Surf Music Stores in LA

northerncrown

Joined: Jan 06, 2013
Posts: 12

Posted on Jul 29 2015 08:19 AM

Hi all. I'm going out to Los Angeles (Playa Vista, specifically) in a couple weeks for a work trip. Going out a day early to roam around. It's been many, many years since I was there.

Can anyone recommend some good used music stores where I can scavenge for surf, rockabilly, and lounge CDs? I'll have a car ("nobody walks in LA" - Missing Persons) so I can go wherever.

Thanks.

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bigtikidude

Joined: Feb 27, 2006
Posts: 25725
Anaheim(So.Cal.)U.S.A.
United States

Posted on Jul 29 2015 08:53 AM

Amoeba Records in Hollywood off the top of my head.

—

Jeff(bigtikidude)

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arny

Joined: Aug 22, 2010
Posts: 614
Netherlands, Europe

Posted on Jul 29 2015 09:28 AM

Amoeba is the biggest independent recordstore in LA, the last time I was there (about a year ago) they had a pretty decent rockabilly collection. Surf had no seperate selection, so you have to look in pop, rock and oldies

A tip to find other independent recordstores, go on the website of recordstore day and click on venues. You can search on state and on city. Here is the direct link for LA stores:
http://www.recordstoreday.com/Venues?state=&venue=los+angeles&zipcode=

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www.alohasluts.com
Aloha Sluts on BandCamp
www.arnyzona.com (my photography)
Aloha Fest on facebook

Last edited: Jul 29, 2015 09:28:54

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bigtikidude

Joined: Feb 27, 2006
Posts: 25725
Anaheim(So.Cal.)U.S.A.
United States

Posted on Jul 29 2015 02:02 PM

There is a small cd surf section at Amoeba, at the end of the oldies section. It's about 20 cds.
But it's only old surf.
Any new bands is in new rock, ugh.
So many miles of stuff to look through.

—

Jeff(bigtikidude)

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shivers13

Joined: Jul 29, 2009
Posts: 2605
Boss Angeles, CA
1 News Pin

Posted on Jul 30 2015 11:59 AM

Amoeba is definitely worth stop. It's massive and pretty well stocked with all sorts of great stuff of all genres. They have a small surf vinyl section too.

I just stumbled across this small record store in Long Beach called Toxic Toast. I was stunned they had some pretty rare 60's surf and instro LP's and 7inches. Japanese issues of the Astronauts, Lively Ones and others. Good condition too at around the $25 dollar range. Very reasonable.

Here's the FB page...
https://www.facebook.com/toxictoastrecords?fref=ts

—

BOSS FINK "R.P.M." available now from DOUBLE CROWN RECORDS!
www.facebook.com/BossFink
www.doublecrownrecords.com

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surfbeatslbc

Joined: Aug 12, 2014
Posts: 189
1 News Pin

Posted on Jul 30 2015 12:09 PM

Thanks for the tip Norm. Haven't been there but I will go soon.

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bigtikidude

Joined: Feb 27, 2006
Posts: 25725
Anaheim(So.Cal.)U.S.A.
United States

Posted on Jul 30 2015 01:50 PM

More places to spend money I shouldn't be. Haha

—

Jeff(bigtikidude)

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northerncrown

Joined: Jan 06, 2013
Posts: 12

Posted on Aug 02 2015 07:24 PM

Thanks guys.

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CaptainSpringfield

Joined: Feb 26, 2006
Posts: 4387
Under the Sun
United States

Posted on Aug 04 2015 10:36 PM

Gotta second/third/whateverth the Amoeba recommendation - the bigger names are alphabetical in their oldies section and then in the compilations part of the oldies section they have the surf, hot rod and instro ones separated. (Not gonna lie, I'm really glad I no longer work half a mile away from there.)

Freakbeat in Sherman Oaks has a pretty decent selection of '60e stuff as well, although everything pales compared to Amoeba.

Probably not of interest to you (but maybe to others reading the thread), Mono Records in Silverlake has had surprisingly good '60s surf and instro vinyl every time I've been in there, although it's vinyl only. Fair prices, too.

—

That was excessively violent and completely unnecessary. I loved it.

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northerncrown

Joined: Jan 06, 2013
Posts: 12

Posted on Aug 31 2015 01:06 PM

Back now. Amoeba was a huge win for Lounge & Exotica, a couple of older surf, and several Americana/alt-country. I spent several hours there, but was dead on my feet from the day and flight from the East coast. I left plenty for next time.

Canterbury Records in Pasadena, some decent used country and a couple of soundtracks. They have miles of classical, but I wasn't in the market for that. Their new CD prices were breathtakingly high, many well beyond my interest in supporting local music stores.

Atomic Music in Burbank was worth the stop. Smaller selection but I came away with some great jazz and a swell t-shirt.

Last edited: Aug 31, 2015 13:06:40

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josheboy

Joined: Mar 13, 2009
Posts: 2367
Twin Cities, MN
United States

Posted on Aug 31 2015 01:08 PM

northerncrown wrote:

Atomic Music in Burbank was worth the stop. Smaller selection but I came away with some great jazz and a swell t-shirt.

They have a great jazz & exotica section. I've found a few surf gems there, but you have to search a bit.

