Peter Ashby, record shop owner
ANYONE can pull out an iPod or iPhone and listen to a playlist, but having the original piece means so much more – there’s something special about it. Buying vinyl is going that step further. They’re like time capsules; they can’t be deleted, they’re an art form in themselves. It’s not all about being retro, it’s about having a collection of music that you love which has sentimental value.
I get music-lovers from all over the world who visit the shop. With each day comes a new face, a new person with different likes and interests. I’ve also seen some famous musicians come in, too, like Thurston Moore. I never know what to expect, each day brings something new.
The first record I bought was Michael Jackson’s Bad when I was nine. I liked the format and authenticity so I started collecting. People were getting rid of them so they were cheap and I could buy a range of collections for relatively low prices.
I was always around music growing up; I played in a band and liked listening to different genres. The LPs I got as a youngster were second-hand, things like John Lennon, Prince and Fleetwood Mac and disco music that my mum liked. I then got into 1960s guitar bands and the whole late 1980s indie music scene which led me into house, techno and hip hop.
My guitar teacher Stef McGlinchey was a big influence. He introduced me to different bands like Wire, Love, and Stereolab and also suggested the name for the shop, Mixed Up.
For the first 10 years, the shop wasn't making any money. Every week, there would be an article in the newspaper about how vinyl had reached its end. In the last 10 years, there’s been an article every week about how it’s all coming back. The shop is really well known now, and we’ve built up over the years from nothing – I had no idea that we would still be open 20 years later.
People who come into the shop are usually after a specific record but soon, before they know it, they're collecting all kinds of things. The shop also sells and buys old vintage hi-fi gear, especially Scottish made hi-fi like Linn, and British makes like Garrard.
Customers' enthusiasm rubs off and gets me interested in things I never thought I would listen to – rock, jazz, classical. Some customers introduce me to new things that aren't readily available yet – it’s really incredible.
Music takes time to seep in and be appreciated therefore listening to a record requires more attention. Some albums can be out of the loop for years until a DJ or producer rediscovers them and soon they’re getting played everywhere, and everyone’s looking for the original. If there are only 200 copies of an album floating around then the demand will outstrip supply and the value inevitably increases.
It’s sometimes difficult to find certain albums but we have eBay, where I can find things quite easily. Not everything’s valuable; I’ve learned to tell the good from the bad and things that people don't want I give to charity.
Visit mixeduprecords.com
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