Last Shop Standing (Whatever happened to record shops?)

[sidewinder]

The only place I remember in Birmingham was going back 30 years ago - not exactly sure where it was, it might have been near the old Bull Ring. It specialised in big band jazz in particular and was a longish, narrow shop.

The first great shop I remember was 'Woods' in Bradford, Yorkshire. First time I went in there they had a CBS display stand advertising electric Miles with multiple copies of Bitches Brew, Big Fun, Get Up With It and On The Corner in the stand. That was an eye-opener !

Anyone remember 'Peter Russells Hot Record Store' down in Plymouth? They were a jazz specialist and very strong on traditional jazz, although they did stock the modern stuff. The also had a hi-fi section to the shop. I've got the feeling that the guy who worked there behind the counter might have played trumpet in one of Ronnie Scott's earliest bop groups.

Edited September 26, 2009 by sidewinder

[The Magnificent Goldberg]

The only place I remember in Birmingham was going back 30 years ago - not exactly sure where it was, it might have been near the old Bull Ring. It specialised in big band jazz in particular and was a longish, narrow shop.

The first great shop I remember was 'Woods' in Bradford, Yorkshire. First time I went in there they had a CBS display stand advertising electric Miles with multiple copies of Bitches Brew, Big Fun, Get Up With It and On The Corner in the stand. That was an eye-opener !

Anyone remember 'Peter Russells Hot Record Store' down in Plymouth? They were a jazz specialist and very strong on traditional jazz, although they did stock the modern stuff. The also had a hi-fi section to the shop. I've got the feeling that the guy who worked there behind the counter might have played trumpet in one of Ronnie Scott's earliest bop groups.

I can remember their ads in Jazz Journal. Never been to Plymouth.

MG

[sidewinder]

Yeah, they had a full page advertisement every month. It was quite a sizeable store and the biggest in Devon/Cornwall. I lived for some time in Plymouth so it was my regular source of LPs (other than the local 'Our Price').

[A Lark Ascending]

The one I remember in Birmingham was just outside the city centre over one of the ring roads (don't ask me which...Birmingham's ring roads criss cross endlessly) at a place called, I think, St. Giles Circus (next to a large church, St Giles perhaps?). A jazz specialist shop with a hefty stock...I think it was the first place I saw Mosaics. Think its gone now.

Another one it would be hard to find.

Two shops which get high praise in the book and had a better than normal jazz stock are Record Collector about two miles out of Sheffield city centre and Jumbo in one of the big shopping centres in Leeds. I've not been to either in over a year simply because it's no longer worth my while treavelling the 15 and 40 odd miles to those cities because once I'd done those shops I'd be lost as to what to do next!

Which is why I think there's a lot of wish fulfilment in Graham Jones's belief that the slide in record stores will bottom out because customers will want the physical product. I loved shopping in record stores as much as anyone...but I'm no longer prepared to lose so much time in travel getting to them.

Like steam trains they were a joy when they existed, are a joy to look back on nostalgically, a few might even survive for a while longer. But I just can't see them competing with the new technologies.

Edited September 26, 2009 by Bev Stapleton

[The Magnificent Goldberg]

Like steam trains they were a joy when they existed, are a joy to look back on nostalgically, a few might even survive for a while longer. But I just can't see them competing with the new techonolgies.

True.

I'll probably visit Spillers on Monday. Here are a few snaps.

Some photos of Spillers

Ambition - a Spillers babygro!

Ambition - a Spillers babygro!

MG

[Jazzjet]

Ah, the thread that never dies!

The only shop I remember in Birmingham was in a sort of arcade / walkway under a high rise concrete monstrosity not too far away from New Street station ( I never strayed too far away from New Street station as I could never wait to get away from Birmingham ). I remember buying Prince's 'Crucial' bootleg with Miles on it. Reddington's?

I've never been to Plymouth either but I do remember Dave Carey's Swing Shop in Streatham and another fine shop in New Cross, whose name always escapes me.

I agree that the staff in Tower were usually fairly offhand. I seem to remember someone saying a while ago that the little, bonkers Scottish guy ( Jacky someone? ) who used to be seen in Rays rifling through the rack at great speed, got a job in Tower for a while.

There also used to be a branch of James Asman's in the Liverpool Street / Fenchurch Street area in London ( this would be in the late 60s ). It had a second hand basement ( fairly damp as usual ) with tons of jazz EPs, eg Vogue. I remember this store well as its one of the few times I've bought an album just from hearing it over the shop's P.A. This was Charles Lloyd's 'Forest Flower'. Another one was Don Ellis's 'Live at Monterey' in the original New Oxford Street Colletts. Anyone else done this?

I also remember a shop in Goodge Street but can't remember the name. I believe there's a Latino shop around there nowadays so maybe its changed hands.

