Folk Arts Rare Records

Folk art is a very unique record store. Operated in normal heights for a long time this new owner and spot
On El Cajon Blvd is new and approved.
By far the largest selections of genres of any record store in SD. From salsa, American roots, to ambient and experimental. This guy is passionate and knowledgeable about all music. He answered questions and gave recommendations about stuff that had stumped ever shop owner I’ve asked in the last few years. My favorite thing about this shop is the new releases come in plastic sleeves. I’ve never seen this not only does it protect the shrink wrap and insure you a true mint copy but it’s one less sleeve your need to buy. This kinda attention to detail shows how passionate this guy is about records .A true record store lovers record store.

I had a blast here while visiting from San Francisco and couldn’t believe how many records I left with! I thought the selection was amazing and diverse! Prices were all very reasonable and exactly what I was hoping for. I’ll be back next time I’m in town.

I definitely enjoyed coming in here and browsing through the oldies. Brendan, the owner, was very helpful and friendly. I did walk away with about 10 records from here and all but one was in VG+ quality. I had bought a Stevie Wonder «Songs in the Key of Life» album that ended up not being playable at all, but it’s my fault for not asking Brendan to play it first before I bought it. So, my recommendation is that you take his offer to play any album you’re interested in first before you buy.

Two visits, two big hauls. Great selection, tremendous prices. This store has a legacy in folk, country and old timey music, and they’re still very well represented along with a deep selection of rock and jazz. Don’t expect much new stuff. Only quibble is that about half the inventory (most of the non-​rock) is on shelves rather than in bins, so it’s a little harder to sift — but a patient search will be rewarded.

i mean, who else has bulgarian village music on wax?

This store has it all: a great location w/​easy parking, a super cool owner, a wide selection of vinyl, and fair prices.

I absolutely love Folk Arts Rare Records. As an avid collector and vinyl enthusiast myself, I refuse to settle for anything less than the very best. Without question, Folk Arts is the greatest record store in San Diego. From Jazz to Blues to Funk, Rock and Roll, the obscure, the classic, and the most sought after, Folk Arts has it all. The owner, Brendan Boyle is extremely passionate and knowledgeable about every single record in his store, and comes quipped to tell a story about how he acquired it. He personally listens to his inventory, and it isn’t uncommon for me to stop in to hang out, browse, and talk music. All in all, I could not recommend Folk Arts enough. Shops like this are a rare breed, and whether you are buying or selling, Brendan will give you a fair price for what you decide to part with, and a fair price with whatever you choose to buy. I have bought several records from the store ever since moving to North Park a few months back, and now own many gems. I have purchased anything from Earl Scruggs and Lester Flatt, The Band, The Byrds, Freddie Hubbard, Donald Byrd, David Grisman, The Grateful Dead, Joe Cocker, Ray Charles… I can go on and on. All original releases, all in great condition. With a large collection myself, I find Brendan and I practically trading records back and forth, fully enjoying the passion we have for fine music. Unbelievable selection, and he doesn’t kid around when it comes to making sure there are what looks to be a hundred new records added to the collection every day. If you’re looking for some great vinyl, you won’t be disappointed. Five Stars, Bravo Brendan!

Ooowwweeee! Get your groove on in so many different genres and all on vinyl! Started in 1967 by the legendary Lou Curtiss and continued on today by Brendan Boyle, this place is a cornucopia of rare, beautiful, and amazing recordings. There’s even a section of local San Diego artists who cut a vinyl disc. There’s a listening station and super affordable prices, too!

this place is awesome! a haven for crate diggers, but at the same very well organized and accessible. gems of all genres to be found, and a great cd selection as well. worth a weekly visit as the new arrivals bin is always changing with great stuff.

This record store is very cool. A carefully curated selection of excellent and varied records. Definitely a haven for music enthusiasts of many stripes.

Found a fantastic condition Cash album (Folsom, first press) for a great price. Had great selection and recommend to friends and family now as a must visit record store that’s above the rest.

This record shop is legenday. I had an afternoon free, so my brother and I stopped by to look at the shop’s collection. We’re both big roots music enthusiasts, and Folk Arts has always had an incredible selection of rare old time records. When we walked in, Brendan greeted us very warmly. He is a really nice guy and clearly very passionate about keeping Folk Arts’ spirit alive. He is incredbily knowledage about a wide range of genres, and he helped me pick out an album of old time gospel by a wonderful female singer I had never listened to before.
I’m excited to see how this shop develops. For those who love early American music and jazz, Folk Arts is a goldmine. Brendan has priced the records very reasonably as well, and has set up a listening station to preview music. You could easily spend an entire afternoon in here going through the collection and swaping stories with Brendan. We’ll definitely be back to do just that.

I love a good record store that’s full of character, and this place has tons of it. I don’t even own a record player but love browsing old albums, and this store clearly has an eclectic mix that you could spend hours poring through.
Brendan, the new store owner, is clearly passionate and intensely knowledgeable about music and could probably tell you an interesting story about any random piece of music that you pull out. When I asked for a good CD recommendation to add to my collection, he enthusiastically made several suggestions representing a wide variety of musical genres.
It’s clear that Brendan is taking great care to reassess the old collection and is bringing an even wider variety of rare and interesting old records while also expanding into new genres to round out the older musical stock. If you’re a collector, I assume you’ll find something new every time you go in.
If I lived in the area I’d definitely frequent this place if only to listen to the latest interesting music he’s got playing in the background that I’ve never heard of before. This place is clearly going through some changes, but it seems all for the better. If you’re a music lover or if you want to be a music lover, I’d highly recommend checking out the store!