Secondhand record stores in London & Manchester

I'm just about to depart on a holiday to Britain and I was wondering if anyone could recommend some decent secondhand stores in London and Manchester. I've been in London before but didn't really find any place decent. Can any British members help?

 

On Berwick St, W1 there was Reckless and Music Exchange, but I haven't been for a while as I buy most of mine here!, so not sure if they still exist.

In fact, scroll to the bottom of this page to the 'specialist' section, you may have to wade through the 'drum n' bass' bits though, unless that's what floats your boat of course.

I would expect other London members to be along shortly.

http://www.talkingcities.co.uk/london_pages/shopping_music.htm

 

It's pretty dismal in London like anywhere else. Last time I was there (2004) there wasn't much. Not sure what happened with Beanos (in Croydon) but they were suppose to make a go at staying open.

 

Re: London

...and here comes one now.
Berwick Street is still the place to hit in central London. It has a branch of Music Exchange, Revival Records (which is the new name for Reckless Records, which folded earlier this year) and Sister Ray, which stocks mainly new CDs/vinyl but has quite a lot of second-hand vinyl.
Hanway Street, near Tottenham Court Road, also has a couple of second-hand record shops which are worth a look.
On weekends, don't forget Camden Market which has several market stalls aswell as regular record shops on Inverness Street and in the Stables Market section up towards the Roundhouse
Music Exchange also has branches in Camden, and several in Notting Hill Gate (the biggest and best branches, specialising in rock/pop; soundtracks; dance/soul; classical)
Portobello Road has some market stallholders on weekends under the flyover, and a permanent shop called Intoxica which has impossibly rare vintage vinyl but with prices to suit(!)
Happy shopping - hope the credit card can stand the strain!

 

I actually found a couple of buried bargains in InToxica. Not sure how they sell their other stuff at those prices though.

 

Music exchange is great for thumbing through a whole lot of nonsense and finding some hidden jewels. Check out all the branches you come across.. the stock and selection varies WIDELY from store to store.

Sister Ray went into receivership last I'd heard. Not sure if the store is still open, but they are great for new vinyl at not quite HMV prices. However, they have been known to stock bootleg pressings of certain artists, (The recent Smiths "portugese" pressings come to mind). Stay away from picture disc or colored vinyl repressings, and you're fine. The used vinyl selection was fairly small, and wouldn't be any premium than what you'd pay at ebay. However, there are a few gems. Expect to pay for them.

Beanos in Croydon is worth the train ride. Apparently it's not what it once was, but it's still got some things that I'd only seen on Ebay. They also mark grading on the price tag, which is terribly convenient.

In Manchester, it's all about Vinyl Exchange. Definitely my favorite of the list.

 

Indeed. They operate a policy of marking down the prices after certain periods until stock sells so you'll often see multiple copies of titles, in varying condition, at hugely varying prices. And every branch has a bargain basement type area for 'crate digging'. With luck and effort you can bag some bargains.

I read that too, but am pleased to report that the store was certainly alive and kicking, trading as normal, last monday, with no signs of any imminent demise. Hopefully it's been rescued in some way. It's a good shop and a valuable alternative to the megastores on Oxford Street.

 

BLACK MARKET - 25 D'Arblay Street, London W1V 3FH
Black Market Records
email: [email protected]
tel: +44 (0)20 7437 0478
fax: +44 (0)20 7494 1303
swing, rap, hip-hop, house, garage, jungle

CARBON MUSIC
Carbon Music
Urban Outfitters
36 Kensington High St
London W8
PH +44 (0)208 376 9911
house, progressive, trance, tech house, techno

There are several shops and this one (Kensington High St) is situated below Urban Outfitters, it recently underwent a refurbishment moving Decks to the right and CDJ's to the left, turntables are Technics Mk5s, theres heaps of vinyl to pick from at your lesure or just ask from the counter.
Very friendly staff


CITY SOUNDS - 5 Kirby Street, London EC1N 8TS --it says its Temporarily Unavailable!
City Sounds
tel: +44 (0)20 7405 5454
fax: +44 (0)20 7242 1863
house, garage [long established, new location]


CYBERDOG - 9 Earlham St, London WC2
Cyber Dog
email: [email protected]
tel: +44 (0)20 7836 7855
trance-techno [CDs only, in atmospheric clothes shop]


FLASHBACK RECORDS (UK)
Flashback Records
50 Essex Road, Islington, London, N1 8LR, UK.
tel: +44 (0) 207 354 9356

Two floors of quality second hand vinyl and cd's. Rarities a specialty!

or

Flashback Crouch End , 144 Crouch Hill, Crouch End , London, N8 9DX
tel: +44 (0) 208 342 9633

