A trip to the record store, 41 years ago

[Febct]

Henry Stave?  Harold Moore's?

Harold Moore's (!).  In Great Marlborough St.  Just where I remember it to be.  Thanks for the reply.

PS - a web search comes up with "an Ode to Harold Moore's" which calls it "London's last classical record shop."

Tell me it's not true.

[Wheesht]

The British Record Shop Archive has more information, photos and even a link to an interview with Harold Moores. I remember venturing in the basement about 25 years ago in search of that surprisingly rare thing, a recording of 'Peter and the Wolf' with Russian narration – and I found it!

[terry martyn]

I used to buy Louis Spohr symphonies there.  My lasting memory is how prohibitively expensive they were!!

[Alan Howe]

My favourite was Farringdon Records (Cheapside, I think). Can't remember what went on upstairs (probably pop) , but downstairs was classical LP paradise. I always spent too much..

[eschiss1]

During my first of two trips to London , in 1993, I remember getting a couple of CDs at Moores (Myaskovsky 3/Lyrical Concertino, and - oh right, Tubin sym.7 etc. on BIS.)

[dances43]

Henry Stave, in fact, 9 Dean Street.

[terry martyn]

Yes,that's the one!

[jonah]

Where they would inspect the LP under a huge magnifying glass and then seal the LP in its cover inside a heavy-duty polythene cover. I still have some LPs from Stave in their polythene outer covers and the seals - those were the days!
Just around the corner from there was EMG,which published a regular review newsletter and had a great stock, with very knowledgeable staff.

[Febct]

And what was the big, glitzy one in Piccadilly Circus?  Was it Virgin Records?

[Gareth Vaughan]

Tower Records IIRC

[Febct]

Tower Records IIRC

Thanks, and of course you're correct - but I'm happy to note that my memory actually is 50% intact, according to this response from "Copilot" about a Virgin store in Piccadilly:

The store sat at 1 Piccadilly (Mayfair), just steps from Piccadilly Circus station. It sold the full range of Virgin's media offerings: CDs, vinyl, videos, games, and more — the classic Megastore experience.
The location is now closed, consistent with the broader shutdown of UK Virgin Megastores after the chain was sold and rebranded as Zavvi in 2007.
So if you remember walking out of Tower Records and heading a short distance to another giant music shop — you're remembering correctly. Piccadilly Circus was once one of the densest music‑retail hubs in London, with Tower Records, Virgin Megastore, and HMV on Oxford Street all within easy reach.