Recommended Record Stores in the Great Los Angeles area please

vinyl_guy · « **on:** 15 Jul 2012, 03:40 pm »

I'm going to be in L. A this week and will have time to do some vinyl shopping. I have Brooks Berdan and Amoeba on my list. I'm looking for other stores to hit. I'll have car and willing to travel to find a good store. I'll be staying in Newport Beach. Interested in rock n roll, blues, alt rock and older MoFi releases, not interested in jazz or classical.

Thanks

Laura

toxteth ogrady · « **Reply #1 on:** 15 Jul 2012, 03:52 pm »

You won't need to go anywhere else after Amoeba. Best selection bar none and their inventory is HUGE.

medium jim · « **Reply #2 on:** 15 Jul 2012, 03:55 pm »

Definately Amoeba Music 6400 Sunset Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90028 Plan on being there all day as they have over 1m records!!!

Jim

randytsuch · « **Reply #3 on:** 15 Jul 2012, 04:18 pm »

You should be aware the Newport Beach is a LONG way from Sunset where Ameoba is, so plan accordingly. Depending on when you go, traffic will also come into play. Rush hour starts early and ends late. On some freeways, there is traffic on Saturdays, Sundays are usually OK.

Randy

trackball02 · « **Reply #4 on:** 15 Jul 2012, 04:28 pm »

Amoeba is worth the drive. Awesome store and you can do some Hollywood site seeing.

For a large selection of used records, try Record Surplus in Santa Monica.

roscoeiii · « **Reply #5 on:** 15 Jul 2012, 04:39 pm »

The Amoeba in San Francisco is also great. The Berkeley Amoeba is the only one of their branches that I haven't had the pleasure of visiting.

thunderbrick · « **Reply #6 on:** 15 Jul 2012, 05:21 pm »

Quote from: medium jim on 15 Jul 2012, 03:55 pm

Definately Amoeba Music 6400 Sunset Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90028 Plan on being there all day as they have over 1m records!!!

Jim

+1!

reddmadder · « **Reply #7 on:** 15 Jul 2012, 06:02 pm »

Record Surplus on Santa Monica Blvd.

reddmadder · « **Reply #8 on:** 15 Jul 2012, 06:04 pm »

P.S. ON Amoeba
Amoeba acquired 30,000 (8 tons!)mostly new LP's from a collector in Queens NY and will
start selling them next weekend.

jazzcourier · « **Reply #9 on:** 15 Jul 2012, 06:31 pm »

Rockin' Vinyl Lady.....Don't miss Rockaway Records (2395 Glendale Blvd. #B L.A. 90039 (323) 664-3232.
This store is East of Amoeba,so you will follow Sunset Blvd. East and head up Glendale Blvd. or if you have GPS take a scenic drive up Silverlake Blvd. That will save you a few minutes.Though distances seem close in L.A. the amount of traffic often slows things down.It will be about a half hour drive from Amoeba.
This is a good shop for you as they have lots of Rock collectibles and most of the records are in very good shape.This is reflected in their prices,which i will say are high,but they get some interesting and unusual things in.They usually have boxes on the floor under the bins that have some discounted items and often there are some gems to be found in there.This store prides itself on Rock memorabilia so the walls are full of posters and industry related promo ephemera.Again the prices can be a little daunting,but well worth a look.
A trip to Amoeba will wear you out with the high decibel music and pounding public address system.The lighting is just awful and if you really want to see what your used records look like, you will have to search out a reasonable source of light.A trip there is equal to a day at an amusement park.Condition of used vinyl really varies and the practice of resealing used vinyl makes it difficult to determine what you are going to get for your money.Do not hesitate to ask them to open and inspect any sealed used lps under some good light.
Record Surplus....Hmmmmm...Even though they have a new location the stock looks so worn out and picked over i would not say they are worth the 45-minute to one hour drive in traffic to West L.A.If you have the time and the stamina you can consider it.
Corner of Melrose and LaBrea...a few minutes from Amoeba....Pink's Chili Dogs...last real authentic culinary landmark "must" in Hollywood.Well worth the wait....................

jazzcourier · « **Reply #10 on:** 15 Jul 2012, 06:41 pm »

If you do go to the Brooks Berdan store (have not seen it myself,the old Berdan "record section" was tiny) a short trip West to Pasadena and Poo-Bah record store is recommended. 2636 E. Colorado Blvd. They have a decent section of used Rock and some unusual Indie releases.You can do this store in 15 minutes.I always find a few one or two dollar records that are worth far more elsewhere.Good hunting!