Stocks 2nd hand Vinyl and Cds 20,000+ titles, Rock and Pop, Soul, Hiphop, Reggae, House, Folk, Shows, Drum & Bass, Disco/Boogie 12"s, Electro, Jazz, Latin etc


FLYING RECORDS
Flying Records
94 Dean Street, London W1V 5RB
tel: +44 (0)20 7734 0172
fax: +44 (0)20 7287 0766
house, garage [above Major Flava's]


HAND SPUN
Hand Spun
31 D'Arblay Street, London W1V 3FG
tel: +44 (0)20 7734 7845
hip-hop, you should check out the labels section too

HOUSE12s
House12s
House 12s, the online store specialising in rare & deleted House Classics.

HONEST JONS RECORDS
Honest Jons
276 Portobello Road
PH+44 (0)20 8969 9822

never really understood the hype about this shop, you select the tunes and the guy behind the counter plays the tracks. Hmmmmm, kinda prefered to listen to them myself!!

KINETIC - 15A Little Portland Street, London W1W 8BW
Kinetic
email: [email protected]
tel: +44 (0)20 7323 5303
fax: +44 (0)20 7323 5909
techno, acid, trance, hard dance, breaks & hardcore


KOKON TO-ZAI [= "old-new-east-west"]
KOKON TO-ZAI
57 Greek Street, London W1V 5LR
tel/fax: +44 (0)20 7434 1316
house, techno, groove, euro-trance [in intriguing shop]


MAD RECORDS - 2 Silver Place, London W1F 0JP
Mad Records
email: [email protected]
tel: +44 (0)20 7439 0707
hard house, hard trance & nrg, progressive, trance, tech house, techno


MAJOR FLAVA'S - 94 Dean Street, London W1V 5RB
tel: +44 (0)20 7434 1406
fax: +44 (0)20 7287 0766
r'n'b, rap [downstairs from Flying Records]


(Music and Video Exchange Shops)Soul & Dance Exchange
42 Notting Hill Gate London W11
Music and Video
soul, house, hip hop, techno, drum 'n' bass, r&b, reggae, funk, acid, jazz, garage... bargains downstairs
Tel- +44 (0) 20 7221 2793

Check with us for soul, funk, jazz, reggae, hip hop, house, techno, garage, drum 'n' bass and more. We are renowned for our knowledge and expertise on 60s jazz


PHONICA
Phonica
51 Poland Street, London
email: [email protected]
new in.. so need to check out the location good website


RECKLESS RECORDS
Reckless Records
26 Berwick Street
London
W1F 8RH

Reckless is a chain of second-hand shops that buy, sell,and exchange cds, dvds, videos and vinyl we pay top prices -cash or exchange.

RELEASE THE GROOVE - 20 Denman Street, London W1V 7RJ
Release The Groove
email: [email protected]
tel: +44 (0)20 7734 7712
fax: +44 (0)20 7734 7713
jazz, r&b, drum&bass, house, London underground, garage

SILVERBACK - 40 Bloomsbury Way, London WC1A 2SA
Silver Back Records
email: [email protected]
tel: +44 (0)20 7404 9456
house, progressive, techno, breaks, drum n' bass, r&b

SISTER RAY - 34-35 Berwick Street London W1V 8RP UK
SISTER RAY
email: [email protected]
Phone: 020 7734 3297 (UK)
+44 (0)20 7734 3297 (International)
Fax: 020 7734 3298 (UK)
+ 44 (0)20 7734 3298 (International)
Alternative music retailer since 1981. Buy online at the store where you will find Vinyl, CDs, DVDs, t-shirts, books and more.

SMALLFISH RECORDS
Smallfish Records
Smallfish Records is physically located at 329 Old Street, London EC1V 9LE, and virtually located clicking the above link.
Selling: Electronica,Techno,Electro,House,Hip hop,Eclectic Beats,Drum and Bass,Guitar,Funk Jazz Soul,Reggae,Dub,Experimental and Rarities

SOUND 323
Sound 323
323 Archway Road
Highgate
London
N6 5AA
Telephone: +44 (0)20 8348 9595
specializes in avant-garde, free improvisation, free jazz, avant electronics etc.

SOUNDS OF THE UNIVERSE
Sounds Of The Universe
7 Broadwick Street, London W1F 0DA
tel/fax: +44 (0)20 7494 2004
soul, funk, jazz, drum + bass, hip-hop

SOUL BROTHER RECORDS
Soul Brother Records
1 KESWICK ROAD,
EAST PUTNEY,
LONDON, SW15 2HL, UK
Phone: +44 (0)20 8875 1018
Fax: +44 (0)20 8871 0180
mail: [email protected]

mostly soul, this is a must go to shop..a classic!


