From: lazlo@triton.unm.edu (Lazlo Nibble)
Newsgroups: rec.music.cd
Subject: Re: CD in LA
Date: 15 Apr 92 23:11:46 GMT
Article-I.D.: lynx.bfzjpa
Organization: Living in a satellite fantasy, waiting for the night to end.

meza@techlaw.ogi.edu writes:

> Any recommendations for a CD store in LA that has a wide selection of
> rock, alternative, obscure, oldies, progressive, and import CDs? 

Here's the LA shop list I maintain.  Aron's is the place to hit first.

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Aron's Records (Just N of Santa Monica on Highland; 213 469-4700)

	"The best selection, however, is at Aron's Records - for new and
	 used lp's, cd's, etc.  They have a high turnover rate there, so you
	 never know what you'll find."
			-- Shauna Aiken <shauna@pnet01.cts.com>

	"When I lived in the area, I used to go to Aron's all the time--they
	 mostly have used vinyl, as I recall, with some selection of CDs." 
			-- Melanie Lotocky <mlotocky@psych.uiuc.edu>

	"My friend said they've expanded their used CD section significantly
	 since I was there just a few weeks back--to the point where it's a
	 pain to go because there's so much stuff to look through!" 
			-- Don Markuson <dmm@tiger1.prime.com>

	"The best store I visited in L.A. last week.  Lots of used stuff,
	 both on vinyl and CD, plus an amazing import CD section.  They
	 have a blowout bin for import CDs as well -- nothing spectacular
	 but the prices are good.  I found several things at Aron's that
	 I've been looking for for *years*, including a copy of the WALTER
	 CARLOS' CLOCKWORK ORANGE album that was sitting in the used bins
	 for a mere two stinking bucks."
			-- Lazlo Nibble <lazlo@triton.unm.edu>

	Also recommended by
			-- Greg Earle <earle@poseur.jpl.nasa.gov>
			-- Jack Kobzeff <jack@jato.jpl.nasa.gov>

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Bleeker Bob's (Melrose)

	"...their prices leave a bit to be desired."
			-- Greg Earle <earle@poseur.jpl.nasa.gov>

	"...stay away...it is a bunch of overpricing british louts...
			-- kincy <kclark@jarthur.claremont.edu>

	"I disagree about the 'stay away' part -- you have to see the
	 prices to believe them.  Out-of-print but regular-issue US 12"
	 singles like Sigue Sigue Sputnik's "Love Missile F1-11" and
	 Malcolm McLaren's "D'ya Like Scratchin'", $25 each.  And that's
	 just for beginners.  Absolutely fucking amazing."
			-- Lazlo Nibble <lazlo@triton.unm.edu>

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CD Banzai (Beverly Hills: SE corner 3rd and Sweetzer)

	"they have a lot of imports, especially CDsingles that might be right
	 up your street." 
			-- Derek Langsford <dlangs%sunstroke@sdsu.edu>

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DMC Records (a few blocks E of Street Sounds, upstairs -- 213 651-3520)

	"While its selection isn't as large as Street Sounds, their prices
	 are much better - Serious Beats Vol. 3 (the double disc) was $24.99
	 last time I was there, an it was $34.99 or so at Street Sounds."
			-- Vitamin B <bbehlen@petrus.berkeley.edu>

	"Nice place, lots of stuff.  A must-stop if you're looking for
	import dance music."
			-- Lazlo Nibble <lazlo@triton.unm.edu>

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Go Boy (PCH/Sepulveda near Redondo Beach/Torrance border)

	"I picked up a fair number of interesting discs there for peanuts.. 
	 They had a couple of crates of promos and cutouts that they were
	 dumping for $0.99 - $1.99 though there was a lot of crap scattered
	 through.  Still, I came out with a stack of discs for under $15.00."
	 One thing to keep in mind is that it'd be a really lousy place to
	 look for anything in particular (though they had a decent selection
	 of more normally-priced used discs and a reasonable, though not
	 stellar, selection of new discs for a small store.)  Not a bad place
	 to go browsing, though."
			-- mcnally <mmm@merit.edu>

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Moby Disc (Santa Monica: Wilshire Blvd, 1/2 - 1 mi. W of the 405)

	"Don't forget to check out the $1.99 used CD section of Moby, it's
	 hidden on the left beyond the counter (unfortunately, the CD's aren't
	 sorted and the lighting is pretty bad, but for $1.99--hey!)  I'm
	 pretty both stores also carry vinyl (new/used), 7"/12", LP/EP/SP." 
			-- Don Markuson <dmm@tiger1.prime.com>

	"OK, but tends not to have all that much in the way of interesting
	 12"'s. And their CD's are higher priced than Record Surplus." 
			-- David A. Pearlman <dap@predator.vpharm.com>

	"I found Moby Disc to be of pretty dubious quality in terms of price 
	 and selection of vinyl."
			-- Steve Weinberg <stevew@sdd.hp.com>

	Recommended by
			-- Don Markuson <dmm@tiger1.prime.com>

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Penny Lane (Westwood Village: Windward btw. Pacific and Venice Beach)

	"Their supply of used cds is better (and larger) than [Record
	 Rover's]."
			-- gds@cs.ucla.edu (Greg Skinner)

