San Francisco Record Store Recap & Why I Left the City

I appreciated this series and your story. I lived in SF 1998-2006. Was 22 when I moved there from Iowa, never having been hardly anywhere in my life at that point. The place was magical and electric x1000 for me. I miss it a lot, but it's priced me out. I used to walk everywhere because I loved to soak in the beauty of the houses and landscape. Weekend trips to used book stores and record stores, local gis with various bands. Eventually I worked at Escape from New York Pizza on Haight. The only place I ever felt like I truly belonged, especially in the lower and upoer Haight. It now seems like such a brief time in my life, but it was almost all of my 20s, so very impressionable years. SF will always be an incredibly special place for me!

The redwood forests are magical, anyone that goes to SF and appreciates nature needs to experience them. Our honeymoon was spent driving up the Pacific coast highway from San Diego to Sonoma, SF was a major highlight.

Well alright. Now we know. Those of us in the Mazzy Universe can now rest easy. SF still looks great to me. I was there in September 2023 and in June 2022 after visiting Seattle.Saw Bob in Oakland.

This was an excellent series. You are a great storyteller and I love people who are passionate about cities AND records!

Mazzy. GREAT series. I always love seeing your posts but this series just hits different. My wife and I lived there for almost 10 years back in the 90s. We had a great spot in the Noe Valley (Church/Day) for our entire time there. We're both native New Yorker's but SF will always be OUR place. Both of our boys were born there and proudly wear their native SF badge...as they should. Similarly, we moved for outside reasons, not so much financial like you but for more familial reasons. After 9/11 we were getting the guilt trip from our families about living on the other side of the country with our boys. So in the summer of 2002 we caved and moved back to NY (Eastern Long Island) but vowed to one day return too the Bay Area. Your series here really drives it home how much we miss living there. My long time favorite spot was Streetlight Records on 24th in Noe Valley. They had a great staff there and always a good selection. I know they're no longer there but I have great memories of spending hours flipping through the vinyl and CDs there. Love your passion for records. Keep the great posts coming. ☮

Thank you for sharing your story about moving to Seattle. Sounds like it worked out well for you both.

Another wonderful series on your travels! Always very enjoyable.Thanks!!

Tks for sharing your life with us❤

Great series. A great area to live in.

Mazzy - thanks for sharing your story. Respect.

Excellent video, maz! Tha ks for finally unboxing the mystery for us!

Really, really enjoyed the videos of your SF trip. They were well made and your commentary was very entertaining. Thank you for sharing your trip and your stories. I look forward to the next one

Another great video - and finally got the backstory on your move - thanks for sharing - as I’ve said before I loved my holiday in San Fran so I always enjoy your Road trip videos.

Cracking video as always Mazzy. Your passion shines through when you talk about the things you love. It would be nice to see some more of your photographs(we share the love of photography and records) thanks for your honesty in this video and the smile you usually bring with your humour. All the best Mazzy. Floss.

Great trip, great videos and great stories. Thanks Mazzy and best wishes to you and Michelle, from Sheffield, UK

Mazzy, cmon now. To say the “The city is changing.” is the understatement of the year! Certainly it must be heartbreaking as Chicago is for me for same reasons.

You’re making me nostalgic for my late 70’s life in San Francisco. Thanks, Mazzy.

Wow, it was a therapy session!! I feel better. Thanks!

Thank for Sharing!

Thanks for this video, Norman. You are such a wonderful man, and I love your eclectic tastes, I share them as well. Love you man.

Thanks for sharing your story and why you left Frisco. I always enjoy your videos. I’m addicted now to your videos. Thanks for entertaining me and making me liking vinyls more and more. From a fan in Quebec City, Canada.

Thanks Mazzy for the recap . And wow there are so many more record stores in SF . I love your trips to San Francisco , it makes me feel that I’m there . Now it makes sense why you moved to Seattle. I imagine Seattle is much like SF when it comes to music . Thank you for sharing 😊

Massey, really enjoyed the SF trip. Always bring something different to your channel. You recently motivated me to purchase a record deck and bring out old records

Thank you, this was a great series. I wish it was available last July when my wife and I visited SF.

Thumbs up. Great series.

I remember when you were getting ready to move to Seattle on SHF, we had some crossing conversation about it. It is a great city in many ways. Our moving from there story was quite similar to yours! Your just finished series on your trip back there resonated with me. Places and times that stick in your heart.

