Global Records

Global Records- The Early Years Global Record Sales was owned by Ed Balbier, a native of Philadelphia who had a shop there in the early 1960s then a deletions business by the mid 60s(ref Billboard magazine) By the late 60s he had a warehouse on North Broad Street stacked full of deleted albums and 45s that most US record buyers had no interest in.Somehow he found out that these records were a lot more valuable in the UK so by the early 1970s had relocated his family and set up business on Cross Street in Manchester. It was in a basement, had no shop window or sign so advertised in the music press. The bulk of the business was selling the imported albums and singles to shops throughout the UK. Members of the public had to buy from a list or a small selection of new arrivals that a member of staff would bring out. I started buying northern soul singles around 1971/2 when the most expensive ones were £1.25. Derek Howe, later of HMV and Beatin' Rhythm, worked there as the staff member who would know which records were in demand. Not having much spare money my purchases were limited but all are now very expensive titles. Ed Balbier didn't have anything to do with selling to the public and tried to avoid all contact with "kids" as he called us. As the business grew he needed more space so moved to a larger second floor property on Princess Street. He still had the warehouse in Philadelphia and would send shipments from there using air freight or for larger quantities, a container load by sea. By this time Derek had left and others that followed include noted northern soul DJs Barry Tasker and Richard Searling. I used to go once a week usually buying a couple of singles.