Music shopping in California
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A
Down Home Music
North of Berkeley in El Cerrito is this world-class store for roots, blues, folk, Latin and world music. It's affiliated with the Arhoolie record label, which has been issuing landmark recordings since the early 1960s.
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B
Amoeba Music
If you're a music junkie you might plan on spending a few hours at the original Berkeley branch of Amoeba Music, packed with massive quantities of new and used CDs, DVDs, tapes and records (yes, lots of vinyl).
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C
Rasputin
Nearby Rasputin is another large store full of new and used music releases.
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D
101 Music
You'll have to bend over those bins to let DJs and hardcore collectors pass (and, hey, wasn't that Tom Waits?!), but among the $3 to $10 discs are obscure releases (Songs for Greek Lovers) and original recordings by Nina Simone, Janis Joplin, and San Francisco's own anthem-rockers, Journey. At the sister shop at 513 Green St, don't bonk your head on the vintage Les Pauls, and check out the sweet turntables that must've cost some kid a year's worth of burger-flipping c 1978.
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E
Clarion Music Center
The minor chords of the erhu (Chinese string instrument) will pluck at your heartstrings as you walk through Chinatown's alleyways, and here you can try your hand at the bow yourself with a superior student model. With the impressive range of congas, gongs and hand-carved tongue drums, you could become your own multi-culti, one-man band. Check the website for concerts, workshops and demonstrations by masters.
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F
Discolandia
The oldest Latin-music store in the Bay Area and as funky as ever, making passersby step in time with merengue, salsa and Tejano blasting out the door. Get yours on CD or vintage vinyl, and stock up on Spanish-language mags, adult comics and pulp fiction.
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G
Rockaway Records
Rockaway buys, sells and trades all types of great music. Used CDs are fairly priced and there are plenty of booths for prepurchase listening. Collectors can forage through the rare-music section or stock up on posters, magazines and memorabilia.
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H
Starbucks Hear Music
Starbucks' prototype music store is still pulling in throngs looking for handpicked jazz, blues, world, folk and electro. You can prelisten to each CD or burn your own compilation at the Listening Bar.
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I
Head Line Records
This is one of the best places in town for indie punk and hardcore, both domestic and rare imports, including limited editions. Owner John is a good source for plugging into the scene.
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Village Music
Amidst the antiques and bath-products shops downtown is the long-standing record store Village Music. The walls plastered with memorabilia give it a museum feeling.
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Village Music
Amidst the antiques and bath-products shops downtown is the long-standing record store Village Music. The walls plastered with memorabilia give it a museum feeling.
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