Tony Smith's Kettering
Alf Bailey’s music shop in Gold Street, pictured here in 1985, was one of Kettering’s best-loved independent record stores. It opened just after World War One selling musical instruments, sheet music and (later) gramophone records. Alf Bailey was a professor of music and piano teacher, who conducted his own orchestra. He was also a local impresario who booked acts for the Victoria Hall when it became a theatre in 1907. In its final decades, the shop opposite the Post Office arcade (now Newlands) was run by Alf’s grandson Graham Bailey, known to locate the most obscure records for customer
In the 1970s I asked Graham if he could get me an obscure solo album by Holger Czukay, which featured a track recorded in quadraphonic sound. Not only did he know the track, but he also knew the name of the album and that Czukay was bass player with the German experimental rock band Can. Needless to say, I collected it a few days later - RESPECT!
I spent a fortune in that shop! A wonderful man. My funniest recollection of him was me asking for Je t’aime. Being a youngster I was interested in the cover! Alf proceeded to put the record in a plain sleeve,,, the look on his face when I said I only want it for the cover! ( he did put it back in the cover for me!)
Loved this shop, bought my first records there, the listening booths were magic x
I remember pressing my nose against the window to look at the albums on display in the window. and then this is where I bought my first ever 45 record in 1972 David Bowie Jean Genie - still got it!
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