HMV in trouble again.

[dave2010]

Ah ok, that small distinction makes all the difference

If the on-line record store near you was any good [have you ever tried them?] I'd rather give them my business, than Amazon.

Marco.

I'm not sure that many record stores really did have people who knew about music - though some did. The days when one could go into a store and ask to hear a record and maybe compare versions before buying an LP have long gone. There was some small carry over into the CD era, but now mostly the business model is that most people know what they want to buy so really there's no incentive to go into a shop - they might as well buy from an online store which will probably be cheaper.

One of the last record shops I used was Threshold Records in Cobham - which was quite decent. That was funded by the Moody Blues. The Threshold Records shop closed its doors to the public in February 2011. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Threshold_Records

I did use one other record shop which had an interesting collection further south in Surrey - might have been the Record Corner in Godalming. That was helpful when I wanted to buy CDs of brass band music as a present for a friend.

[Marco]

Hi Dave,

I'm not sure that many record stores really did have people who knew about music - though some did. The days when one could go into a store and ask to hear a record and maybe compare versions before buying an LP have long gone.

Your first point is good, and one I agree with, as that type of knowledge has indeed dwindled, probably for the reasons you state. However, at least up here, there are still quite a few independent record shops, primarily owned by music lovers, who are able to advise on such matters and who just love talking about music!

They also tend to have a small system set up in the shop, with a turntable, which they'll gladly use to play you records, prior to purchase, especially if like me you enjoy expanding your musical horizons and checking out new stuff that looks intriguing... It's not always just about buying what you know. One such shop near me, is Grey N Pink, in Chester: http://greynpinkrecords.com/

They've got a Rega P3, set up in a rather nice little system, and the guys are very knowledgeable and helpful, and coupled with the fact that the shop carries a huge and diverse range of music on CD and vinyl (new and 2nd hand), makes it a great place to go. Moonlight Records, in Wrexham, is another such place: https://www.google.com/maps/uv?hl=en...oiowE3oECAYQBg

I could go on, lol... You'd imagine that there must be many places like that in London, if you know where to look!

Marco.

[Tim]

"The days when one could go into a store and ask to hear a record and maybe compare versions before buying an LP have long gone."

In places like HMV yes, but independents, no. Have you ever been into a Rough Trade?

I think there's quite a few places who will let you play a record before you buy it, with knowledgeable staff. As Marco says, you have to find them but they're certainly not long gone. Rough Trade in Brick Lane is an awesome record shop, has live performances too and I'm sure there's plenty more in London. I've got Spillers in Cardiff, Diverse Vinyl in Newport which I got to on occasion and there's quite a few more here (Kelly's, Retro Vibe, D'Vinyl), but I tend to only buy vinyl from an artist at their shows, as file based audio from a music server is still my primary source.

[Marco]

I think the problem too is that folks these days are more 'mainstream minded' than ever, due to how easy everything has become available to buy on the Internet, and so it encourages both lazy thinking (a mentality of 'if it's not under your nose, it doesn't exist'), and laziness also in terms of it being far easier to click a mouse, and order music from the likes of Amazon, than haul your ass into town and seek out some independent record shops.

I can understand that behaviour, but don't condone it, as it has partly contributed to the death of many a high street... Plus, there's also the factor to consider of how easy it is to get out and about where you live.

I'm lucky here in North Wales, as I can jump into the car and go where I want, and likely not encounter much (if any) traffic congestion, or difficulties in finding somewhere to park, but if I lived somewhere else where that wasn't the case, or horror of horrors, had to rely on public transport and mingle with the 'great unwashed', to get around, then I might be more tempted to stay put and click on that mouse!

Marco.

[tapid]

There s a few in and around Camden that have closed in the last few years. Partly perhaps because of the shift in business rates which now benefit the norf over the sarf !
The shop I really miss is Haggle Vinyl in Islington where you would thumb through the records whilst listening to the colourful language and stories of the owner Lyn.
To deter shop lifters he once put a sign up saying something like the last person to thieve a few records in this shop is no longer with us R.I.P. JOHN !

[Tim]

I must now be part of the 'great unwashed' then as I use the bus and train all the time, can't remember the last time I drove into Cardiff . . . months ago. If I'm not on the bus/train I will often walk the 4.5 miles or use a Nextbike to get about, the car gets used for concerts and longer journey's only.

