GIVE US THE BACKGROUND - WHEN AND WHY DID YOU DECIDE TO OPEN A RECORD SHOP?

I’ve been saying for decades that, one day, I’ll have my own record shop. After twenty years as a mental health nurse, I started working in the media and music industry. It involved a lot of time away from home and I had been thinking about trying something else. My next step.

A couple of Christmases ago, my wife said (as I talk about opening a record shop all the time), “why don’t we just do it!” We looked in to it a little more and, once we’d figured out a cool spot to have it, the rest fell into place.

It brings community together; making people smile, sharing their love of music. Best of all, I get to be surrounded by records everyday, which is pretty good! 

TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOUR STORE? WHAT'S THE VIBE?

It's a nice, laid-back place to hang out and buy records with no hurry. It’s kind of vintage in design, (which I can only credit to my wife’s ideas!) We have a listening spot thanks to the very cool Richard March at RPM Analogue Audio, and a very nice sofa for people to sit on and take it easy. They can enjoy a coffee from one of the local bistro’s or cafés, whilst whoever they’re with shops for records.

It’s a shop for all music lovers. We get all ages, all backgrounds — so lots of great backstories from customers. It’s a community space and a place to host live music, too. One reviewer said it was “a breath of fresh air for the high street.”

CAN YOU REMEMBER THE FIRST RECORD YOU SOLD IN THE SHOP? AND THE LAST?

We had an overexcited delivery guy buy Sheik Yerbouti by Zappa a couple of days before we officially opened!

On the day itself, I think it was UK Grim by Sleaford Mods or a second-hand copy of Nightclubbing by Grace Jones.

Today, as I write this, the last records I sold were to the same guy! He bought Boards Of Canada’s Inferno and Smog’s Knock Knock, as well as a copy of Flying Lotus’s RSD 1983 release.

DO YOU REMEMBER THE FIRST RECORD SHOP YOU WENT TO? AND DO YOU REMEMBER THE FIRST RECORD YOU BOUGHT?

As a kid in the late 70s and early 80s, I bought 7” records from Our Price and Woolworths, but the first single I bought with my own money was ‘Baggy Trousers’ by Madness.

Later on in my teens, there was a pretty good place in Solihull called Discovery Records that I’d go to often, as well as an amazing shop in Birmingham called Tempest, (great for metal and alternative stuff.) What was really nice about that is the guy that used to sell me the metal records is a customer of ours now!

HMV in Birmingham (and later on in Solihull) had a really great guy called Stephen Gubbins who was really spot on at picking up on amazing  albums. He introduced me to Dubnobasswithmyheadman by Underworld, as well as The Walkmen, !!! and The Secret Machines. He has a brilliant pop-up venture now called All Around Records — you can find him doing a lot of cool artisan markets too, they’re well worth seeking out.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE RECORD SHOP (APART FROM YOUR OWN!) AND WHY?

Without doubt, it’s Polar Bear in Kings Heath.

Before we opened SCR, it was where I’d spend most of my time there with friends. Steve ( the owner) always has something brand new or second hand, and he was the only place I’d go to for Record Store Day. He introduced me tonnes of things I never thought I’d like, and he’s always interested in what you’re listening to so he can check it out.

He’s been a great guide to speak to while we evolve. He’s been really supportive of us, and when we’ve needed advice. It’s a great shop and, to all the people that haven’t gone yet…go visit!

WHAT’S YOUR MOST MEMORABLE RECORD STORE EXPERIENCE?

I think the realisation that record stores were cool venues that could enhance a fans experience. For example, watching Teenage Fanclub at HMV in Birmingham when the Grand Prix came out. Or when Helloween signed my copy of Keeper of the Seven Keys Part II at Tempest. However, the greatest experience (without question), was watching Jeff Buckley perform at Rough Trade in London by accident…

We didn’t know he was playing, and I think we had only popped in for an Oasis CD! We’d seen him a few days before at Edwards No 8 in Birmingham, and were fortunate enough to have met him. Having him recognise me and ask me to pass him a copy of Raw Power so he could buy it was about as cool as it's ever been !!

