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As of January 29th 1996, the entries have been anonymised as in FAQ
2to avoid any legal problems that may occur since these FAQs are
now registered with the news.* hierachy. The entries are collated
from the comments of many people who have provided information on
shops all over the world. The FAQ maintainer is not responsible
for mode of expression or content in any of the comments below.

==============================================
Stores In The USA That Carry Progressive Music
==============================================

-------
FLORIDA
-------

::Store::
Aron';s Records
::Address::
1150 N. Highland Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90038
::Phone::
(213) 469-4700
::Hours::
Mon. - Thur. 10am-10pm, Fri. - Sat. 10am-Midnight, Sunday 11am-8pm
::Comments::

Huge store with an excellent prog section. They have most of
the better known bands and a good selection of rarities. Almost
any prog title available on CD can be expected to be there at a
given time. I have seen: Epidaurus, Asfalto, Il Paese Dei Balocchi,
Analogy, Kerrs Pink, Labanda, Apoteosi, etc. Prices are average. The
prog section is only a small fraction of their huge inventory. They
also have used CDs. Major credit cards accepted.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

::Store::
Asylum Records
::Address::
6560 Central Avenue, St. Petersburg, Florida
::Phone::
(813) 384-1221
::Hours::
Monday - Saturday, 10 AM - 8 PM; Sunday, 12 - 5 PM
::Comments::
Huge store specializing in imports and independent labels. Although
they are not a specialized prog store, by the nature of the
labels they carry they stock *a lot* of progressive titles. Their
prices are very reasonable (lower than big chain stores). They
sell only CDs and have a large used CD section where you can get
used imports for ~ $12.00 and used US releases for ~ $8.00. I
always walk out happy when I go there. I do a lot of traveling,
and so far this is my favorite store!

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

::Store::
Sound Exchange
::Address::
14610 Livingston Ave Tampa, FL/607 Brandon Blvd. W. Brandon, FL
::Phone::
813-978-9316/813-651-9316

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

----------
CALIFORNIA
----------

::Store::
Al's Records and CDs "Selling Music by the Pound"
::Address::
6713 Comstock, Whittier, CA 90601
::Phone::
(310) 696-4345
::Fax::
As above; you have to call Al so he can activate the fax
::Comments::
Al has been involved with ProgFest for the last two years.
He knows quite a bit about progressive rock bands from the '70s and
'80s, as well as new up and coming bands. For example, this year
he helped Landberk, White Willow (who visited the store), Ars Nova,
and other ProgFest acts. If his store doesn't carry something, he
can usually get his hands on it. (Keiko, the keyboard player for
Ars Nova, has him out hunting for Goblin's first with a gatefold
cover...) Among the memorabilia are autographed photographs,
ticket stubs, album covers and posters.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

::Store::
Amoeba
::Address::
2455 Telegraph Ave, Berkeley, CA 94704
::Phone::
(510) 549-1125
::WWW::
<URL:http://www.amoebarecords.com>
::Hours::
(open 7 days a week)
::Comments::

Amoeba is located in the heart of the legendary Telegraph
Ave. section of South Berkeley. While you may find parking to be
difficult in this area, there are three stores within two blocks
that are worth visiting (see Rasputins below). Amoeba is on the
corner of Telegraph and Haste, across from Cody's Books.

The store is quite large, and boasts a section about 2/3 or the
way towards the back called `Unusual and Experimental' which tends
to include some prog, mostly RIO styled stuff, like The Muffins,
Univers Zero, Art Zoyd, Art Bears, Samla, U Totem and Cassiber.
Occasionally a somewhat less experimental or straight out fusion
band will be included in this section, like Bi Kyo Ran, Ain Soph,
or Iconoclasta. Most of the store is organized alphabetically
in two different sections; one for used CDs, the other for new.
You'll find progressive material interspersed in both of these
sections. Canterbury and most common fusion artists are well
represented, as well as the more mainstream prog bands. You'll find
small sections for the common Italian bands (PFM, Le Orme, Banco),
and in some very rare occasions you'll find an extremely hard to find
disc (Los Canarios is the rarest I've found). Very little neo-prog
is represented. The used CD section is huge, and does have prog,
but I rarely find anything exciting there (could be that the rare
stuff disappears fast). There are a number of LPs stocked, but
not very many progressive, and I've never found a rare one.

The sales staff don't seem to be very helpful in terms of prog,
and the best method to use when looking for prog in Amoeba seems
to be exhaustive search. Prices tend to be high (sometimes close
to $30 for an import). This applies to the used section as well,
as I've seen used imports go for $15.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

::Store::
Rasputin's
::Address::
2401 Telegraph Ave, Berkeley, CA 94704-2320
::Phone::
(510) 848-9004
::WWW::
<URL:http://www.rasputinmusic.com>
::Hours::
(open 7 days a week)
::Comments::

Their prices are a bit higher than they used to be. New stuff is
usually close in price to other stores (but still under corporate
store prices). I recommend everyone checking out their used section
first which is pretty big. Sometimes they take never opened stuff
and put it in the used section when sales for the item aren't too
big and give you a really good price for it.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

