Support Your Local Record Shop!

5:07 PM GMT 14/04/2008

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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Click here for House Rules

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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