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Lost record shops of Glasgow

PostPosted: Wed Nov 10, 2004 1:43 pm
by JayKay
Haveing spent a great deal of my time/money in these over the years, here's an incomplete list...

Tower, Argyle Street.

(had the best back catalogue selection and imports, good selection of US magazines and books. tended to be expensive though)

HMV, Union Street

(The original HMV in Glasgow, went downhill in its later years although wasnt up to much in the first place)

Virgin, Union Street

(A genuinely exciting shop when it first opened. Tons of non-mainsteam records* and a fairly subversive attitude. Originally had a cloakroom at the door to deter shoplifters. For a while had it's own head shop concession (stone age) selling dope relater paraphernalia. Needless to say went downhill after a massive corporate makeover)

Missing Records, Union Street

(Possibly the greatest record shop in Glasgow. Two floors - new on the ground floor, 2nd hand below, along with the space invaders machines and posters memorabilia etc. tended towards a metal/punk crowd, occasional scene of mod revivalist/rocker ruckus in the early/mid 80s.) Shop is now an internet cafe.

Bloggs Records, Union Street

(More or less across the road from Missing, IIRC smaller and stocked with more new wave/post punk obscurities) Shop is now a starbucks.

Rat Records

(Glasgow's finest in the late 80's early 90s. Originally in Virginia Galleries, then Buchanan Street, although before Virginia Galleries it was originally a music memorabila/badges/posters shop in Decourceys -hence the name - Records And Things. Best source of pre/post grunge and indie from US and UK. Once held a memorable singing session with Sonic Youth on their Daydream Nation tour. Expanded by opening the basement of the shop to stock second hand and IIRC a small clothes shop. Closed down due to the council hitting the owner with a massive bill to renovate the front of the shop.) Shop is now a Greggs.

*forgotten name already, Byres Road

(Two shops side by side, one selling new the other reduced price stock and second hand. Often had a few decent obscurities and exceptional offers. Apparently run by former staff of Bloggs or Listen, although I could be wrong. Source of many new releases at the best price in Glasgow)

Record Exchange, Jamaica Street

(recent casualty. A very odd shop that stocked tons of easy listening mid price rubbish and the occasional gem priced in a way that suggested they had no idea. Often a good source of newly released non-mainstream or indie stuff at ridiculously low prices. Seemed to have had a copy of "Get yer ya yas out" by the Rolling stones in the window for decades.)

A1 Records (renfield Street)

(originally a small shop in the Savoy Centre, expanded into a shop oppsite BHS. Great shop, loads of great stuff. Bought the first Mary Chain single there when it was in Savoy Centre. Eventually changed into Fopp.) Shop is now a newsagent.

Others worthy of mention - Fiesta records, Union Street (small shop in a basement, new stuff only) Branch of Missing in Trongate (mostly selling oow budget stuff) and in the What everies building just off Argyle Steet. (with huge basement for second hand and ticket sales, although smelling of sewage regularly)

There are others whose name escapes me - a second hand shop opposite STV in Renfield Steet, one in Byres Road near Partick Cross and another in a street running down to Dumbarton Road (Realistic records?).

( *Records - black shiny vinyl things. Much bigger than CDs and not as portable as an MP3)

PostPosted: Wed Nov 10, 2004 2:08 pm
by skintobalinto
23rd Precinct Records in Bath St.

Discus, Kilmarnock Road Shawlands

Lismor Records in Shawlands Arcade I think it was also known as Tempo Tapes

Record Stores from My Youth.

PostPosted: Wed Nov 10, 2004 2:20 pm
by Seamey
From the 80s

There was a small record shop on the ground floor of De Courcey's Arcade that only ever seemed to sell Postcard Records, such as Aztec Camera and Orange Juice.

Bloggs was also Listen, was great for getting patches of all your favourite bands. Wasn't the shop at the top of Byres Road also called Listen?

PostPosted: Wed Nov 10, 2004 2:23 pm
by skintobalinto
I think my brain is melting, lismor records were on Kilmarnock Rd and Tempo Tapes were in Shawlands Arcade.

Lismor sold traditional Scottish Country Music.

