Can you remember the first record you sold in the shop? And the last?

Our first sale was an old Alton Elis 45, ‘I’m Still Love With You,’ a track later re-worked as ‘Uptown Ranking’ by Athea & Donna. A lovely first sale as Alton Ellis had played ‘The Bouncing Ball’ in the 70s, a cult Peckham venue where many of Reggae’s most influential artists played. The last was J Dilla’s seminal ‘Donuts.’  An album fused in determination in the face of over-whelming odds, and quite an apt inspiration in keeping a business going through lock down.

Do you remember the first record shop you went to? And you do you remember the first record you bought?

It’s etched in my memory. There was a tiny record shop along in Gourock, the town where I grew up.  I was 8 I think and my Granny gave me some pocket money. Instead of buying the usual Panini football stickers, I wanted a record. I bought The Jam’s Bitterest Pill’ and my old man had to put a plug back on my Granny’s old Dansette record player so I could listen to it.

What are your personal memories of spending time in record shops? Was this a big part of your childhood? How did it form your music taste today?

Hell yeah, it was profound. People of a certain attitude and outlook gravitated towards record shops. This was nothing less than transformative as along with these like-minded people you could challenge and transcend attitudes which surrounded you growing up and forge your own view on the world. Growing up on the West-Coast of Scotland, before discovering record shops I only hung around with people from the same school, and therefore the same religious denomination and who supported the same football team.  Discovering record shops meant I met people outside of this and started looking at the world in a more interesting way.

What is your favourite record shop (apart from your own!) and why?

‘Dirty Records’ in Gothenburg. Gothenburg is a city close to my heart. It’s where my partner is from and it’s a place where I did loads of ‘Modern Lovers’ club events. It’s not just ‘Dirty Records’ though - Jarntorget the area of the city it is situated in is great. Heaps of record shops selling vintage vinyl spanning obscure Scandinavian psych, prog & punk along with interesting US imports of retro soul and funk.

What's the best gig you've ever been to?

The Smiths when they played the Magnum in Ayr. The Smiths playing a small town in a leisure centre venue where I’d only seen panto before – it all seemed very different. I was young but the bravery of a band looking different and saying something alternative to the meatheads I knew at school, it stuck with me and continues to be a true inspiration.

What's your all-time favourite book?

John Kennedy O’Toole – Confederacy of Dunces

What's your all-time favourite film?

My Life As A Dog

What would make up your desert island discs?

Upsetters – Dyon Anaswa
Etta James- Mellow Fellow
Patrice Holloway – Stolen Hours
The Clash - Complete Control
Love – The Red Telephone
Nick Drake – Northern Sky
The Weather Profits – She Comes in the Rain
Esther Williams - Last Night Changed It All
Candi Stanton – Young Heart Run Free

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

The Clash would come on and play the whole of ‘London Calling.’ They would then finish and then the Clash would come on and play the whole of London Calling. They would then finish and then the Clash would come on and play the whole of London Calling.   
I emphasize this is a three day, not a one day festival.

What's your all-time favourite record?

Love – Forever Changes. I’m on my 5th copy now.

OTHER RECORD STORES