Blue Village Vinyl Records

Blue Village Vinyl in Westmont is a long-running used-vinyl shop with deep classic rock roots, an Elvis section, and buying that happens constantly enough for the bins to keep changing. The older FAQ on this page covered the basics, but Andy Derer's answers give the store much more personality.

The interview below keeps that voice intact, from the old racks to the stories about unexpected finds in ordinary-looking collections.

Interview with Blue Village Vinyl

Rick and Andy, Blue Village is 99% used vinyl with a core of classic rock - Beatles, Stones - plus deep jazz, R&B, folk and even an Elvis section. How did the shop's character form?

The shop's character has had a long gestation dating back to 1983, the year of both the shop's (at the time known as Remember When Records) and my own birth. Throughout the years fads come and go but Elvis, Beatles and Stones (2 of the 3 just released great new music btw) seem to keep finding fans in newer generations so we tend to cater to that. Some of the record racks still date back to the 80s and when you walk in your will feel like you are transported to a simpler time. Some newer shops have a clinical, clean and sterile vibe that we tend to avoid.

Main record wall.

An entire Elvis section is a bold move. What's the story there, and does it sell?

We still have Elvis fanatics! Some people still ONLY listen to the King. But we have noticed some younger couples and some teenagers picking up the fandom. Like the band Kiss, Elvis also has a never ending amount of memorabilia that constantly comes through our doors.

You buy records constantly and take them any time. What does a steady buying flow look like from your side?

We tend to get collections nearly every single day. It's not all great stuff but you should give the time to comb through every collection so you don't miss the diamond in the rough. One time an elderly lady brought in a box of Mantovani, Andy Williams, Streisand and Manilow LPs and while flipping through I found an Iron Maiden white label promo. So I gave the lady $20, she was happy as a clam and we made that $20 back ten-fold so it all worked out.

Used bins down the aisle.

Westmont is a western Chicago suburb; who comes through Blue Village, and how's the suburban record scene versus the city?

While Westmont is pretty blue collar, it is surrounded by some of the wealthiest suburbs in the entire state like Hinsdale, Oakbrook and Clarendon Hills so we definitely probably get more people from those towns than people in Westmont but there is a nice little suburban scene of collectors that certainly has grown in the past decade.

What's the most valuable or surprising record that's come through the door?

The Beatles Butcher Cover was the most rare record so far. We got $1200 for it, but it sold within an hour of posting it on social media so it always nags at me that I could have gotten more for it. Second place would be a first press of John Coltrane's Giant Steps LP fetching $600.

You take cash or store credit. How do you counsel sellers on which to choose?

I know a lot of stores gives cheaper prices for cash but instead of that we offer bulk discounts when you spend more than $100. I don't want the guy with a $5 record asking for a cash discount.

Roughly what does a common record fetch versus something you're genuinely excited to buy?

If you're talking about how much we pay out, a common record in good shape could be a few bucks while the rarer stuff we can offer something around a third of what we would charge the public.

Do you buy 45s and 78s - with your 50s and classic rock depth, are those in demand?

My Dad Rick specializes in those. The 45s are still popular but certainly a niche. The 78s sell rarely as they are fragile and not known for their sound quality and more of a relic of the pre-vinyl days.

Should sellers clean records before bringing them, and what condition problems hurt value most?

No need. We clean every collection that we buy. It's always super disappointing to see a nice collection that has taken on water as the records are near mint but the jackets are all stuck together and have to be ripped apart. A real heartbreaker as most collectors need the jacket and the record in nice shape.

What do people most often overestimate about their records - and what quietly sells better than they'd guess?

People think their records should fetch what the high end value is on Discogs and that is never the case, we aim for the upper medium value on VG+ records. Albums like Tapestry, Rumours, Thriller all sell really well decades after they are released. The high end stuff these days are actually 80s/90s stuff like New Order, Depeche Mode, The Cure, Metallica, Ozzy Osbourne etc where originals can be around $100 and upwards especially if they are imports from Europe.

Inside Blue Village Vinyl.

Andy Derer
Blue Village Vinyl

Last updated: 2026-08-18

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