Question:
|> This is for all the music fans in the UK… |> |> I’m an American who will be in London, Edinburgh, and Dublin later this |> summer. Could you please suggest some record shops in any of these |> cities, along with their addresses? |> Here is what is in the Archive’s ’shops’ file. Let me know if you find any others. UK: LONDON: If you go to Tower Records in Piccadilly Circus, you’ll find most new ‘full price’ CD releases at between 12 and 14, with many priced at 12.99 and 13.99. That’s $20 to $22. However, Tower does do regular special offers, and prices on some top items go down to 10.99 for a few days… The only other big shop I recommend is the main HMV on the eastern section of Oxford Street. Virgin Records seems to have cut back on stocks/space. Prices at independent shops are usually cheaper, and they sell vinyl too, but fewer CDs. There are dozens of small shops, several specialising in reggae/black music. Many are outside the centre. Off Oxford Street is Berwick Street, with Black Market Records (lots of vinyl and usually all latest CDs); Selecta Records (big shop with small reggae vinyl and CD sections); Reckless Records (used); and a cheap CD shop. There are also excellent dance/acid jazz/techno/Latin etc shops in the area. Outside the centre are Dub Vendor, Body Music, MPD, Honest Jons, Wax Unlimited… If anyone wants to know where these are, let me know. London also has several distributors and studios, such as Greensleeves, Jetstar and Ariwa (Mad Professor) – they have mail order lists. There are also record stalls in street markets, happy hunting grounds for vinyl people. London shops selling reggae. Version 1. 26 May 1995 UG = underground station Daddy Kools, at the Black Music Centre, 11 Berwick Street, W1. (It’s in the market part of the street). Lot’s of 12 and 7 inch; new releases; CDs. Has soul and jazz too. Nearest underground (UG): Piccadilly Circus or Oxford Circus. In Berwick Street, try also Selectadisc at no. 34, a great alternative shop, with some reggae CDs and vinyl; Reckless Records, a used record shop at no. 30; Mister CD for cheap CDs (has some reggae), opposite Reckless. Big shops: the best for reggae CDs are Tower Records at Piccadilly Circus and the big HMV at 150 Oxford Street (the one at no. 363 is not much good). Virgin by Tottenham Court Road UG has a limited selection, but check the street round the back, Hanway Street, which has several record shops, including the wonderful Vinyl Experience. (For African music try Stern’s African Record Centre, 116 Whitfield Street, W1. NG: Goodge Street.) Blacker Dread Music Store, Mail order service (0930 – 2200 GMT) 0171 274 5095 WEST Two shops are an absolute must. Dub Vendor, 150 Ladbroke Grove, W10. Reggae specialist. NG: Notting Hill Gate. Honest Jon’s, 278 Portobello Road, W10. Reggae specialist plus other black music. NG: Notting Hill Gate. In this area, there are probably several other shops; ask around. Try the Music and Video Exchange for used records at 36 Notting Hill Gate. Reggae Revive 331 Portobello Road SOUTH WEST Dub Vendor, 274 Lavender Hill, SW11. Sister shop to the one in Ladbroke Grove. Not on the underground; go to Clapham Junction British Rail station. Peckings Studio One Record Shop located at 142, Askew Road, London W12. Nearest underground stations are Goldhawk Road (Hammersmith & City line) and Ravenscourt Park (District Line). The shop was set up by the late ‘Daddy Peckings’, an old time friend of many of the legends in reggae, including of course Coxsone Dodd of Studio One fame. The reggae business in the U.K. owes a large debt to Daddy Peckings for his efforts to help establish the industry here. In fact Studio One issued their own tribute album to him after his passing away. SOUTH Brixton. Supertone Records, 110 Acre Lane NORTH EAST Dalston area M&D Record Centre, 36a Dalston Lane, E8. A great shop for vinyl and for listening before you buy. Has most of the latest 7 inches. Not on the UG. Best got to on the bus. Business Record Store, 17 Stoke Newington Road, N16. A funny shop that also sells wool. Not a big selection, but worth popping in. Not too far from M&D. New Edition Records, 216 Ridley Road, E8. Near M&D. Walk down Ridley Road market – there’s also a few outlets on the side of the market that may have something. There’s a nice shop in Bradbury Street (name to come), off Kingsland High Street. Again, near M&D. north London: Hawkeye Record Store, 2 Craven Park Road, Harlesden, London NW10. Clapton Regal Music Centre, 92 Lower Clapton Road, E5. Nowhere near a UG. Stoke Newington Wax Unlimited, 9 Northwold Road, N16. Excellent small shop. Near Stoke Newington British Rail. Best by bus no. 73 from town. Tottenham Body Music, 261 High Road, N15. Near Seven Sisters UG. Big shop with lot’s of CDs. Possibly the biggest black music shop in London. NORTH Flash Forward, on the second floor of the Camden Lock Centre at the top end of Camden High Street. The person who runs this has 20 year’s experience with finding stuff for collectors. NG: Camden Town In Camden, try also Rhythm Records, 281 Camden High Street and Out on the Floor, 10 Inverness Street (ask downstairs for the 7 inches; 12 inch upstairs). There’s also a branch of the Music and Video Exchange at 229 Camden High Street. Look around the market areas too. — _ / _ |_ / | ‘_ / _ | ‘_ Nice Up Enterprises FAX: 619-226-6108 | __/ / / | | | | (_) || | | | Jammin Reggae Virtual Radio KSDM.COM
Response:
This is for all the music fans in the UK… I’m an American who will be in London, Edinburgh, and Dublin later this summer. Could you please suggest some record shops in any of these cities, along with their addresses? I’m hoping to find vinyl, CDs, posters, t-shirts, etc. from bands ranging from Black Sabbath to Bob Marley & the Wailers. Are there any other places to visit along these lines? (cool venues, historical rock&roll sites, etc.) I want to make this holiday a little more rock&roll than just seeing Big Ben, etc. (No offense! It’s a very lovely clock) : ) I really do appreciate any help you can offer. Please email Jon at: Thank you very much!