Jive Time Records

This little jewel is a time machine with vast amounts of amazing music packed into one little box of a store. the whole experience takes me back to my stoner days. Great times!

Start at the 99 cent bins outside and begin to work your way inside to the clearance section, followed by checking out the new bins.
If you can’t find anything here you’re looking for the wrong stuff. Quality selection, good staff, and plenty to do the neighborhood after you shop at Jive Time.

This unpretentious little store, located next door to a lovely used bookstore (Ophelia’s), offers a really nice selection of cheap albums. I’m regularly surprised and delighted to find a hidden gem here for just 99 cents or a couple bucks. Some warnings: be sure to check for scratches and that the correct album is located in the sleeve (a friend thought she was purchasing AC/​DC only to end up with a spoken word Steve Martin album). That said — only go here for used albums. The prices of new albums are frequently much higher than other record stores like Sonic Boom. In addition, due to its size, it can get a little crowded and challenging to peruse the aisles, so I recommend going during off-​peak hours.

I was in the Fremont area doing touristy things aka visiting the infamous Fremont troll before heading to Paseo for some bomb ass Caribbean sandwiches. While we were just finishing taking pics with/​on the troll, a couple came up holding shopping bags with what looked like vinyls inside. I asked them, «did you guys just come from a record shop?» (I was meaning to stop by a local one during my visit in Seattle, just never got to choosing which one) And yup they sure did, so my bf and I walked about 10 mins or less to Jive Time.
The place is tiny (says the girl spoiled with Amoeba in Haight SF), but I’m sure if you really put a lot of time into digging there are a lot of gems in here! I was just browsing through their selections on a whim with nothing in particular to look for, but what I did spot when I first walked in was Frank Ocean’s Channel Orange. Behind it was Nostalgia Ultra, which I have been tempted to buy before… and behind that was a vinyl by him titled, «unrealeased, Misc.» I may be out of the loop, but I have never seen this anywhere else and didn’t know it even existed! I had to swoop. I also picked up Interpol Turn on the Bright Lights.
They were a little on the pricier side – both full albums were close to $ 30 each, but I felt like I couldn’t leave empty handed! The worker was very chill and helpful as I checked out. Would definitely come by again and recommend all locals and visitors to support this awesome record shop!

These guys just did something amazing that I would probably never see from another record store.
I was visiting Seattle and wanted to check out some of their collection and got about 10 records including a used Madlib Invades Blue Note 2LP for a good deal. After coming back to San Franciso, I realized that I am missing one of the LPs of that record and gave them a call. They immediately sent me a sealed version of that record which is more expensive, paid the shipping (even though I told them I can cover it), and continuously apologized for this. I mean, I don’t even know if I dropped that LP while checking out records but RJ, the guy I talked to, said «No worries man, we’ll pay the shipping but let’s do this… Next time you are in Seattle, just check out our store again». Even this conversation proves how friendly he is.
Outside of that, I would definitely leave 5 stars to them even without this. Otherwise would not get that many records in the first place. I hope to be back soon!

Great record store! We are from out of town and store clerk was very helpful. Gave us some local recommendations for food. If you are near the Fremont Troll, stop in here.

Friendly guy working behind the counter also very helpful in letting me know he has more «99 cent» LPs inside and even offered the small chair for my sore knees from squatting down.
The store is exactly what I was looking for but MORE!
Couldn’t believe how much «$ .99» albums they had + massive 12″ records including the imports in great condition just for a $ 1.00.
It’s not just the quantity but quality records all in a somewhat small record store. Great selection with great service from someone working at a record store isn’t something I am/​was used to and so I was highly happy to spend little over $ 160 something dollars just in my first visit all the way from Port Orchard, Washington.
Will be heading this store again especially since there’s another store right across the street that also sells whole bunch of records for .99 cents informed me by the helpful store clerk!
Just awesome, I think the owner of this store chose perfect person to work at this store!

This tiny record store is my favorite, mostly because it’s right across the street from where I work (my reviews make it seem like EVERYTHING is across from where I work, but I adore all the businesses around my work so much!). I always browse through their 99cent bin, and usually find gems. Like the Top Gun soundtrack, Wang Chung, The Beverly Hills Cop soundtrack, Blues Brothers, Survivor. My work may hate me because my taste in records is apparently the same as all the drunks who stroll in looking for their late night fix, but it’s not my fault I have awesome taste in (drunk) music!

This place is awesome. I bought Paul Simons Graceland album from here a few days ago and when I got home it started skipping. I was so worried about taking it back and thinking they wouldn’t exchange it or give me my money back (like other record stores I’ve been to) but they totally exchanged it for me, no questions asked! And when that second record skipped as well, they sold me a newer one for only a few dollars more and they were so awesome about it. The whole process not only made my day but solidified that I’ll be coming back here anytime I want to buy a used or new record.

