Solo Records & Tapes

I feel bad giving a low rating, but I’ve gone in on 3 separate occasions and have left empty handed each time… if you know me at all, that’s a rarity when it comes to record shopping. The prices seem about 50% too high. I’d prefer to support a local business, but if I can go to one of the other local shops or online and find it easily for half the price if not even less, it makes it a tough go. My other critique would be the selection. As far as music from the last 25 years or so on vinyl, there isn’t much, and what they have of the stuff from the 60’s 70’s and 80’s seems to be pretty common stuff, not a bad thing. Deals can be had as there was a large $ 1 bin, but just an uninspiring selection.

This store, at least for me, is a waste of time on the vinyl front.
Most of the stuff they carry is pretty typical classic rock, jazz, and r&b. Over 90% of the stock is used vinyl, not new records. Nothing wrong with this, but when you’re charging a premium for records that are basically in «dollar bin» condition (scratched, tattered covers), then I’m not going to take the bait. Since vinyl is trendy now, I see more and more stores overpricing used vinyl. I think many of the younger folks buying vinyl must not know any better, because stores like this stay in business.
In addition to vinyl, the store carries used CDs. I was able to find a few old jazz discs I wanted but couldn’t find a single LP in the store I’d be willing to buy. I probably won’t bother with this store in the future.
As a heads up, parking here is also a real PITA, because there is a store next door that utilizes large delivery vans that end up blocking you from getting out.

I always find something here and enjoy their selection. They have a great variety of dollar records. Like I said, I never leave without making a purchase. Will return very soon!

I love Solo Records. If I had to choose one record store in the metro Detroit area, this would be the one. The staff is very nice and always welcoming. They have the best deals I have found at a record store by far. They have hundreds of CD’s for a dollar each. I just bought a bunch of old hip hop and my girlfriend got some Savage Garden and N’Sync stuff. They have an awesome selection of premium records at a great price. I usually shoot to the back for the 5 for 1 dollar record deals. 5 records for 1 DOLLAR! Incredible service, awesome atmosphere and great prices. Check them out ASAP!

Loved the dollar CD’s! They have a little bit of everything!

This family-​owned record shop has a decent selection in most genres. I’m mostly a jazz/R&B collector, and I was able to walk out with a nice pile of goodies on several occasions. Keep your eye on prices, however, as some records are great deals, while others are too high. If you are looking for CDs and tapes they have a nice selection of both, as well as lots of equipment on consignment. I will definitely be back again.

Nice & close to my house. They have a lot of classic stuff. I went there on Record Store day and they had a drawing for all the stuff that was hanging on the wall or ceiling. Records, shirts, posters, etc.

Bought a new sealed DVD, got it home opened it and it was all cracked inside. Called the store to inform them and tell them that I was going to bring it back with receipt. They told me that I’d have to wait to deal with a certain person ?. Very bizarre. When you buy something new and have the problem that I have you’d think they would take care of it no matter what. I will never go back to this shamble of a «record store». Weird and Strange old people working there. Should not be in business.

This is my go-​to spot for used vinyl… Their inventory changes often so every few weeks, you’ll spot some goodies!
Nice staff and good prices. They just celebrated their 30^th Anniversary. Glad to have a local record store like this.

I love Solo records. I love when I have have a good solid day to take the trip down to Solo and flip through their records. I have found mannnnnny good records here, and for the people that are complaining about them being unorganized, I think they are a little too uptight. Half the fun of collecting records is finding the hidden gem buried between the «trashy $ 1 LP’s»
Aside from records they also sell, VHS tapes, cassettes, 8 tracks, cd’s etc.
The only thing I dislike about Solo is that they don’t sell new vinyl (but I heard they will be soon!)

i just moved to the area so i’m exploring every record store i can find close to me. i went to solo for the first time last week.
i listen to mostly alternative and grunge music so i’m not really poking through the jazz or anything. the CD section is somewhat small but i found a couple of hard-​finds there that i’d been going crazy looking for elsewhere. prices are decent in the CD section.
what really gets me though is the cassette collection. they have some really hard to find cassettes, and all of them are extremely well preserved. i think i’d blame this on the fact that it’s not a well known place, but they have an amazing collection of cassettes. i bought $ 24 of cassettes here, i and i got several for free.
i also picked through the bargains ($ 2 apiece) and found a lot in there too, even good stuff. i was very surprised.
DO NOT FORGET to look at the foreign/​import basket at the checkout counter. there are gems in there, absolute gems. they’re the more higher priced items in the store but with great reason. i didn’t see this basket until i almost left and i was floored. have to go back next week.
also don’t forget to look on the wall– they put some of the best stuff there. i didn’t think to look.
the organization is a little off in the CD section. the alphabet is screwed up because the shelf’s design.
but i think the best thing about solo is that the people are really nice. they are really well meaning people and they’re very sweet. that’s the big thing that sets them apart from the other stores in the area– i’ve been treated «all right» by these other stores, sometimes i ask dumb questions and they treat me like i’m dumb, which isn’t good at all, but at solo, they are happy to answer my really stupid questions and they do it in the kindest way.
the ladies that i saw at that shift were sweethearts. if only everyone working at all record stores could be this nice. i’ve had many my fair share of strange moments with record store owners, but not at solo.

I loved this place back in my 80’s high school days and back at the old Woodward Ave location. It really hasn’t changed much. Still has all the 80’s music I loved back then… and more.
I took my 19 year old nephew who was searching for cassette tapes for his old Thunderbird. Solo records has oodles of them. For $ 1.00 each! Some are $ 4.00, but they have a buy 3 get one free on those. He spent $ 16.00 on cassette tapes alone!
We must have spent an hour rummaging around. For him it was all very cool. For me, it was a trip down memory lane. Now I know what all my Police, Duran Duran and INXS vinyl albums are worth! It pays to be a hoarder. How would you ever expect me to part with Sting?

This record store is overlooked by many people, so naturally I decided to take a chance on it.
Though the pickings are thin here on CDs, the vinyl is a plenty. The jazz section was pretty decent, though they carried a lot of very common titles, the prices were very good. I bought a few records for a few bucks, can’t beat that.
Though I won’t stop here every week like some of my favourite stores, I will stop here at least once a month to see what’s in the «new arrivals.»

Although I am indeed having a love affair with my IPOD, I’m definitely a girl you can appreciate vinyl. I was raised listening to records on the shag carpet in the family room, so ever so often, I need to get my vinyl fix. Where do I go you ask? Royal Oak’s Solo Records and Tapes on Woodward.
If you’re looking for vintage vinyl or that hard to find treasure this is the place to go. And if they don’t have what you’re looking for the staff will gladly give you a ring when it does find its way to their store. Talk about great customer service!
The stock at Solo’s changes pretty quickly, so you can stop in pretty frequently and find some new gems. In addition to the sweet jazz, rock, R&B, classical vinyl selection and awesome customer service, Solo also carries 8 tracks, memorabilia, Cd’s and yes, even good ‘ol cassettes.
So, stop reading this, turn off your computer and get your butt down to one of Metro Detroit’s best indie record stores… NOW!
In addition, the prices are fair, the stock changes pretty regularly, a