reddmadder · « **Reply #11 on:** 15 Jul 2012, 07:30 pm »

Jazzcourier you're not serious are you?
Vinyl Lady want's VINYL...Amoeba is one of the top if not the best record store in the country! Your reaction to the high energy and claims of "awful light" are odd IMO.
Your visit to Amoeba will be one of the highlights of your trip.

vinyl_guy · « **Reply #12 on:** 15 Jul 2012, 07:41 pm »

Thanks everyone! I really appreciate each of you taking the time to respond and provide me with lots of locations for serious vinyl shopping. Thanks for the detail and addresses/directions. Next Tuesday is vinyl shopping day, all day. I might have to skip part of my conference if I don't make to all the suggested stops. Both Amoeba and Rockaway sound like don't miss locations. And reocrd surplus if time. I was in the Amoeba store in Haight Asbury a couple of years back and found a few "can't live without" records.

Thanks again and jazzcourier--thanks for he heads up on Pink's chili dogs. Sounds like where I'm going to have lunch.

Laura

simoon · « **Reply #13 on:** 17 Jul 2012, 04:26 pm »

As so many others have said, Amoeba is the obvious choice considering it's size. Great store.

I also want to add another great. smaller store in the San Fernando Valley called 'Freak Beat'. Very nice selection of new and used vinyl. The 2 guys that own it are avid collectors, and very knowledgeable.

If you're going to be east of LA proper anytime, check out the record store at Brooks Berdan (the best high audio store in the LA area) in Monrovia. It is not huge, but they have a nice selection of audiophile recordings.

kodell · « **Reply #14 on:** 17 Jul 2012, 04:51 pm »

If you are close to LAX, i would stop by Soundstations Records at 8700 La Tiera BLVD in Westchester I love this shop and usually walk away with way more records than a visit to Amoeba would bring.

vinyl_guy · « **Reply #15 on:** 19 Jul 2012, 12:08 am »

Thanks again for the great suggestions. Yesterday I made it to Amoeba and Rockaway Records and had lunch at Pink's

The chili cheese dog with onion was great

My conference is in Newport Beach so I spent a lot of time navigating the LA freeway system. A real bottleneck as I approached 101 from I-5. I now know what Jerry Jeff Walker meant when he sang I can't get off that LA freeway.

Because I needed to be back for a function at 6 pm I didn't have time to make other locations, but plan to hit a couple more tomorrow. I've posted my finds here http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=72684.msg1113321#msg1113321

ltr317 · « **Reply #16 on:** 19 Jul 2012, 01:17 am »

Quote from: vinyl_lady on 19 Jul 2012, 12:08 am

My conference is in Newport Beach so I spent a lot of time navigating the LA freeway system. A real bottleneck as I approached 101 from I-5. I now know what Jerry Jeff Walker meant when he sang I can't get off that LA freeway. Because I needed to be back for a function at 6 pm I didn't have time to make other locations, but plan to hit a couple more tomorrow. I've posted my finds here http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=72684.msg1113321#msg1113321

Hi Laura,

Are you familiar with the Lisa Marr song, In California? I thought of the lyrics after I read your post.

Another suicide on the 405
The Black Dahlia she smiles and smiles
It’s the same old town that bled her dry
One more starlet one more time
Bound to make it do or die
Talk a walk to Bonnie Brae
Try to wash these dreams away
They try to tell me L.A is beautiful when it rains.

vinyl_guy · « **Reply #17 on:** 19 Jul 2012, 05:05 am »

Quote from: ltr317 on 19 Jul 2012, 01:17 am

Hi Laura,

Are you familiar with the Lisa Marr song, In California? I thought of the lyrics after I read your post.

Another suicide on the 405
The Black Dahlia she smiles and smiles
It’s the same old town that bled her dry
One more starlet one more time
Bound to make it do or die
Talk a walk to Bonnie Brae
Try to wash these dreams away
They try to tell me L.A is beautiful when it rains.

Hi Paul,

thanks for posting. This was new to me. Interesting lyrics.

ltr317 · « **Reply #18 on:** 19 Jul 2012, 03:42 pm »

Neko Case does a terrific cover of the song on her Live from Austin, TX album.

hifitommy · « **Reply #19 on:** 21 Jul 2012, 04:22 pm »

then i could have directed you to

http://www.recordcollectornews.com/

you can read the issue and back issues online. page to the middle of the magazine and there is a map and list with addresses of most of the record stores in LA and environs plus other areas. the articles and ads are all worth a look too.

maybe you haven't left yet.