Dada Records

What do you feel like listening to? Punk, rock, funk, classic, world, jazz, electro, etcetra, etcetra. The man looking after this place (who is also a doppelgänger of Tywin Lannister) will help you in any way he can. It’s cute that they still use a book as the till.
Whenever I come here I know I’ll find some hidden treasures. The prices for new records are pretty average, $ 20 — $ 40, some of the oldie but goodie are too, but it’s worth it. Often I’d just browse around, falls in love with the cover then buy it. So far, it never fails to keep me groovin’.
Different kind of music lovers step in to this place, and that’s a great thing about it. Saw a few cassettes and VHS, felt like I was back in Uni…
I can spend hours here, it’s like the place is taking you around the world. Make your way downstairs… It’s another heaven of music. You don’t need to ask where it is, your ears will show you the way to get exactly what you need.
Trust me, it’s paradise. You’ll never walk out empty handed.

Wonderful and complex record store. Records on the top level and CDs on the bottom. They also have a wide range of DVDs and magazines. Unfortunately live music is no longer played here but they are a constant supporter of local music.

The first thing that always struck me about this place was the mistrustful gaze of the old guy working upstairs, I remember him giving me a ticking off one day for taking a vinyl out of the sleeve to have a look, I was just checking it was scratch free, anyway im sure he’s lovely to somebody. Dada is a great record shop, a Perth icon, and thanks to the guys buying in the stock its got an ecclectic mix of music. This is the kind of record shop you could easily see in an Indie film about some disgruntled chap figuring out the highs and lows of life and the dating scene whilst being a closet wizard and trying to get to grips with the awesome power of his new wand (whilst working in a record shop) Theres a lot of knowledge in this shop, the guys are well on the ball. The basement is also jam packed full of stuff. If youre a digger there are a few hours to be spent here for sure.

I am a real Dada records fan, before Fat Shan Records opened this would be my record store of choice. It has a wide range of oldies and newbies. I have found some amazing old gems, the Beatles White record for a brilliant price being on of them.
I am more a vinyl gal but they do have an impressive range of CD’s too. I have found a few CD’s in there that I wouldn’t of been able to find in the likes of JB Hi-​fi.
I know whenever I come in here I’ll find another ‘must have’ vinyl, so perhaps that is why I don’t go in too much anymore.

I generally do most of my record shopping in Fremantle, but there’s nowhere down there with the kind of exhaustive range Dada’s has for vinyl and CD’s. This is the kind of music store that carries a deep range of back catalogue for even the most obscure acts. If you’re looking for a favourite album that’s out of print in vinyl (a very common scenario as short runs are the norm at the moment), check here before you hop online, as you’ll probably fine it. Personally, Ive picked up some great semi-​obscurities by acts including Wilco, Of Montréal, Nick Cave and Brian Eno. If you have a bit of time to spare, there’s a great Australian music section near the stairwell that has some very hard to find vinyl including stuff by The Scientists and a copy of Kylie Minogue’s Aphrodite album that I would love to buy but would never have the balls to take up to the counter here. They don’t stock much dance music vinyl as the focus is more on rock, indie, alternative and song-​based electronica.
I don’t buy a lot of CD’s anymore, but downstairs is still one of the most amazing places to shop for them in Perth. If I were to buy them, I’d definitely get them here. The CD section is even more extensive than the vinyl; we’re talking deep, deep back catalogue here at very reasonable prices. Also, their local music section is unsurpassed anywhere in Perth and well worth digging through as they have almost anything that has been released in this town in the last twenty years.

Ta da!-(Da)
Take me to this record store! As old school record stores are becoming obsolete due to the technological advances of itunes it is becoming an increasingly rare experience to trip through a quality cd store (that ins’t Sanity or some other multi-​national corporate chain.)
Dada is the real deal. It’s dark, it’s deep and it’s priced a little on the dearer side, but what price can you put on history (there are always sale racks so bargain hunters take a punt). If I’d known drive in movies would be phased out, maybe I would have visited a little more often? Anyhoo, this store is cool– the staff know their stuff and when you walk in you are confronted with a visual feast of posters and cds galore.. . following the signage to the underground where your vinyl and tshirts await, the stair well is littered with flyers and promos– everything you’d expect to find in a live music venues’ toilet stall.
Putting some soul back into the art of music! An experience and a treasure chest of oldies and goodies!

What I love about Dadas? It’s been here for eons and I have always been able to rely on it to find unique records, hard-​to-​get-​hold-​of imports, and the coolest of merchandise. Once upon a time, the staff behind the counter — and I mean pretty much all of them — had such a severe case of holier-​than-​thou attitude that it made me stop shopping there. But perhaps the decline in hardcopy record sales due to the digital revolution has seen the owners and managers of this place improve on their sales technique. Anyway, I’m back shopping there again since hooking up a home stereo system complete with CDJs and Stantons, but let’s hope the kids behind the counter stay nice.
I hope that even when we’re downloading most of our music online, a place like Dadas will always remain open. Record stores of this sort provide not just a shopping experience but joyous pop cultural epiphanies — be they steeped in retro (spending a day listening to every Smiths CD to see which ones really are the best to buy) or progressive (check out the extensive dance and hip-​hop vinyl selection downstairs).
A Perth icon that I hope is here in a couple more decades time.

Old man Dada is somewhat of a known figure amongst the music scene, as we all grew up going into the shop to check out the extensive range of music from all genres. Folklore states that one guy saw him smile back in the early 80’s but most believe that to be an urban myth.
Dada’s is an amazing record shop and reminiscent of the old days and that’s not just because there are no record shops around anymore. Gig posters and band member wanted ads adorn the walls to the entrance and t-​shirts form a variety of genres (many of which old man dada wouldn’t care for) hang from the ceiling to the floor. It used to be the place to go for tickets before the internet (another thing old man dada doesn’t care for) took over that business function. Downstairs the journey continues with predominantly dance related records but you will find other genres too. Well and truly a relic of a better time in music it is well worth feeling old man dadas wrath just to explore the joint and pick up some tunes the way.

Located in the heart of Perth, Dadas is one of Australia’s longest-​running independent record stores. Dadas features a wide range of vinyl, both second-​hand and new, plus CDs, music videos, clothing, posters and books on music-​related topics.
On the ground floor is Dadas’ collection of vinyl. There are rows upon rows of vinyl from a variety of artists, including some imported vinyl. Towards the back are DVDs and even a few video cassettes of music-​related documentaries and live concert footage. Located on one side is clothing. Dadas gives off the atmosphere of a jumbled place with treasures if you are willing to look, with items taking up almost all corners of the shop.
This sensation of being in a veritable treasure trove extends to the basement, which is largely dominated by CDs. There are some collector’s sets available for sale, as well as a section dedicated to local artists. Underneath the stairs are a heap of old posters that are free to a good home, and various DIY magazines from both local and overseas writers.
From time to time, Dadas holds free music events in its garage. The artists featured in these events are generally quite avante-​gard, so if you are looking to expand your musical palette, it is worth attending these events.
Dadas is a record shop that is unafraid of stocking more obscure artists alongside well-​known ones. For people who love to dig around shops to look for gems, Dadas is recommended.