So it is time to bring the car back and go ‘home’. I am ending where I started: Albaquerque, New Mexico. First time around in this city I did not visit a store, and I barely had time now as I was running late. I did visit one store though this time called Mecca Music & Books. Was in a hurry so I quickly glanced through everything. They have both new and vintage stuff, they seem to have a good mix and some more recent releases. Quick impression was it is not bad. Had to be too fast to form a good impression.

When I was at Amoeba Music they gave me a handout with all the music/record stores in LA, I think that list must have had round 40 names on it. I asked the guy which one of them he would recommend: Record Surplus was the ‘winner’. On my way I went. The place is not bad at all. It is above average, liberal prices and a decent selection. I would not say it is the place for the rarities, but I am pretty sure you can dig around and find a few things. I know I did. Almost time to head on home …

I am only one day in LA, not enough at all. Just for the fun of it went to rodeo drive and tried on $700 shirts. Rich people are such idiots or perhaps its just good to be the king. Then on to Amoeba music, which makes it 2 out of 3 for me as I also visited the Amoeba Music in San Fran (that leaves the Berkley one unattended). What can I say: large selection but you have to pay for the good stuff. I enjoy digging through their stuff though as they have a lot of crates up in that foocker. Anyways, do visit if you are in LA on a rainy day.

Im heading out to LA from Monterey, to do this I am recommended to take the scenic route which is Hwy 1 to San Luis Obispo (+/- 150 miles north of LA). It curves along the mountains by the sea, you zig zag through to mountains with beautiful views of bays by the Ocean. This scenic drive is referred to as the ‘Big Sur’. About two years ago I bought a record by Johnny Hammond Smith called Higher Ground (KUDU records). That record had a song on it called ‘Big Sur Suite’. I never understood the title, but coming to Cali and hearing how much of a big deal this ‘Big Sur’ drive is down Hwy 1, I now understand this song is referring to this area.

No record stores in Sequoia and Yosemite National Park for obvious reasons. On to Monterey then. Monterey, home of the famed and infamous jazz festival that is running for 60 years now, home of the Monterey Pop Festival of 67 and home of the Monterey Blues Festival. They have the spot marked in the ground where jimi burned his guitar. One would think that amidst this quite nature, the musical cultural heritage that passed here and the visiting rich people from LA there would be some space left for a good record store. There are two, I visited one: Vinyl Revolution. The other one is called Recycled Records (not related to the one in San Fran). Vinyl Revolution was very generic, save yourself some time and if you go just go to the counter and ask for what you need and take a look at the front desk records which are the more rare things. The more rare stuff is heavily priced, all the rest is very reasonable but not all that interesting. They also seem to have a lot of reissues in the metal punk area. I was supposed to go to Recycled Records, but they closed at 5pm (?) and I overslept the next day: I had to jump in my car to get on to the Big Sur.

So 6 postings on San Fran’s Haight Street area. That’s not bad and that’s not even all of it. I don’t want to pick a favorite of the whole street cause there were several good ones out there. I would like to point out that I did not cover all record stores in San Fran. If you are ever there just go check out Haight street and the area, not just for the record stores but all the other cafes and stores that make this a pretty cool hood. Some of the stores that I did not visit are Rasputin, a new Metal shop called Shaxul and several others which are not all in the Haight area. I will visit those others during my next visit cause you can bet I’ll be back.

This was the last store I visited that Tuesday, tired but with strength for one more store I dug around. I found some soundtracks, Mahavishnu Orchestra and some other stuff, a good way to close the day off. They have a good variance of stuff, prices didn’t always make sense to me but that can work both ways I guess. Do drop by, it could be a little bit of a walk if you are by foot and coming shall we say from the other side of Haight St where Amoeba music is located.

Well, this is the only store I did not buy anything in on Haight St. It was the first store I visited in the morning so it could be I just was not feeling it: coffee had not worked in yet maybe? Thing is this store has a lot but just not my kinda stuff. Prices were reasonable I just couldnt find anything I was really into and I hung around there for a while. Store was really nice, Vinyl only and definitely had the vintage thing going on. So I dont know what to tell you folks, if you pass it by step inside and take a quick glance, maybe you will find your stuff in there …

Strange little store but I like it. Apparently it is or was a house music store but the vinyl in the store when I was there was a healthy mix of new and old with a good mix of all styles. Small store so small selection, but not even half that bad and very reasonably priced. Also, they combine the space with a very small art gallery which I think is totally cool. Vinyl to a large extent is art so it makes sense to put a small gallery next to it. If you are in the area, check it out, it shouldn’t take up much of your time.

So one of my favorites in San Fran’s Haight Street area was Groove Merchant. Not to be confused with the record label. The current owner (cant remember his name) says that when the original owners started the store the name was a tribute to the label. The deal is straightfwd, you probably have the better selection in this store but you will have to pay for it. It makes sense, in order to get this stuff the store has to pay more as well hence … But you know my philosophy: always negotiate, definitely in these times of crisis. I bought some Jazz and Hip Hop that you wont see that often: ronnie laws, Beastie Boys, ODB, Ahmad Jamal, Kind of Blue, Jimmy Smith and some other stuff that escapes me for the moment. For all you collectors out there he has an original SEALED Lord Finesse, Baby You Nasty, Wild Pitch Records, 12″ that he got from DJ Shadow who found it somewhere in the Mid West in a cellar, ask price is $125.