::Store::
Esoteric
::Address::
3413 El Camino Avenue, Sacramento
::Phone::
(510) 488-8966
::Hours::
(generally closes around 6pm)
::Comments::
Near the corner of El Camino and Watt, Esoteric sports a small
prog section of both LPs and CDs. Some of the CDs are rare and
otherwise hard to find, and prices tend to be reasonable. The LP
section rarely contains anything rare. Two employees, Brian and
Jim, are local progressive experts and will be able to recommend
many artists for you. The store has a CD player hooked up for
listening, so you can check them out before buying. Esoteric will
special order, I believe.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

::Store::
Off The Record
::Address::
Hillcrest CA (suburbs of San Diego)
::Comments::

Directions -- Hillcrest - 163 South to Washington. Right on
University (first light). You want to hang a left at the first light
but it's a one way street going the other way. They're half a block
on your left, park where you can. The directions from 15 north are
much different, you're better off going too far, turning around,
taking 15 South, then following my directions :-)

Mainly used CD stores with some new CDs. They don't seem to bother
with the top 40 crap, but if you want Ozrics these are the places
to go. I've found the most stuff I wanted in the Hillcrest Off
the Record. I've bought Hawkwind, Ozrics, and Iconoclasta at
the Hillcrest OtR. None of these stores carry prog so much as
`alternative' music, alternative meaning "you'll never hear this
on the radio!". Both stores special order. New CDs are list price,
used are $8.99. I seldom walk out of the Hillcrest OtR empty-hand.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

::Store::
Lou's
::Address::
Encinitas CA (suburb of San Diego)
::Comments::

Mainly used CD store with some new CDs. Bigger than both Off the
Record stores, mentioned above. New CDs are list price, used are
$8.99. I've been to Lou's twice, their discs weren't in alphabetical
order and I didn't feel like going through all their stuff. But
they do have a good rep around town as a good place to find stuff.

Its used CDs are now all in alphabetical order now. They have
a Jazz section (`New Age' like), hardcore (with Fates Warning,
but mostly satanic stuff), and pop/rock which has your Yes, Rush,
etc. Anyway, they have a great selection of bootlegs for sale ($25
single mainly), and tons of used records + tapes (a $3.99 area,
and a $.19-$1.00 section for the not so good stuff) as well.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

--------
COLORADO
--------

::Store::
Twist Shout
::Address::
300 East Almeda Avenue, Denver, Colorado, 80209
::Phone::
(303) 722-1943
::Fax::
(303) 733-8191
::Email::
patwists AT aol.com
::Comments::
Hours are 11-7 Monday-Friday, 10-6 Saturday, and 12-5 Sunday. This
shop is an independent store with a deep catalogue. Progressive
music is definitely available, but does not form the majority of
their catalogue. They are more of a full-service store. However,
the accent is most definitely on the hard-to-find, eclectic,
or otherwise noteworthy CD as opposed to a main line offering.
They have a newsletter. The current issue of the newsletter
states in part that "Twist Shout has had its best year-to-date
since we began seven years ago. We credit this to the quality of
the shopping experience our customers have when they come to our
store; atmosphere, listening stations, trade-in service, used CD's
at $7.99, in-store play, newsletter, top-25 list, deep catalogue,
special-order service and our extremely knowledgeable and helpful
employees-all these make the visit itself here as satisfying as
the music one finds." Apparently you can order over the phone or
through email.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

----
IOWA
----

::Store::
Record Collector
::Address::
125 E. Washington Street, Iowa City, Iowa 52240
::Comments::

Operated by Kirk Walther. I have done business with Kirk for years,
and his shop has always been an interesting place. The store has
just moved to a new location, and continues to stock a healthy
supply of Krautrock, progressive folk/rock and techno titles on both
CD and LP. Artists in stock almost always include Can, Xhol, Faust
and many other classic Krautrock groups. Most new prog Spalaxes and
similar releases on other labels appear at RC regularly, and I have
also seen It's a Beautiful Day, Groundhogs, Fairport Convention and
other unusual stuff in both CD and LP formats there. It's a great
shop for Beatles and Beatles related titles also.

Kirk takes trades, has a lot of used vinyl and CDs, gets a lot of
alternative traffic, but likes prog, Krautrock and old Ravi Shankar
LPs (!) a lot. Prices: used CDs go for $7-$11 depending on rarity,
if imports, then slightly more. Vinyl prices vary considerably, based
on rarity, condition and so forth. Special orders are possible,
but still take a long time to come in. A great little shop you
need to visit if you're ever in the area.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

---------
MINNESOTA
---------

::Store::
Roadrunner Records
::Address::
43rd and Nicollet, Minneapolis
::Comments::
They have a separate prog section (which I must admit impressed
me). They carry Can, Camel, Beefheart, Gentle Giant, Egg, Art
Bears, Faust, The Muffins, Dr. Nerve, Art Zoyd, Univers Zero,
Matching Mole, Soft Machine, etc. etc. They have lots of imports
at very reasonable prices (usually $14-17). They're open 10-6
Monday through Saturday and 12-5 on Sunday. Most employees seem
at least moderately interested in prog. Usually, anything I
buy there receives a knowledgeable comment from the cashier.
I believe they'll special order, too.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

::Store::
Spr