Record digging in the L.A. area

[neonlights]

Going off to L.A. at the end of this week for a short vacation. Got my ticket to see the Goddess (Grace Jones) and am going to be spending around a week down there. Just wondering if any of the dedicated disco diggers around here know of any good spots for record hunting in the LA area.. I've got Amoeba on the map of course, but anyone know of any other good places?

Any suggestions would be appreciated :)

[markydefad]

neonlights....I only know Amoeba--most every other store I used to check out has closed :icon_evil: ...maybe Vinyllife would know more---he has mentioned that he had fave places--but I do not know what they might be.

[kdavid13]

Going off to L.A. at the end of this week for a short vacation. Got my ticket to see the Goddess (Grace Jones) and am going to be spending around a week down there. Just wondering if any of the dedicated disco diggers around here know of any good spots for record hunting in the LA area.. I've got Amoeba on the map of course, but anyone know of any other good places?

Any suggestions would be appreciated :)

T - Happy hunting - Hope you find many many many treasures along the way.

Let us know what you end up buying...:icon_cool:

Your snoopy & envious friend in MTL.

[srg]

Hey NeonLights!

If there's a shortage of used vinyl stores in L.A., AND if you have the time...also check out second-hand stores (such as Goodwill/Salvation Army)...I know in Toronto I have found TREASURES for $1 hidden among Phil Collins ans Mystic Moods LPs. You'll never know what you'll find!

Good Huntin'!

[neonlights]

Thanks for the replies everyone!

Marky - too bad about the others closing :( I was told Amoeba was practically the only game in town at this point, and should be big enough to satisfy my record fix, so I might not even need any others. Anyway though, I'll fire off a PM to Vinyllife in case he has any other tips..

Hey Kris! I'm packing light with a big suitcase this time, so hopefully I'll be better prepared haha..

Hey SRG, I can never resist a thrift store.. ;)

[VINYLLIFE]

OH GOD

I am too late responding!!!:icon_mad: Neonlights...I am so sorry to have missed you being here in Los Angeles. Let me make it up to you somehow. :icon_lol: If and when you return to L.A I Will dedicate one full day to you. My treat!!! I will drive you to every record store in L.A. Actually it would take 2 days to do them all!!
For ANYONE coming to L.A, look me up please!!! Vinyllife@yahoo.com Thanks Marky for remembering me about record stores.

Open invite goes to anyone from the DiscoMusic family

Take care
John

[neonlights]

Hey, not a problem, Vinyllife.. I managed to find a few other places and came back with some good stuff (not to mention spent a lot of $$) anyway.. I definitely want to go back one of these days, I guess I have even more reason to now haha. Anyway, can't wait to take you up on your offer.. :icon_mrgreen:

[Zef]

I don't suppose there are any near venice beach. I'm going to be there fleetingly in September (one and a half days) but won't make it beyond Venice.
Will however be in Washington DC for 2 days, NY for 5 days and San Francisco for 10 days or so. Looking forward to digging in Amoeba in SF and Berkeley but any other recommendations most welcome.

Cheers
Z

[VINYLLIFE]

Hello Zef

You are in luck!!! My favorite record store is just minutes from Venice. Lot's of Vinyl and something they call CD'S?. And you get to listen before you buy. The place is Record Surplus on Pico Blvd.

Record Surplus is one of the largest sellers of used CD and Vinyl records, used DVD and VHS on the West Coast with over 100,000 items in stock including: DISCO.
Record Surplus
Phone: 310-478-4217
Contact me when you are coming to L.A I might have some goodies for you from my stash.

[Zef]

Hello Zef

You are in luck!!! My favorite record store is just minutes from Venice. Lot's of Vinyl and something they call CD'S?. And you get to listen before you buy. The place is Record Surplus on Pico Blvd.

Record Surplus is one of the largest sellers of used CD and Vinyl records, used DVD and VHS on the West Coast with over 100,000 items in stock including: DISCO.
Record Surplus
Phone: 310-478-4217
Contact me when you are coming to L.A I might have some goodies for you from my stash.

Oh my god that is so cool! Many thanks Vinyllife. I will certainly contact you when I'm there thats really great.
I can see my partner groaning in the background at the thought of me going off chasing disco music again!!!!:icon_lol:

[BrunoRepublic]

I didn't find much disco in SF. Plenty of other cool stuff, but not much disco. :/

[kdavid13]

I didn't find much disco in SF. Plenty of other cool stuff, but not much disco. :/

I always imagine myself finding hard-to-get Hi-NRG treasures from Megatone or Moby Dick when in SF... Oh well - scratch it off the list...

[the disco kid]

I found quite a bit of Disco last year when I was visiting, the big find for me was the Sharon Ridley "Changin'" Mixed Masters 12", in mint condition. Amoeba has tons of bootlegs, but I don't really go for them, There are lots of little vinyl stores in the Haight and Mission area and thrift shops that still carry vinyl, I got together with a couple of other friends while I was there and everyone of us found at least 15-30 records each.

[BrunoRepublic]

I always imagine myself finding hard-to-get Hi-NRG treasures from Megatone or Moby Dick when in SF... Oh well - scratch it off the list...

None to be found in any of the places I went. Plenty of bootlegs though... bogus/counterfeit reissue 12"s at Amoeba, CDRs of disco albums sourced from vinyl at some place on Market street. There was some legit stuff, but it was all surprisingly mainstream.

[the disco kid]

Bruno

I think it was pure luck, OPEN MIND Records had moved to Market Street, and they were going out of business, That's where I found the most gems, they probably put out everything that they had not put out before, believe me I just about pissed my pants when I pulled that Sharon Ridley 12" out of a bin from the bottom.

[KoolChris]

Oh oh! I'm going back to L.A. in a couple of days, after a 4-year leave!! And with a long wishlist! If I remember Amoeba correctly, there was nothing really exciting in terms of disco, in re the gigantic surface.

Does that mean Aron's on Highland has closed??
What about Atomic on Magnolia in Burbank?
And those small mini mall record stores higher up on Highland?
Rockaway in Silverlake?

I know the Book & Record Baron in OC have closed, which is sad. But I'm glad to read the Record Surplus is still in business.

I've been to several Goodwill and Out of the Closet stores over the years (maybe the wrong ones), but have no more energy & patience to spend hours going through the shelves of abused Lawrence Welk and Joan Baez records to (maybe) find a scratched SNF album as sole disco discovery.

Obviously, I'll check online before trying going back anywhere, but does anyone know of small places I might not know of, that carry a good selection of rare stuff, in good shape, and in the single- or low double- digits?

Unfortunately, I'll probably have to rely solely on the stores, as I'll probably be heading back before the august Pasadena CC flea market...

P.S. I forgot to mention I'm looking for original vinyl records, NOT CDs...

[VINYLLIFE]

I KNOW EM ALLLLLLL!!!! E-mail me some contact info and your wish list!!! And bring some trading material!!lol Aron's closed Rockaway still there,..but not strong on Vinyl unless it's heavy hitter stuff, almost no Disco to speak of. Amoeba is good if you go every day and try to beat the other 40 people digging in the Disco section. (yes 40). But I know the good ones:icon_cool: And you can listen before you buy at some of them. Please send a list and I can get a jump on putting a pile together for you.
VINYLLIFE@YAHOO.COM

[KoolChris]

I KNOW EM ALLLLLLL!!!! E-mail me some contact info and your wishlist....
VINYLLIFE@YAHOO.COM

=> Email just sent. Last minute issues are compromising my departure; I'll let you know what happens. In any case, thanks for your offer to help.