HOW SUCCESSFUL HAS RECORD STORE DAY BEEN FOR YOUR STORE?

It surpassed our wildest expectations.

We’d only been open around 5 months, so possibly the youngest store participating on the day. We wanted to make it an experience for the whole high street, so we had nine performers across eight venues, including a women’s clothing boutique, various cafés and bars. It was all local musicians and artists, topped-off with our own IPA in the bar two doors down.

In store, we were lucky to have a local chap perform the songs of Nick Drake, and then the first band we signed to our brand new SCR’s record label: Sweetpool. They’re an amazing local post punk/Krautrock band.

We did exclusive posters and totes etc, too. People queued from 5am and, for most of the day, the shop was completely full. It’s usually only me working in the shop,  but there were 12+ people helping out (but we probably needed more!)

WHAT'S THE BEST GIG YOU'VE EVER BEEN TO?

If I think about this too much, it’ll be a long list!

Definitely pretty much every time I’ve seen Pavement. My Dad took me to see Pink Floyd at Maine road in 1988, then Neil Young with Booker T and The MGs Finsbury Park in 1993. There was The Rapture at the Medicine Bar Birmingham around 2003, Elliott Smith at Wolves Wulfren in 2000, and The Walkmen at the Glee Club in 2011.

I really loved the ATP weekenders and went to a few of them. There, I saw amazing sets by Devo, Spiritualized, Animal Collective, Joanna Newsom, De La  Soul, Battles, Flying Lotus, !!!, and I was so lucky to see Silver Jews too...I really could go on!

WHAT'S YOUR ALL-TIME FAVOURITE FILM?

The Last Waltz (1978), directed by Martin Scorscese.

It’s such a beautifully filmed, cinematic view of a concert. It doesn’t show an audience, instead focusing solely on the artist. It was definitely way ahead of its time. The performances are incredible, featuring a long list of Rock royalty at the time: Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell, Van Morrison and of course The Band. I think that film serves as a reminder that some of the greatest musicians of all time were also Dylan’s backing band. They wrote some seriously amazing songs!

Aside from that (and fairly obviously), This Is Spinal Tap (1984). If you haven’t seen it, it’s basically a very very funny, satirical The Last Waltz!

I’ve also always loved John Carpenter’s The Thing (1982).

What's your all-time favourite book?

Is this a safe space to admit I’m not really a reader…?

I’d rather be looking at a record sleeve and reading the linear notes while I listen to an album — but I do really really love things like the Beastie Boys Book, (the Wilco one that came with the CD). I also really enjoyed Autum De Wilde’s ‘Elliott Smith’ Book; anything that capture a point in time photographically.

WHAT WOULD MAKE UP YOUR DESERT ISLAND DISCS?

I’m curious, has any indie record shop ever been after to answer this definitively? If I answer this again tomorrow it’ll be completely different!

As it stands right now my 8 would be:
DJ Shadow – Midnight In A Perfect World
Beastie Boys – So Watcha Want
Björk – Hyperballad
LCD Soundsystem – Losing My Edge
Pink Floyd - Echoes
Guns ‘N Roses – Rocket Queen
Cannonball – The Breeders
Janes Addiction – Three Days

Even so, there’s so many more I’d love to fit in! Kidsmoke, Vitamin C, The Daily Heavy, Here, A Case of You, Need Your Love So Bad, The Man Don’t Give A Fuck, Remedy, The Act We Act, Barney and Me, Say No Go, Heroes…

On second thought, I need a desert island jukebox…can that be arranged?

Who would form your all-time Festival line-up? (past & present)

If time travel was possible, I’d love to have been at The Last Waltz so I’d go back and see that. If you can get Valen Halen, Bowie, Public Enemy, Faith No More, Zappa and The Stooges over to mine so I can watch them in my garden, let me know!

I’m incredibly lucky that I’ve got to see so many amazing bands over the years. An old grey whistle test of the best performances I’ve ever seen would suit me more!

OTHER RECORD STORES