Looking for cool independent, underground, psychedelic vinyl & CDs? Check these sites:

Action Records - In the U.K., all roads lead to Preston's finest record store, which boasts an enormous selection of hard-to-find and collectible vinyl and CDs. They even have cassettes (?!), videos and T-shirts. Site navigation is a bit tricky and frustrating, but the ultimate rewards are worth the bother.

Aether-Or - Stan Demski runs a fine label and site that will help track down that elusive psychedelic or krautrock favorite. Also stocks many vinyl and CD psych reissues from the '60s & '70s.

From southern California, we head on up the Pacific Coast Highway to the oldest independent record store in San Francisco, "the store that's old enough to drink!" Windy Chien and her staff of knowledgeable (and opinionated!) record lovers like you and me have a regular "new arrivals" list you can receive by e-mail, always seem to be hosting the hottest local and international acts whenever they're in town and can order almost anything that you don't see in their extensive on-line catalog, which includes Windy's honest, informative and often hilarious critiques. And if you're into the various permutations of "rock," check out the exotica/novelty and experimental sections.

In addition to their own wonderful releases, Greg and Suzy Shaw also run a first rate mail order service. The first (and usually last) place to look for the best garage, pop, and psych releases and reissues, their prices are great, their service is first rate, and their catalog is always expanding.

An extensive collection of hard-to-find domestic and import releases, focusing on psych, electronic, ambient, drone and krautrock. Ed also runs a wonderful record label featuring some of today's finest psych and drone bands, and is the exlusive US distributor of the releases on the cult Japanese band, Acid Mothers Temple's homegrown AMT imprint.

One of the best places to hunt down that elusive obscurity from around the world. Great import selections, extensive reviews of everything in their catalog, and very reasonable prices.

is my favorite store for psychedelic music from all eras. Pricey, but often the last place you'll ever need to look for that elusive dream record you've always wanted.

Almost everything I've ever been looking for has been available here. Some of the vendors are a little high ($$ speaking!), but there are a lot of them to choose from. For once, the hype ("If you can't find it here, fuhgeddaboudit") is pretty much on the money.

InSound - A veritable virtual library of sound and image. Includes a 'zinestand with links to thousands of articles on your favorite artists, a shopping store to purchase their music, a chat room, some MP3s, discographies, reviews, and just about everything in between. Be patient as their annoying adverts load up - it'll be worth the wait once you're actually inside.

Doug Larson Imports - Based in the Garden State, Doug's online shop features an enormous catalogue broken down by country - nearly two dozen at last count (now that's BIG!) If you're drooling over those mouthwatering entries in Joynson's and Asbjornsen's bibles and economics forces you to seek out the CD reissues, try Doug. Tons of kraut, prog, space, wyrdfolk, psych on Spalax, Edsel, BGO, Garden of Delights, Repertoire, SFM, Mellow, Arkarma, etc. If it's been reissued and is worth owning, Doug's the man for you. There's also loads of used CDs, the usual compendiums mentioned elsewhere on this site and some wallet clearing original vinyl for sale.

Boasting nearly 17,000 titles (many by artists you've never heard of), this is an elitist's dream come true. The mailorder arm of the Revolver distribution giant, these guys have a foot in the door on great prices. Since many of your local indie shops probably order your records from Revolver anyway, why not cut out the middleman and pocket the difference? This isn't rocket science, folks!

Other Music - My favorite music store in NYC. If you can't drop by in person, be sure to check out their site. Competitive prices, extensive import section.

Parasol has LPs, EPs, 45s, videos, CDs, and more at great prices. Specializing in indie bands and labels, these fine folks are sure to "make you smile." Also the home to several fine in-house labels like Hidden Agenda, which has released several Green Pajamas-related titles, including solo albums by Jeff Kelly and Eric Lichter.

Psychedelic Music Online - Normally, a no-brainer. However: many of these re-issues are almost as rare as the originals, so expect to pay accordingly. Also, they're in Germany, so overseas postage is another consideration. That said, if your tastes run the gamut of ridiculously hard-to-find ephemera by the likes of Music Emporium, Brain Police, Erkin Koray, Arcesia, Andwella's Dream, Jungle, etc., this may be the only place to get your hands on these. Plus: Russ Meyer soundtracks, Love Peace & Poetry series and Betty Page! Not to mention that bitchin' babe of a cover model!

Rustic Rod's Mail Order Service - Rod Goodway's long, strange trip through the annals of rock and roll is detailed in all its glory on his wonderful site. He also offers some of the finest selections of contemporary, mind altering, lifestyle adjusting, synapse frying psychedlic music on the planet. Here you will find many one of a kind, drone worthy, limited edition terraobscurities amassed on his many voyages to the outer reaches of the inner experience.

Southern Records - With both a US and UK shop, these folks have access to a wide variety of indie music by artists frequently bandied about on the discussion lists I belong to. Site navigation could be better, but this internal link should get you started.

A wonderful store run by Michigan space rockers, Windy & Carl. They have a huge selection of new and used CDs and vinyl of all shapes, speeds and sizes! Sign up for their weekly updates. Also, check out my interview with Windy and Carl.

It's a store! It's a label! It's a lifestyle. They're located in Harvard Square in Cambridge, Mass, a mere stoned throw from Hahvahd. Drop in and say hello to hosts Kate Biggar and Wayne Rogers (from Major Stars, Magic Hour, B.O.R.B., et. (mucho) al.) and test their music trivia skills. Browse their extensive catalog of hard-to-find psych, prog, jazz, etc., and sign up for their free email catalog of new releases.

Vintage Vinyl - Back to the Garden State we go for the best record store in New Jersey. New York-sized catalog, New Jersey-sized prices. What more could you ask for? Their motto says it all: "From the obvious to the obscure."

Currency Converter - Until we can rid ourselves of that nasty little annoyance called "economics" and return to the barter system, this site will help convert all those prices you've found at that great overseas webstore into your local currency. This is the best site I've found and the rates are current up to the second you press the "convert" button!

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