As we have now exited Lockdown we hope to safely get around a few more locations soon but for now we continue with visits we had 'in the can'.This is a continued 2020 mission to re-visit12 locations/shops/stores with the vinyl purchased at the time.Marking 50 years of personal collecting .These are shops that now exist as something else.The trips are random with no particular order or preference and notchronological in terms of vinyl release dates.Looking back and reflecting with appreciation of the places that helped shape my record collection.
50 YEARS - NOSTALGIA 'TRIP' No.7
HAIRY RECORDS-LIVERPOOL
Bold Street
A trip to the top of Bold Street near St.Lukes the 'Bombed out Church',the historic Hairy Records was a great place to visit with vast amounts of vinyl,all genres covered in the well packed racks. For me there was always a guarantee of something worthwhile on the Hammill/VdGG front.Tom and myself also had regular treks over the water and clearly remember the excitement when his found an original 'What Evil Lurks' by The Prodigy, there was no way we were coming home without that! Thats whats great about Independent Record shops, you just never know what you might find.Sadly the shop closed about 8 years ago,it then briefly operated as The Vinyl Emporium closing for the final time a year later. Liverpool has always been blessed with a variety of excellent Record shops long may that continue. Incidentally,the owner of Hairy Records actually bought the first record we ever sold which was at a Chris Savory Record Fair at the Bridge Inn, Port Sunlight (I think it was a Motley Crue album!!).Miss the shop but great memories of my visits to Hairy Records.
VAN DER GRAAF GENERATOR - 68-71
So, like anyone collecting their favourite band what do you do when you have all the albums?
Start collecting the compilations of course-this is one on Pink Charisma (CS2) covers the early part of the bands career, 8 tracks rounding of with the mighty 'Killer'.It was the first VdGG compilation i picked up, happilynow one of many! The fun in collecting for me is never quite reaching the end.....
