Interview: Running a London record store in the 90's

[pearsall]

For those of you who remember the vinyl days, you might enjoy this interview I've just done with Jay Burgess (aka Equinox) about his days running Elite Records in Victoria, which back in the late 90's/early 00's was one of my favorite record stores in London for hardcore and general rave goonery. OK, sure, mental rave music is not really normal DSF fare, but if you are/were a vinyl junkie, it will bring back lots of nice memories, and if you only got into dance music in the digital era, then it's a bit of history for you to ponder.

If you're interested, check it out here.

What was the weirdest thing to ever happen in the shop?

One of the best was when a guy came running in one day, says, "Alright guys how’s things? Can I grab one of your plastic bags? Gotta shoot, see ya later!"

We were going through some orders on the phone so we didn't really take much notice of him coming in as it was so quick, however a couple of minutes later the shop had police outside and people were like "He went in there". The place was searched and we were confused thinking really no one's been in ... anyway, he’d only gone and robbed the bank!

[Hedley King]

That as a good read. The 'what are people missing out on' bit is all exactly how I feel about record shops and vinyl.

People were proud of their vinyl collections. Regardless of whether or not the record had a full colour sleeve or just a scribbled-on white label, records hold memories for people. When most people flick through their collections and pull a favourite out and put it on the turntable, when it starts it’s like a snapshot of that time. Visualising through association, whether it be the place they bought it or the friends and events that were significant to them at that point. That’s why so many people still hold onto their vinyl collections from early on, there’s a lot of sentimental value associated with records.

While downloads may be convenient, in equal parts they have made music buying a completely disposable, impersonal and hollow process. Especially compared to the vibe of standing with like-minded people in that environment as a record buyer – the new releases just arrived in getting slapped on the decks, and seconds later a slammin’ tune drops and everyone is trying to get a copy. It’s a rush!

So much has been removed from the experience that record shops contributed to.

[pearsall]

thanks man, glad you enjoyed it

[fergus222]

Just about to read through it now. Looks interesting. Let you know my thoughts when finished.

[Pada]

That was a good read - it's nice to be reminded that those who like hard house are people too

[kruptah]

It's a really good read. Thanks.

[Shum]

[Preacha]

Good read!

[fergus222]

That was a good read - it's nice to be reminded that those who like hard house are people too

Hahahah

[ForbiddenFruitRecord]

Shame convience always wins out. I loved record stores and try check the few out when I do get chance

[jameshk]

Nice one

[node]

Enjoyed reading that, has made me pretty nostalgic altho I never went to Elite I was doing the rounds 98-2001 in London and it was defo the vibe of some of those record shops that solidified my love for DJing

[pearsall]

Cheers guys, glad to hear so many of you liked the read!

[pkay]

My entire vinyl collection is in storage. As great as it was at the time to go vinyl shopping and the nostalgia of having a record bag was great.... If you played anywhere outside your local bar it was hell. Checking vinyl after 9-11 but before mp3 popularity was very much hell Not to mention you had to carry a soft pack or check it. If the gig was driveable you had to watch your plates like a izan because you couldn't put em in the trunk of your car or they'd melt. Heaven forbid the venue had two floors. 50lbs 3 flights of stairs no bueno.

I have a massive record collection. But I'm over the nostalgia. Ive bought 10k + vinyl and remember almost all 30k tunes to some extent. I can bring 100 tunes to a gig with vinyl...that's less than 1% of my arsenal.

[node]

True I've lost too many records from general idiocy

[pkay]

In like 97/98 I bought the dillinja cover me single and was so stoked to drop it that night... Put it on it's all warped to hell. Never left my plates In a car trunk ever again. Just brought them in with me and sat on my box till my set for hours on end and played gameboy color.

[pearsall]

My entire vinyl collection is in storage. As great as it was at the time to go vinyl shopping and the nostalgia of having a record bag was great.... If you played anywhere outside your local bar it was hell. Checking vinyl after 9-11 but before mp3 popularity was very much hell Not to mention you had to carry a soft pack or check it. If the gig was driveable you had to watch your plates like a izan because you couldn't put em in the trunk of your car or they'd melt. Heaven forbid the venue had two floors. 50lbs 3 flights of stairs no bueno.

Pheh, that's nothing, I used to carry my record bags on public transport to play at squat parties

(which, vinyl partisan though I am, is why I wasn't toooo surprised when so many pro dj's quickly moved away from vinyl as soon as cdj's stopped sucking)

[pkay]

Well think about it... Given dubstep isn't as old but if you wanted to play a house or drum and bass set you're talking 20 years if not more worth of vinyl buying. If you're talking about an unplanned set where ours just feeling shut out you can have random tunes pop into your head out of the blue. But vinyl I'm constricted to what I've brought.

Also those who truly were vinyl collectors are aging and likely in that era where they prefer 90-120min sets. I don't feel as If I've lost anything doing cdjs. If anything gained something. It's not like I forgot how to mix. Not exactly rocket science

[Hedley King]

My entire vinyl collection is in storage. As great as it was at the time to go vinyl shopping and the nostalgia of having a record bag was great.... If you played anywhere outside your local bar it was hell. Checking vinyl after 9-11 but before mp3 popularity was very much hell Not to mention you had to carry a soft pack or check it. If the gig was driveable you had to watch your plates like a izan because you couldn't put em in the trunk of your car or they'd melt. Heaven forbid the venue had two floors. 50lbs 3 flights of stairs no bueno.

Pheh, that's nothing, I used to carry my record bags on public transport to play at squat parties

(which, vinyl partisan though I am, is why I wasn't toooo surprised when so many pro dj's quickly moved away from vinyl as soon as cdj's stopped sucking)

Pheh, that's nothing. I was resident DJ in a small ski resort so I used to drag a whole nights worth of records up a snow covered road, sometimes blizard conditions

[pearsall]

Well think about it... Given dubstep isn't as old but if you wanted to play a house or drum and bass set you're talking 20 years if not more worth of vinyl buying. If you're talking about an unplanned set where ours just feeling shut out you can have random tunes pop into your head out of the blue. But vinyl I'm constricted to what I've brought.

Ah, for me the filtering down from a vast stack has always been a big part of the fun!