Re: Lost record shops of Glasgow

PostPosted: Wed Nov 10, 2004 2:33 pm
by stinkpad
JayKay wrote:*forgotten name already, Byres Road

(Two shops side by side, one selling new the other reduced price stock and second hand. Often had a few decent obscurities and exceptional offers. Apparently run by former staff of Bloggs or Listen, although I could be wrong. Source of many new releases at the best price in Glasgow)


Echo?

Re: Lost record shops of Glasgow

PostPosted: Wed Nov 10, 2004 2:33 pm
by red_kola
The one I really miss (untill Broadband and soulseek :wink: ) was John Smith's on Byres Road. The record shop on the 2nd floor was amazing...

Re: Lost record shops of Glasgow

PostPosted: Wed Nov 10, 2004 2:38 pm
by Seamey
stinkpad wrote:
JayKay wrote:*forgotten name already, Byres Road

(Two shops side by side, one selling new the other reduced price stock and second hand. Often had a few decent obscurities and exceptional offers. Apparently run by former staff of Bloggs or Listen, although I could be wrong. Source of many new releases at the best price in Glasgow)


Echo?


I'm sure it became Echo after being Listen

PostPosted: Wed Nov 10, 2004 2:42 pm
by JayKay
You're right, Echo it was. I dont remember it being Listen but as I said i recon it was the guys from Listen that ran it so it's quite possible.

Another thumbs up to the John Smiths record shop in Byres Road. During its closing down sale I picked up Dylan Royal Albert Hall show CD for £3 as they had hunners of them and wanted rid of them. Picked up tons of stuff there over the years.

Oh, and on my original post I put "missing records, Union steet" when I actually meant Listen in Union Street." :oops:

PostPosted: Wed Nov 10, 2004 2:52 pm
by DMcNay
Whiplash Records in the Virginia Galleries.

Owned by David and Kenny Burns, who are now (I think) in charge of A1 Comics.

PostPosted: Wed Nov 10, 2004 3:00 pm
by JayKay
I'd forgotten about Whiplash. They took over from Rat Records after Rat moved to Buchanan Street IIRC.

Another I just remembered was Casa in Sauchihall Street. Opened IIRC in the early 70s specialising in the then high tech cassette tape format. In later years specialised in Scottish, folk, classical and opera.

PostPosted: Wed Nov 10, 2004 3:31 pm
by Seamey
It was Listen that became Missing, not Bloggs. It still had two floors. I remember seeing Stiff Little Fingers doing a signing session before a gig at the Apollo.

PostPosted: Wed Nov 10, 2004 4:22 pm
by JayKay
Yeah, that's what (I think) I meant

Listen was the one with two floors, new records on ground floor, second hand & merchandise etc below. I spent far too long down there looking at second hand AC/DC albums. I still have a Syd Barrett 2LP that I bought there.

It's now an internet cafe, previously an Oxfam shop.

It did re-open under a different name for a while, although only on one floor and was IIRC a bit crap.

Bloggs was across the road, in the corner of the old cinema building IIRC and its now a Starbucks.

Re: Lost record shops of Glasgow

PostPosted: Wed Nov 10, 2004 4:41 pm
by dazza
red_kola wrote:The one I really miss (untill Broadband and soulseek :wink: ) was John Smith's on Byres Road. The record shop on the 2nd floor was amazing...


Agreed. They had some great stuff that you just wouldn't find anywhere else.

PostPosted: Wed Nov 10, 2004 4:52 pm
by JamesMc
JayKay wrote:
Another I just remembered was Casa in Sauchihall Street. Opened IIRC in the early 70s specialising in the then high tech cassette tape format. In later years specialised in Scottish, folk, classical and opera.


I was thrown out of Casa a few years back for listening to my own personal stereo when browsing the second hand Vinyl. A very stern older woman gave me a telling off and told me to leave. Unbelievable.

PostPosted: Wed Nov 10, 2004 5:20 pm
by cumbo
Anyone remember Glorias record bar on Battlefield Road close to Langside Bus garage?I think it might have been Tom Russel (late night rock show fame)who owned it? I also think it moved to Mount Florida early 70's. :?: