Freakbeat Records is located in Sherman Oaks, a suburb in the San Fernando Valley north of the city of Los Angeles. We are freeway-close from all directions in the Los Angeles area. The Bob Hope/Burbank Airport is less than 30 minutes away; Los Angeles International Airport is within an hour's drive.
Exit the Ventura Freeway (101) at Woodman Avenue (exit #16). Turn south and head to Ventura Boulevard, about half a mile away. Turn left onto Ventura Boulevard and proceed half a block east. We are on the right-hand side.
Metered parking is available along Ventura Boulevard and adjacent side streets. Meter hours are from 8:00 am to 8:00 pm (and free on Sunday). Free parking is sometimes available behind the store and adjoining businesses in the Woodman-Ventura Plaza parking lots along the alley behind the store. Turn into the alley just south of Ventura Boulevard from Woodman Avenue (left turn) or from Ventura Canyon Avenue (right turn). Park in any space that isn't designated a 10 minute loading space or otherwise restricted. Please be sure not to block other cars.
Freakbeat Records is like a neighborhood record store from the days when shopping for music was fun and adventurous. We may not have everything you want, but we always have something you need.
Half the store is filled with new and used vinyl from all musical genres. Hundreds of collectible records line the walls and ceiling beams inside Freakbeat. The rock section is largest, but we're very aggressive about filling the jazz and soul bins too. We have a special section of Disco, Soul, Hip-Hip and Funk 12" singles, along with plenty of KROQ Flashback Favorites. Our 7" singles include lots of soul and rock titles, most under $10.
Keep browsing through country, blues, folk, reggae, soundtracks, classical, and more. At Freakbeat you can listen to any used record or CD that is already open.
Our selection of compact discs highlights new releases and reissues that the big box stores generally ignore. We try to stock music that you might be looking for, rather than just what the record companies are trying to sell you. Freakbeat has lots of imports and small label reissues of the psychedelic, punk, jazz, and progressive past. We can special order anything for you that is still in print and get it to you quickly.
Freakbeat offers the discerning music lover an unusual and interesting variety of music DVDs. For movie fans, we have a selection of used films on DVD and Blu-Ray. We have books, magazines, vintage posters, and other unusual odds and ends waiting to be discovered.
Our 99 cent room is a mecca for bargain buyers from throughout Southern California - thousands of LPs and CDs priced at just 99 cents each, restocked every day. If you're interested in buying in bulk, we can wheel and deal all day long!
Freakbeat Records is easy to get to, comfortable to shop in, and within walking distance of many fine restaurants, coffee shops, and cafes.
Although we do not sell or repair any electronics (turntables, needles, etc.), we highly recommend Audio Specialist, located at 5232 1/2 Laurel Canyon Blvd in Studio City, to take care of all your equipment needs.
We want to buy your unwanted compact discs, vinyl LPs and 45s, DVDs, Blu-Rays, and other music-related ephemera such as t-shirts, posters, and paper goods.
You can sell your stuff to Freakbeat for cash, or you can trade it in for credit towards any purchase in the store. We offer 50% more value in credit than in cash - that means that for every dollar in cash that we offer, you can choose instead to use $1.50 towards any merchandise we sell. A combination of the two is always possible, and credit can always be used later. You must be at least 18 years old and show a driver's license or legal identification card to receive cash from Freakbeat Records.
We try to make a fair and honest offer on everything presented to us. The price we pay is based on many factors, but primarily on the demand for each title. Condition, quality, scarcity, novelty, overabundance, list price, and general interest to our customers are all considered, but ultimately it all goes back to Econ 101 - supply and demand.
COMPACT DISCS must be in good condition and complete with all artwork (including the backing tray card). Most new and popular titles can be worth anywhere from $1.00 to $3.00 in cash. Unusual items, imports, and multiple-disc sets can be worth more. Unpopular discs or old discs from formerly popular artists can be worth as little as a dime.
VINYL RECORDS are preferred in great condition, including the covers. The records should be free of scratches, and the covers should not be split or excessively worn. Records that are still sealed, or open but still in their original shrink wrap, can be worth more than usual.
BLU-RAYs & DVDs: We are extremely selective in what we buy. Unless it is Criterion, Foreign (but NTSC Region 1), Sci-Fi or a Campy-Horror film, we really do not want mass market DVDs at all. Blu-Rays are not much better. Very few TV series, superhero movies, action or "rom com" films are sellable, and we pay next to nothing for them. Please note that the video discs you are bringing to us must be in good condition, and include all artwork.
Even in great condition, there are a lot of records out there that have no value. An album that was popular at one time may have sold millions of copies, meaning that there are too many available copies on the market. Anyone who ever wanted one already has it, already got rid of it, bought it on CD, or doesn't want to hear it again in a million years.
Unless it's somewhat obscure, we are NOT interested in:
- Pop Vocal (Bing Crosby, Barbra Streisand, etc.)
- Easy Listening (Mantovani, Ray Conniff)
- Broadway Showtunes (South Pacific, My Fair Lady)
- Big Band and Swing (Glenn Miller, Count Basie)
- Wave Jazz (Michael Franks, Yellowjackets)
SO WHAT KIND OF RECORDS ARE WE LOOKING FOR?!?
‘60s rock albums, especially psychedelic music; bebop and post-bop jazz of the ‘50s and ‘60s; blues and gospel; 70s classic rock; picture-sleeve 45s; audiophile pressings; soul, funk, & disco; private and independent releases; obscure folk & country; old school rap & hip-hop; new wave 7" & 12" singles; soul jazz and ‘70s jazz-fusion; punk rock; and always the Beatles, Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin, and Pink Floyd. You know, the good stuff.
You never know when you've got a hidden gem, so just bring your records down or give us a call to check first.
We're also interested in posters, tickets, concert programs, t-shirts, awards, and other promo items. Some music magazines and newspapers from the ‘60's and ‘70's are also in demand. We also buy music-related books.
Sorry, but we no longer buy laserdiscs.
Address:
13616 Ventura Blvd., Sherman Oaks, CA 91423
Google Map / Click for detailed directions
phone: (818) 995-7603
(general info):
freakbeat@freakbeatrecords.com
Hours:
Every Day: 12 Noon to 6pm
Closed for major holidays (Christmas Day, Thanksgiving Day, 4th of July, et cetera)
Visit our online shops:
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