101 Music

We were looking for a record shop that used to be around the corner from here and it is gone! So we walked into this little gem and the older guy behind the counter told me that the closed store was his second location but this one is the original - and it has been here for 39 years!

I love old shops like this. It is small but packed with records! You'll find all different genres here- including a bin filled with records by local musicians.

Though they didn't have the particular record we were looking for, we may head back tomorrow when we have more time to look through their collections. They are open every day.

If you are looking to add vinyl to your collection, check this place out! It's old school in all the best ways and could use the support.

Looking for some special music / vinyl? This place likely has it.

Cool atmosphere, a small but densely packed store with all manner of vinyl (and a few cassettes) for the discerning music fan.

No nonsense but friendly service, ask for some help if you need inspiration!

Many hidden items you may not expect. I found several LP's from a label I like sealed and mint and priced well. Good good good.

While waiting for my table at Sotto Mare Oysteria I decided to walk around the area a bit. I noticed the record shop immediately and walked over. Once inside, Phil Collins played ... nice! The gentleman behind the register greeted me and continued to assist the paying customer at the counter. I was captivated from the start with all of the goodies in plain sight. There was lots of Prince, James Brown, Stevie Wonder, lots and lots and lots of jazz. Whenever I stop by any record shop Alice Coltrane is first on my list and guess what I found at 101 Music? You betcha ... Alice Coltrane.

Thanks to the wonderful folks at 101 Music, I've added the following albums to my set of vinyl's:

Alice Coltrane - Journey in Satchidananda
Nina Simone - Baltimore
Nina Simone - I Put a Spell On You
Miles Davis - Bitches Brew

I rarely run across Alice Coltrane and Fela Kuti albums. Rarely! So needless to say I picked up and purchased the only Alice Coltrane in the store. There were lots of Fela albums. I just chose one. Had my wallet been friendlier I would have purchased at least 5 more albums to take with me back to Phoenix. I don't remember the gentleman's name that was working that day but he was such a pleasure to talk to. He also told me they will ship albums too and gave me their business card. I will be using that for sure! Keep the jams coming 101 Music. See you guys next time.

Have you been to 101 Music? If your answer was no you need to get off your duff and go check it out ASAP. This is by far and a way one of the coolest small businesses in North Beach (that doesn't involve drinking) and really one of the better record shops I've been in ever. You'll find cool albums, musical instruments, and surprisingly reasonable concert posters. And, the attitude is pretty casual and cool, without being hipster "don't give a **** cause giving a **** is uncool". You also won't find the guy working there that is way too into it and needs to let you know about it. It's a tiny store with as minimal of space in between merchandise as is possible. It is jam packed with good stuff.

If you ever want to take a walk down musical memory lane this is it - particularly if you are in the generation born from about 1978-1986 that remembers vinyl but yet wasn't quite old enough to be part of it as a decision maker when it wasn't an choice. I will tell you, you will find some cool stuff. Some of their Soul and Lounge offerings were pretty sweet. There are also cassettes. I almost wonder why anyone would buy one now other than sheer nostalgia, or a vastly exaggerated commitment to irony. But, find them here none-the-less you will.

I know nothing about vinyl. The guy who gave it 2-stars and has no friends apparently does. Maybe it's all over-priced garbage. I doubt it though. I could spend some time here, and it is a pretty inspiring spot. Another win for North Beach and this stretch of Grant Street.

BTW - There is a 101 Music location like a block away on Green. That is mainly equipment, not media. Also worth checking out, but I really know nothing about vintage equipment.

Goldmine of a record store with tons of records, audio equipment, music gear, old radios, anything to do with sound they probably have it.

Owner was nice and we spoke for a brief minute before heading down to the basement. I could spend hours in the place and still not see all the goodies he has stashed everywhere.

Let's just say that based on today's interaction, I'm glad this place is going out of business.

I wandered in today as my friend wanted to check out the sales. It's what I'd imagine entering a hoarder's house would be like -- you're kind of sidestepping electronic equipment from the 80s until you find your way down a back staircase to a dungeon of loosely categorized vinyl with extremely narrow walkways.

The guy down there (I first wrote gentleman, then corrected myself) was curt at first, and then became belligerent. He tells us everything he doesn't have, and asks us what we're looking for. When we tell him we're just browsing, he tells us that no one is just browsing and that we must be searching for something given that we've found ourselves in this hellhole. Oh, is that right? I traded my niceties for silence at this point. (Note that despite being a record store, there's zero music playing here, which perhaps fits the mood that this guy is trying to achieve.)

He continues to lecture us on our way out, telling us that instead of spending $100 for five records down the street, you can get 100 records here of things you haven't heard before. It's a clever sales pitch, except that he continues this rant to denigrate us for not spending any money at his shitty store. At this point, I had bit my tongue long enough and told him that he's going out of a business for a reason and we left.

F--- this dude and the store. If you want all customers to buy something if they enter, sell tickets.

Here is what happened to me last night:

I was eating delicious food with my girlfriend enjoying myself walking into this place. I walk in and the person that worked there (owner?) was in the end of the store. I walked up there cuz i wanted to see the records in that specific corner. I walk up to him smiling and greeting him as friendly as i can. He walks by me saying in the meanest and rudest tone (sounding kind of paranoid): "Why are you looking at me and walk up to me?" Keep in mind he works the store and i could be asking him a question but i honestly was just being friendly smiled at him and wanted to walk by him. After that I leave the store saying jesus christ. He repeats me yelling "yeah jesus christ" i reply: "dude you are really rude" by now me and my gf are out of the door already and he yells out of his throat after us "no you are really rude"

I have travelled around quite a lot and have encountered friendly and unfriendly people but i have never seen anything like this, im speechless...

Currently they're clearing out inventory so it's a good time to visit. Albums with prices on them are half off. Albums with no price were $2 or 6 albums for $10. (This was my closing paragraph but felt I should start out with this and get your attention.)

101 Music is unbelievable, in a very good way. Massive record selection (downstairs), plenty of used record players and tape players available and a very knowledgeable gentleman (owner?) working there.

Unfortunately, according to the gentleman at the front counter, it's going to close in five weeks.

If you're going in there to find mainstream music, you'll be disappointed. (No Jay Z, Beatles, Whitney Houston for example).

Somehow we walked out of the store with 21 albums. We found old movie soundtracks, musical soundtracks and plenty of jazz. It fun to flick through rows of albums and finding interesting artists to listen to.

Terrible customer service, in fact non-existent. Cashier was a jerk. If it wasn't for that, probably would have bought something.

Music shops, especially ones that sell vinyl usually employ or are owned by friendly helpful people. At least that's what I'm used to. Definitely not this place.