Overview

New in paperback with updated introduction. A Notting Hill Carnival city. A rock city. A rave city. A reggae city. A city of deep soul and funky jazz. A city where, from the Rolling Stones to Stormzy, cutting-edge music has constantly been created … London rules the game. London's Record Shops celebrates the greatest vendors of recorded music in the world's foremost record-shop-city. From Brixton dub shacks and Hackney vinyl boutiques to Camden's rockabilly ravers and Soho's feted jazz and dance shops, through Rough Trade and Honest Jon's to Sound of the Universe – these brilliant (sometimes eccentric, always engaging) emporiums are documented with striking photographs and incisive interviews. Anyone who loves music and/or London will find this book engaging and informative. AUTHORS: Garth Cartwright is a freelance journalist and author of 5 books, including the 2018 title Going for a Song: a Chronicle of the UK Record Shop. His writing has appeared in all the leading UK broadsheets and many magazines and websites. He is a regular guest on BBC London and Radio 6 Music. He is an authority on all kinds of music, London history and record shops. He lives in Peckham. Quintina Valero is an award-winning photojournalist whose photos have appeared in The Observer, Sunday Times and others. 130 colour illustrations

Full Product Details

Author:   Garth Cartwright ,  Quintina Valero
Publisher:   The History Press Ltd
Imprint:   The History Press Ltd
Edition:   New edition
ISBN:  

9781837052738

ISBN 10:   1837052735
Publication Date:   04 June 2026
Audience:   General/trade ,  General
Format:   Paperback
Publisher's Status:   Active
Availability:   Not yet available  
This item is yet to be released. You can pre-order this item and we will dispatch it to you upon its release.

Table of Contents

Cover Title Copyright Contents Foreword By Cornershop Introduction Introduction: 2026 Edition Soho Reckless Records Sister Ray Phonica Sounds Of The Universe (Sotu) Ray’s Jazz Camden Town Sounds That Swing Rock ’N’ Roll Rescue All Ages Records Out On The Floor Records Let It Roll Ladbroke Grove Honest Jon’s Rough Trade West People’s Sound Records Brixton Supertone Records Lion Vibes Container Records Universal Roots Pure Vinyl Peckham & Camberwell Rat Records Maestro Rye Wax Peckham Soul Hackney Eldica Ecstatic Peace Library Hidden Sounds Atlantis Records Jelly Records Tome Records Bbe Music Store Stranger Than Paradise Whitechapel Rough Trade East Flashback Records World Of Echo Crypt Of The Wizard Yo-Yo Records Love Vinyl Final Note Acknowledgements

Reviews

‘Full of facts, fantastic photos and heaps of social history of the areas and stores depicted in the book.’ * <i>Southwark News</i> * ‘London's record shops - especially those on our patch - have a special place in music lovers' hearts.’ * <i>Camden New Journal</i> * ‘The lovely thing about the book is that the shop isn't the focus. Instead it's a love letter to the culture of these small shops to good music, and the passion, knowledge and enthusiasm of the characters that exist within their orbit.’ * <i>Songlines</i> * Four star review. ‘The attractive hardback offers a profile of no less than 36 of the London's finest vinyl emporiums.’ * <i>KCW London</i> * ‘Beautifully illustrated throughout with colour photos of shop exteriors and interiors.’ * <i>Jazzwize</i> *

‘Full of facts, fantastic photos and heaps of social history of the areas and stores depicted in the book.’ * <i>Southwark News</i> * ‘London's record shops - especially those on our patch - have a special place in music lovers' hearts.’ * <i>Camden New Journal</i> * ‘The lovely thing about the book is that the shop isn't the focus. Instead it's a love letter to the culture of these small shops to good music, and the passion, knowledge and enthusiasm of the characters that exist within their orbit.’ * <i>Songlines</i> * ‘The attractive hardback offers a profile of no less than 36 of the London's finest vinyl emporiums.’ * <i>KCW London</i> * ‘Beautifully illustrated throughout with colour photos of shop exteriors and interiors.’ * <i>Jazzwize</i> *

Author Information

Garth Cartwright is a freelance journalist and author of 5 books, including the 2018 title Going for a Song: a Chronicle of the UK Record Shop. His writing has appeared in all the leading UK broadsheets and many magazines and websites. He is a regular guest on BBC London and Radio 6 Music. He is an authority on all kinds of music, London history and record shops. He lives in Peckham. Quintina is an award-winning photojournalist whose photos have appeared in The Observer, Sunday Times and others.

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