Tenby’s legendary Dales Music Store features in a?new book released this week taking a look at the vinyl revival that has rejuvenated record stores across the UK.
‘The Vinyl Revival And The Shops That Made It Happen’ by Graham Jones is the story of the vinyl revival through the eyes of those who made it happen, the independent record shops.
It explains why more than a hundred more record shops have opened since 2009, and how others have gained the reward from their hard work.
Nearly 65 years since Laurie Dale first opened the doors of what has become a legendary attraction to music lovers - Dales Music Store, on Tenby’s High Street is still going strong.
Founded by Laurie’s father, ‘Dales’ originally specialised in pianos, but as the ’50s progressed, recorded music became more and more popular, and soon the shop gave up most of its shelf space to records, and later, eight tracks, cassettes and more recently compact discs.
“People still come in and say they bought their first record at Dales and some of them are now as old as the shop itself!” said Laurie.
One of the founders of ‘Proper Music Distribution’ - the book’s author Graham Jones should be in the Guinness World Records for visiting more record shops than any other person!
Following hundreds of record shop closures, and worried that record shops would go the way of stamp shops, coin shops and candlestick makers, he toured the UK to interview the owners and staff of 50 record shops and document their tales for his first book ‘Last Shop Standing: Whatever Happened to Record Shops?’
His new book ‘The Vinyl Revival And The Shops That Made It Happen’ published by Proper Music Publishing (which is available to buy at Dales) guides you around the record shops of the UK who sell new vinyl.
He has gathered some fascinating and funny anecdotes told him by our much-loved record shop staff so that when you visit you will feel like you already know the characters behind the counters.
It is perfect for vinyl fans to keep with them on their travels around the country.