Been here a few timed now, this place is great.

Jive Time is a great little shop. They have reasonable prices and a great selection of rock albums. I wish they had a wider selection of hip-​hop and metal, but you can’t beat their wide array of classics, rock and indie. If you’re a vinyl lover, this is a spot you should definitely put on your list. It’s almost certain that you’ll leave with an album or two.

Dangerous store! Walked in just to look and bought over 20 records. Great used records and the $.99 bins are full of gems, definitely going to be a go to when looking to add to my collection.

Wow, what a rip off. So I’m about ready to plunk down $ 15 for a used LP (I know ridiculous) but I was gonna. However I stopped for a second to check quality of vinyl just to justify my purchase. WTF it’s a good thing I did because the vinyl wasn’t even in the sleeve, it was something else. Now I thought these guys checked and cleaned up LP’s before they put them out, wrong!
Beware of what u buy it may not be what you thought.

Cute little record shop in Fremont.
Reasonably priced, big selection.
Some of the 99 cent records are very random and unique. I got a bologna and cognac one for my Dad hilarious!
So go it’s a great place!

In terms of selection and service, Jive Time gets 4 – 5 stars. They have a great selection and the employees are knowledgable and friendly.
That said, in the past couple years their pricing has completely jumped the shark. Even taking into account the current vinyl boom, their pricing on new vinyl is routinely 30−40% higher than places like Easy Street, Sonic Boom or Everyday Music. If you want to pay $ 25 – 29 for a new record that you can buy at other (local) stores for $ 16 – 20, this is your place. Used vinyl is priced at a similar premium for anything that is ‘cool’ or popular.
It bums me out to post this, as there are many great things about Jive Time, but until their pricing comes back down to earth I’ll be taking my business to the many other good vinyl stores in town.

I’m loathe to keep posting updates about how great Jive Time is because I don’t want the rest of you getting to the good stuff before I have a chance to thumb through the bins. On my last visit I picked up some super rare 80’s industrial albums that were priced VERY reasonably considering I would have paid double for them.
This is part of what makes Jive Time so fantastic — they do stock all the mainstream stuff, but they also stock a staggering breadth of eclectic and fascinating titles in many different genres from library music, to lounge/​exotica, to glam, to punk, to lo-​fi electronic, to whatever weird little musical fetish you happen to keep hidden behind your workaday wardrobe. I have never once left Jive Time without an empty wallet and a full shopping bag.

Music: Joy Division
Layout: Very organized
Selection: Lots, however, didn’t have what I was specifically looking for.
Price: Dart board pricing, some are really good deals while others are highway robbery for what they are and what you can buy for, especially when it comes to issue number.
Customer Service: I didn’t need their CS, self served.
I was amused by their Nirvana selection that had a lot of rarities and bootlegs. Some made me smirk.

Some really great deals to be had in here. When I first came in, the used vinyl section seemed a little small. But then, as I walked around the rows, I realized it extended all over!
My best find here: Cinerama’s Disco Volante for $ 4! This probably means nothing to most people, but I was so excited I insisted my girlfriend buy it (since I already bought it for much more online.)
If you’re visiting Seattle, Fremont might seem a bit further out. But it’s worth taking a Zipcar over for the afternoon, exploring, and visiting this record shop.

My brother and I stumbled upon Jive Time as we headed toward another competing record store in the University District. This is a small but adequate record store located between Fremont and the UD. I ended up enjoying this place more than the other place we went. There were some fantastic 99 cent vinyl deals out front, along with 99 cent CDs — I was able to snag the first Great Lake Swimmers record and a long out of print Jawbreaker disc!
While the size didn’t compete with some other record stores I have frequented, the selection was still impressive. There were thousands of new and used selections on vinyl and the place seemed to be hopping on a Sunday afternoon. I am not sure if the owner checked us out, but he was nice, knowledgeable, and seemed to be as excited with our vinyl finds as we were!
I’m not sure of the next time I will be back in Seattle — family is moving away from that area — but I would definitely return to Jive Time to peruse the used section!

Seattle is a great city for vinyl LP loving fools like me and Jive Time Records is one of my all-​time favorite places to purchase said LPs! I usually make it a point to stop by at least once a week to see what cycles through their bins because they get a lot of stuff moving in and out of there.
My usual routine when I visit is: go through the .99 cent bins, the $ 3 bin/​4 for $ 10 bin, and then I go through the stacks to find the albums that are on my list. I know it is kind of a pain to go through the .99 cent bins, but I’ve found many cool late 60s/​70s/​80s albums there.

Jive Time is worth a visit if you happen to be in the neighborhood and the people working there are super-​friendly. Jive Time has a clearance annex in the Fremont Vintage Mall across the street — so check it out!
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Wow, I really thought this turntable would turn out. Such is life.