Groovy Records

Our next stop was a record store we both haven't been to...

But before we get to that, a few more scenes from movies involving record stores!

Even though I really hated "500 Days of Summer", the flick did have a record store scene...

in which they bag on Ringo Starr! Poor Ringo doesn't get any respect...

Iona using her staple gun at Trax in "Pretty in Pink":

And a more "recent" movie (if you call 1995 recent), "Empire Records"...

which I didn't really like, but it did feature a very young Liv Tyler (she has her father's lips), along with Renee Zellweger, and the song "Free" by the Martinis (featuring ex Pixies guitarist Joey Santiago). I thought the premise was okay (small independent music store tries to fight off its impending conversion to a chain music store) but the acting really sucked!

The mid-90's were a dismal time in music, in my opinion.  Says the chick who's stuck in the 80's (and 70's and mid to late 60's!)!

We were both curious about this store which was a few steps away from The Flame (just around the corner from Park and University)...



I loved the sticker and wholeheartedly support the cause!

Great logo!


Groovy Records may be a very small store, but it is chock full of a wide variety of genres a.nd pretty good deals (some were as low as $1!) Plus, it was RECORDS only!!! None of this CD business here!

I picked up a couple of albums. I already have the Def Leppard record but only in CD format (as well as cassette form, one of my first cassettes in face). The Knack's sophomore effort "But the Little Girls Understand" was only $1!

I got to chatting with Steve, the owner who happens to be my age but went to a neighboring high school.

Sweet set up! He was playing a girl group compilation.

Before we left, some dude from Channel 6 News arrived and was setting up. I wasgetting nervouse because anti-social me didn't want to be on TV, haha! But seriously, I don't!

I really like that they ONLY have records here!

Cy's purchase - only $1, an Untouchables album!

That "cassette tape" actually holds money! Pretty cool, eh? It served as Cy's wallet!

And here are a few tracks from the two albums that I bought.

This was and still remains one of my top ten LP's of all time, featuring one of the best damn guitar riffs EVER!  This is "High 'n Dry", song 3 from Side 1 of Def Leppard's sophomore album of the same name!

My gawd, they're all so young! I remember this album was released the summer before I started 7th grade. This was one of the first cassette tapes I owned. I was totally in Def Leppard. This is one of their best albums. There is no Fast Forward Factor. Every song is great, not like some albums where there is only one or two good songs and the rest is filler crap. No, "High 'n Dry" kicked major ass back then and the music and vocals still hold up quite well more than 30 years later!

I can't forget my favorite song from the Knack's second album...

So catchy, this power pop! Unfortunately this album does have the Triple F factor. There were only a few good songs on this, but for a $1 and with the original sleeve and fairly good condition, I couldn't pass it up.

Groovy Records
3749 Park Ave
San Diego, CA 92103
(619)542-0597

They do not have a website and yelp only has 5 reviews (so far)...

Our next stop would be in the neighborhood of Mission Hills....