Liverpool’s shopping scene is known for being dynamic and eclectic, offering everything from high street retailers and designer boutiques to bargain stores and market stalls.
There’s no doubt it has changed over the years, with businesses closing up shop and new, state-of-the-art shopping centres taking over the city centre.
These days the likes of Primark and River Island rule the streets, but years ago, before the heyday of online shopping and music streaming, it was record shops that dominated Liverpool’s shopping scene.
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Often a rite of passage among Liverpool’s teenagers, vinyl records were coveted - and so the retailers gave them just what they wanted; a haven where they could delve into their favourite albums.
These stores were everywhere, on high streets and tucked down side alleys, emitting that distinct love-it-or-hate-it smell and offering everything from obscure independent releases to Top of the Pops hits.
Record stores once ruled Liverpool but sadly many of them are long gone, remaining just a memory now.
Below, we’ve taken a look at some of Liverpool’s most loved record stores from days gone by.
Probe Records
Probe Records was the unofficial headquarters of Liverpool's punk/new wave scene in the mid to late 1970s.
Still around today, though in a new location, Probe Records continues to fly the flag for independent record shops.
The brand has occupied various sites in the city, but is most known for its Button Street store. These days, Probe Records is housed at The Bluecoat on School Lane, just a stone’s throw from the street that made it famous.
Back in the day, everything that mainstream stores didn't or wouldn't stock, could be found at Probe Records - though your record choices would be subject to the critical scrutiny of those on the staff, who have never been shy about sharing their opinions with music lovers.
Let’s put it this way; anything that didn't meet with their approval would be met with an earful of why you were wrong - or just plain laughter - before the hapless before you were sent packing to HMV.
The wider public got a taste of the Probe style of customer relations when a former employee, Pete Burns , hit the big time with his group Dead or Alive in the 1980s. His put-downs became legendary.
You can purchase a copy here of the Echo's 64 page Memory Lane special packed with nostalgic photos and articles.
The Musical Box
Liverpool's oldest record shop, The Musical Box, is based on West Derby Road.
The independent shop in Tuebrook has stood the test of time since it opened its doors in 1947.
Owner Diane Cain started working at the shop when she was a 13-year-old schoolgirl and over the decades she says she has sold "millions" of records.
Among the stars who have frequented the store are former Liverpool manager Bill Shankly , who bought a record of his favourite hymn, Amazing Grace, from Diane's mum.
The Musical Box created an Instagram account during the coronavirus pandemic. You can find them @themusicalboxrecordshop
Virgin
Based in St Johns Shopping Centre, Richard Branson’s Virgin store was a great place for picking up hard-to-find imports and cult albums or to just hang out.
The store enthusiastically embraced punk and was one of the few high street stores to stock the Sex Pistols' much-banned God Save the Queen single - released just as the Queen’s Silver Jubilee celebrations were reaching their height in 1977.
It helped, of course, that the record was released on Branson's own Virgin record label.
Many years and many millions of pounds later, the Virgin tycoon said of the Bold Street store : "It became more like a club than a shop with people coming in and listening to the music."
Penny Lane Records
At the height of its popularity Penny Lane Records’ simple black-and-white plastic bag design was a common sight.
As well as Penny Lane , it had a city centre outlet on Church Street, and sold all kinds of records from rock and pop to jazz and swing.
Hairy Records
Similar to Probe, Hairy Records has a reputation for a certain type of attitude towards customers - but they loved it anyway.
An Aladdin's cave of second-hand singles and albums, the owner was not the kind of person to exchange pleasantries.
The shop was a mecca for those looking to dig out vinyl gems well into the new millennium, while the rest of the high street was moving on to selling CDs.
Hairy Records was taken over by regular customer Spike Beecham when the previous owner died and its name was changed to The Vinyl Emporium. The shop closed for good in 2013.
The former premises are now home to Chinese supermarket SIDA.
NEMS
North End Music Stores, NEMS for short, was established by Brian Epstein’s family and played a key role in the early days of The Beatles .
The store was based at 12-14 Whitechapel, which is now a huge Next store.
It was at NEMS that Brian Epstein first heard of the future Fab Four, when a customer asked him if he had a copy of a record they'd cut in Hamburg called My Bonnie - he didn't.
NEMS, just a stone's throw from the Cavern Club in Mathew Street , was also where The Beatles signed their first management contract with Brian in his offices above the shop in 1962.
The store was still going strong until the 1990s. After it closed it went through a variety of different guises - many will remember its temporary incarnation as an Ann Summers adult store.
Most recently the space was transformed into a new site for high street retailer Next when it moved from its previous home on Church Street.
Honorable mentions
Skeleton Records - Birkenhead
Quirks - Formby, Crosby, Southport and Ormskirk
Andy's Records - Southport
Reaction Records - New Brighton, Wirral
Gravy Train - Liscard, Wirral
Rox Records - Liscard, Birkenhead, and Hoylake, Wirral
Was your favourite record store from days gone by missed? Let us know in the comments below.
