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Support Your Local Record Shop!

5:07 PM GMT 14/04/2008

Support Your Local Record Shop!

FOR THE LAST FEW decades, Dub Vendor in Ladbroke Grove has been one of London’s most notable reggae institutions. During the 1980s, the cramped interior of the original shop, squeezed behind the tube station entrance, was a wondrous cavern of Jamaican pre-release, old school dub and up-to-the minute UK reggae recordings, some of which Vendor’s staff had a hand in creating.

The friendly, knowledgeable employees often directed me to hidden treasures, furthering my reggae education. And sometimes recording stars would materialise, adding to the authenticity of the experience. In recent years, the shop occupied a larger space across the road, selling CDs, vinyl, and reggae publications. Sad news, then, that the shop is soon to close its doors, yet another quality record store succumbing to the online onslaught of Amazon, Play.com and MP3 downloads, legal or otherwise.

And yet there remains no substitute for a visit to a good old, proper record shop, where folks who know music inside-out turn you on to as-yet unknown pleasures.

An online trawl will never yield the same result, as MP3 sound samples will never match the visceral experience of hearing music through proper sound systems, which is why surviving London shops like dance specialist Phonica and Soho’s cosmopolitan Sounds Of The Universe are so precious. Many internet sites don’t respond to email queries, and some virtual vendors are not really familiar with the music they sell, but in a physical shop, the disc hits the turntable and queries are answered instantaneously.

Record shops offer additional elements that can never be provided by the internet, such as in-store performances and album launches. Indeed, one of the most memorable gigs I experienced of late was a brilliant solo set by Karsh Kale of Tabla Beat Science in San Francisco’s Amoeba Records, just one of the diverse acts featured there weekly. And on April 19th, there will be much more of the same across the UK and USA as independent record stores celebrate Record Shop Day, featuring a cornucopia of special events and in-store appearances to remind the public of the crucially important role record shops play in music’s dissemination.

And lest we forget, there is also a social aspect to the record shop experience that can never be provided by the internet. Lasting friendships have been formed in record shops, and I even know married couples whose eyes first met over Lovers Rock, A-G. It’s all the more reason to get out there and show your support on Record Shop Day; even if you don’t come home with the best piece of music you ever heard, who knows? You might just run into the love of your life.

David Katz

Do you, like the young Conor Oberst, get over-excited about your local record store? Care to big it up on MOJO4music? Or do you have record shop memories to share? Like the time you bumped into Bruce Springsteen in Probe? We’re all ears...

Posted by Danny_Eccleston at 5:07 PM GMT 14/04/2008

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  • nice one- record store was and is my therapy.
    Nothing better then flipping through vinyl.

    Posted by HappyParts at 9:27 PM GMT 15/04/2008 Report Abuse

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  • RE: HappyParts i got my musical education hanging out in record shops. i bought my first record from mr beardy himself at virgin in brighton, back when they had 2 shops, one on oxfird st and one in brighton at the clock tower. it was acopy of bridge over troubled waters.friday was release day and i can remember pulling a sicky when a big new release was out.

    Posted by Long Ben Avery at 1:09 PM GMT 16/04/2008 Report Abuse

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  • Довольно занятная запись. Внес Ваш ресурс в избранное. Спасибо.

    Posted by Вместен at 3:56 PM GMT 23/02/2009 Report Abuse

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  • Оп, оп , опа ниху..

    Posted by Пацан at 12:16 PM GMT 24/02/2009 Report Abuse

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  • Очень интересная статья. Внес Ваш ресурс в закладки. Спасибо.

    Posted by Вместен at 9:35 PM GMT 01/03/2009 Report Abuse

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  • У меня такая же ситуация была. только вот проблему решал более трудным путем ((

    Posted by Vadik at 10:34 PM GMT 28/03/2009 Report Abuse

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  • а я больше всётаки по части тюнинга…

    Posted by PeaphypeBax at 8:45 PM GMT 02/04/2009 Report Abuse

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  • Классно

    Posted by PeaphypeBax at 9:08 PM GMT 02/04/2009 Report Abuse

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  • Сейчас кроме нашей основной деятельности не стоит забывать о регулярной антикризисной медитации всем

    Posted by Ezoterraa at 5:20 PM GMT 05/04/2009 Report Abuse

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  • Хочу купить авто, какое посоветуете?

    Posted by PeaphypeBax at 6:50 PM GMT 06/04/2009 Report Abuse

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  • Не загорами куча выходных я на пример на дачу рвану с ящиком пива , а Вы куда ?

