Record Shops I Have Loved

[Rob Noxious]

This was meant to go in another thread which is closed for a few more hours, but seeing that this is ready for 'release,' I just wanted to get it 'out there' for the record-buying public of ShrimperZone. This one's a tribute to 'Carmel Records'...

"Van Morrison once said that Jackie Wilson said, 'I'm in heaven when you smile'..."

Thus spoke Kevin Rowland, the lead singer of Dexy's Midnight Runners at The Old Vic theatre in Waterloo Road in November, 1981, before he and the band launched into a blistering horns attack on Van's paean to the soul legend, who at the time was still in a coma. I'd discovered that morsel of information about Jackie Wilson through talking to a very knowledgeable and likeable chap called Paul a few months later. I'd gone into Paul's record shop in pursuit of some of the soul classics that Kevin Rowland had steered me towards and discovered that he had singles I was after - long since 'deleted', a word of doom for record collectors back in the day - 'Breakin' Down The Walls Of Heartache' by The Bandwagon, 'Give Me Just A Little More Time' by The Chairmen Of The Board and 'Let's Stay Together' by Al Green. The sleeve of the latter still has a stamped motif on of the 'Southend Rhythm & Soul Society,' which I'm guessing was a fantastic little group to belong to. Paul also had a Jackie Wilson compilation on the famous old Brunswick label and some of the proceeds were going to Jackie Wilson's 'survival fund' apparently. Paul's record shop was a little treasure trove - he managed to pack one helluva lot of fine stuff in there for such a small shop. You may have seen it yourself - it's in Westcliff (or it was; I really hope it's still there!) along the London Road and quite close to The Army & Navy Surplus Stores, another fine Westcliff institution too.

This record went on to become a hit nearly a year later. The band performed it on TOTP in front of a back-drop of the darts player, Jocky Wilson. I was doing my psychiatric nurse training then with a woman who was living with the drummer, Seb Shelton, and she told me that it was a p*ss take and not a c*ck-up by BBC technicians as was originally thought. Dexy's never really stayed the course unfortunately but seeing some of their concerts - Kevin Rowland disapproved of the word 'gig' - in '81 especially, was a delight and like I say, I've got Kevin and Paul to thank for bringing me some wonderful soul music. If you see Paul, please tell him Rob Noxious from Cornwall says 'hi.' Cheers.

 

[canveyshrimper]

This was meant to go in another thread which is closed for a few more hours, but seeing that this is ready for 'release,' I just wanted to get it 'out there' for the record-buying public of ShrimperZone. This one's a tribute to 'Carmel Records'...

"Van Morrison once said that Jackie Wilson said, 'I'm in heaven when you smile'..."

Thus spoke Kevin Rowland, the lead singer of Dexy's Midnight Runners at The Old Vic theatre in Waterloo Road in November, 1981, before he and the band launched into a blistering horns attack on Van's paean to the soul legend, who at the time was still in a coma. I'd discovered that morsel of information about Jackie Wilson through talking to a very knowledgeable and likeable chap called Paul a few months later. I'd gone into Paul's record shop in pursuit of some of the soul classics that Kevin Rowland had steered me towards and discovered that he had singles I was after - long since 'deleted', a word of doom for record collectors back in the day - 'Breakin' Down The Walls Of Heartache' by The Bandwagon and 'Let's Stay Together' by Al Green. The sleeve of the latter still has a stamped motif on of the 'Southend Rhythm & Soul Society,' which I'm guessing was a fantastic little group to belong to. Paul also had a Jackie Wilson compilation on the famous old Brunswick label and some of the proceeds were going to Jackie Wilson's 'survival fund' apparently. Paul's record shop was a little treasure trove - he managed to pack one helluva lot of fine stuff in there for such a small shop. You may have seen it yourself - it's in Westcliff (or it was; I really hope it's still there!) along the London Road and quite close to The Army & Navy Surplus Stores, another fine Westcliff institution too.

This record went on to become a hit nearly a year later. The band performed it on TOTP in front of a back-drop of the darts player, Jocky Wilson. I was doing my psychiatric nurse training then with a woman who was living with the drummer, Seb Shelton, and she told me that it was a p*ss take and not a c*ck-up by BBC technicians as was originally thought. Dexy's never really stayed the course unfortunately but seeing some of their concerts - Kevin Rowland disapproved of the word 'gig' - in '81 especially, was a delight and like I say, I've got Kevin and Paul to thank for bringing me some wonderful soul music. If you see Paul, please tell him Rob Noxious from Cornwall says 'hi.' Cheers.

You are Steve Tilson and I claim my five pounds.

 

[BLUEBLOOD]

Carmel was a must during my vinyl collecting days, although the shop was (is ??) about 2ft wide it seemed to go on for miles and every foot or so uncovered another "must have" for the collection

 

[Firestorm]

Downtowns in Billericay High street, was the place I spent a lot of time in my teens, but many a lunch hour was spent in Fenchurch Records (very near the front of Fenchurch St Station) and Harlequins in Bishopsgate.
In those days they both had a box on the counter for the weeks new releases, I remember picking up Tears of a Clown, by the Beat just because it was on Two Tone.
I used to pop in on the way to work and pick up new singles / Albums I was looking forward to on the day of release as well.

