretty large selection of music magazines– old of course.
The staff here was tremendously helpful as well. They went out of their way to help me locate some local Memphis music I might like based on some other favorite bands of mine. Speaking of local music– Shangri-​La takes the cake. They have a such a huge selection to choose from. As if that isn’t enough, they have free in-​store live shows on most Fridays featuring local bands trying to earn their mark in music history. They get major kudos for that. Not only is it great for the bands, but it allows me to hear some great local artists.

What a cool, retro music store. It’s fun just walking in here. The staff was great. My reason for visiting was to sell some vinyl records and they purchased most of them.
While I was there I looked around and loved the Memphis music section. There was a great variety. They also sell CDs and amps and the staff is great.

There’s a reason that 20 year-​old Shangri-​La Records was named the best record store in Memphis last year in the Flyer’s readers’ poll. It’s three rooms full of LPs, singles, CDs, books, posters and back issues of music magazines. Their selection is impressive and well organized. I’m always most impressed with their selection of Memphis music. They’ve got it all — rockabilly, blues, indie rock, punk, rare singles and limited releases, all made by bands that call the Bluff City home.
If you’re visiting Memphis, it’s a good place to stop in and get your bearings. They produce the Kreature Comforts guide, a guide to Memphis for people who want to get to know the city like a local.

I don’t believe there is a better spot in the world for soul 45’s.
It took 3 people pulling my shirt to finally get me to leave. What a cool store.