I'll be in Los Angeles for the first time next week. Other than Amoeba what are some must see record stores? Most of my time will be spent in the North/west Hollywood area with a visit to the coast one of the days.

Not much left these days besides Ameoba. I still miss Tower Records off Sunset Blvd.

I can't vouch for all of these but this is a good starting point: http://www.laweekly.com/westcoastsou...d-stores-in-la

Uh, what?

Check out:

Freakbeat Records
Rockaway Records
Permanent Records
Atomic Records
Jacknife
High-Fidelity
Origami
Vacation Vinyl
Mount Analog
CD Trader
The Last Bookstore
Caveman Music
Record Surplus
Wombleton Records
Blue Bag
.....

I've never been there but my cousin owns Wombleton Records

Tell him his prices are generally WAY too high...and that he needs to consider the condition of the vinyl and cover in his prices!

It's way out in Alta Loma, but Dr. Strange Records is pretty good.

Never thought I'd hear anyone say they missed Tower Records.

Well, it is the same person who said there are no more record stores in L.A. outside of Amoeba. So......

To be perfectly honest, I miss them too. but mainly as a nostalgic throw back to another time before the internet. No other chain could match their selection.

I was lucky enough to visit the Tower Records on Sunset a year or so before they closed them down. First time at that location (but I had been to others). What I'll remember most about that visit is that Alan Spencer (creator of the 80s cult TV show Sledge Hammer) was browsing one aisle over.

Still need to plan a trip so I can hit up Ameoba.

LOVED that Sunset Tower Records growing up...much better selection than The Wherehouse or Music Plus at the time. I peeked into the still empty building a couple of months ago...still hasn't been leased yet.

We had a Peaches in Dayton where I grew up. It was awesome.

Meanwhile, flashing-foward to the 21st century:

and Dingleberry's, Armadillo, and Gem City records (all local guys). Pretty much now all we have is Omega and Second Time Around.

Yup, I shopped at every one of those joints.

Dingleberry's. Joints. See what I did there?

Dingleberry's was essentially a head shop that happened to sell records. Nevertheless, they had some awesome radio spots and weren't even shy about the "mind-blowing" aspect of their main line of business:


Heh, "main line". See what I did there?

My vinyl copy of Zappa's =Joe's Garage= was from Armadillo, and my vinyl Fannigan's Isle =The Orange and The Green= came from Gem City.

^^ Similar, but not records.. Philman's is still in business! (no longer run by the original Phil )

Dingleberry's had a LOT of bands show up at their store before shows (of course, just to peruse the records ). The pictures/autographs they had in the back of the store were pretty cool.

Thanks for the info guys.

I miss their magazine selection - Barnes and Nobles sucks in this respect.