Back in the late 1970's on a record hunting mission in the east end of London I happened across this shop at 24 Cambridge heath road...
Inside on the walls were great lists of oldies of all types in a shop rammed to the rafters with records of all sorts, all new and very much a DJ's shop. After a quick browse round I noticed a chap by the back of shop/office space standing by a big box of import 45s. I noticed a few Detroit labels; Golden World and Revillot in there.. The chap seemed a bit protective and didn't seem to like me looking. Asking the owner if there were any more soul 45s like those for sale I was told ; " Sorry its a trade sale son.. "
Years later working at a shop round the corner (84/5) Low price records (later Gumbi records) my boss and good friend summoned me to come and look at a basement full of 60s 45s round the corner at .. Paul for Music..
The basement had been flooded and was very damp indeed.. my Asthma played up after an hour but not before I'd pulled numerous Atlantic, Chess and Motown US issues and a copy of a top want .. Roscoe and Friends " Broadway Sissy" There were 10's of thousands of 45s and Lps in there and I vowed to return now we had a deal with the owner.
Years later as the stakes were raised with 45 prices and my recent market stall opening near Brick Lane; I returned to go through the 45s as the owner had sadly passed on and his son David had taken over running and had fixed the leaking drains and roof and was keen to clear some of the 45s. It took me a week to go through the lot; lots were badly water damaged and stuck together; i found a recently dead rat and the ground floor had had sewage on it at some stage but still pulled out approximately 2000 45s over the next few months .. Unopened Chess/checker 25 count boxes of great but not expensive titles by Little Milton, Dells( Make sure ), Jo ann Garrett, Mitty Collier.. I found lots of good UK release 70s things, some very rare funk 45s ( Pearly Queen) 15 copies or more of Betty Lavette" Condition" Karen.. All sorts of great multiples like Bobby Taylor on VIP , William Hunt on Streamside.. lots of SS7 stuff , UK Reggae issues, French soundtrack rarities..etc etc.. Nothing mega rare on the Northern front but UK copies of Esther Phillips "Just say goodbye" on UK Atlantic etc etc etc.
Now this was 2001/2 and for £1.25 each I spent a fair bit but it kept me going in stock for quite a while and on the second look through months later I was still finding stuff.
Now I know this stuff came from a Leighton Buzzard warehouse, David told me, and said imports in and out of boxes were piled high on the floor and he just picked out all the good labels hence Chess/Checker.. SS7 .. Motown etc.. there must be a link with FL Moores place here ?
I'm sure my Smith namesake Mick had been through the place countless times along with every other London source ! Does anyone else have tales of finds there as I was only sifting dregs; the stock was so vast I'm sure loads of great finds came from there.. My friend Mark Taylor went through it too and continued to turn great stuff up; anyone else ?
I just wanted to say that I was manager of Pauls from 1969 to 1977 and before that worked in the Leather Lane shop. The staff during that time were myself, Carla and Carole. There was no Tony so that
Back in the late 1970's on a record hunting mission in the east end of London I happened across this shop at 24 Cambridge heath road...
Inside on the walls were great lists of oldies of all types in a shop rammed to the rafters with records of all sorts, all new and very much a DJ's shop. After a quick browse round I noticed a chap by the back of shop/office space standing by a big box of import 45s. I noticed a few Detroit labels; Golden World and Revillot in there.. The chap seemed a bit protective and didn't seem to like me looking. Asking the owner if there were any more soul 45s like those for sale I was told ; " Sorry its a trade sale son.. "
Years later working at a shop round the corner (84/5) Low price records (later Gumbi records) my boss and good friend summoned me to come and look at a basement full of 60s 45s round the corner at .. Paul for Music..
The basement had been flooded and was very damp indeed.. my Asthma played up after an hour but not before I'd pulled numerous Atlantic, Chess and Motown US issues and a copy of a top want .. Roscoe and Friends " Broadway Sissy" There were 10's of thousands of 45s and Lps in there and I vowed to return now we had a deal with the owner.
Years later as the stakes were raised with 45 prices and my recent market stall opening near Brick Lane; I returned to go through the 45s as the owner had sadly passed on and his son David had taken over running and had fixed the leaking drains and roof and was keen to clear some of the 45s. It took me a week to go through the lot; lots were badly water damaged and stuck together; i found a recently dead rat and the ground floor had had sewage on it at some stage but still pulled out approximately 2000 45s over the next few months .. Unopened Chess/checker 25 count boxes of great but not expensive titles by Little Milton, Dells( Make sure ), Jo ann Garrett, Mitty Collier.. I found lots of good UK release 70s things, some very rare funk 45s ( Pearly Queen) 15 copies or more of Betty Lavette" Condition" Karen.. All sorts of great multiples like Bobby Taylor on VIP , William Hunt on Streamside.. lots of SS7 stuff , UK Reggae issues, French soundtrack rarities..etc etc.. Nothing mega rare on the Northern front but UK copies of Esther Phillips "Just say goodbye" on UK Atlantic etc etc etc.
Now this was 2001/2 and for £1.25 each I spent a fair bit but it kept me going in stock for quite a while and on the second look through months later I was still finding stuff.
Now I know this stuff came from a Leighton Buzzard warehouse, David told me, and said imports in and out of boxes were piled high on the floor and he just picked out all the good labels hence Chess/Checker.. SS7 .. Motown etc.. there must be a link with FL Moores place here ?
I'm sure my Smith namesake Mick had been through the place countless times along with every other London source ! Does anyone else have tales of finds there as I was only sifting dregs; the stock was so vast I'm sure loads of great finds came from there.. My friend Mark Taylor went through it too and continued to turn great stuff up; anyone else ?
Edited by Lobster Madras