Record Stores In London

rivetrenuck

Well-known member
hey all, i am sorry of this has been discussed before, but i couldn't come across any threads.

I am just wondering what are the good record stores (vinyl & CD) to go to in London? for all kinda of music be it House, Techno or some avant garde or doom and rock or punk vinyls or whatever record stores that still exist in London.

I am aware of 3 stores.

2 stores that specialize in raggae, dancehall and Jamaican music which is Dub Vendors in Clapham Junction and Supertone in Brixton.
dubvendor.co.uk/
http://www.supertonerecords.co.uk/mail order.htm

1 stores that seems to have a wide variety of music but i couldn find some decent dubstep and some american music and indie CDs is Rough Trade in Bricklane
http://www.roughtrade.com/

Thank you
 

john eden

male pale and stale
for general stuff you're best of going down berwick street in Soho and checking places likes Sounds of the Universe and Sister Ray I think. Also specialists round there like Black Market. And a bunch of others.
 

DannyL

Wild Horses
Also in the West End, you have two shops on Hanway St - JBs and On the Beat. There are Revival, Vinyl Junkies and MVE on Berwick Street and maybe one other are forgotten - just round the corner from Sounds of the Universe.

Notting Hill is the best place for my money - you have Honest John's, Minus Zero (soon to close), Intoxica, Rough Trade and the various MVEs including the collectors one (upstairs on Notting Hill Gate). All of these bar SOTU and Rough Trade are more focused on second hand/old music, cos that's my bias!
 

baboon2004

Darned cockwombles.
Secondlayer comes highly recommended by people I know too.

I really like Phonica in Soho for the layout and the B'more records they have etc.

Since you mentioned Brixton, there're a few interesting smaller shops down Coldharbour Lane (including one devoted solely to Nigerian music), plus some good reggae places in the market (try the Latin American bit of the market, which is down Coldharbour Lane, and then cross over Atlantic Road and it's on the left).
 

craner

Beast of Burden
Those shops on Hanway Street are totally shit. I used to be in love with both branches of Reckless on Berwick Street, it broke my heart when they went bust. I haven't really been a record shopper for five years, mind. I used to hang out downstairs at Harold Moores because I liked to ambience, and there was a very cool lady who often worked behind the counter. Record & Tape Exchange can be a bit helpful. A few Dissensians have worked in those places, I think. I tried to get a job with them once, and they gave three enormous questionares to fill out. I didn't know enough about indie or techno to een get near 50%. It was ridiclous!
 

craner

Beast of Burden
I used to go and look lovingly at Ennio Morricone records at Intoxica, but the prices were astronomical.
 

gumdrops

Well-known member
i got a job at one of the notting hill shops years ago when i finished uni. lost it the first day tho as i took a really great looking picture disc from an old lady who was selling some stuff to the shop. she said i could have it but taking stuff as 'gifts' wasnt in the rules apparently. lol. should have read the guidelines better, but i did only get them that very morning. still, a warning would have sufficed i reckon.
 

DannyL

Wild Horses
JBs on Hanway Street is okay, pricey but alright. The other shop is a dusty tired old nightmare, but I know people who've had some good bits out of there. I know loads of people who've worked in MVE - the tales associated insanity are numerous but best shared over a pint. You had a lucky escape Gumdrops!
 

Krasner

Well-known member
I think Honest Jons is my favourite all round shop. Really good unusual techno & house selection and loads of fantastic Jazz, Reggae, 'world' music et cetera...

The staff are super friendly and knowledgeable, its one of the few shops (maybe Sound of the Universe as well) free from the snooty superiority that is best exemplified at the Exchange shops. Its also considerably cheaper than most other places, the Fela Inspiration boxset is £30 there but £50 in phonica!
 

rivetrenuck

Well-known member
whoaw, so many places to check out. Its going to take a year to check all these places out, thank you very much!

i cant help but feel a bit foolish buying vinyl at this day and age, but i am getting hooked on it! and i am not just talking about sound quality cos honestly i feel that mp3s are able to replicate vinyl quality very well. but just holding some so big and physical like this is just whole different thing and hanging out at stores.

Thank you all!
 

samdiamond

Well-known member
Rhythm Division in Bow for Grime. Asking the staff is the best thing to do: I was looking through the second hand garage box and the dude pretty much threw Wot U Call it by Wiley and Eskimo 3
 

computer_rock

Well-known member
I think Honest Jons is my favourite all round shop. Really good unusual techno & house selection and loads of fantastic Jazz, Reggae, 'world' music et cetera...

The staff are super friendly and knowledgeable, its one of the few shops (maybe Sound of the Universe as well) free from the snooty superiority that is best exemplified at the Exchange shops. Its also considerably cheaper than most other places, the Fela Inspiration boxset is £30 there but £50 in phonica!

not sure if it's because of the connection between the two stores but all the hardwax related stuff is a lot cheaper in honest jon's as well, so don't get caught paying £8 for a basic channel 12" in ie phonica when it's £5 in HJs.
 

petergunn

plywood violin
Rhythm Division in Bow for Grime. Asking the staff is the best thing to do: I was looking through the second hand garage box and the dude pretty much threw Wot U Call it by Wiley and Eskimo 3

who is the bald white dude who works there who makes an appearence in the Wot U Call It video as well as seen in the background of numerous freestyles on grime DVD's?
 

samdiamond

Well-known member
who is the bald white dude who works there who makes an appearence in the Wot U Call It video as well as seen in the background of numerous freestyles on grime DVD's?

no idea mate, sorry! i'll have a look at the video and see if i spot anyone i recognise
 

mccoy

New member
(long-time Dissensus reader, first time poster)

I'm arriving in London tonight for the weekend and hope to fit in some vinyl shopping while there, as well catching a gig or two. I've been through the various threads about London record shops but thought I'd check for updates, given the number of closures recently.

Can anyone recommend a few stores worth visiting with decent stock of (not brand new) house, garage (US 4/4 mainly but not averse to a bit of Uk and 2 step) and techno?
- Is Berwick Street still the place to go?
- I've read a few blogs giving props to Alan's Records in East Finchley and I'll be staying not too far from there - is it worth a visit?

My tastes are pretty expansive but hit all the usual names: Prescription, Balance, Chez Damier, Kerri Chandler, MAW, Todd Edwards, Tyree Cooper, old Strictly Rhythm stuff, Downtown 161,..., 90s Detroit techno, Force Inc, Basic Channel, UR, Zenit, early Kompakt....
(I'm especially keen to get some Force Inc stuff from between 97 and 02)

Any help you can give a London newbie would be greatly appreciated!
 
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