Record Shop Tour

Photo:Formerly The Record Album, 34 North Road, Brighton

Formerly The Record Album, 34 North Road, Brighton

Photo by Debbie Lias

The Record Album, 34 North Road
By John Lias

Special mention must go to this shop as it still exists, albeit at new premises, now for a good many years.

After The Cottage, this was my favourite hunting ground for records throughout the 70s. They sold both LPs and singles and had good stock turnover.

For years it was owned by an extraordinarily grumpy man who used to be no help whatsoever on one of his bad days. But the shop had so much good stuff I usually managed to avoid asking him too many questions and thus upsetting him.

The new shop next to Brighton Station continues to specialise in soundtracks and stopped selling singles decades ago. The current owner - probably for over twenty five years now - is NOT the previous owner to whom I refer!

This page was added on 10/10/2008.

Comments about this page

Yes, I remember this one as well. I think I used to spend quite a lot on records here. Between this, Record Box and The Cottage, I must have bought more than half of my orignal collection. Brighton was spoiled for great record shops both second-hand and independent primary sector shops, especially in the North Laine area. Great days.

By Paul Martin (08/05/2009)

The Record Album was a real treasure trove. The owner, when I used to go there in the 70's, was George Ginn who was always immaculately dressed and very well spoken. I think George had bought the shop after coming out of the armed forces. I believe that the shop originally opened about 1948 which probably makes it the longest continual independent record outlet in Brighton. I vaguely remember the shop temporarily moving from North Street up to Queen's Road before relocating to the present premises in Terminus Road. 'The Record Album' mostly sold film, stage and musical soundtrack LPs although it also stocked rock music and other genres of music. You could always be sure that what you would get for your money was an item in excellent to mint condition. What drew me to the North Street shop was the bargain box located on the floor of the shop, just inside the door, where the occasional 'find' could be picked up really cheaply.

By Kevin Cooke (25/03/2010)

I certainly remember The Cottage around 1969 / 1970, where we would take our records to sell when we were broke!

By Diana Lambing (24/05/2010)

My pals and I also recall the grumpy chap referred to in the first comment. He was so tight he still kept his pre-decimal signs on display in 1974! We used to misbehave a bit in there and I have a photo of him putting his finger to his forehead, pipe jauntily poking out of his mouth in the style of Harold Wilson or Popeye as he asked us, "What are ya - barmy?".

By Steve Andrews (12/03/2011)

Yes I bought, among other things, a live concert Extended Play (EP) there of Jimmy Witherspoon and Helen Humes. For a long time they had Bobby Bland record sleeves in the window. I wish I had bought them but it was only later that I really appreciated Bobby Bland and realised what a wonderful singer he was.

By Nick Heath (27/07/2012)

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