There's a pretty fab HMV store in downtown Liverpool as well.
I'm still struggling to figure out how to approach record stores in the age of online shopping and discogs. The joy of discovery of a hard-to-find album is... a bit artificial, when I know I can buy it online anytime I want to. I try to fake it by imposing a ban on buying anything online beyond the essentials that I have (complete Beatles, Rumours, etc.), but it's an artificial construct and I'm always aware of it.
And I'm always aware that whatever "find" I find in a record store, I can probably order a better pressing of it on discogs, so...
Record stores remain a condundrum for me. Doesn't keep me away from them, though.
What a beautiful new front HMV's got! Thanks for including the "before" pic, too, Andy...for those of us on the American Candy side of the Atlantic who may never have seen it or visited (like moi)!
I'm also glad you mentioned what HMV stands for....The iconic bow-wow's name is Nipper, and his canine visage has been the adornment, particularly for RCA Records (aka RCA Victor/Victrola) for a century, with "His Master's Voice" being the label's motto, of sorts.
In fact, in that arena (future article collab, anyone?!), Nipper joins the Warner Bros. Records "WB" shield and the CBS/Columbia Records "eye" logo, as well as EMI/Capitol's dome as long-time, iconic major-label logos!
Growing up in the late '50s thru the '60s in Houston, TX, my dad always referred to his phonograph as "the Vic." NEVER did I hear the phrase "record player" or "phonograph" or "record changer"! Whether his "vic" was a true Victrola, I don't know/remember, but that was my early language intro to that imposing machine that played licorice pizzas!
And, I'd be remiss in not applauding your bitchin' leather jacket, Andy Ramone!
And, I'm sure I'm not alone, as an American-based subscriber, in happily clamoring for more and anything you've got about British this or UK that when it comes to anything vinyl related!! Bring it on!
Great the iconic HMV shop is back, even if HMV shops seem to stock as many toys as records these days.
I used to love getting the train to London (from Sussex) to tour record shops for hard to find items, usually ending with a long inspection of HMV Oxford Street.
I’m sure there’s another story behind those American candy stores all over Oxford St (and elsewhere). Some people have theories about front operations, but I couldn’t possibly comment.
This is great news. That shop used to be on my itinerary when I’d visit London - along with the Tower Records in Piccadilly and Harold Moore’s, the great classical shop (whose closing I lament whenever I’m in that neck of the woods).
Online shopping is great, of course, but it kind of takes the fun out of the adventure.
There's a pretty fab HMV store in downtown Liverpool as well.
I'm still struggling to figure out how to approach record stores in the age of online shopping and discogs. The joy of discovery of a hard-to-find album is... a bit artificial, when I know I can buy it online anytime I want to. I try to fake it by imposing a ban on buying anything online beyond the essentials that I have (complete Beatles, Rumours, etc.), but it's an artificial construct and I'm always aware of it.
And I'm always aware that whatever "find" I find in a record store, I can probably order a better pressing of it on discogs, so...
Record stores remain a condundrum for me. Doesn't keep me away from them, though.
What a beautiful new front HMV's got! Thanks for including the "before" pic, too, Andy...for those of us on the American Candy side of the Atlantic who may never have seen it or visited (like moi)!
I'm also glad you mentioned what HMV stands for....The iconic bow-wow's name is Nipper, and his canine visage has been the adornment, particularly for RCA Records (aka RCA Victor/Victrola) for a century, with "His Master's Voice" being the label's motto, of sorts.
In fact, in that arena (future article collab, anyone?!), Nipper joins the Warner Bros. Records "WB" shield and the CBS/Columbia Records "eye" logo, as well as EMI/Capitol's dome as long-time, iconic major-label logos!
Growing up in the late '50s thru the '60s in Houston, TX, my dad always referred to his phonograph as "the Vic." NEVER did I hear the phrase "record player" or "phonograph" or "record changer"! Whether his "vic" was a true Victrola, I don't know/remember, but that was my early language intro to that imposing machine that played licorice pizzas!
And, I'd be remiss in not applauding your bitchin' leather jacket, Andy Ramone!
And, I'm sure I'm not alone, as an American-based subscriber, in happily clamoring for more and anything you've got about British this or UK that when it comes to anything vinyl related!! Bring it on!
Great the iconic HMV shop is back, even if HMV shops seem to stock as many toys as records these days.
I used to love getting the train to London (from Sussex) to tour record shops for hard to find items, usually ending with a long inspection of HMV Oxford Street.
I’m sure there’s another story behind those American candy stores all over Oxford St (and elsewhere). Some people have theories about front operations, but I couldn’t possibly comment.
This is great news. That shop used to be on my itinerary when I’d visit London - along with the Tower Records in Piccadilly and Harold Moore’s, the great classical shop (whose closing I lament whenever I’m in that neck of the woods).
Online shopping is great, of course, but it kind of takes the fun out of the adventure.