Thanks Norman. Back in the 80's and 90's I had the chance to frequently visit San Francisco and the greater area, because of my work in the record industry. Always loved the vibe of the city and its various neighborhoods. Thanks for taking us on an updated tour. Sadly I haven't been there for over 25 years. I'm sure things will have changed, but it's great to see those stores. Best regards, from The Netherlands

Thank you Mazzy for a wonderful tour of San Francisco, it looks an absolutely gorgeous city with lots to do and see. I live in lil' ol' Adelaide South Australia so these cities are a world away, and I would never see any of this if it wasnt for yours and others similar videos. It was just lovely to watch your videos as you moved around the city - just beautiful. Nice record shops to. I've heard about Amoeba Records - I think I could spend a whole day in there Lololol. Anyway thanks again for a wonderful tour of SF. Keep on rockin. Cya Doug (from Down Under) PS Didnt David Crosby live in Mill Valley for a while ???

Thanks for another great video and cool to learn about why you left the city. I was in the City over the weekend to visit my daughter and we visited Tunnel Records and also grabbed a coffee across the street at Andy's.

Thanks for these videos. Especially the road videos. i love them very much !!!

I have most of the Superior Viaduct reissues of Bert Jansch's catalog, out -of-print now it seems. Had no idea they were SF based. Thanks for the recap video, very enjoyable.

Great San Francisco Trip serie, i enjoyed it really, and at those "coffee stops" were great, almost like being there beyond i'm thousands miles away from. Curious now how many are, i check the web and add that... (couple minutes later). Yeah, they are 6461.74 miles

Just a great end to a great series. I think you turned out very well

Great recap of you trip. I have to go back now and watch the other episodes! Tunnel Records has one of the coolest logos. 👍🏻😎

THANK YOU…TRULY WONDERFUL VID...😀

We wandered into that famous restaurant , home of the Irish coffee , had no idea they did that , just liked the menu in the window ,when we were seated , saw the Irish coffee thing happening , lol , just a neat thing that happened as we explored .Buena Vista, I think it is called .Great video Mazzy .

Stumbled onto your channels a recommendation, I ended up watching ten plus videos back to back, starting with the San Francisco videos, would love to visit. Thanks for some recommendations, just bought Peter Jolly, Acetone, American Analog Set and Lafayette Afro Rock Band (this was already on my list, big fan of Strut Records). Like minded diverse tastes, CHEERS and keep them coming.

Merci for this video Dear Mazzy ! I lived in SF and Bay Area for 4 years …and left my heart in SF !! Will never forget

Thanks for the great videos of your trip to the city. Brought back memories of the time, however short, I spent there in the early 70s.

Fascinating insight into your past experience of San Francisco, and how wise of you to “make hay while the Sun shines “ and move on up to Seattle ! ( the one Road Trip I’ve often wondered about doing , is from San Francisco, up the west coast towards Vancouver) 🕶️

Thanks for the personal aspects of this video. I moved from the City up to Seattle in 1996. I go back every year and enjoy it greatly.

I lived on Dolores Ave in 1987 and loved it! I really like your take on things. I live in Buffalo, NY now and the local music is great and you would love the record stores here.

Have to say this series of videos was exceptionally interesting for someone like me, living in the boonies in a retired uranium mining town in the wilderness of northern Ontario. Back in the 60's in my high school days San Francisco was a significant part of the cultural mythology that contributed to my development. It's always fascinating to see images of the city. Thanks.

Enjoyed your SF series as I have lived in Oakland for the past 21 years. As mentioned there are tons of record shops, bars and eat joints here, some of which you mentioned and are my favorites.

Hi Mazzy, as I've said and to echo other comments this was a first class series. You gave everyone a chance to share your love of music, books and visual arts in a wonderful US city.

You bought a very cool record, Soul Makossa. I love that album, great funky grooves. 👍👍👍

Wow....Norman films a video EACH day on his visit to SF....THEN records a video recapping his visit and all the videos he recorded the PREVIOUS week!!! Watched every one of them...great stuff...best channel on the VC. Keep up the great work on your channel 👍

Much appreciated, Mazzy. I’ve often wondered why you moved from SF; never felt it was appropriate to ask - so thank you. As a 70 year old Brit who lives in the US, I am always very impressed by your knowledge of the British music scene in the late 60’s/early 70’s. Keep up the excellent work!

You're an interesting fellow. Sorry you had to leave the City that you love. I lived in SF from 1976 through 1977 and then moved to Sebastopol.. I've lived in the same house since then. I visit the City often for the restaurants, music, etc. I can't imagine living anywhere else, but if I didn't own my home outright, I doubt that I'd be able to afford to live here.

Fine series of videos.

Great video, and I've seen a bunch more you did on SF, but wonder if you've done similar videos about the music and culture scene in Seattle.

Well mate, thats one hell of a story - thank you!!

Hi Mazzy, thank you for showing us your trip, my brother in-law lives in Houston, we came to the States and stayed for 6 weeks in 2017 we did all of the East Coast, 9 city's and Yellowstone, I took 2500 shots on or trip. I owned a Kodak Express store back home in the early 2000's, and had a Beatles Museum at that time, lost both due to a marriage breakup long story. I now sell music at Markets in our area as a hobby, I have around 20,000 LP's and 30,000 CD's. Just wanted to share a bit of my background as you did. Take care, love your videos and weekly shows with Steve and George and the rest of the team.

