Defend vinyl? Of course I do. Since I returned to buying LPs several years ago many of my happiest hours have been spent in record shops and charity shops doing the ‘flicking through LPs’ thing I’d thought I’d left long behind me.
But until recently there hadn’t been a proper record shop I could go to anywhere near where I live. Then around a month ago Defend opens here on Smithdown Road and becomes an immediate and regular part of my Saturday morning walks around the neighbourhood.
It’s a proper record shop.
With a proper and knowledgeable bloke behind the counter.
Graham Jones, it’s his shop.
After exchanging initial and expected pleasantries where we, of course, discuss our favourite Bill Withers B-sides, Graham and I, as is traditional, discover our mutual village of Liverpool connections. So hello Paul, Marianne and Dan. You were with us as I took these photos and talked music and the business of setting up the shop with Graham.
It’s got new releases.
Interesting older stuff.
And aren’t LP sleeves wonderful things?
Then there’s the matter of the juke box.
On kind of permanent loan from family members.
Yes, everyone’s got a juke box lying around the house haven’t they?
This one isn’t actually working yet. But it will.
“Apparently it just needs a new drive belt and someone who knows how to fit it. There aren’t that many juke box fixers around these days” pleads Graham.
So if you do know of a juke box fixer, then get in touch?
Then before you know it, as Chuck Berry once said, we’ll be dropping the coins right into the slot, as we have to hear something that’s really hot.
Otherwise we’ll have to carry on listening to this?
Not really, there is a proper record player behind the counter. It is a proper record shop after all.
And I’ve never visited here without buying something. Justifying the faith, friendship and investment of everyone who contributed to the crowdfunding campaign to help Graham get it opened:
It’s open until 5 o’clock today, Sunday. And the other days?
“I’m open at 11am Monday to Saturday and a lie-in of a Sunday , so not ’til 12 mid-day.
Then close at 7pm Monday to Thursday, 8pm Friday and Saturday.”
Ring 0151 306 7121 if you want to check anything.
See you here soon?
Defend Vinyl.
Smithdown Road, Liverpool 15.
A proper record shop on a proper high street.
Happy days.
Pointing out, as ever, that though this is a piece of blatant encouragement to go and shop at Defend Vinyl no money or free records have been involved, or ever would be, to get me to write this. This blog, a sense of place, is a free and opinionated public service and always will be. My enthusiasms cost nothing and can’t be bought.
Get in touch with Defend Vinyl @defend_vinyl on Twitter, or find the Facebook page.
