Mecca Music & Books

You really wouldn't know it's there unless you saw the table of books and vinyls outside. When you find it, definitely go in and take a look. The front is all music with a great selection of vintage records and cd's, and the back is filled with books and knickknacks. The place felt like a treasure hunt through my grandma's attic, but in a good way. I got two jazz records in beautiful condition and didn't have to pay an arm and leg for them. Other stores will definitely charge you more just because vinyls are trending again!

12/9/23 Hours posted for Saturday, On google: 10:30am - 5pm On apple maps: 11am - 5pm On the door: nothing Walked up at 3:50pm and the guy was closing up and switched the open sign to closed. What the hell dude? Stick to your hours. As someone else pointed out, this place is notorious for not being open when they claim to be. Better luck going some place where they honor their business hours.

Appropriately named indie music Mecca. I've only been there 4 times now, but it is the best record store in town, hands down. Patrick has been there every time and he is a really fun guy to talk to. Very enthusiastic about music and an overall nice dude. Big plus to have nice people behind the counter at a record store.

This place has everything your music collector heart happy!

I can't remember the last time I've seen that many records in one place. I don't have a player, so i browsed the ton of used books. It was like treasure hunting! Found stuff I really like at great used book prices. Will definitely be back.

Oof! What a crazy spot to look for books thru. Definitely recommend trying to make a deal as prices are a little higher than I'd like.

Great little spot for record lovers. A lot of used vinyl and books. A literal mountain of stuff in the place, which is the one ding i would give it: some things were unreachable due to piles of (interesting) stuff in the way.

Mecca is by now the holy Hadj for pilgrims of Vinyl, audiophiles ISO a certain apparatus, and connoisseurs of High Strange New Mexico. Rocky de la Vega's ongoing dedication to independent, unique, & cult classic music cannot be beat in the whole Southwest. Call to check if they're open and don't forget there's an amazing selection of excellent & remarkable books, too.

I don't understand how anyone could not like this place. It is a GOLD MINE. I liked Mecca so much I actually didn't want a review. I wanted to keep it all for my greedy little self. But that wouldn't be fair would it? They have a MASSIVE collection of vinyl. SO MANY RECORD! I loved hanging out and listening to the records as well. I don't have a record player so I amused myself by looking at the used book collection. There were also vintage toys and assorted dudads. OH!!! I almost forgot they had CD's AND 8 track tapes!! I saw 8 track tapes there! This is a shop that you could really get lost in. One of the things I like to do when I go to a place like this is just walk around and see what falls into my hand. I did that and came home with a really cool book. Mecca is a great place to visit when you have time to indulge yourself, and I highly recommend doing so.

A small shop with the largest selection of rare and affordable jazz LPs, which are in alpha order by artist. Of course, all genres here, but jazz is my thing. The other shops in NE and on Nob Hill can't match Mecca, although We Buy Music has potential. Mecca usually looks shuttered forever, but if there is a record and book bin outside on the sidewalk, it is open. The posted hours are conjectural. Look for the bins.

This place is really a great record store and book store all at the same time. He has enough of an inventory to dive for a while. (A very nice book collection as well) I never met the owner but the woman who was working there was very nice and happy to put on anything I wanted to hear. Though I would never expect such a thing. They have a listening station for personal cueing as well. These little record stores are like a person's collection. Don't come here thinking you are entitled. If you are a collector or have been buying vinyl for longer than 20 years,you know the protocol. If you are new, educate yourself. Learn how life was before Amazon and Walmart. The unpredictable hours Have confounded my visit more than once and no one answers the phone, but whatever. I'll keep trying

Mecca, what an appropriate title. Before I get into this, does anyone remember what a local music store looked like? You know, back in the day, before MP3s and iTunes and whatever. Do you remember what it used to be like to walk into a local music store and browse the racks, ask the person behind the counter about your particular selection and receive that Holier Than Thou response that put your limited knowledge to shame? Let's not forget the outcome of that interaction: you discover music that blows your mind. Guess what? This is an old-school music shop, and this is what you're going to get at Mecca. And by the way, the music is better than you could ever dream. The very first day I stepped into this place I was browsing the dancehall/ska selections (try to find those somewhere else) and a local asked me if I'd ever listened to the Red Bum Ball (try to find this CD anywhere, good luck). I hadn't, and I bought it, and it changed my life. Note, this advice wasn't given by the owner, but by another enlightened music snob who might piss off a newbie who's too enamored by their own musical ear to listen up about something unusual. I've had such encounters endlessly in this store, and my musical acumen has grown in ways I cannot begin to describe. Know this: if you buy music here, you will enrich your life. Period. So here's what you should know about the shop: Disorganized, sorta, the way your room looks when you've been out having fun. Personal. The book section, which I've only glanced through, has some gems, so if you're a pulp fiction lover you'll love the selection. Records: Holy s*it WOW. If you spin, you have to Mecca, endless variety. This store is the last of a dying breed, and it's still around for a reason. GO FIND MECCA in ABQ. If you're open to new sounds, this place will rock your world.

