Even the dedicated legions of lifetime Richard Thompson fans agree, essential as the guitarist/singer/songwriter's records are, to fully appreciate the brilliance of this British folk legend you simply have to witness him live in concert. The good news is that you will have a chance to see the songwriting guitarist extraordinaire play live for free when he graces the stage at Amoeba Hollywood tomorrow, Sunday, September 19th at 5pm.

The Amoeba Music instore is in support of Thompson's just released new album Dream Attic, which captures the man (and his band) at their best, live in concert. Available to buy online from Amoeba for just $10.98, Dream Attic features thirteen all new songs that were recorded live earlier this year during a West Coast tour by Thompson and band (including mandolin, violin, sax, bass and drums).

Thompson, whose guitar skills have elevated him alongside such other greats as Eric Clapton and Jimmy Page (although he has never gotten the level of mainstream attention of these two lauded guitarists) and who Rolling Stone placed in the Top 20 tier of the magazine's list of The 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time, started out in the legendary British folk-rock group Fairport Convention. Penning such classic early Fairport songs as "Meet On The Ledge" and "Crazy Man Michael," Thompson was a member of Fairport Convention for four years, through 1971. And while no longer officially a member, he occasionally gets together with his old band mates for reunion concerts, typically at the annual August Fairport's Cropredy Convention.

1. Seu Jorge-Seu Jorge & Almaz
2. V/A-Let’s A Go-Go!
3. Arthur Verocai-S/T
4. DJ Sloe Poke- Fiesta Tropical
5. V/A-Afro-Beat Airways:West African Shock Waves Ghana & Togo 1972 to 1979
6. Jane Birkin &Serge Gainsbourg- S/T
7. V/A-Saigon Rock & Roll
8. Enrique Iglesias-Eurphoria
9. V/A-Pomegranates
10. V/A-World Ends: Afro Rock & Psychedelia In 1970s Nigeria

There was little change from July's chart. Seu Jorge & Almaz took the top spot after debuting at number three last month. New releases in August included the reissue of infamous collaboration between Jane Birkin and Serge Gainsbourg, which was released on CD and limited edition vinyl with a bonus seven inch. At number five is the latest release from Analog Africa, Afro-Beat Airways. I’ve had this gem on heavy rotation during much of the month of August. It’s probably the funkiest African compilation to come out in a while.

For those who haven’t been in the Hollywood store in a while, we've made some changes in the World Music section. With the increase in vinyl sales, we decided to change a World Music CD end rack into a World vinyl end rack, with many beautiful World Music and Reggae LPs now on display. The results have been tremendous, especially with the non-traditional world music consumer. People who collect Jazz, Rock, Soul, House and Hip-Hop now have a whole new world (pardon the pun) of vinyl to collect. So whether you’re a seasoned DJ or someone just starting a vinyl collection, here are some must have new World Music releases on LP:

To be a star in Hollywood all you really need is a Sharpie pen. And since fame and stardom don't always come a-knockin' on your door, sometimes you just gotta go out there and make it happen yourself -- take control of your own destiny, or stardom, so to speak. This you can do armed with a Sharpie, plus a willingness to commit a minor crime, followed by a quick walk down the Hollywood Walk of Fame until you stumble upon one of the blank stars on the sidewalks of Hollywood Blvd. and Vine Street.

There, spread over a combined 18 blocks, sit approximately two and a half thousand five-pointed terrazzo & brass stars brightly embedded in the Hollywood sidewalk, spaced at every six feet. Many of these stars are blank waiting to be officially filled in with the name of some accomplished entertainment figure, typically a movie, TV, or music person. Sometimes these blank stars get unofficially filled in. That is exactly what "Boris P" with his "M" in a circle symbol recently did on Vine in the block just below Hollywood Blvd, where he got busy with his Sharpie pen -- instantly bypassing the typical hard uphill slog to stardom. And with an estimated ten million visitors annually coming to LA specifically to see The Walk, according to a report by NPO/Plog Research, odds are that "Boris P" is a hell of a lot more well known now than he was before he bought that 99 cent Sharpie.

Administrated by the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce and maintained by the Hollywood Historic Trust, The Hollywood Walk of Fame very recently celebrated its 50th anniversary which I missed by a few days. Held on Sunday, July 25th, the occasion was celebrated with a day-long festival with tours of iconic Hollywood theaters and studios, as well as live music, performances, movie screenings and various other activities including the induction of the late great Louis Prima onto The Walk. I passed his shiny new star -- not too far from Boris P's star.

1. Enrique Iglesias-Euphoria
2. V/A-Let’s A Go-Go
3. Seu Jorge- Seu Jorge & Almaz
4. V/A-Pomegranates
5. V/A-Afrosound Of Colombia Vol.1
6. Sloepoke-Fiesta Tropical
7. V/A-Saigon Rock & Soul
8. V/A-World Ends: Afro Rock & Psychedelia in 1970s Nigeria
9. Yuri-Inusual
10. Marc Anthony-Iconos

July’s top ten includes five retro world compilations, three releases by iconic Latin Pop stars, a release by one of the coolest Brazilian to ever walk on this earth and a local deejay who's got a Cumbia collection like no other.

Enrique Iglesias topped the chart this month, a slight surprise considering his last few releases didn’t do much in the store in the past. Two other iconic Latin Pop singers, Marc Anthony and Yuri, sold well enough to take the ninth and tenth spots.

A welcome change is the increase of retro releases from Southeast Asia. Saigon Rock & Soul is a vinyl only release from the Sublime Frequencies label that will soon be sold out, even before this blog is up. The funky psychedelic Vietnamese rock certainly has people willing to pay the almost thirty bucks for this double LP, but I’m sure there are not many complainers in the end. Don’t have a record player and/or don’t want to spend 30 bones? Another option is to go with the Let’s A-Go-Go compilation, which is from 1964-1969 and includes bands from Singapore as well as all over Southeast Asia.

All of which is wasted on me. Forget sunning by the pool -- give me a frozen tundra and a copy of Cowboy Henk and I'm a happy guy. I find myself picking and choosing my activities based on what destinations have the finest air conditioners. (As an interesting side-note, if you find yourself shopping at Amoeba Music Hollywood and you’re in need of a rush of cold air, go to the classical section, then find where we keep Beethoven. That exact spot is where our powerful A.C. first blasts the room, and it’s heavenly.)