british record shop archive

The record shop was once the centre of every music lover's universe, from the beginnings of the vinyl 12 inch in the 1940's through to the digital music developments of the 1990's, millions of us browsed, socialised and bought music in our local record shop or high street department stores. Record shops were an integral part of the social fabric in local areas. They launched pop stars, record labels, and were focal points for emerging music genres. The aim of this site is to record the history of the record shop in an accessible archive, to hold intrinsic details that could get lost in the mix, and to celebrate the role that the record shop played.

We are looking for memories through stories,anecdotes, comments, photographs, videos, record shop bags, posters and more. For example, what was your first record and where did you buy it?
Or information like the fact that rock musicians Julian Cope, Dead or Alive front man Pete Burns (celebrity Big Brother, 2006), and Frankie Goes to Hollywood vocalist/dancer Paul Rutherford all spent a number of years working in Probe record shop in Liverpool between 1977 and 1984.

On this website you will find a easily searchable catalogue of record shops through the ages. You can make comments/blog about each shop or for more detailed contributions please email recordshoparchive@btinternet.com

This web site is constantly updated and will change as it develops. If you spot any misinformation please contact us and we will correct it. Below is a donation button if you like this website and would like to support its development. This will help cover web costs and also purchase of things like Shop bags. Thank you for your contributions. Also, you can support the archive by purchasing one fo the limited t-shirts available here It's In The Bag

We are also interested in buying records and you can contact us a by calling 0207-639-2803/07799271699 or email the above. The curator also can be hired as a DJ for specialist events.

For example I have this bag I have and also sticker below. This all I have no other information. Hopefully someone will recall this shop .

Thanks to Frank from East Dulwich market for supplying me the sticker.