Sounds like you had a pretty good haul! Excellent!

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northerncrown Joined: Jan 06, 2013 Posts: 12	Posted on Jul 29 2015 08:19 AM Hi all. I'm going out to Los Angeles (Playa Vista, specifically) in a couple weeks for a work trip. Going out a day early to roam around. It's been many, many years since I was there. Can anyone recommend some good used music stores where I can scavenge for surf, rockabilly, and lounge CDs? I'll have a car ("nobody walks in LA" - Missing Persons) so I can go wherever. Thanks. Top
bigtikidude Joined: Feb 27, 2006 Posts: 25725 Anaheim(So.Cal.)U.S.A.	Posted on Jul 29 2015 08:53 AM Amoeba Records in Hollywood off the top of my head. — Jeff(bigtikidude) Top
arny Joined: Aug 22, 2010 Posts: 614 Netherlands, Europe	Posted on Jul 29 2015 09:28 AM Amoeba is the biggest independent recordstore in LA, the last time I was there (about a year ago) they had a pretty decent rockabilly collection. Surf had no seperate selection, so you have to look in pop, rock and oldies A tip to find other independent recordstores, go on the website of recordstore day and click on venues. You can search on state and on city. Here is the direct link for LA stores: http://www.recordstoreday.com/Venues?state=&venue=los+angeles&zipcode= — www.alohasluts.com Aloha Sluts on BandCamp www.arnyzona.com (my photography) Aloha Fest on facebook Last edited: Jul 29, 2015 09:28:54 Top
bigtikidude Joined: Feb 27, 2006 Posts: 25725 Anaheim(So.Cal.)U.S.A.	Posted on Jul 29 2015 02:02 PM There is a small cd surf section at Amoeba, at the end of the oldies section. It's about 20 cds. But it's only old surf. Any new bands is in new rock, ugh. So many miles of stuff to look through. — Jeff(bigtikidude) Top
shivers13 Joined: Jul 29, 2009 Posts: 2605 Boss Angeles, CA	Posted on Jul 30 2015 11:59 AM Amoeba is definitely worth stop. It's massive and pretty well stocked with all sorts of great stuff of all genres. They have a small surf vinyl section too. I just stumbled across this small record store in Long Beach called Toxic Toast. I was stunned they had some pretty rare 60's surf and instro LP's and 7inches. Japanese issues of the Astronauts, Lively Ones and others. Good condition too at around the $25 dollar range. Very reasonable. Here's the FB page... https://www.facebook.com/toxictoastrecords?fref=ts — BOSS FINK "R.P.M." available now from DOUBLE CROWN RECORDS! www.facebook.com/BossFink www.doublecrownrecords.com Top
surfbeatslbc Joined: Aug 12, 2014 Posts: 189	Posted on Jul 30 2015 12:09 PM Thanks for the tip Norm. Haven't been there but I will go soon. Top
bigtikidude Joined: Feb 27, 2006 Posts: 25725 Anaheim(So.Cal.)U.S.A.	Posted on Jul 30 2015 01:50 PM More places to spend money I shouldn't be. Haha — Jeff(bigtikidude) Top
northerncrown Joined: Jan 06, 2013 Posts: 12	Posted on Aug 02 2015 07:24 PM Thanks guys. Top
CaptainSpringfield Joined: Feb 26, 2006 Posts: 4387 Under the Sun	Posted on Aug 04 2015 10:36 PM Gotta second/third/whateverth the Amoeba recommendation - the bigger names are alphabetical in their oldies section and then in the compilations part of the oldies section they have the surf, hot rod and instro ones separated. (Not gonna lie, I'm really glad I no longer work half a mile away from there.) Freakbeat in Sherman Oaks has a pretty decent selection of '60e stuff as well, although everything pales compared to Amoeba. Probably not of interest to you (but maybe to others reading the thread), Mono Records in Silverlake has had surprisingly good '60s surf and instro vinyl every time I've been in there, although it's vinyl only. Fair prices, too. — That was excessively violent and completely unnecessary. I loved it. Top
northerncrown Joined: Jan 06, 2013 Posts: 12	Posted on Aug 31 2015 01:06 PM Back now. Amoeba was a huge win for Lounge & Exotica, a couple of older surf, and several Americana/alt-country. I spent several hours there, but was dead on my feet from the day and flight from the East coast. I left plenty for next time. Canterbury Records in Pasadena, some decent used country and a couple of soundtracks. They have miles of classical, but I wasn't in the market for that. Their new CD prices were breathtakingly high, many well beyond my interest in supporting local music stores. Atomic Music in Burbank was worth the stop. Smaller selection but I came away with some great jazz and a swell t-shirt. Last edited: Aug 31, 2015 13:06:40 Top
josheboy Joined: Mar 13, 2009 Posts: 2367 Twin Cities, MN	Posted on Aug 31 2015 01:08 PM northerncrown wrote: Atomic Music in Burbank was worth the stop. Smaller selection but I came away with some great jazz and a swell t-shirt. They have a great jazz & exotica section. I've found a few surf gems there, but you have to search a bit. Sounds like you had a pretty good haul! Excellent! Top

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Surf Music Stores in LA