Tone Deaf Records
Tone Deaf Records is an independent record store located in the lovely Portage Park neighborhood of Chicago. We carry new and used records, CD's, shirts, record cleaning kits, and other fun stuff for the vinyl junkie. We specialize in punk, metal, jazz, soul, indie, classic rock and a ton of other musical genres. We have been open since June of 2019 and look forward to your visit. Drop in and say hi when you are in the hood!
Tone deaf playlist
We thought it would be fun to share with all of you out there what we have been playing in the shop lately. We created a Spotify playlist with some of our faves of the last few weeks. It will be forever changing and updated so check back regularly. Everything in the playlist is for sale at the shop!!
Tone Deaf February 2023 Playlist
Recent News 3/25/2023
Hope all is well with everyone. Spring is here and we are looking forward to some nice weather in the near future....so while you wait here is some happenings around the shop.
Playlists!!
We have a new playlist for all ya!! Lots of good stuff coming out always, nicely packaged up for your perusal!! This might be our best one yet!!
Shows!!
We have an excellent ambient show this Sunday at 2:00 with some our favorite local acts that have played the shop before. Davi Music, Cinchel and RS Masters will be making some beautiful noise starting at 2:00 so come bliss out with us. We are also stoked to be hosting a record listening party next Friday the 31st. We will be partying with the Drag City folk while listening to the new JT IV album they unearthed. Next Friday starting at 7:00pm. Be there or be square. More info about both below.
Open Books!!
We have partnered with one of our favorite local book shops, Open Books, as a book drop off location. If you are not familiar with Open Books, the are a string of non-profit Book Shops located in downtown, Pilsen and Logan Square that work with local community organizations on education, book donations and programs for underserved and under-resourced children in Chicago. We love the organization and the folks that work there. Bring your books by for donations!!
https://www.open-books.org/
Tone Deaf Tapes!!
Well we've been talking about it for a few months now, and it finally happened, we have two new releases on our Tone Deaf Tapes imprint. Both of these new tapes turned out soooo good and we are proud and honored to have been able to work with both artists.The tapes can be purchased from the links below
Prokharchin "Ardea Herodias" Cassette (TDT-003)
Ardea herodias is the debut release from Prokharchin. Analog synth bliss reminding us of 70's sci-fi soundtracks, Brian Eno and all your favorite thriftstore new age records. It's an amazing release.
Midnight Minds "Angsty Bodies" Cassette (TDT-004)
Chicago duo Midnight Minds drops a new release of their wonderful improvisational instrumental work. Incorporating guitar & violin over keyboards and laid back beats, its got a little drone, a little new age, a little psychedelic, but its all gorgeous, adventurous and soothing. Excellent stuff here folks!!
Davi Music, Cinchel & RS Masters
Sunday March 26th, 2:00PM
Stoked to be having another Sunday afternoon ambient show. These are becoming some our favorite events, they are always a grea time. DAVi MUSiC is hitting the road, playing music from their record Freedom Arboretum. Joined by Chicago ambient artists RS Masters and Cinchel. The show is free and all ages as always!!

JT IV "The Future" Record Release Party
Friday, March 31st 7:00pm
All Ages & Free!!
We are having our first ever record release/listening party with our good friends over at Drag City. We will be celebrating the latest unearthed collection from JT IV that Drag City is releasing with a good ole fashioned party. We will let the curator of the release explain the deets:"It’s been 13 years since we reissued J.T. IV’s “Cosmic Lightning”. In the afterglow of that stellar release, so many of us were hungry for more. After what felt like endless digging, reaching out to his old friends and exes, and piecing together what little J.T. IV aka John Henry Timmis IV left behind when he died in 2002, we assumed that the prospect of ever unearthing new material was nothing more than a pipe dream. But in typical John fashion—surprising us and then casually blowing our minds—it was only a matter of time until something else surfaced.Once again in collaboration with Drag City and Galactic Zoo Disk, we’re proud to announce ‘The Future’, a 19 track collection of previously unreleased studio and live recordings recorded between 1979 -1993 by the self described “heavy glitter” rocker who brought you “Waiting For The CTA”, "In The Can", and “Death Trip”, and also holding the Guinness Book of World Record title for making the world's longest film – 85 hours!! As his friend Bruce put it, “John was a “force,” he had such a dynamic & powerful “executive function” of his thought processes…[and] was driven to be highly creative.” With assistance from John’s close friends (he was estranged from family), we’ve curated this album to best represent John’s vision and development as an artist.In addition, 50% of the artist’s royalties will be donated to nonprofit organization The Night Ministry that helps vulnerable Chicagoans in their time of need."- Robert M

Upcoming Events
March 26th (Sunday afternoon ambient show)
Davi Music
Cinchel
RS Masters
April 29th
Deep Tunnel Project
May 27th
Drone Day. Artists TBA
New Releases as of 3/25/2023