Excellent historical reflection of Birmingham's old record shops thank you Jim. I started seriously collecting vinyl in early 1984 and can remember the old "Revolver Records" on New Street and the original 'Virgin Records' shop on Bull Street I think. (Not the megastore). Also had a friend who liked Reggae and used to go to Don Christie's with him, which I think was near The Rag Market. Happy days..😊
Well I left Brum about 84. I remember Cranes music store on Corporation st that sold instruments, sheet music and records. Then further down next to original law courts was the original Virgin shop that sold Bootlegs. Inside was a circle of aircraft seats you could sit on with Headphones and b listen to records. One of the main ones was Tonto's Expanding Headband. Across the road there was a large hall that occasionally hosted record fairs where you could pick up Bootleg tapes etc. Further back there was a place on various levels called Oasis. Bev Bevan had another branch of Heavyhead records. I was told a funny story about there.
We used to have loads of them in the 70s and 80s. The best one in the Centre of Hull was Sydney Scarborough'. It had been running for years. In the mid 80s it was a meeting place and they employed Bouncers. A great shop as they stocked everything including imports. I have the single Nantucket Sleighride. A cover by the band Quartz. The catalogue number is Dan 1. Bev Bevan visited my friends house around the 60s or early 70s. Bev's full name is Beverley. Ironically, to get to my friends house you have to come off Beverley Road. Us locals used to call it Bev Road. True story. We had two stores that the owners moaned about people just browsing. I used to sometimes just browse. One of them really annoyed me as I may have been looking to come back another day with money to purchase what I may have seen and wanted. Not good marketing by them.
Hi Im a tocuh confused not sure whether you are in your 70's (Surfaris) or late 60's (Hendrix) Im 69 and started with the Kinks - Tired of waiting - would you mind saying how old are you?
I'm 70 my musical journey started about 196 listening to radio. The Surfaris record was one that had probably been in my Grandad's collection for some years. I have very broad tastes.
