I lived around the corner from the second Aquarius location.

I was watching American Bandstand, and the "rate a record" was "Working in a Coalmine" by DEVO!  I loved it and didn't know it was a cover at the time.  I also didn't know anything about Devo, I was 11 and we didn't have MtV, etc.

anyway, I literally ran around the corner to Aquarius, it was the first time I went inside.  I asked if they had this record and they only had a promo 7", which they gave me for free!  It was a great day and I was a customer for life. . . well, until I moved away.

I suppose these days it's easy and instant to find downloads of a song you hear and instantly love.  I have done it.  it's not QUITE the same, but close.

anna
--- On Sun, 3/15/09, Michael Coxe <audities@gmail.com> wrote:

From: Michael Coxe <audities@gmail.com>
Subject: Re: Something Rough for the Weekend !!
To: audities@smoe.org
Date: Sunday, March 15, 2009, 2:14 AM

On 3/14/2009 8:20 AM, Cullen, Niall wrote:
> Take a couple of hours off and take a look at these 2 great programmes
> shown on BBC Four last night.
>
> First up -
>
> Do it Yourself : The Story of Rough Trade. A look at the history of the
> seminal Indie Label. Geoff Travis supplies the history lesson.

There was a Rough Trade record store in San Francisco.
It, Rather Ripped and Aquarius were "THE" places to get what
was hot "right now". You may have known that feeling and that
power (once present here in the SF Bay Area - as it also may
have been in your town/region): hear a song on underground
radio and make a trek (now or tomorrow) to the record shop to
purchase your own copy. You might have had to try 2 or 3 shops
but you get your copy.

I heard V2's "Man in the Box" on KSAN's Outcast show (Chris Knab
& Howie Klein) & by the next day had my own copy via Rough Trade.

  - Michael