by JayKay » Wed Nov 10, 2004 1:43 pm
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)
*value of posts can go down as well as up.