TRAX
Trax Records
55 Greek Street, London W1V 5LR
tel: +44 (0)20 7734 0795
fax: +44 (0)20 8551 8525
euro dance specialists


UPTOWN
Uptown Records
3 D'Arblay Street, London W1V 3FD
tel: +44 (0)20 7434 3639
tel: +44 (0)20 7434 3650 (Mail order)
fax: +44 (0)20 7434 3649
r'n'b, rap, garage, underground, house [promo specialist]


VINYL JUNKIES - 9 Berwick Street, London W1V 3RG
Vinyl Junkies
email: [email protected]
tel: +44 (0)20 7439 2775
fax: +44 (0)20 7287 2608
house, garage, techno, down tempo, miscellaneous beats [+ sitting area]


WYLD PYTCH (RECORD SPECIALISTS)
Wyld Pytch
51 Lexington Street London W1R 4HL
tel: +44 (0)20 7434 3472
fax: +44 (0)20 7287 1403
hip hop, r&b, funk, soul, garage

24 Carat, Caledonian Rd tel: +44 (0)20 7607 3334
Access All Areas, Camden NW1 tel: +44 (0) 20 7267 8320
Bassline Records, Kilburn tel: +44 (0)20 7372 5330
Body Music, Tottenham tel: +44 (0)20 8802 0147
Criminal Records, Walthamstowe tel: +44 (0)20 85033 2165
Deep Freeze, Camden tel: +44 (0)20 7424 0574
Hummit Records, 309 Kings Rd, Chelsea SW3 tel: +44 (0)20 7823 3584
Hype Records, Whetstone N20 tel: +44 (0)20 8445 5222
Know How Records, 3 Buck Street, Camden NW1 tel: +44 (0)02072671526
Paradox, 321 Upper Street, Islington N1 tel: +44 (0)20 7226 8530
Psychedelic Dream Temple, Camden NW1 tel: +44 (0)20 7267 8528
Pure Groove, 679 Holloway Rd, Archway N19 tel: (0)20 7281 4877
Record Village, 256 Hoe St, Walthamstowe E17 tel: (0)20 8520 7331
Remix, 247 Evershot St, Camden NW1 tel: (0)20 7387 2208
Rhythm Division, 391 Roman Rd, Bethnal Green E3 tel: +44 (0)20 8981 2203
R.O.A.R. Records, Elephane & Castle tel: (0)20 7708 3001
Rugged Records, Deptford tel: (0)20 8692 3311
Scream Records - 12 Ashfield Parade, Southgate N14 tel: +44 (0)20 8886 2317
Section 5, 121 Kings Rd, Chelsea SW3 tel: (0)20 7351 6853
Shed Records, 32 Western Hill, Crystal Palace SE19 tel: (0)20 8761 5080
Sonic House Records, 247 Evershot St, Camden NW1 tel: (0)20 7387 6440
Spin City Records, 374 Edgeware Rd, Paddington W2 tel: (0)20 7258 0300
The Mess, 225 St Johns Hill, Battersea SW11 tel: (0)20 7207 1276
The Vibe, 91-95 Brick Lane, Bethnal Green E1 tel: (0)20 7247 3479
Total Music, 2A Ellsworth St, Bethnal Green E2 tel: (0)20 7473 3000
Trakheadz, 117 Kentish Town Road, Camden tel: +44 (0)20 7428 1845
Trix Trax, Battersea tel: (0)20 7223 1995
Ultimate Dance Music - 30 Southbury Rd, Enfield EN1 1SA tel: 020 8366 5422
Vinyl Mania, 214 Northfield Ave, Ealing W13 tel: (0)20 7566 5244
Wired For Sound, Hackney tel: (0)20 8985 7531

 

Not many then

Thanks for that info as the next time I am down I can visit a few of them.

 

Thanks for this thread everyone who added stores to it

I found this thread and also this thread from 2007. They are curious since the overarching opinion therein is that record (vinyl) shopping in London is pretty much over.

I sure hope not as we leave for London on Thursday!

-s1m0n-

 

OK, well I'm back from London and environs and although we mostly toured I did get some CD shopping in. I hit Berwick street based on several threads herein and found several open stores. One of these is piled with stuff, mainly CDs in the front and doesn't look like much but once you go past the counter you realize how cavernous it is. I was frustrated by how many CDs were kept in those locked swinging racks overhead since they don't let you see the backside, the spine, or the disc face without the guy on duty coming to unlock them (might be a lot of good stuff in those racks but I didn't have the time to check them all out). There was vinyl in the back and heaps of 45's - some of them new (with multiple copies).

