Record stores 4 life

There are few places on Earth that make me happier than a real record store. Old-school joints run by the most genuine music nerds imaginable. Freakbeat Records in Sherman Oaks, CA is just that kind of place.

Back in the glory days of Metromix LA, I worked with the immeasurably cool Ali Miller. She’s the kind of woman that’s not only hotter than your girlfriend, but can kick your ass six ways from sideways on pretty much any videogame out there. Don’t go getting any ideas. Her boyfriend is a strapping international yachtsman/pirate who dispatches with suckers like you for pocket change. Anyway, I digress. That holiday, Ali was sweet enough to hit me with a gift certificate to FreakBeat Records.

I’d try to use it a couple of times. Neither time was I really inspired enough to dig in and shop.

I was perusing the L.A. Weekly yesterday when I saw an ad for FreakBeat’s annual blowout sale. Most used CDs half-off. Oh hell yes.

The timing was perfect; today is the end of the first Mercury Retrograde of the new decade, and it was a doozy. The only thing that really got me through it was music. Not just any music, but the good stuff, the classics; specifically, David Bowie and the Rolling Stones.

But most of my classic rock is on vinyl (natch). I’m too much of a stickler for sound quality to deal with the crappy rips floating around on the internet. I was in dire need of some cornerstones on CD.

So today I cruised over the hill and down Ventura Blvd to the inconspicuous shop nestled between a hair salon and a café. The ad was indeed true: All used CDs $6.99 and under = half off. Pretty much everything else = 20% off. OK, cool.

I love the guys that work there. Older dudes, and still all about it. The last time I was in, the main dude told me a great story about Jimmy Page coming in, shopping around for a while and then bringing a stack of music to the counter. But he didn’t recognize him until he looked at his credit card. Priceless material. Today, he was chatting with a customer about the state of the music industry. Another guy was sporting a well-worn J. Geils Band shirt from way back when. I consider myself a member of many tribes; these are definitely among my people.

From the moment I started digging, beautiful gems began leaping from the bins into my hands. When the dust settled, here’s what I took up to the counter:

Joy Division, “Closer” [Collector’s Edition 2- CD w/live concert @ University of London, Feb. 8, 1980]

The Rolling Stones, “Aftermath”

The Rolling Stones, “Tattoo You”

Neil Young & Crazy Horse, “Live Rust”

Ride, “Nowhere”

Ride, “Going Blank Again”

The Beatles, “Abbey Road”

The Specials, “More Specials”

David Bowie, “Young Americans”


After applying all of the discounts and adding in the gift certificate, grand total: $13.20.

Today was a good day.