Great video as usual Mazzy.

Bobby Gentry/Glen Campbell Album won a Grammy that Year. Awesome Video!!!

Thank’s for the tour. I am planning a tour to S.F. from Europe.Your videos are very useful. Bettet than the usual tourist videos you can see on youtube.🙏

Show. Congratulations from Brazil.

Mulatu Astatke! - Fabulous musician. Fun bit- his music plays for a few seconds in the background of the first episode of Mr and Mrs Smith, the reboot on amazon prime, just after they've first arrived at their residence. A nice touch in an offbeat series. Wonderful work of his in the Ethiopiques series of cds released about 25 years ago, along with many other fine albums.

Left your heart in San Francisco, eh? I ordered the cards featuring famous guitars. Got them a couple days ago. That was fast. Show me a business that values an old printing press and I'm impressed. Thanks for the tour!

That Shankar sleeve art is great ❤

Great video Awesome

Lovely to hear your story on why you moved to Seattle. Sounds like you made the right choice. 👍👍. I really really enjoyed your SF videos- you’ve made me really want to visit that city. Hopefully I will some day. Cheers Mazzy!

Hey Maz, great vid, thanks for sharing .I'm from Australia and been to SF once , loved it stayed at the green Iguana North Beach. I was a lot younger then, you're making me want to go back! Is Pearl's Jazz club still there ?

The mystery is solved. Thanx so much, Mazzy.

Hey Mazzy! I just bought that same Ravi Shankar album last week- Synchronicity! I also agree that Joanna Newsom is amazing. I'm all the way over in New Hampshire and am envious of those SF record stores,,,, would be such a joy to go record shopping with ya! have a good one!

A great coda to a wonderful series of videos. Curious as to whether you can recommend any stores that have a decent classical selection....

As a fellow proud AF Native, and more specifically, an even more proud product of 22nd/Harrison, I could not be happier to see you rockin that fly a$$ shirt! Keep up the great work Mr. Mazzy sir. #XXII4Life

I was stationed near Vallejo and saw lots of music acts at Winterland, Oakland Colosseum (Day On The Green), Cow Palace (better left to the cows) and dining at fun places like Brennan's in Berkeley (RIP), as well as going to Napa wine country.

Kudos to you for making a smart choice to enhance your living.

Mazzy, I'm listening to McGuinn, Clark, and Hillman lp in your honor! It's pretty smooth 70's California rock!

Great story Mazzy, sometimes you need a change of scenery to keep the peace within your family.

Great vid Mazzy, but here’s a few you also missed, you basically drove right by them! Watts Music in Novato, been around since ‘79, greats used section with great value, and lots of new. All around a fantastic record store… The Next Record Store, another great store in Santa Rosa. Recently moved into a larger space. Red Devil Records, downtown San Rafael. My least favorite of the three, but YMMV. All in all, Marin County is so underrated as far as record stores go. Hopefully next time you come down you can check these spots out. Cheers!

Surprise shout out for Sandy Shaw there Mazzy, one of the first LPs I regularly played in the mid 70s, only recently discovered it was my aunt's copy who emigrated to Canada in the late 60s.

When records are jammed up like you said and bins are in front of bins and on top of bins and behind bins this weird thing happens where it becomes a strenuous burdensome task (tiring workout!) and you can’t actually really soak in the crate digging experience you’re just trying to get through it haha

I once loved SF. My brother lived in Los Altos and we would go into the city every time we visited him. Nowadays, I have no interest in going anywhere in California. It is a shame. Thanks again as always.

Like J.L. Ponty. There's a nice 5 cd pack for a good price, I bought. You had a nice trip.

We moved to Bainbridge Island after life in the Bay Area , Silicon Valley and Santa Cruz

Nice recap. BTW in Petaluma the theater is the Mystic, and there is another cool record shop called Rain Dog. Be seeing you.

Clement Street .still a great place to walk through

Shout out from Fremont St here in Menlo Dark

Tip: you could be the first American in the vinyl community to do a video about artists who became famous performing at the, in the US mostly unknown, Eurovision Song Contest. Like ABBA, Sandie Shaw, Kathrina and the Waves and so on 😊 Great video and homage to San Francisco Norman.

Hi Mazzy, I can totally understand your decision to move from San Francisco to Seattle. We used live in Berlin for sixteen years, mainly because of my job, but also because of the many cultural offers. Now, as my wife and I have retired, we moved away from the big city back to our home town, which we left forty years earlier. Its more peaceful here, everything is close by, and we are meeting old and new friends and relatives. Still the next big cities are only half an hour away, where we can enjoy live music, record shopping, arts in general. In six weeks time we will visit Berlin as tourists since we have moved away two years ago. In other words we will see it from a different angle and can do cherry picking.

