H.M.V Oxford Street
I wish HMV would bring back those listening booths they used to have in Oxford Street. I spent many a happy Saturday listening to the latest LPs by the likes of Cliff Richard and Kenny Ball. Didn't need to buy any! Comment: Facebook Group Barry Shaw
Harry Partch - Delusion Of Fury - 1971 Columbia
Bought in London at HMV, Oxford Street, London. I have only the haziest memory of when I first heard of this guy. I believe that it was Tony Visconti, my oft-times producer, who clued me in. A madman of sorts and certainly a one time hobo, Partch set about inventing and making dozens of the most extraordinary instruments (When was the last time you saw someone playing the Bloboy, the Eucal Blossom or the Spoils of War. How do you tune a Spoils of War, I wonder?) then, between the 1930s and the 1970s, wrote wondrous and evocative compositions for them, his subjects ranging from mythology to days riding the trains during the depression. 'Delusion' represents the best overview of what Parch got up to. By turns creepy as hell then positively rocking. Having chosen a musical path that departed from the mainstream composers, he laid the ground for people like Terry Riley and La Monte Young.
David Bowie
Sounds Of My Universe.
"I bought Every Picture Tells a Story before anyone else got it, and then it became a huge album, because it was like I was a part of it, or something, before anyone else got into it."
For Jones, it may have been a badge of honor, but for a kid who stole his way through adolescence (he'd proudly accumulated 13 pricey Ben Sherman shirts and numerous pairs of Doc Martens at one point), the tale holds special meaning.
"I don't think you could steal records," Jones tells me when I press him as to why he didn't simply purloin the album. "No, I actually bought Rod Stewart 1971 album Every Picture Tells a Story. I even remember where I bought it: I bought it at HMV on Oxford Street, on a Saturday afternoon. But I don't know why I paid for it, now that you ask. I don't know, but I guess that must mean something."
Steve Jones, Sex Pistols
My interest in records stems from a very early age (about eight) although this would have been at schoolfriends’ houses as we
didn’t have a record player in our house until I was nine. The first record I ever bought (or rather had bought for me by my
parents) was an instrumental ‘Atlantis’ by The Shadows which present research shows was released in May 1963. But it was
the second record that really kicked things off for me – an EP by the Beatles ‘Twist and Shout’ with three other songs that I
can still list today. This was released in July 1963, five months before my tenth birthday. I cannot remember where all my
very early singles were bought but probably Harrods record department because Dad was very fond of making shopping
trips there at weekends. My enthusiasm never waned. I got a job as a Saturday boy at the HMV shop in Oxford Street just before Christmas 1969 and when I left college a year later I went to work there full time. I stayed until I got a promotion to work for EMI records at Manchester Square in 1973.
Happy days!
Paul Randell
Patrick Friesner: My earliest record-buying memories: Avalon, by the Benny Goodman Quartet - bought in 1940, probably at HMV Oxford Street. At that time, records were very hard to obtain. I was 11 years of age, and I am now 83 years old.
Barbara Neill
Incidentally, when I worked there in the mid-seventies, HMV Oxford Street was hailed as the largest record shop in the world. There were four floors of music! Classical in the basement, Rock and Pop on the first floor, (state of the art!) cassettes in the top floor and everything else on the ground floor, (Folk, Blues, Jazz, Easy Listening, International, Humour and Nostalgia) (2022)
Harry Partch - Delusion Of Fury - 1971 Columbia
Bought in London at HMV, Oxford Street, London. I have only the haziest memory of when I first heard of this guy. I believe that it was Tony Visconti, my oft-times producer, who clued me in. A madman of sorts and certainly a one time hobo, Partch set about inventing and making dozens of the most extraordinary instruments (When was the last time you saw someone playing the Bloboy, the Eucal Blossom or the Spoils of War. How do you tune a Spoils of War, I wonder?) then, between the 1930s and the 1970s, wrote wondrous and evocative compositions for them, his subjects ranging from mythology to days riding the trains during the depression. 'Delusion' represents the best overview of what Parch got up to. By turns creepy as hell then positively rocking. Having chosen a musical path that departed from the mainstream composers, he laid the ground for people like Terry Riley and La Monte Young.
David Bowie
Sounds Of My Universe.
"I bought Every Picture Tells a Story before anyone else got it, and then it became a huge album, because it was like I was a part of it, or something, before anyone else got into it."
For Jones, it may have been a badge of honor, but for a kid who stole his way through adolescence (he'd proudly accumulated 13 pricey Ben Sherman shirts and numerous pairs of Doc Martens at one point), the tale holds special meaning.
"I don't think you could steal records," Jones tells me when I press him as to why he didn't simply purloin the album. "No, I actually bought Rod Stewart 1971 album Every Picture Tells a Story. I even remember where I bought it: I bought it at HMV on Oxford Street, on a Saturday afternoon. But I don't know why I paid for it, now that you ask. I don't know, but I guess that must mean something."
Steve Jones, Sex Pistols
My interest in records stems from a very early age (about eight) although this would have been at schoolfriends’ houses as we
didn’t have a record player in our house until I was nine. The first record I ever bought (or rather had bought for me by my
parents) was an instrumental ‘Atlantis’ by The Shadows which present research shows was released in May 1963. But it was
the second record that really kicked things off for me – an EP by the Beatles ‘Twist and Shout’ with three other songs that I
can still list today. This was released in July 1963, five months before my tenth birthday. I cannot remember where all my
very early singles were bought but probably Harrods record department because Dad was very fond of making shopping
trips there at weekends. My enthusiasm never waned. I got a job as a Saturday boy at the HMV shop in Oxford Street just before Christmas 1969 and when I left college a year later I went to work there full time. I stayed until I got a promotion to work for EMI records at Manchester Square in 1973.
Happy days!
Paul Randell
Patrick Friesner: My earliest record-buying memories: Avalon, by the Benny Goodman Quartet - bought in 1940, probably at HMV Oxford Street. At that time, records were very hard to obtain. I was 11 years of age, and I am now 83 years old.
Barbara Neill
Incidentally, when I worked there in the mid-seventies, HMV Oxford Street was hailed as the largest record shop in the world. There were four floors of music! Classical in the basement, Rock and Pop on the first floor, (state of the art!) cassettes in the top floor and everything else on the ground floor, (Folk, Blues, Jazz, Easy Listening, International, Humour and Nostalgia) (2022)
Jill Crouch
1981 I was working there, charged with helping to look after the talent. I asked Ian if he'd like any product while he was there... he opened his coat to reveal he'd already helped himself
1985 HMV upgrade.
Extract from "Some Fantastic Place".
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International Times 1969
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Renee Starrett
That was a hilarious night. Morten signed the graphic behind him “Elvis.” It was pandemonium.
Reply18h
Lee Palmer
I recall holding back the barriers outside with crazy, screaming, mental crowds of young ladies and not understanding why □. Not as bad as Bros at 150 though □□
Reply15h
George Bradley
Lee Palmer I remember the BROS signing. Was mad
Reply11h
Steven Fullman
And Bobby Brown when Oxford St came to a standstill and we all had to push back on that big plastic security barrier that used to come down at the front of the store…..George Bradley and Lesley Watson will remember that!
Reply10h
Lesley Watson
Steven Fullman remember very well, didn't one if security get a broken wrist from holding the shuttle with everyone pushing on it □
Reply9h
George Bradley
Steven Fullman oh yes
Reply9h
Jim McMahon
A young Mr Dick on the right
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Mark Williams ran The Jazz Dept.
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