The other couple of stores were mainly vinyl and since I didn't have that much time and no easy way to bring it back I glossed over these.

The Virgin Records Megastore is "gone'' but in it's place(?) is a store that seems to be operating similarly but in sale mode. They had lots of new releases but also lots of unsealed CDs on sale and lots of withering merchandise for 25% of 50% off. A real ghost town though it was pretty busy by the time I left it.

Not far away, but closed on the evening we passed it, was MDC Classic Music (31 St Martin's Lane WC2N 4ER). I would have loved to check it out but alas was out of time - next trip.

I also found myself in Camden Town which is just a couple tube stops north of town on the Northern Line. Here I found a couple stores all within a couple blocks of themselves and all in the direction from the Tube station towards the outdoor/indoor markets. The first was Resurrection Records, found in and below a hat/clothing store. They mainly had goth/hardcore/emo CDs but the selection was good. There was also Music and Video Exchange and Out On the Floor Records & CDs.

Most of these digs had vinyl predominantly but also CDs. Few of them had the records or CDs out for viewing as most had them behind the counter; crime seems quite common in London, at least the pick-pocketing/stealing music kind I didn't get into a place (closed) called Bar Vinyl where you can check out and listen to items (records) for sale while having a drink - cool idea that.

Here are my CD finds:

Joan Armatrading - Whatever's for Us - West Germany Interpress Castle pressing

Art Garfunkel - Breakaway - CBS Japan for Europe, no barcode, DIDP-10212 11A3 +++++

John Lennon - Mind Games - Parlophone Swindon "Made in the UK", assuming it is the pre re-mastered one

10CC - Greatest Hits - Made in France Atomic label design, papers made in West Germany

Dire Straits - Self-Titled - Made In West Germany, red Vertigo swirl design

Marc Bolan - Misty Mist - short playing CD on the Merlin label, I'm on a Bolan kick so I just bought it without thinking

T-Rex - The Collection - 1986 Castle Records compilation with a boatload a great tunes, I'll compare it to some of my other great sounding T-Rex later

The Sweet - Funny, Funny-How Sweet Co Co Can Be (1971) - BMG Ariola Express label appears to be made in Germany, I'll let you know how it compares to my other Sweet CDs (I'm on a glam kick, didja know?)

Blondie - The Best of Blondie - Early UK copy mastered by Nimbus

Bob Dylan - Infidels - Japan for Europe, "35DP-93 11A12 +++++" matrix, no barcode

Jerry Rafferty - City to City - Made In the UK Swindon copy (yeah I know, just get the DCC - I would if I could afford to )

Mozart - Symphonies No. 32 & 36 - Teldec Made in Japan with papers made in West Germany

Brahms - Symphony No. 1, Carlos Paita, Natl. Philharmonic Orchestra - Made in Japan on the Lodia label, papers printed in France, no barcode

-s1m0n-

 

Can you scan me the covers on these.
I can PM you my email if you'd like.

Darryl

 

Sure, they're at home now but I can do it tomorrow for ya

-s1m0n-

 

What was the shopping in Manchester like? I visited Manchester and London in late 1999 and thought the CD shopping in Manchester was WAY better than in London. I got a ridiculous number of great deals at the used shops in Manchester. Kinda doubt it's anywhere close to that good any more, but I'm curious to know what the CD scene is like now...

 

OK, Thanks Simon. Sending you a PM.

 

Where would be the best shop to have the best chance of finding a few Beatles 2 box (later 70's) UK pressings? When I'm there thats all i want to come home with.

 

Any comments on what is most attractive to a US rock shopper and pricing vs. US. I sense CDs and records are more expensive...but I would like to get some UK/WG pressings of cd's & lps.

We are touring the sites in England and then on to Paris w/side trip to Normandy.

Record/CD shopping sounds like fun but I'm not sure of the advantages vs. ebay beyond the fun. I certainly have enjoyed shopping in the US (NY, LA, SF, DFW, Seattle, CO, Boston, DC, Atl, Chicago, Portland, KC, LV, Detroit, etc.) around business trips.

In past European trips I only went to new retailers so used collectors stores would be a new adventure.

 

I have a friend in London this week -- I'm looking for nice copies of two UK Joy Division 12 inches on LP -- Love Will Tear Us Apart and Atmosphere -- where should I send her?

 

bump

 

Anything in Prestbury?

A friend is heading there in a few hours and offered to check out a shop or two for me but says he won't be going into Manchester.

 

Went to a few record stores in London today (HMV, Reckless, Sounds Of The Universe & Sister Ray).
The only one I found interesting was Sister Ray.
Nice Bolan section.

Darryl (vacationing in London)