I was asking myself too, why you left that city.Now, I understand. I guess the great city of Sanfo lost you brother.Thanks for the video, it's a very pleasing and educating show.At least, for one like me who hasn't been to that place.

You said Goin’ Back. Thought of Neil Young’s song. Thanks Mazzy.

40 yrs. Now diaspora. 2000 Miles From Hearts Home 💕 🎶

I lived in Marin, moved back to the midwest in '04 to be close to my dad as his health declined. Finally got around to heading back west in '21 and SF was just out of reach. Weird to say that Seattle was the more affordable place to end up, and honestly glad we ended up here.

My high school buddy and I split for San Francisco on a shoe string budget as a reward for him graduating from the University of Dayton with a tech degree. We cut costs where ever we could. One night we were tempted to sleep in a little park in Berkley, but were told that was the junkie hang out and not a good idea. It was late and we were walking through campus and spotted a row of big Taxus bushes along one of the campus buildings, it looked like a tent. We crawled under and I was out like a light until morning and was awakened by the students passing by. Bob didn't sleep a wink due to his fear of getting his face shit upon by the pigeons!

I think my story will be similar to yours. I'll be 53 in 6 years. As soon as I get my pension, I'll most likely be leaving southern California. I lucked out and bought my condo in Dec of '09. The amount I could sell for now, let alone in 6 years (im 20 minutes from Laguna Beach) can buy me a house with cash just about anywhere else. My area is changing as well and its not the same place I grew up in, which is fine, things change. I think it would be energizing to start somewhere new, not to mention no mortgage. I can always fly back and visit.

With a city that has changed so much it warms my heart to see that 4 Star Cinema is still around ☺️

I can't add any more to these wonderful comments, Mazzy, except to say thanks!

Am enjoying your moving away from The Beatles. Would you consider a piece on The Easybeats? Australia's answer to the Fabs.😊

I spent most of my adult life in L.A. About 5 years ago, I sold up and moved to the Beaches in Toronto. I find I appreciate L.A. more now than the last few decades I lived there. It's fun to go back and visit friend and record stores but I wouldn't want to live there again. Some cities are easier to grow old in. L.A. is definitely not one of them.

Enjoyed.your.road.trip.viedos.my.mom.is.from.l.a.aera.use.to.vist.southern.califona.your.great.storyteller.so.passinate.about.music.like.me.have.alot.of.records.love.your.viedos.it.s.the.music.afterall.peace.andlove.keep.up.the.viedos.

Thanks for sharing your story. I'm also a semi-retired native Californian by way of Los Angeles. My wife and I are thinking of eventually selling our place in Hollywood and heading up to Washington. Our reason? - no tax on our social security.

I understand the economics. Even though I'm a native Portlander, I'd love to live in San Francisco, but it's hard enough making ends meet here. Hell, if I could manage it and I had every city in the world to choose from, my choice of a city to leave Portland for would absolutely be San Francisco. Portland 's beautiful, but for me, San Francisco is the most beautiful city in the world. I miss driving down several times a year, which I did in the '80s, but these days I just don't have the funds. And Portland has over the years lost many if not most of our best record stores. Everybody's Records, Longhair Music, Crystal Ship, even Django's (the king of local used record stores) all gone. There are some little shops, and Music Millennium is still there, but we don't hold a candle to San Francisco. Oh well, we have the memories, and hopefully some of the records. For a while I even knew the founder of Django's, and in college showed his films in jazz history classes he taught. Like I said, memories. I'm glad we have you to document the city the way you do, so we can live vicariously through you...

Sanfrancisco always changes and always will.

You are a joy to listen to.

I enjoyed your San Fran videos and my sister lived in the Mission district for many years but has moved to the east bay in El Cerrito, CA near Berkeley and Oakland. She blames Google for ruining the city. It’s a beautiful city. All you have to do is keep it clean and keep it safe and it’s a goldmine. The problem is you’re either rich or poor living in San Francisco. There is no middle class anymore in the city. When I was there, there was a Ben & Jerry’s ice cream shop at the corner of Haight and Ashbury. I liked Goat Hill Pizza and Aperto restaurant in Potrero Hill.

I hope that Paul Horn sounds decent, I've had some repeated bad luck with that reissue series (no treble detail, no dynamics).

Loved your story of sf have brother lives there my other bror lived on Valencia Street had a buissness hed fly me out to SF we loved the mission district height Ashbury ex t out favorite was China town he passed 2 years ago we drive do to San Luis oBisco other brother lived there an yes yes i have to mier woods didn't go to record stores being I'm in Indiana was more interested in sites loved golden gate park china gardens too seen lots