I first started buying from Rounder Records when it was Fine Records at the beginning of the 80s. When Rounder moved in, Norman Cook had a spell working in there, and I'm quite sure he served me when I bought 'Relax' on 12" at the end of 1983. I've still got it. I still go in there every now and again, if time allows. Still a favourite shop of mine.

Did this used to be called 'Brighton Records' in the late 70s? I distinctly recall that it was the only record shop in Brighton that stocked all the new punk rock 45s in the first half of 1977. I managed to obtain an under-the-counter, quick-before-it-got-recalled, copy of the Sex Pistols' 'Anarchy in the UK' (in the black sleeve) on EMI for 45p from HMV in Churchill Square, but could not find The Damned's 'New Rose' anywhere. 'Brighton (Fine or Rounder) Records' had a whole window festooned with the picture sleeves of the new punk records which I just bought based on the sleeve art, all of which I loved. Of course before then, unlike the continent, (other than rare EPs by big name bands in the 60s), British singles only ever came in paper company sleeves or plain white paper sleeves (remember how dull the display of the top 30 looked laid out in rows in Boots record dept?). The sudden explosion of picture sleeves was enough to attract any emergent teen with an ear for loud guitars. I spent every penny I had in that shop over a 12 month period just soaking up these esoteric and otherwise hard to source 45s, Buzzcocks' 'Spiral Scratch EP on New Hormones' for instance, The Adverts' 'One Chord Wonders', Damned's 'Neat, Neat, Neat', Chelsea's 'Right To Work' (which was playing when I went in there one day 'what's this called? I'll take it!'), etc. Then I'd go to the Top Rank or the New Regent (when run by Fox's) on a Friday / Saturday night and see the actual bands play, amazing!

I remember going to Rounder Records religiously every Saturday with my friends, looking for music we'd heard in the clubs. Trying to get everything on white label.That was around 1983/4/5. I remember Norman Cook working there too. I'm sure he left and went to work for HMV in Churchill Square afterwards.