A couple of other shops that come to mind. One was City Sounds, that used to be in Proctor Street, Holborn. It was run by Chris Hills, a jazz DJ during the late 70s jazz - funk years. Fearsomely trendy at the time. Another was Cheapo Cheapo Records in Rupert Street, Soho that used to sell tons of cheap vinyl of all types. Took a lot of searching but you could sometimes come up with a real find.

[crisp]

marked down Verve Elites; got most of mine from there for around £12 each, sometimes in a 2 for £22 promotion.

I remember that - got a couple of Verve Elites on that deal. They were still cheaper at most places over in the US though.

Ah, but in those days you had to GO to the US. No internet, you see (God, I feel old).

Yeah - and it was a revelation to see how cheap they were. Toronto Sam The Record Man was the place that I first 'filled my boots' (and being resident there were no import restrictions ). Even with that damned Ontario sales tax it was still cheaper.

Never having been to the US, for me that moment came when we first went online at work. Suddenly, even 3 for £20 seemed extortionate. I guess the death of the British record shop began right there.

[The Magnificent Goldberg]

There also used to be a branch of James Asman's in the Liverpool Street / Fenchurch Street area in London ( this would be in the late 60s ). It had a second hand basement ( fairly damp as usual ) with tons of jazz EPs, eg Vogue. I remember this store well as its one of the few times I've bought an album just from hearing it over the shop's P.A. This was Charles Lloyd's 'Forest Flower'. Another one was Don Ellis's 'Live at Monterey' in the original New Oxford Street Colletts. Anyone else done this?

Oh yes! I walked into Spillers one day in 1975 and heard Fela Kuti's "Gentleman" being played over the PA for some young woman. She didn't like it, to my great pleasure, so I got it.

Another was Cheapo Cheapo Records in Rupert Street, Soho that used to sell tons of cheap vinyl of all types. Took a lot of searching but you could sometimes come up with a real find.

Ah, I think I remember Cheapo Cheapo. Were they mostly in a basement? And was everything completely disorganised so you had to look through half a million LPs to be sure you hadn't missed a gem?

MG

[A Lark Ascending]

Ah, the thread that never dies!

Nah, that's the Beatles remasters thread.

The only shop I remember in Birmingham was in a sort of arcade / walkway under a high rise concrete monstrosity not too far away from New Street station ( I never strayed too far away from New Street station as I could never wait to get away from Birmingham ). I remember buying Prince's 'Crucial' bootleg with Miles on it. Reddington's?

I know roughly where you mean. There was an excellent, large classical shop in that area in the 80s. Can't recall if it did jazz...I was going through an almost exclusively classical period at the time with jazz being very slow to get to CD whereas the classical labels adapted to it very quickly.

[Jazzjet]

Ah, I think I remember Cheapo Cheapo. Were they mostly in a basement? And was everything completely disorganised so you had to look through half a million LPs to be sure you hadn't missed a gem?

MG

That sounds like the one. Very chaotic and loads of fairly crap 80s stuff. Jazz collectors must be recognisable by their extended fingers through all the flicking through the racks - or early arthritis.

[The Magnificent Goldberg]

Just found this

Damn - missed my chance of fame!

MG

[JohnS]

If I'm thinking of the same place, the jazz in Cheapo Cheapo was at th e rear of the shop. I don't recall a basement there. There was however record a stall outside. Only found the odd treasure there.

[Jazzjet]

If I'm thinking of the same place, the jazz in Cheapo Cheapo was at th e rear of the shop. I don't recall a basement there. There was however record a stall outside. Only found the odd treasure there.

You're right about the jazz being at the rear of the shop but there was a basement with most of it taken up with rock and soul. And, yes, I remember the record stall outside.

[JohnS]

If I'm thinking of the same place, the jazz in Cheapo Cheapo was at th e rear of the shop. I don't recall a basement there. There was however record a stall outside. Only found the odd treasure there.

You're right about the jazz being at the rear of the shop but there was a basement with most of it taken up with rock and soul. And, yes, I remember the record stall outside.

Ah well, that's why I didn't remember the basement. One of my best finds there were some Metronome doubles of Americans in Sweden.

[BillF]

Another was Cheapo Cheapo Records in Rupert Street, Soho

Never knew Cheapo Cheapo, but was intrigued by the name on a sticker on a used CD bought on amazon.uk.

[gmonahan]

I spent my life in record stores when I was in high school (dodging dinosaurs, which then walked the earth), but I worshiped at Rose Discount Records in Chicago. Only went there a few times. Came out with an armload of LPs every time. They classified their LPs by label and had lots of Schwann catalogs around! Wild! And the upstairs...an entire floor of cutouts. Sigh....

greg mo

[Jazzjet]

Don't know if anyone has posted this but here's a brief rundown of the Honest Jon's history, mentioning their shops in Camden and Covent Garden.

