Record Shops in Los Angeles

I know Amoeba records has a store in LA. It is very large, with both new and used music of all kinds and may be the only major store left following the demise of Tower. The Amoeba website can direct you to their location and give you more details.

Oldnslow,
Thanks for that, I'll have a look for their web site.

Regards
Dave

Amoeba is on Sunset Bvld.I've noticed on the site Richard Thompson is playing on the 6th of June, I may try and get a ticket.

Dave

Jammy sod.

This photo shows about a quarter of the store!

Steeve

Don't I'm hankering for another visit, to CA.

Steeve,
I think a larger suitcase is in order.


Dave

yeah I'm 5 miles away, it's over a hundred every time. this doesn't show all teh people shopping either. Great selection of vinyl esp new releases.

I've been in a mess trying to get my CDs on iTunes. I had stuff out I'd not listened to in a long time. I don't think I'll see the inside of Amoeba till 2010. I was disappointed in some like Eurythmics and delighted by others. I'm tending toward a simpler sound now, more americana, not synthesized and over produced. Give me Emmylou and Lyle over 80s pop bands any day. Tastes change and that's a good thing. If I want that intense R&R we now have a good station in LA to listen to, but they don't do soul or countryish music. That's where my private collection is heading.

Wow, I was in seventh heaven in Amoeba.I was in LA on business for just over 2 weeks and made 3 visits to Amoeba.
I've never seen such a collection of music, whatever type of music there was a huge choice.
I managed to get a vinyl boxed set of Tell Tale Signs by Dylan.The Ry Cooder Anthology which I'd never heard of was great driving music,especially " Down in Hollywood"
For years I've been looking for a vinyl version of "Alone but never Alone" by Larry Carlton. Picked a copy up in nearly mint condition $3.99.

Thanks once again for recommending Amoeba.

Dave

Glad you enjoyed Amoeba--I think they are pretty much the only large scale stores left in the U.S., and only in San Francisco and L.A. at that, and their used collection is pretty amazing. I must say, as a jazz and classical lover, I didn't really find much to interest me in the San Francisco store, but I thoroughly enjoyed spending time looking!

quote:

Originally posted by Oldnslow:
Glad you enjoyed Amoeba--I think they are pretty much the only large scale stores left in the U.S., and only in San Francisco and L.A. at that, and their used collection is pretty amazing. I must say, as a jazz and classical lover, I didn't really find much to interest me in the San Francisco store, but I thoroughly enjoyed spending time looking!

Dont forget the original store in Berkeley, a blood brother of Rather Ripped Records, where I used to go when I was about 12. It is massive as well. I always find something new or interesting and plenty of vinyl. Then right up the street is Rasputins which is nearly as big. Please dont hesitate to email me - anyone who wants to get their fingers dusty next time you/they are in the SF bay area!

Tell Tale Signs is just wonderful as is Together Through Life, if you buy the vinyl it's on 2 discs and they include it on CD.

just to tempt you

Hi Mudwolf,
I totally agree about Tell tale Signs,I have the 2 CD set and the limited Edition and very expensive 3 CD set.IMHO it's the best bootleg every released.
I bought Together Through Life, as you say as the Vinyl which included a CD copy. Not as good as tell tale signs.

KR
Dave

What I like about Tell Tale is it's real roadhouse music (my term) and most of it is dance music so it's not like aggressive rock. and his last album is just a different flavor being more TexMex with the accordion. I've not really analyzed the lyrics, I feel Dylan is looking back and commenting on life, a hard long life.

Somewhere around '90 I was on a trip to Yosemite and it was Dylan's birthday and a station around Fresno was doing a whole show on him and bands who recorded his music. Very interesting to hear others interpret them. The DJ commented on his latest album and said it wasn't his best music but 2nd rate Dylan was better than most performer's best. I had to smile at that.

He really is in the tradition of a bard, roaming and singing. I really miss the folk era from the 60s. So much rock is too aggressive for me now and over produced. I'm an old fart at 55. Give me something to ponder my life, a gentle conversation, sharing experiences and insights instead of raising hell. One of my favorites right now is Nashville Skyline and the one that chokes me up is Cash singing with Dylan on "Girl From the North Country", and then of course Dylan singing "Lay Lady Lay" and ending with "Tonight I'll Be Staying Here With You". They mean so much more to me now that I've had several loves and losses.

I think Nashville Skyline is a great album and quite different to other albums he released around the same time.His voice is quite different, someone told me the reason for this was because he given up smoking for a period of time.
I totally agree with your comments about Lay lady Lay & Girl from the North Country.
Most of the time in LA was business but I did get the chance to see the city at the weekends.
I went to Laurel Canyon with great anticipation hoping to find link back to the late 60's, a museum but I found nothing.It did stir memories of the music that was coming out of LA at the time.
I was staying in El Segundo and although I did see a few areas of LA ( what a huge city )I didn't see an area called silverdale, I assume it is an area of LA.

Dave

oh yeah LA is a big sprawling area, my post office address says Los Angeles but there are many smaller areas, I'm on the east side near the 5 freeway, actually north of the original downtown, hilly area easy to get turned around in because it's not a flatland grid. You sort of have to live here to understand all the sub areas like Century city, miracle mile, los feliz, hollywood, silverlake etc. I've been here 13 years and still am vague on areas to the south and east like el segundo.

yeah that 70s period with Joni, Linda, Bonnie, Eagles, Jackson, CSN all living in the canyon. I'd just moved 70 miles south of here from Philly at 16, music was really different here. And Dylan moved here to Malibu in that period because he was hounded so much back in Woodstock. There's a good book on the LA music scene I read a year ago but can't remember the name of because I gave it to a friend. It was more about the social scene of the artists not critical reviews of the albums. Joni was quoted as saying she's always believed in serial monogamy, lol, get tired or a bump in the road and move on. It's all in her music.