	"...a lot of cut-out albums and used CDs..."
			-- Steve Weinberg <stevew@sdd.hp.com>

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PooBah's (Pasadena -- Walnut, 3 blks E of Lake Ave)

	"I'd highly recommend PooBah's and Vinyl Fetish.  They have a great
	 selection of hard-to-find and brand new imports on CD and 12".  If
	 you want to get information about industrial or techno parties that
	 are going on listen to MARS 103.1 FM.  It's probably one of the best
	 new radio stations in LA."
			-- Robert R. Uglesich <rru@cco.caltech.edu>

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Prime Cuts (Santa Monica Blvd. ~2 blks. E of Fairfax)

	Recommended by
			-- Greg Earle <earle@poseur.jpl.nasa.gov>

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Record Rover (Venice & Grandview)

	"...a fair sized collection of used CDs, cassettes, and vinyl."
			-- gds@cs.ucla.edu (Greg Skinner)

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Record Surplus (West L.A. -- 11609 W Pico Blvd, 1 blk E of Barrington)

	"Check out Record Surplus in West LA.  Make sure to look upstairs in
	 "the bleachers"."
			-- Eli Messinger <ebm@almaden.ibm.com>

	"They have an upstairs area with all vinyl at $0.94 (some at 3/$1.00).
	 Everything from junk to real finds. The turnover at this place is
	 tremendous, so you never know what you'll find. They tend to have a
	 lot of 12"'s up there, too...No guarantees, but the best place to
	 look for "finds", I think."
			-- David A. Pearlman <dap@predator.vpharm.com>

	"I forgot about this place because I don't buy vinyl, but they have
	 one of the largest vinyl collections I know of... Their used CDs tend
	 to cost more than the used CDs at Penny Lane or Record Rover, and I
	 don't like their assortment particularly."
			-- Greg Skinner <gds@cs.ucla.edu>

	"OK ... they have a pretty wide selection of the obvious stuff and a
	 rarities section where the prices are really jacked up."
			-- Steve Weinberg <stevew@sdd.hp.com>

	"A good place to go if you like exploring -- lots of random stuff
	 upstairs in the vinyl bins and plenty of good-condition used
	 stuff cheap downstairs.  I didn't get a chance to look at the CDs,
	 but a friend of mine found some very new releases in the used
	 bins (I assume promos).  Definitely visit here if your tastes
	 in used vinyl run a little wider than just the usual pop stuff."
			-- Lazlo Nibble <lazlo@triton.unm.edu>

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Record Trader (Reseda -- Reseda Blvd. near Sherman Way)

	"...another good place to look for vinyl finds and very reasonably
	  priced CD's. But this is in the San Fernando Valley..."  
			-- David A. Pearlman <dap@predator.vpharm.com>

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Record Trader (Melrose)

	"Pretty run-of-the-mill, actually.  I like the fact that you
	 can preview used stuff before you buy it, though, without
	 having to ask the people working there."
			-- Lazlo Nibble <lazlo@triton.unm.edu>

	Recommended by
			-- Jack Kobzeff <jack@jato.jpl.nasa.gov>

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Rene's All Ears

	"...it's now a second-rate record store with skateboard gear and
	 other non-musical brick-a-brack." 
			-- Greg Earle <earle@poseur.jpl.nasa.gov>

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Rhino Records

	"My favorite place in LA is Rhino Records in West LA where they have a
	 lot of eclectic stuff that you would never expect to find.  I found a
	 copy of Ultravox Monument Soundtrack there in perfect condition for
	 two dollars."
			-- Steve Weinberg <stevew@sdd.hp.com>

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Street Sounds (Melrose, 2 blks. E of Fairfax, N side of st., upstairs)

	"Most people will agree that Street Sounds is definitely the best
	 place for dance music in Los Angeles."
			-- Troy Sheets <tsheets%girtab.usc.edu@usc.edu>

	"Huge selection in a tiny little place, though not all that much
	 recent or hot stuff on CD -- visit DMC a couple blocks east for
	 that.  They carry DJ-service releases like like Twitch.  Must-
	 visit."
			-- Lazlo Nibble <lazlo@triton.unm.edu>

	Also recommended by
			-- Eric Pederson <ericp@beach.csulb.edu>
			-- Walter Dao <wdao%girtab.usc.edu@usc.edu>
			-- Greg Earle <earle@poseur.jpl.nasa.gov>

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Tower Records (West Hollywood - Sunset Blvd.)

	"A good place for Techno compilations and import CD5's et al."
			-- Greg Earle <earle@poseur.jpl.nasa.gov>

	"I don't agree with the Tower-bashers -- Tower usually has the
	 best selection of recent import (mainstream) dance music on
	 CD, and they stock a *lot* of it (as in, a dozen or more copies
	 of that UK Depeche Mode single you're loking for, or of the
	 Deep Heat or Give Peace A Dance discs).  Several things I'm
	 after on a regular basis, I usually *only* find at Tower, and
	 when other places have them, they want more.  The *only* place
	 I saw recent releases from Tape Beatles, Koto, and System 7."
			-- Lazlo Nibble <lazlo@triton.unm.edu>

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Vinyl Fetish (Melrose)

	"Nothing too spectacular, but a good selection of import vinyl."
			-- Lazlo Nibble <lazlo@triton.unm.edu>

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