The Best Record Store In The World?
One of the things I was looking forward to most when I visited Los Angeles last week was hitting Amoeba Music. I’ve heard so much about this legendary shop, but had yet to enter it’s hallowed halls on my previous trips to L.A.
In the age of dwindling record sales, walking into Amoeba Music really is amazing - a huge two floors, the top of which was devoted to new and used DVD’s. But the first floor…man, for a music collecting geek who’s trying to cut back, it was like being tempted by the snake in the garden. But with my wife in tow, on my first, oh-so-brief half-hour visit I managed to keep myself in check. Of course, I went back the night before flying home and spent a solid two hours combing the racks (total money spent: $130 - that’s restraint, where I come from). I think Amoeba might now be one of my favourite record shops, alongside Soundscape and Vortex here in T.O. Do you have any favourites?
While I did find some choice goodies on my visits to Amoeba Music, on my wish list was one particular thing - the 3 disc box set devoted to the 20th anniversary of “The Joshua Tree”. I only saw this set once when it was released here in Toronto last fall, and I didn’t grab it when I should have. It’s now out of print in Canada and can only be purchased from the good ole’ U.S.A. So that was my mission. Lucky for me, Amoeba had the goods, and at fairly reasonable price for a new copy. Upon our arrival home, the first thing I did was crack open the box and put on the DVD, which contains a 1987 concert from Paris. It was amazing watching U2 live before they started incorporating video screens and lights - this was just 4 guys, riding the wave of their most succesful album ever. Also included on the disc was a previously unreleased video for “Red Hill Mining Town”. While the video isn’t particularly great, I have to admit I felt incredibly moved watching Bono sing the song. Perhaps it’s because it’s never made the set list for any of the 9 U2 shows I’ve seen in nearly 20 years; maybe it’s because “Red Hill…” hasn’t been played to death on radio or tv over the years; or maybe just because it’s simply a brilliant song on a brilliant album; whatever the reason, the video got to me.
Maybe it will get to you to. Check it out below, and then use “REDHILL” as today’s bonus code.
June 19th, 2008 at 6:02 pm
I like all the music I have on my mp3 device but man I miss browsing big record stores (especially a certain one that was at Yonge and Gould). The CD is now almost obsolete, what about the experience of thumbing through the racks? Only in High Fidelity I guess.
June 19th, 2008 at 10:21 pm
It really is a great song and in fact, U2 has NEVER played it live in concert at all! But the video really isn’t so great. Ah well.
June 20th, 2008 at 6:45 am
I have to agree with Ron. NOTHING like the sound of your favorite Band/Singer on the albums, along with the skips, scratches etc! Played them so much I actually incorporate the skip or scratch into the music! LOL
Thanks Craig, now I am headed down into the “Crawlspace” to drag out my many milk cartons of Albums for my weekend listening pleasures! Ahhhhhhhhh the good old days when music was actually music!!!!