Name: Tony Burke.
Comment: I was trying to remember the name of the shop in Stockport where I bought a stack of Minit albums including Ernie K Doe last week - then this reminded me it was Ralph's. I got copies of We Sing The Blues and others from there circa 1976.
Name: Pete Chappell
Comment: Remember both these shops in Manchester and Stockport.
I'm from Stockport and my first single that I bought was Come And Get It by Badfinger on the Apple label in 1970 from the branch on Underbank.
I was always in Manchester around Victoria Station, mainly to get the 'Football Special' trains following Manchester United everywhere.
I used to always pop in to Ralph's Records at 3 Corporation Street and I remember buying my 1st 'US' Northern Soul import by Bob Relf, Blowing My Mind To Pieces on the yellow Trans-Atlantic label. I've still got it. You could always get rare imports from that particular shop in Manchester but not so much the branch in Stockport.
(29 August 2014)
Name: Julie Gardner
Comment: I am trying to remember the name of the record shop on Princess Street, Stockport in the 1970s. and it wasnt Sifters. Any ideas?
(16 July 2014)
Name: Michelle Brown
Comment: I worked at Ralph’s when the Stax tour came to Manchester. They all came into Ralph’s, we went to the show and then on to Rails on Cross Street. What a mind-blowing time.
(2020)
Scraped up the cash to buy one of my favourite LPs - London Swings 'Live At The Marquee Club' featuring Jimmy James & The Vagabonds and The Alan Bown Set.
“RALPH'S RECORDS Todd Street / Corporation Street, Manchester requires Female Assistant (15-16). Tel: 834 5840 for interview.”
… and this piece in the 6th July 1973 edition:
“The two specialist shops in Manchester are Ralph’s Records, Victoria Station and the Spin Inn on Cross Street.”