    Posted by seoplayboyy at 12:49 AM GMT 08/04/2009 Report Abuse

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  • Говорят что цены на курортах , несмотря на кризис будут только расти, кто слышал?

    Posted by LadaDens at 3:52 PM GMT 08/04/2009 Report Abuse

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  • первый пост – просто жесть:)

    Posted by PeaphypeBax at 8:58 PM GMT 09/04/2009 Report Abuse

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  • Кто смотрит до сих пор старые мультфильмы?

    Posted by moneyworldinvest at 11:59 PM GMT 09/04/2009 Report Abuse

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  • Я б такой что б запретить такую охоту вообще

    Posted by ebun at 9:11 PM GMT 10/04/2009 Report Abuse

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  • Даже не знаю есть ли смысл тут говорить о чьих то авторских правах...

    Posted by vashiprava at 5:09 AM GMT 11/04/2009 Report Abuse

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  • Современные игры - опаснее старых или нет?

    Posted by gamer_r at 5:09 PM GMT 11/04/2009 Report Abuse

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  • Видео - это зло или добро?

    Posted by videomastera_a at 7:24 PM GMT 11/04/2009 Report Abuse

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  • а я больше всётаки по части тюнинга…

    Posted by PeaphypeBax at 11:49 AM GMT 14/04/2009 Report Abuse

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  • Если татуировки и пирсинг на теле человека стали уже привычным явлением, то автомобиль с пирсингом станет неизменным центром внимания. Идея такого украшени уже появилась ;).

    Posted by PeaphypeBax at 12:11 PM GMT 14/04/2009 Report Abuse

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  • CHERY это китайская компания по производству автомобилей, полностью переводится, как SAIC-Chery Automobile, а как это переводиться?:)

    Posted by PeaphypeBax at 1:17 PM GMT 14/04/2009 Report Abuse

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  • С тебя бутылка! Пока тут все читал, от удивления голово ебнулся об стол и разбил (голову в смысле).

    Posted by chuvachok at 3:04 PM GMT 14/04/2009 Report Abuse

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  • Давайте лучше о приколах поговорим, а то не только ж яше прикалываться

    Posted by luckysms at 7:06 PM GMT 19/04/2009 Report Abuse

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  • Кто что утром по телеку смотрит?

    Posted by neopromo at 2:07 PM GMT 20/04/2009 Report Abuse

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  • Чтобы по читать на досуге, только не про кризис

    Posted by prezotera at 5:45 PM GMT 20/04/2009 Report Abuse

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  • Слышал продолжение телепузиков снимают

    Posted by rusonlineinvest at 1:38 AM GMT 21/04/2009 Report Abuse

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  • Блин как все достало хочу на море!

    Posted by skyproject at 4:42 AM GMT 21/04/2009 Report Abuse

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  • На тему постоянных изменений в поиске говорили уже все

    Posted by webolimpiksochicom at 11:01 AM GMT 21/04/2009 Report Abuse

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  • Давайте объединимся и вместе запустим серьезный проект , тем более сейчас это модно и называется коворкинг. Вместе все же веселее.

    Posted by seoplayboyy at 6:16 AM GMT 24/04/2009 Report Abuse

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  • Сегодня наблюдал как у соседа банк машину забрал. Никого больше не коснулось?

    Posted by gsolll at 10:05 PM GMT 25/04/2009 Report Abuse

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  • Распланировали свои майские праздники?

    Posted by kkypalo at 5:25 AM GMT 26/04/2009 Report Abuse

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  • Кто как шутит про кризис?

    Posted by lladadenss at 3:15 AM GMT 27/04/2009 Report Abuse

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  • Видел опубликовали фотки с базами на Луне.

    Posted by posvistickk at 8:04 AM GMT 27/04/2009 Report Abuse

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  • Так зачитался, что пропустил бы любимую передачу ;)

    Posted by Bicaddick at 11:48 PM GMT 19/10/2009 Report Abuse

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  • Достаточно интересная и познавательная инфа

    Posted by voidgeageds at 7:33 AM GMT 25/10/2009 Report Abuse

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  • Отлично написано. Позитива конечно не хватает, но читал на одном дыхании

    Posted by cleansada at 7:00 AM GMT 26/10/2009 Report Abuse

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  • Здравствуйте вы не с челнов ?
    Мне нужна поставка роз и тюльпанов в челны оптом. До 30 руб за зтуку. Желательно быстрая доставка на продажу !
    писать на почту fasili@mail.ru

    Posted by Mpeg at 4:14 AM GMT 28/10/2009 Report Abuse

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  • Позновательно!!!!

    Posted by TrurgyFug at 11:58 AM GMT 29/10/2009 Report Abuse

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