One Lunch time my mate and I were chatting to the lads serving in harlequins and they asked which gig we were off to that week, when we said it was the Damned at Crocs they called over this tall gothic style punk over and told him, He introduced himself as the manager of the support act, The Vicars, and gave us a couple of rolls of promotional stickers , asked us to plaster them all over the place and see him for a beer in the club.
When we got to the gig he spotted us and introduced us to the Band, including the lead singer although at the time I thought Alf was a strange name for a girl, but she seemed nice and chatty....

I "chatted" to a couple of the Vicars on the Southend Punk website a few years back, Alfs departure from the Vicars still causes debate .

 

[fatshrimp]

Locally, it had to be Parrot or Golden Disc. In London, I used to frequent a place called Groove Records in Greek Street. In my first job I used to get luncheon vouchers, and Groove Records was the only record shop I knew of that took them. So, every month I used to trek over there to spend my £45 on a couple of 12 inch imports. Great shop.

 

[Gremlin]

Anyone remember Old Nick's in Benfleet, on the corner of Brook Road where Music & Toys used to be? It's now a card shop but was briefly an oasis in an otherwise bland (at least for a young teenager) town. It saved me a few 70p child return fares on the slam-door to Southend for a browse round the Utopia that was Golden Disc anyway.

 

[Davros]

Anyone remember Old Nick's in Benfleet, on the corner of Brook Road where Music & Toys used to be? It's now a card shop but was briefly an oasis in an otherwise bland (at least for a young teenager) town. It saved me a few 70p child return fares on the slam-door to Southend for a browse round the Utopia that was Golden Disc anyway.

I remember that shop.

Wasnt there also another record shop (albeit briefly) at the other end of the high road nearly opposite the Benfleet Tavern, next to the butchers and fish mongers?

Once those closed you had to go to Woolworths in Hadliegh to buy your music!

 

[MK Shrimper]

Our Price :D

 

[Jedi Shrimper]

Fives in Rayleigh, Gumbi's in Southend. I used to spend ages perusing the shelves. I used to know the Fives rayleigh staff so well they would save posters for me. I miss record shops. :'(

Berwick St in London isn't what it used to be. Sister Ray & the-one-whose-name-i-can't-remember have merged, the two Reckless Records shops have gone (although one has been opened in a new name). Mister CD the bargain shop has gone too. :(

I did find a good shop off Berwick St just 2 saturdays ago - 'Sounds of the Universe', specialises in Jazz, Hip-Hop, Electronica & Post-Punk cracking little shop with good freindly service. Ended up spending a few quid in there (Coltrane/Mos Def/Animal Collective/Tortoise). :clap:

 

[Pubey]

Fives in Leigh. Also Fopp in Manchester and apparently Fopp is re-opening in Sheffield which is great news, but bad news for my pay packet!

A shop called Jacks is shutting down in Sheffield. It's run by the moodiest man ever, he'll criticise every purchase you make and won't ever give you a straight answer... a real High Fidelity nutter. Kind of funny in a sadistic way, my fiancé refuses to go in there because he's so rude!

 

[Napster]

When I was at uni, it was all about Fopp down Cockburn Street. Full of cracking soul and hip-hop.

I also lived above a record shop in West Nicolson Street, Avalanche Records. But it was grimy and full of records I didn't want. One night Gene played a gig in the shop. I didn't go.

 

[Interpol Shrimper]

Our Price :D

Philistine!!!
Add me to the list of Parrot devotees...

When I was at uni, it was all about Fopp down Cockburn Street. Full of cracking soul and hip-hop.

I also lived above a record shop in West Nicolson Street, Avalanche Records. But it was grimy and full of records I didn't want. One night Gene played a gig in the shop. I didn't go.

Also 2 quality brances of those two in Glasgow! Er, what's the matter with Martin Rossiter & the boys???

 

[MK Shrimper]

The only non-chain record shop I used to go in was Rough Trade in London, but I was always put off by the fanboys who spent their entire Saturday afternoons in there. Tower Records / Virgin Megastore / HMV always carried the indie choons I needed.

 

[Yer Blues]

Championship vinyl

 

[Napster]

Er, what's the matter with Martin Rossiter & the boys???

It's indie. I don't like indie.

 

[Smudger]

Soulman records was as close to heaven as I could get at one time in my life. Beyond that I would get my stuff at specialist record fairs or stallholders.

Carmel and Leigh Record Exchange (?) on London Road were great for £2 bargains - trouble was, I usually bought too much and half of it would turn out to be total crap. Great days when you have enough time on your hands to spend half the week in record shops....

 

[Uncle Leo]

I also lived above a record shop in West Nicolson Street, Avalanche Records. But it was grimy and full of records I didn't want. One night Gene played a gig in the shop. I didn't go.

I like that. I've often said things like 'I wouldn't go to see U2 if they were playing in my back garden' but you've really done it. Living the dream Naps.

 

[Napster]

I like that. I've often said things like 'I wouldn't go to see U2 if they were playing in my back garden' but you've really done it. Living the dream Naps.

Fortunately they'd finished by the time I got back from Century 2000, so I didn't have to drown them out by playing some Phil Collins.

 

[SARF]

Aidrians in Wickford when it was still upstairs in the Barn at the market..

 

[BLUEBLOOD]

How could i forget Gumbis .. i vaguely know Phil who runs it (he's the friend of a friend if you like)