Name your fav local independent record shops!

[griffo104]

I go to the Diskery now and then, but a lot of their stock has been there for years and is a bit tatty, Music + Video Exchange is just up the road, and there are bargains to be had there, their pricing policy seem rather random! Hard To Find records is pretty close to there too, mostly dance music and they also specialise in DJ equipment etc.
If you're in the brum area, you have to try Polar Bear records in Kings Heath, they specialise in prog, death metal and krautrock, but they have bits and bobs of folk and ambient etc

I used to love the Diskery. I've so many great 2nd hand records bought from there and they were always happy to order records in for you. I bought my Linn hifi from Griffin Audio when it was just round the corner from there on Bristol Street so it was easy to in there and spend a lots of my money. first time I went in there I didn't realise they didn't take cards and the owner drove me round to Five Ways to use the cashpoint there

they thought it was amusing that I had just bought my first turntable when people were getting rid of their's at the time.

I've got a wonderful Shostakovich box set of later symphonies I got from there and I was once allowed upstairs where he kept all his Deccas and EMIs.

Great times to be a young vinylista Seems so long ago now

This must be about 15 years ago now. the only time I ever get in to the centre of Brum now is to watch the mighty Villa.

[Marco]

I go to the Diskery now and then, but a lot of their stock has been there for years and is a bit tatty, Music + Video Exchange is just up the road, and there are bargains to be had there, their pricing policy seem rather random! Hard To Find records is pretty close to there too, mostly dance music and they also specialise in DJ equipment etc.
If you're in the brum area, you have to try Polar Bear records in Kings Heath, they specialise in prog, death metal and krautrock, but they have bits and bobs of folk and ambient etc

Thanks for the tip on Polar Bear records, Dan - the trip to Brum is gonna be a good one!

Marco.

[griffo104]

The Diskery is unique. Ages since I last went there. They use to have ash trays perched on top of the records. I expect the smoking ban put paid to that. The Music Exchange up the road is overpriced and low in quality in my opinion unless it has improved. For new records Swordfish are still going in Birmingham Centre.

I thought Swordfish had closed down ??????

[Audioman]

I thought Swordfish had closed down ??????

They appeared to be still open last summer but don't have a web presence to check. I read there were plans to vacate the shop and move to one of the markets as a vinyl only operation. On another note Morris Hunting founder of the Diskery died in Jan at 82. Don't know what implications this has. The stock was old and often of dubious quality 20 years ago. They must be selling enough to keep going though.

[griffo104]

They appeared to be still open last summer but don't have a web presence to check. I read there were plans to vacate the shop and move to one of the markets as a vinyl only operation. On another note Morris Hunting founder of the Diskery died in Jan at 82. Don't know what implications this has. The stock was old and often of dubious quality 20 years ago. They must be selling enough to keep going though.

Someon sent me a photo of Swordfish all closed up with a sign for the lease of the shop last year. Made me very sad as I have great memories of the place as teenager being in to alternative music - they released Godflesh's first album.

I also think Tempest also closed and ended up as a market stall as well - just so sad. My 2 main shops for music when I was growing up.

Amazon and Play and the like will never be able to replace those Saturday morning flicking through the CDs (at the time) and then chatting to guys working in there and trying out there recommendations.

Just so depressed myself now

[MartinT]

never be able to replace those Saturday morning flicking through the CDs (at the time) and then chatting to guys working in there and trying out there recommendations.

Going further back, I used to love going to the original Virgin store in Oxford Street, accessed by walking through a shoe shop and up the stairs at the back. Flicking through the large collection of vinyl, chatting with staff and being served by Richard Branson himself. Memories.

[Tim]

Going further back, I used to love going to the original Virgin store in Oxford Street, accessed by walking through a shoe shop and up the stairs at the back. Flicking through the large collection of vinyl, chatting with staff and being served by Richard Branson himself. Memories.

I remember that too Martin, I lived in Ruislip then and recall sitting on bean bags listening to Tubular Bells - happy days

[MartinT]

I remember that too Martin

Gosh, to think that we might have even crossed tracks that lifetime ago!

[northwest]

Going further back, I used to love going to the original Virgin store in Oxford Street, accessed by walking through a shoe shop and up the stairs at the back. Flicking through the large collection of vinyl, chatting with staff and being served by Richard Branson himself. Memories.

I know the solicitor very well who, as an articled clerk, was sent to buy two records from that store and if possible from Mr Branson himself in order that an injunction be obtained to prevent them from copying any more vinyl.
Betcha didn't know that!

[MartinT]

No I didn't. Copying as in from the master or copy tape, or from another record? Copy to cassette or vinyl?