Honest Jon's

[sidewinder]

Called in at GRAMEX not far from Waterloo Station last week. The jazz is downstairs, classical on the ground floor. Not much jazz vinyl (the proprietor is a very nice chap and is keen to expand his selection) but they did have a couple of OOP Mosaic sets. I picked up the Condon Mob and if anyone is interested in the Prima/Manone, there was a copy of that one which is probably still there.

It came as a shock to see the old 'Tower' aka ex-Fopp at Picadilly Circus all boarded up and vacated - a real sign of the times . The nice Fopp store on Goodge St has also been closed, by the looks of it. "Rays Jazz" though was looking OK (with 'Empirical' doing a nice live gig in the de-jazzed cafe area). The jazz section is now moved to the 2nd floor and shares space with the DVDs and classical music. Still a good choice of music there.

Strangely though, in light of the above - Central London looked pretty vibrant with the West End restaurants doing good business and European tourists spending like crazy. Strange times indeed !

Edited October 5, 2009 by sidewinder

[BillF]

Called in at GRAMEX not far from Waterloo Station last week. The jazz is downstairs, classical on the ground floor. Not much jazz vinyl (the proprietor is a very nice chap and is keen to expand his selection) but they did have a couple of OOP Mosaic sets. I picked up the Condon Mob and if anyone is interested in the Prima/Manone, there was a copy of that one which is probably still there.

It came as a shock to see the old 'Tower' aka ex-Fopp at Picadilly Circus all boarded up and vacated - a real sign of the times . The nice Fopp store on Goodge St has also been closed, by the looks of it. "Rays Jazz" though was looking OK (with 'Empirical' doing a nice live gig in the de-jazzed cafe area). The jazz section is now moved to the 2nd floor and shares space with the DVDs and classical music. Still a good choice of music there.

Strangely though, in light of the above - Central London looked pretty vibrant with the West End restaurants doing good business and European tourists spending like crazy. Strange times indeed !

Your report came just in time! Day trip to London tomorrow - now just over 2 hours by Virgin Pendolino. Had planned to look in at Ray's, so pleased to hear there's still something there!

[Big Beat Steve]

Don't know if anyone has posted this but here's a brief rundown of the Honest Jon's history, mentioning their shops in Camden and Covent Garden.

Honest Jon's

Thanks for linking that story. That ties up a few loose ends of who was where with whom, and seeing the connection with Camden Town I now know (and am much less surprised) why I was able to dig out quite a few very interesting jazz EPs (and also some nice original and reissue LPs) at rather fair prices in the vinyl basement of RHYTHM Records during my stopovers in Camden Town in the late 90s. Seeing that Rhythm Records was the original Honest Jons Camden Branch carried on by one of the partners it all makes a bit more sense now.

[Jazzjet]

Here's a couple of more pieces concerning Dobell's - the record shop and the label.

How Britain Got The Blues

Jazzology

[sidewinder]

(and also some nice original and reissue LPs) at rather fair prices in the vinyl basement of RHYTHM Records during my stopovers in Camden Town in the late 90s. Seeing that Rhythm Records was the original Honest Jons Camden Branch carried on by one of the partners it all makes a bit more sense now.

On my last visit to that basement about 5 or so years ago the old wooden racks were very recognisable from 'Honest Jon's days but the jazz selection only had a few dozen albums left and all of those were at sale prices. It was a very surreal experience as the last time I'd been in 20 years before the very same racks were full to bulging with great jazz and reggae. I came out with a nice cheap Sonny Fortune A&M LP though.

[JohnJ]

Called in at GRAMEX not far from Waterloo Station last week. The jazz is downstairs, classical on the ground floor. Not much jazz vinyl (the proprietor is a very nice chap and is keen to expand his selection) but they did have a couple of OOP Mosaic sets. I picked up the Condon Mob and if anyone is interested in the Prima/Manone, there was a copy of that one which is probably still there.

It came as a shock to see the old 'Tower' aka ex-Fopp at Picadilly Circus all boarded up and vacated - a real sign of the times . The nice Fopp store on Goodge St has also been closed, by the looks of it. "Rays Jazz" though was looking OK (with 'Empirical' doing a nice live gig in the de-jazzed cafe area). The jazz section is now moved to the 2nd floor and shares space with the DVDs and classical music. Still a good choice of music there.

Strangely though, in light of the above - Central London looked pretty vibrant with the West End restaurants doing good business and European tourists spending like crazy. Strange times indeed !

Worth noting that the Fopp Covent Garden store on Earlham Street was doing a thriving trade when I was there a couple of weeks ago and is definitely worth a look with several bargains to be had (not so much on jazz though).

And yes, central London was bustling and all the restaurants and pubs I visited were very busy.

[sidewinder]

And yes, central London was bustling and all the restaurants and pubs I visited were very busy.

And yet we are in the middle of a fierce recession ! Strange times indeed...

London always was out of kilter with the rest of the country.

[sidewinder]

Up for Bill's London report !