That 'congestion' is caused by those who look down on the great unwashed, but get pissed off whilst sitting in a traffic jam - catch-22. I read a book whilst travelling or listen to music. My main motivation is the impact using a vehicle has on the environment and secondly, fitness (it's also cheaper a lot of the time). I adopted this mindset about 6 years ago now and it's benefits are many.

[dave2010]

There s a few in and around Camden that have closed in the last few years. Partly perhaps because of the shift in business rates which now benefit the norf over the sarf !
The shop I really miss is Haggle Vinyl in Islington where you would thumb through the records whilst listening to the colourful language and stories of the owner Lyn.
To deter shop lifters he once put a sign up saying something like the last person to thieve a few records in this shop is no longer with us R.I.P. JOHN !

The norf, as in norf of Watford or Birmingham, or simply north of the Thames up to Golders Green?

I don't think the North is particularly favoured - much of it does not have the "benefits" of the South - though the benefits seem to be choking the southerly parts of these isles to a standstill. The reason Marco can drive around quite easily is because relatively few people live in that part of the country.

[struth]

I think the problem too is that folks these days are more 'mainstream minded' than ever, due to how easy everything has become available to buy on the Internet, and so it encourages both lazy thinking (a mentality of 'if it's not under your nose, it doesn't exist'), and laziness also in terms of it being far easier to click a mouse, and order music from the likes of Amazon, than haul your ass into town and seek out some independent record shops.

I can understand that behaviour, but don't condone it, as it has partly contributed to the death of many a high street... Plus, there's also the factor to consider of how easy it is to get out and about where you live.

I'm lucky where I live, as I can jump in the car and go where I like, and not encounter much (if any) traffic congestion, or difficulties in finding somewhere to park, but if I lived somewhere else where that wasn't the case, or horror of horrors, had to rely on public transport and mingle with the 'great unwashed', to get around, then I might be more tempted to stay put and click that mouse!

Marco.

think it reflects on the point you made earlier on many folk chasing their ass working that they have little time to do anything bar order online. this of course means that more shops close and rates go up closing more shops... catch 22

[tapid]

I must now be part of the 'great unwashed' then as I use the bus and train all the time, can't remember the last time I drove into Cardiff . . . months ago. If I'm not on the bus/train I will often walk the 4.5 miles or use a Nextbike to get about, the car gets used for concerts and longer journey's only.

That 'congestion' is caused by those who look down on the great unwashed, but get pissed off whilst sitting in a traffic jam - catch-22. I read a book whilst travelling or listen to music. My main motivation is the impact using a vehicle has on the environment and secondly, fitness (it's also cheaper a lot of the time). I adopted this mindset about 6 years ago now and it's benefits are many.

Yeah round N.W London no need for motor at all walk, bus, train its all good and the service is superb in my view.

[Marco]

I must now be part of the 'great unwashed' then as I use the bus and train all the time, can't remember the last time I drove into Cardiff . . . months ago. If I'm not on the bus/train I will often walk the 4.5 miles or use a Nextbike to get about, the car gets used for concerts and longer journey's only.

That 'congestion' is caused by those who look down on the great unwashed, but get pissed off whilst sitting in a traffic jam - catch-22. I read a book whilst travelling or listen to music. My main motivation is the impact using a vehicle has on the environment and secondly, fitness (it's also cheaper a lot of the time). I adopted this mindset about 6 years ago now and it's benefits are many.

Lol... My comments were tongue-in-cheek, daftee!

I admire you for using public transport, as it's the 'greener' option, and also if the services are efficient where you are, to facilitate convenient travelling, then that's good. Around here, they're not, and as such it would be a massive time-consuming faff and inconvenience for me to go anywhere, other than into Wrexham or Chester (as it's just one bus, direct), if I didn't have a car.

In and around Cardiff, where you are, as far as public transport is concerned, is a different world from here in Wrexham, where the infrastructure isn't anything like as good. We're much more 'disconnected', in that respect, which actually suits me just fine!

Plus, I'm simply used to being able to go where I want, *when* I want, without relying on anyone else, and I detest queues of any description, or standing around waiting for buses or trains, so that's why I'm very much 'conditioned' to travelling by car. I just like the convenience and freedom it provides

Marco.