phil_b

“I was at the Nightingales one. Not very well-attended as I recall but I remember Mark E Smith was also present. The band were friendly and happy to speak to anyone who wanted to approach them. It's all a long time ago but I think I asked one of them if it was their first gig in Manchester. They said it was their first as the Nightingales but they had played Manchester many times in their earlier incarnation as the Prefects.”

“Great picture. The Pleasure Pastime amusement arcade brings back happy memories too. They had a Ted Nugent pinball machine in there at one point. I wish I'd taken a photo of it.”

“I'm glad someone else remembers the ginger cat - would've thought I'd imagined it otherwise.”

“My most vivid memory of Robinsons is that you had to walk through a greasy spoon cafe to get into the shop and if you were carrying any bags big enough to fit records into, they would take your bags off you (in between serving chip butties to bus drivers) and give you a raffle ticket. Inside, spread over two floors, there was a huge number of LPs, many of which were US-imported cut-outs and deletions.

You had to wade through tons of country LPs and easy listening LPs to find the good stuff but there were good selections of rare jazz, soul, doo-wop and even surf music at various times. I vividly remember a ginger cat was resident in the shop and would stroll in a leisurely manner across the racks of LPs while you browsed.

There was also a singles bar where I recall buying punk and new wave singles back in 77/78. Other people remember large baskets full of UK-pressed 60s reggae singles at 10 pence each but I have to take their word for that.

Towards the end, there was a period when a DIY shop occupied the same space as the record shop. Each time you went in, there would be more space devoted to curtains and carpets and less space given over to records. Eventually, the records disappeared altogether and I believe the DIY shop is now long gone too.”

“I have vivid memories of George Davenports Country Music Store but don't think it had anything to do with Yanks. I remember there was a spiral staircase behind the counter in Yanks and during busy periods the owner (a middle-aged American guy) would perch himself at the top of the metal stairs and keep lookout for shoplifters. No CCTV in those days.

In later years, new management took over and the shop renamed itself Power Cuts by which time it catered mainly for the heavy metal brigade. I think they finally closed down around 1996.”

“I think Sir Coxsone International (later known as Coxsone Outernational) was London-based soundman Lloyd Coxsone, not CS Dodd, though I don't dispute that Mr Dodd may have known Murray from Music City.

There is a good article on Lloyd Coxsone at www.uncarved.org/dub/splash/coxsone.html”

“Some fascinating stuff you've been uploading.. I just want to know how Idiot Strength by the Nightingales got into the Electronic chart.”

“I was at the Psychedelic Furs gig at the Factory, having previously seen them at the old Poly Students Union in late 79. The flyer says "Over 18s Only" but luckily this rule was not strictly enforced. I would've been 15 at the time.

Russell Club (aka The Factory) also put on occasional afternoon "matinee" shows for the under-age kids and I remember seeing the Damned at one of those.”

“Great picture. This was the entrance on Brown Street (concreted over long ago). The shops on the right were demolished to make way for Tescos. Collectors Records was just one of several record stalls located in the Market Centre, usually known as the Underground Market.”

“Flamin' Groovies played Rafters in 1978 with Radio Birdman as support act. I would guess that your ticket is most likely from 78.”