Record Shops of Greater Manchester

Photo of a box of 78s taken by Eddy Rhead. Many 78s during this period had adverts for the shops that were selling them on the sleeve.

I would be very interested to hear from anyone who remembers Hime & Addison on John Dalton Street (est 1815).

The year is a guess.

From Wikipedia:

Regal Zonophone Records was a British record label formed in 1932, through a merger of the Regal and Zonophone labels. This followed the merger of those labels' respective parent companies - the Columbia Graphophone Company and the Gramophone Company - to form EMI. At the merger, those records from the Regal Records catalogue were prefixed 'MR' and those from the Zonophone Records catalogue were prefixed 'T'] Record releases after the merger continued using only the 'MR' prefix.

Originally Regal Zonophone handled American releases from Okeh Records, Victor Records and Columbia Records, as well as offering home-grown recordings by artists such as Gracie Fields and George Formby.The label is also known for its releases of Salvation Army (particularly brass band) music.

Record sleeve for Nield and Hardy's (undated) showing the Stockport and Levenshulme branches.

Thanks to Peter Wadsworth.

Tony Longfella writes:

Posted for the sleeve rather than the record. Spotted on ebay. I'm a Denton lad myself. I think this site has been knocked down now for the new retail park at Crown Point.

I love that they sell records as well as repairing bicycles and gramophones

The year is a guess. Any better ideas?

Bob Lee writes: 'This is an original rough piece I submitted to Gary Laine when he was first opening and wanted a design for the bags. It wasn't used, either because he didn't like it or it was to dear to have transferred.'

Looks like Spin Inn at this point (1969) was focusing on soul music.

According to DJ Greg Wilson, Spin Inn became 'the premier record shop in the North of England when it came to dance music. If you had any aspirations of being taken seriously as a black music specialist, you had no option but to shop there.'

Lots of record shops in Manchester advertised on generic record sleeves at this time.

Hyde Road's DJ Records shop circa 1969

Photo sent in by Debra Jones

D.J. Records, Longsight, circa 1970.

Photos sent in by Debra Jones.

Thanks to XRayMusic for adding this Paul Marsh bag, circa 1970s perhaps?

Heaton Chapel in 1972.

Photo sent in by Debra Jones.

Great flyer name-checking Hime & Addison as a ticket supplier.

One of a number of 1970s record shop bags donated to the Archive by Ashley Kennerley. I love the designs and can't believe how many different shops there were around at that time.

Bingo Jesus remembers:

"I think Vibes opened in its own right around 1977. I started working for a major label in that year and remember getting a call from the office that a new account had opened, and to call in. Start of a great relationship with Tony, Yvonne, Paul, Gordon and the staff in there. Fantastic shop, run like clockwork, one of the best independents in the country, no doubt about that. Tony was a workaholic, there till all hours. Lovely guy, we had some great banter but he drove a hard bargain when it came to buying stuff. I still miss him.

Disc & Tape Exchange was at the other side of the precinct - they also had a shop in Accrington. No match for Vibes - the Bury shop was eventually taken over by Tony and traded as Muze.

Save Records was run by an ex-goalkeeper (hence "Save") they also had a stall on Rochdale market."

(I've guessed the year for this artefact.)

Graham Massey writes:

Black Sedan Records was a great 'budget' record shop on Oxford Rd near to Johnny Roadhouse. Later it became Pandemonium.

Most albums were £2.99, I think.

Later Black Sedan moved to the University Precinct .

The album is 'Love, Devotion & Surrender' by Mahavishnu/Santana.

Advert for Black Sedan Records from back page of Mole Express Fanzine/Magazine:

Nov 1975 Issue 47 10p - Ad suggests that shop will be moving to University Precinct and that there is also a second shop at 17 Fleece St, Rochdale.

Advert for Virgin Records on Lever Street, Manchester from Mole Express, November 1975.

One of a number of 1970s record shop bags donated to the Archive by Ashley Kennerley.

Anyone remember Smiths of Cheetham Hill?

One of a number of 1970s record shop bags donated to the Archive by Ashley Kennerley.

Paul Marsh is shop I've heard a lot about from from Moss Side and Hulme heads over the years. In his recent autobiography, Morrissey wrote of many enchanted hours spent there.

One of a number of 1970s record shop bags donated to the Archive by Ashley Kennerley.

Looks like D.J. Records were servicing the good people of Longsight, Hazel Grove and Heaton Chapel at this time.

The year is a guess.

Great Moor Records of Stockport. For all your popular and classical needs.

One of a number of 1970s record shop bags donated to the Archive by Ashley Kennerley.

Jones's - two premises on Hyde Road, served by two different bus stops.

Groovy.

One of a number of 1970s record shop bags donated to the Archive by Ashley Kennerley.

Any jazzers out there remember Mr. Barry Ancill?

A 1970s record shop bag donated to the Archive by Ashley Kennerley.

Looks like Javelin had the Manchester boroughs pretty well covered with shops in Bury, Heywood, Bolton and Oldham.

Sounds a bit like 'It's Grim Up North'...

This Virgin bag was sent to us by Mark Reeder. The year is approximate.

Virgin moved to Market Street in (I think), 1979.