Originally Posted by
Barry
We had an Andy's Records here in Chelmsford (doubt if it was the same "Andy's" as yours) and it was excellent: wide range of music with a very helpful and knowledgeable staff. We also had a couple of other, smaller record shops, but all of them, including Andy's were pushed out by that useless behemoth known as HMV!
I know that Andy's were a local chain I think started in Cambridge with several branches in East Anglia but Chelmsford might have been a different one.
I daresay like most towns Bedford was decent for buying music in the early 80's with Andy's, Our Price, WH Smith, Boots, Woolworths and Littlewoods all selling records and tapes.
The Bedford HMV shut late 80's and once Andy's moved from the High Street it wasn't the same.
HMV did return years later but by then they didn't sell what I was buying and I had discovered the long gone and much lamented 'Barney's' in St. Neots.
Go back a generation and my Dad was buying his music from electrical shops in Bedford.
Edit for some drift - You mention Chelmsford - I was 'based' from an office in Great Baddow for a while with a previous job but I have have never actually shopped in Chelmsford.
I also have relatives nearby who are Automotive Engineers based in Margaretting, Ingatestone.
Small World.
Best Wishes
Christopher D
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