Links we dig.
Recommended San Francisco book stores with good music book sections:
Browser Books, the Fillmore
Supporter of Rock 'n' Roll Book Club
Green Apple Books, the Richmond District
Large music section! New and used books
City Lights Booksellers & Publishers, North Beach
A Literary Meeting place since 1953 offering regular readings and events.
Rock 'n' Roll Book Club has cohosted several events here.
Amoeba Music
Amoeba expanded their book section, new and used included.
Green Arcade – Market St. @ Gough
Music section includes many book club selections
Christopher's Books - Potrero Hill
Neighborhood bookstore since 1991. Open late.
1-2-3-4 Go! Records - Oakland
Other useful links:
Richie Unterberger
Author, rock historian, event presenter and book club regular
Sound Opinions radio show
Your source for smart and engaging music criticism and conversation. Nationally respected rock critics Greg Kot and Jim DeRogatis interview artists, talk about pop culture and music industry news, review new record releases and give trends a historical context on this weekly show.
Rocks Back Pages
The ultimate archive of music journalism...
Over 22,000 classic articles on all genres by the finest music writers of the last 50 years. Includes Cream articles! By subscription, but there’s some articles for free.
Available for free to San Francisco Public Library cardholders.
San Francisco Public Library
Events, Link+. The largest selection of music books is located at the Main Library, 4th floor.
Flashback Magazine
Specializing in rock of the 1960s and 1970s, Flashback offers extremely in-depth coverage and lengthy reviews. It is distributed throughout North America and Europe through both online and retail outlets.
Ugly Things Magazine
The ultimate rock & roll read, bringing you wild sounds from past dimensions, from times when rock & roll was young, daring, dangerous and vital. Passionate, informed, insightful, in-depth coverage of the overlooked music of the 1950s, ’60s, ’70s & beyond.
Bi-annual music mag published out of NYC since 1980 by critic Jack Rabid.
Back in print in 2022! Plus archives. Boy Howdy!
Full-color quarterly magazine from Third Man Records includes art, music, literature, and unpublished archival stuff. Available at City Lights.
Pamela Des Barres' Pajama Party! - Podcast
Miss Pamela chats with friends, musicians, movers & shakers from the music scene
The home of Please Kill Me: the Uncensored Oral History of Punk and other books & projects by bestselling authors Legs McNeil and Gillian McCain. The site encompasses music, art, culture, fashion, poetry and movies - from the 60s through today. This is what's cool!
Stranded is the retail arm of archival label Superior Viaduct with locations in San Francisco, Oakland and New York. New and used vinyl available in our brick-and-mortar stores. Hosted East Bay book club event.
Gallery downtown SF featuring rock photography
Highlights posters, graphic art, and artists. Free admission in the Lower Haight. Draws on San Francisco’s countercultural histories. Past exhibit: Detroit's Grande Ballroom Poster Exhibition
The Homestead
watering hole
60s SF music photos by local photographer
Ruby Ray's photography book From the Edge of the World
ordering books:
AbeBooks online marketplace for new, used, rare and out-of-print books, connecting you to booksellers around the world.
Great way to comparison shop a book title, new or used. Search over 40 sites.
Includes a good out-of-print and rare books section
Support local bookstores - shop online
Celebrates independent bookstores and supports localism
bar menu:
Alice Cooper's Alcohol Cookbook (Creem 1973)
Author sites: