The upswing in vinyl sales has been news during the last five years. But in San Francisco, the format never went out of style. A crate-digger’s paradise, the city has long supported an outsize number of renowned record stores. For help tracking the top vinyl vendors in the city by the Bay, we asked longtime San Franciscan and acclaimed producer Dan “The Automator” Nakamura. With his sample-heavy beats for the Gorillaz, Kasabian and his alt-hip-hop group Deltron 3030 (which is reuniting after 13 years to release its sophomore album, Event II, on Oct. 1 through Bulk Recordings), Nakamura arguably knows the ins and outs of his city’s many record shops better than anyone.
??Amoeba Music? – 1855 Haight St., amoeba.com?
The sprawling San Francisco location of the noted Amoeba chain opened in 1997 in a former bowling alley in the Haight-Ashbury district, with more than 24,000 square feet filled with a massive collection. “The first time I went, I had two motives—to find old records for sampling and to find new music,” Nakamura says. “Amoeba was the first [store] that did both at a high level. It’s all things for everybody.”??
Aquarius Records – ?1055 Valencia St., aquariusrecords.org
?The oldest independent record store in Frisco, Aquarius was founded in 1970 with the vow to only carry records beloved by staff members, who apparently have wide-ranging tastes, from punk to metal to reggae to psychedelica. “Amoeba and Aquarius have the most comprehensive selections,” Nakamura says. “If you’re really looking for something specific, those are the two to try first.” ??
Grooves Inspiralled Vinyl? – 1797 Market St., 415-436-9933?
Behind a flashy storefront comprising candy-colored vinyl, Grooves has an eclectic mix of genres—world music and classic rock are two specialities—and pricier obscure records. “It’s an incredible store for soundtracks and gospel records,” Nakamura says. “Every time I’ve gone, I left pleasantly surprised.”??
101 Music? – 1414 Grant Ave., 415-392-6369
?At 101, you’ll find a two-story audiophile haven: Upstairs features old and new music equipment, and downstairs houses a slightly disorganized but immense collection of vintage vinyl for $5 a pop, with further discounts offered the more you buy. “It’s like this weird junk store [with] tons of records,” Nakamura explains. “You have to be serious to go in there. Devote a good hour or two to even start scratching the surface.”