WHERE did you buy your first classical record/s?

[Roslynmuse]

You beat me to it! Actually my first LPs came from an electrical shop in Allerton Road, and one of them was the New World symphony on a label called Gala. It was so bad it went back to the shop, and was replaced by Grieg's Peer Gynt coupled with Bizet's L'Arlesienne Suite - Ormandy, Philadelphia orchestra. I think I had a few others from that shop, and after that it was mostly Rushworth and Dreaper which got my money. Also I believe that I heard one of my first concerts at a rather young age in a small studio at the top of Rushworth and Dreaper - where various pianists (probably students/talented kids) played - I remember being very impressed by the piano. There was at least one other fairly decent piano shop which I became aware of later, not too far from Central station - can't remember what that one was called - probably in Hanover Street - might have been Cranes.

Yes, it was Cranes - I had a pleasant ritual after every piano exam I took at the Bluecoat Chambers I'd get some new volume of piano music from Cranes!

Talking of Rushworths, I remember going to a performance of Steve Reich's Six Pianos there, January 1986, as part of a marathon Reich Day with the man himself presiding over the evening concert at the Phil.

[mikealdren]

At university, it was the miraculous Gibb's Bookshop in Manchester. But that's another story.

With the famous 33p box for clearance records. When were you in Manchester?

Mike

[mangerton]

Rae Macintosh in South Queensferry Street just off the West End in Edinburgh.

Alas, it's no more now although the instrument/sheet music section moved into Shandwick place about a year ago.

I too patronised Rae Macs, and I started in the mid 60s when they had much larger premises in George Street. It's sad that all these fine old shops have gone.

[pastoralguy]

I too patronised Rae Macs, and I started in the mid 60s when they had much larger premises in George Street. It's sad that all these fine old shops have gone.

I must have spent a tremendous amount of time in there as a teenager. What's sad is seeing all those records I could never afford turning up in charity shops and my having no interest in them at all.

Still, that's progress for you.

[Pianophile]

Brees Records in Churchgate, Leicester. Excellent classical department and sheet music in the basement. Spent many happy hours browsing!

[Stunsworth]

My first couple of classical LP were bought from WH Smiths in Bolton. I'm pretty sure the first one was the 1812 on the EMI Studio 2 label. The next one was I think an LP of Suppe overtures on the same label. That would have been around 1969-70.

Gibbs in Manchester was one of my haunts from the mid to late 70s onwards. I must have bought hundreds of used LPs from there over the years.

[David-G]

In GUM in Red Square in Moscow. I was on a school trip. It was Mozart's 40th symphony.

[EdgeleyRob]

My first couple of classical LP were bought from WH Smiths in Bolton. I'm pretty sure the first one was the 1812 on the EMI Studio 2 label. The next one was I think an LP of Suppe overtures on the same label. That would have been around 1969-70.

Gibbs in Manchester was one of my haunts from the mid to late 70s onwards. I must have bought hundreds of used LPs from there over the years.

There were a lot of future forumites in that shop in the late 70s and 80s.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

ER, do you remember Nield & Hardy in Stockport?

[Roslynmuse]

ER, do you remember Nield & Hardy in Stockport?

Whereabouts was that? The only Stockport shop I recall was the old 78 Record Exchange which closed about 10 years ago.

[Tevot]

The now defunct, I think, Woods in Bradford.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

The now defunct, I think, Woods in Bradford.

A huge Music emporium on the road from the railway station towards Manningham? Yes - I got a nasty shock about five years ago when I went to have a browse and found a "white goods" store in its place. (MInd you, the hole of Bradford was a shock that day: that wasn't a typo - what have the Council allowed to happen to the city?)

[Tony Halstead]

the hole of Bradford

'
Sorry about that, I intended to be constructive about this... the 'Early Music Shop' part of Woods is now ( and has been for several years) located in the huge Titus Salt ex-mill in that wonderful place SALTAIRE which although once a separate village is now a part of Bradford itself.
Well worth a visit.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Sorry about that, I intended to be constructive about this... the 'Early Music Shop' part of Woods is now ( and has been for several years) located in the huge Titus Salt ex-mill in that wonderful place SALTAIRE

What???!!! I visit Salts Mill regularly and haven't noticed this? Please, tell more ...

which although once a separate village is now a part of Bradford itself.

Isn't it regarded as a part of Shipley (which, I know, Bradford thinks is part of it, but everybody else knows differently!)

Well worth a visit.

Saltaire is one of my favourite days out: the Park, Shipley Glen, the Canal walk, and, in the Mill Gallery, the Hockneys and Art and Bookshops. The diner's not bad either. Too many overpriced junk "jewellery" shops nowadays (and whatever happened to the Bodhran bookshop? Great place - met that Austen Mitchell with his small grandchildren there once) - and all on my doorstep.

[Tony Halstead]

The Early Music Shop
Salts Mill, Victoria Road
Saltaire, West Yorkshire
BD18 3LB

http://www.earlymusicshop.com/