I know that complaining about record store employees being snotty is pointless and a cliché, but seriously, this guy brings it to a whole new level. I've lived in the downtown area, less than 4 blocks from this store, for about 5 years now. Every year or so, I decide to give this place another chance, and every time, the owner (Rocky, I believe) says something rude and condescending to me, or just completely ignores me. And let me just say, I'm not some polo shirted, popped collared, backwards beer hat wearing douche bag. I would say that I don't look too out of place in this store. So why does this guy always treat me like I just asked him where all the Chumbawamba records are? I just skip this place and go to Natural Sound instead. The employees there have their own story, but at least they don't make me want to punch them.

Record Store Day at Mecca Music is a total waste of time... Too many hipsters, poorly sorted record selection, and prices that screamed "Meh"... Of course this *IS* New Mexico, so I should have seen it coming. I guess it's back to flying to other cities that actually carry current music and not boxes and boxes of rejected records from the 70's, 80's, and 90's...

On my 3rd attempt to check out this store i was greeting by a petulant clerk who barely acknowledged my existence until I commented about how many times I tried to check out the store only to find it closed. to which I was rebuffed with "You should call first" Almost a 1 star rating from that alone. That aside, the selection was interesting with some more unusual sections but not amazing and prices were so/so. I loved the "neighborhood record store" feel of the place but can't help thinking more regular hours, and friendlier attitude would help this store immensely. I give only 2 stars, but I am willing to give it another shot (if i can catch it open...)

Pretty good place if you wanna pay 25 bucks for numero group soul compilation or reissue. But don't count on finding any new releases till about two months after-even then don't count on it all- as the owner pretty much only orders stuff that he's 'into' Mostly soul reissues... Also, it has that lame slacker "we're only open when we fee like it if we fee like it vibe" Sometimes I wonder how they stay open at all..

I had a great time looking for records at Mecca the other day. Found an electronic album (after dark) I had been looking for, and I was really surprised. It wasn't cheap, but it's fairly new and has three albums in the set. I was more than happy! The owner was playing hilarious music and seemed to be having a good time himself. I'll be back.

It took a lot of tries just to get in. Every time I came by, the place was closed despite the posted hours. The guy behind the counter never acknowledged me even though I politely greeted him. I looked around and found some of the prices to be insulting. And the condition of some of those records didn't justify their prices. When I was looking, another customer came in and the guy behind the counter initiated a conversation with her, making me feel even more insignificant. Discouraged by the prices, quality, and being treated like a ghost, I left. Please tell me if someone else works there besides him. I might go back if I have a chance of being treated like a human being.

As a store it's fine. It's part used bookstore, part record store. They have some new stuff, are clearly missing other stuff. They have a pretty decent selection of vinyl and when asked the staff about bands they at least know who/what I'm talking about. Their stock, as far as I can tell, reflects the owner/employees music preferences and not so much what is out and hot right now. I'll likely be back but it probably won't be my first stop.

After listening to my pocketbook and resisting this little oasis near my house for over four months, I finally caved. So glad I did. It's great to know this pleasure cove of vinyl exists within mere blocks from home. Even if I don't spend any money, it's always great to just spend a few hours flipping through the bins. I'm quite impressed with the variety and with the number of new, indie releases. Who am I kidding, I can't get out of there without spending money.

It's kind of a matter of having something for everyone, but not having much for anyone in particular. If you're looking to build a record collection from the ground up, they don't have the basics (imo) required to do so, which is a bummer for younger folks looking to listen to the greatest format of music ever. The place is right by my apartment and I really want it to be good, it just simply isn't. I've never had a bad experience with anyone working there and maybe you would enjoy they're oddly picked eclectic collection of records- it's just really not how I like record stores to be. It is by no means a "mecca", but it's worth taking a look every few months.

Definitely worth peeping. The used jazz and rock is usually well stocked and shifts fairly frequently. The owner Rocky is a nice dude in my experience , and has a good taste in music and is in touch with the right reissues to be stocking.The prices are very reasonable and there is also a listening station if you forget your portable. It's worth calling before heading over to make sure you arnt showing up on closed days. I have found some amazing records here in the past, OG dead stock funk 45s, og Fela Kuti Expensive Shit for 4$ , and lots of good jazz and rock over the years.