Amoeba Records San Francisco...my first visit

My wife and I are vacationing in San Francisco.
Our first trip to California.
Arrived yesterday and had the chance to hit Haight Ashbury today and
visit Amoeba Records.
I only got to spend about 45 minutes there because my wife was with me and
isn't into record browsing.
Trust me... I am going back before the week is over,
I will go alone and spend a few hours next time.
What an amazing place. So much product.
So in 45 minutes I managed to pick up a few CD's.
Garcia Grisman So What 11.99
Garcia Grisman MOFI SACD 31.99
Further 3 disc live CD. 19.99(never could get this in Toronto off the shelf).
Colosseum Live 13.99. I have been looking for this OOP title for a while.
I can hardly wait to go back.

Glen

 

I remember my first time at Amoeba SF almost as much as I remember, well, my first time. Coming from the East Coast and only used to little whole-in-the-wall CD shops or big mega-chains like Tower, HMV & Virgin Megastore, it was like walking into The Land of Oz for the first time.

 

Welcome to the Bay Area. The weather is looking perfect for you guys.
I visit Amoeba (SF and Berkeley) as much as twice a month instead of the online shopping.

 

From what I have heard, Amoeba used to be an eBay flippers paradise, until the staff were trained in the subtle art of rare CD picking.

 

Yes it's a great store

 

Which one is the better?

 

While I'm not from the area, I prefer the SF store. Although the Berkeley store is the original, it's significantly smaller than the one in Haight Ashbury. My overall favorite is the one in Hollywood, though, as it's the largest of the three. I love Amoeba regardless; it's a great, great store.

 

No matter what ...go to the two stores (Amoeba & Rasputins) on Telegraph in Berkeley.

 

Close...maybe S.F., by a hair.

Agreed.

 

I love the Amoeba stores. They have some very cool live shows and different events throughout the year.
I often go to the store in Hollywood, which is incredibly large and packed full with music and movies. I saw Jody Stephens from Big Star play a set, got to meet him, took a picture, and had him sign the Nothing Can Hurt Me soundtrack. Of the few that I can remember, Patti Smith and Eric Burden showed up last year, and Paul McCartney played a "secret" live show there.

 

The Hollywood store totally rocks and treats industry peeps well.

 

You think it's great now, you should have been there 15 years ago....it was really amazing!

 

For Amoeba SF is better ( used to be a bowling alley ) . LA is even bigger and better. Rasputin in Berkeley is one of the best for used LPs. Rasps other stores are crap.

 

Yes and everyone else like crap. Well sometimes

 

I go to the LA one once a month or so, I never walk out empty handed!

 

If you're a vinyl-lover you should make your way to Berkley and hit the Rasputin's there. It's a basement full of LPs for really reasonable prices.

 

How funny Glen. I was just across the a Golden Gate from you and almost took a trip over myself. Be careful though I have found a couple of instances where they've overpriced some used items compared to the Berkeley store. Other than that, enjoy your next trip there. Some good stuff there. I've started making a list of stuff I want as I usually have either my wife or daughter with me when I go. While it may be in my backyard, I don't get there as often as I like.

 

Elvis Costello did as well for both SF and Hollywood. Great set in SF.

 

If you go to the Height St store stop in at Alembic for a drink/snack one block west on the same side as amoeba

 

Take a trip to the Berkeley location. Much better.

 

Don't be afraid of the used bins. I was worried that some of the $2 CD's would be scratched to hell, so limited myself to a handful. Got home and most were near mint.

Just beware... things are only in rough alphabetical order by first letter. All "J's" are together and the same artist isn't always together.

 

Very true, Rasputin's in Berkeley, which for years was just terrible, is a heaven for LPs these days. They have probably three times the size of the Ameoba Berkeley stock. I spend $80 every time I go in there. Things are a little overpriced, but at least they have them.

 

+1 best store for LP records an absolute gem.

 

And this one guy organizes this use LPs intensely All the same titles together. He must be Virgo

 

Yes, Rasputin. Even better (but all pale against Princeton Record Exchange )