More San Francisco Record Shops
In a world tainted by Big Brother's online music-mart and Starbucks-sanctioned CD releases, it's easy to become disheartened. All is not yet lost, however, and San Francisco remains a safe haven for any music fan looking for something to hold on to. Gridskipper has already covered the monolithic Amoeba Records and the basics of shopping for hip-hop and house DJs, but that's only part of the story. SF's musical legacy sprawls wide and weird, and a dig through its lesser-known retail mines can yield far stranger booty for intrepid hunters. Do you long for the days of alphabetizing your record collection and deciphering handwritten liner notes? Here are a few spots that stand as last bastions in the face of the record industry's potential demise, bravely bringing you killer jams in tangible form.
Thrillhouse Records
3422 Mission St
San Francisco, CA 94110
The Mission's now-defunct Epicenter Records has found fresh life in this collectively run record label/shop at the foot of Bernal Heights. Browse for new releases from … the likes of The Fleshies, Hey Girl!, and The Four Eyes; peruse the sweet 'zine library; check out some local art; and find out about upcoming all-ages shows. Up the punx! [link]
Jack's Record Cellar
254 Scott St
San Francisco, CA 94117
This is the only San Francisco store that specializes in 78-rpm records. Dusty old tracks from the vault will boost the ambiance as you paw through moldering boxes of … ancient blues, country, jazz, and more -- all under the guidance of an agreeable and encyclopedic staff that includes none other than former Flamin' Groovies singer Roy Loney. Owners of more modern stereo equipment will also find LPs, CDs, and enough atmosphere to last for weeks. (photo) [link]
101 Music
1414 Grant Ave
San Francisco, CA 94133
For serious music fans, an afternoon in North Beach is about nothing other than sifting through scrillions of virtually unsorted albums in a cramped, grimy basement. Time … and patience will be rewarded with gems of all genres, and the ceiling-high stacks of vintage stereo equipment and other audio oddities will likely entice you on your way to the counter. (photo) [link]
Open Mind
2150 Market St
San Francisco, CA 94114
If you've been wandering through the Lower Haight clutching your head in your hands and wondering if you've lost your Open Mind, fear not: it's only been moved to the … Castro. The stock at this unpretentious store is refreshed daily, bringing you an endless rotation of rock, prog, punk, jazz, blues, reggae, and just about everything else. (photo) [link]
Aquarius Records
1055 Valencia St
San Francisco, CA 94110
This tiny Mission shop has been a staunch supporter of the experimental music scene since 1970, and it's possibly the country's best source of impossible to find indie … rock, black metal, drone, electronica, international psych reissues, and other eccentricities. For those who are easily spooked in close quarters, Aquarius is also known for its extensive mail-order offerings and archive of online reviews. [link]
Streetlight Records
3979 24th St
San Francisco, CA 94114
Take a leisurely stroll up Noe Valley's 24th Street to visit this jam-packed yet uncluttered neighborhood mainstay, check out tons of well organized and reasonably priced … used CDs and rare vinyl, and find a few precious treasures you didn't even know you wanted. If you can't find something specific, a friendly staff member will happily track it down. Streetlight has three more locations in the Castro, Santa Cruz, and San Jose. [link]
