The Record Basement

Operated in the Oxford Road in the 1980's/90's.

(July 7, 2012) Ian Andrews said:I used to work at the Record Basement - with Pete Sinclair and Phil Wells - got paid in Vinyl every saturday ... happy days

BASEMENT PHIL
(Taken from an interview in Mix Mag)

“Phil started DJ’ing Northern & Rare Soul &Rare Grooves in the mid 80’s at various venues across the UK. In 1988 Phil set up the now famous ‘Record Basement’ shop in Reading. The shop attracted a lot of top UK DJ's and supplied records to all of the major playaz during the Rave & Drum N Bass Years. Phil built up a rep for two DJ residences in Reading where the shop was, as well as playing at Clubs & Raves all over the UK.

Phil launched the ‘Basement Records’ label in 1989 and the label went on to become one of the best Rave labels of its generation, launching the careers of Artists and Djs such as Alex Reece, Wax Doctor, Justice, Mayhem (martin Ikin), Kev Bird aka DJ KGB, Loftgroover, Top Buzz, Donovan Bad Boy Smith, Roger Johnson, as well as releases from artists such as Photek, Source Direct Peshay, Justice, Blame, JMajik, in their formative years and off course Jack Smooth & Basement Phil under their various guises such as Jack n Phil, Mystic Moods, Brothers with Soul,4 to the Floor & Darkstar, to name but a few.
Phil also ran the following labels : Street Beats, Homegrown Records, 4 To The Floor Records, Precious Material, Mystic Moods Productions, Pivotal Entertainment, Street Life & Pristine. “

Phil also set up Vinyl Distribution in 1990 which was renowned for bringing through the Drum N Bass Sound, and helping to launch the majority of labels that established the Drum N Bass Scene. In 1997 Phil left Vinyl Dist' and took a 3 year sojourn. In 2000 Phil launched Nu Urban Music specialising in Jungle, jump Up & DnB & U.S House which closed in September 2012, which was due to Phil having a serious accident which took two years to recover.”
Phil has now semi retired and has opened a record shop "Urban Vinyl" i in his home town of Weymouth, Dorset and is now back on the Soul Scene which was his first love musically, running the Weymouth Soul Club which has 2 Soul Weekenders a year and Club nights as well as DJing Northern & rare & Underplayed Soul at venues across the UK.

WEEKLY RADIO SHOWS -
Wednesday 8pm - 10.30pm
Northern Soul, rare Soul, 70s to Modern Soul
https://www.facebook.com/search/top?q=phil%20wells.%20northern%20soul%20%26%20rare%20soul%20dj

Previous Shows History Of Rave Shows
1989 - 1993
https://www.mixcloud.com/basementphil/

(August 19, 2015) One of the cornerstones of Dance Music Record shops. It was not only a meeting place, a pilgrimage, but also supported one of the best uk rave/DNB records labels we had. A great loss indeed. Comment: James Curry