Neuro Posted December 10, 2007 Report Share Posted December 10, 2007 My local record store in Durham, Concepts, has gone bust after many years of wonderful service. It was one of the last kind of "proper" record stores you've all doubtless read about but of which we are seeing less and less. It was a tiny shop, the staff would hold back tunes for regulars if they thought a new import would be of interest to them, and I'd spend ages on the 1210s listening to the incredible array of music they had every week. I used to go in there when I first arrived at Uni, getting to know the staff, and was a regular until my year in Spain, ultimately picking up some wonderful tunes on very small labels, and some very obscure promos too. I'm so sad to see it go...... when the sign is taken down, and that white paint goes up in the windows so you can't see in... This worries me slightly in that I personally can't see how I'm ever going to be able to explore that 'obscure' avenue of dance music's tiny labels in the hunt for good tunes - there's no outlet for them. I guess I'm going to have to do some proper scouting on the Internet to feed my desire. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simcut Posted December 10, 2007 Report Share Posted December 10, 2007 such a shame :-( Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Max Kane Posted December 10, 2007 Report Share Posted December 10, 2007 The two best record stores I used to visit were Massive & the exceptional Three Shades in Birmingham, both were great places to go vinyl hunting. Massive used to throw parties in their basement on occasion too, they had Sasha play an exclusive set there when he launched 'Involver' & Marco V for 'Combi:Nations' Three Shades was always a good place to go too, Paul Thomas (Gods ressie) worked there & used to make sure he reserved me the best trance releases when they came in on import every thursday, happy days Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JasonB Posted December 10, 2007 Report Share Posted December 10, 2007 I feel sad every time I hear any big chain or small one off that served the vinyl community independent closes (most of em I read about in record collector and especially earlier this year when my local ceased). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigsteve Posted December 10, 2007 Report Share Posted December 10, 2007 Unfortunately, its progress. The internet has a lot to answer for, but I bet none of us could do without it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wakey Posted December 10, 2007 Report Share Posted December 10, 2007 In Derby we used to have a lot of choice for vinyl. There was a shop called BPM which is now closed (think they still have one in Leicester), Promo Records opened a shop but shut it and now only have one in Burton. An independent shop called Reveal used to sell quite a lot, they still sell some but not as many these days. Virgin has closed down, HMV has significantly reduced the amount they sell and only really sell commercial stuff now. And another shop opened and shut within a year. So now we only have HMV and Reveal. As Steve says it's the Internet, to be honest, I'm glad that I did used to enjoy going record shopping when I was younger have experienced some of the old independent shops when they were good. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wakey Posted December 10, 2007 Report Share Posted December 10, 2007 The two best record stores I used to visit were Massive & the exceptional Three Shades in Birmingham, both were great places to go vinyl hunting. Massive used to throw parties in their basement on occasion too, they had Sasha play an exclusive set there when he launched 'Involver' & Marco V for 'Combi:Nations' Is that Massive in Oxford? I visited Massive in Oxford once by chance, really good shop. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Briggsy Posted December 10, 2007 Report Share Posted December 10, 2007 The two best record stores I used to visit were Massive & the exceptional Three Shades in Birmingham, both were great places to go vinyl hunting. Those were my locals too. Three Shades was a superb shop! Very very well priced, and the staff were always helpful. Massive was ok, but not a patch on the Oxford shop. I always got the impression that the Birmingham shop had the cast-offs that couldn't sell at the Oxford shop. Russell in the Oxford shop was a top chap. He always kept things by for me, and always helped if I wanted a tune, but wasn't quite sure of the title. He even played tunes down the phone to me on occasions to make sure we were both talking on the same wavelength. Legend! I miss vinyl shopping, but to be honest, if the internet died tomorrow, i'd miss MP3 shopping now too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Judge Mental Posted December 10, 2007 Report Share Posted December 10, 2007 Not sure if anyone else here has it, but I bought Serato Scratch a wee while ago, and besides my decks, its the best thing I've ever bought. Fair enough you don't have the same kinda one on one contact you have like in a record shop, but the amount of stuff you can find soooo fast is incredible if you know where to look, and with Serato, its the exact same, if not better, than mixing bought records. Can't recommend it highly enough, well worth the £300 I paid for it, in the long run. I've basically doubled my record collection since I bought it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wakey Posted December 11, 2007 Report Share Posted December 11, 2007 My mate has Serato and it is indeed very good! I was going to spend some money I've saved on some CDJs but I thinkt that Serato would be more value for money as I can use it with my existing record decks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Max Kane Posted December 11, 2007 Report Share Posted December 11, 2007 Is that Massive in Oxford? I visited Massive in Oxford once by chance, really good shop. It's the same chain mate, but the Birmingham one is now closed & has been for about 2 yrs Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Uberduck Posted December 11, 2007 Report Share Posted December 11, 2007 Yes Wakey. There is still a BPM in Leicester. That used to be wicked for up-front hard house tracks as the scene for it in Leicester was always so strong. I remember a site called Dot.Vinyl that opened a store. That used to have some really good promos and the site was pretty user friendly. It went rapidly downhill though and the site used to get months out of date. I used to go to a little shop in Stockport that dealt mainly in D&B, Hardcore and old tape packs but he used to get some wicked trance. The guy was a total vinyl pusher. One of those sorts that pick dozen of 'recommendations' for you . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bjorn Posted December 12, 2007 Report Share Posted December 12, 2007 My mate works at that BPM in Leicester, top bloke he is - very helpful with all his customers! Do u know him Wakey? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wakey Posted December 12, 2007 Report Share Posted December 12, 2007 lol depends what his name is?! I've known a few of the BPM employees over the years. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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