Flicking through the sleeves, saving up for a single, and getting it home without bending the cover. Then came the ritual: put the record on, lower the needle and listen. Which song takes you straight back to being young?
This photograph shows a recreation of a 1960s Liverpool record shop, photographed in 2011. It is a museum scene rather than an archive photograph of a working shop. Even so, the sleeves, displays and posters offer a starting point for remembering somewhere that mattered to you.
More than a place to buy music
Choosing a record could mean saving for weeks, asking for a birthday present or spending an afternoon browsing with friends. The shop itself often had a character: a cramped independent, a counter in a department store or a branch on the high street. Some people remember listening booths; others remember asking an assistant to identify a song from a half-remembered chorus. Your memories do not have to match anyone else’s to belong here.
What do you remember?
- What was the first record you bought with your own money?
- Which shop did you buy it in?
- Do you still have the record or its sleeve?
Share a memory in the comments below. An approximate year and a town or place help other people find a connection. Please avoid posting private contact details.
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