Author Archives: simon robinson

About simon robinson

Having worked as a graphic designer in the music industry, mainly in the reissue sector, I now concentrate on the design and publication of books about popular culture - and even write some of them.

Sheffield shop

Posted on March 15, 2019

Spinnings Discs record shop in the city (below) is added to our list of places to visit at last! Our modest list also updates Jumbo Records in Leeds which has moved back into the Merrion Centre just across the road. … Continue reading →

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Carrying The Beatles

Posted on March 8, 2019

I picked this Beatles record carry case up at a junk shop a couple of decades ago for a few shillings. These sort of carriers were very popular in the late Fifties and into the Sixties, with plastic pockets inside … Continue reading →

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Ready for stereo?

Posted on February 23, 2019

Back in 1968 when this advert appeared in Melody Maker, stereo was still a pricey upgrade for most pop music fans, and many were playing records on older mono record players even though the stereo format had been around for … Continue reading →

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Classical sleeves

Posted on December 28, 2018

Three nice illustrated sleeves which I have stumbled across in recent months, all for classical music and issued in the 1950s and 1960s. The first cover design is a real work of art, produced for Columbia’s classical label in 1963 … Continue reading →

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At The Palace

Posted on December 21, 2018

The Palace Theatre in Manchester was one of the many rock venues available to me as a student there, but tended not to have as many groups as The Free Trade Hall. However if a band needed a deeper bigger … Continue reading →

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77

Posted on December 14, 2018

I absolutely played the debut album from Talking Heads to death back in 1977, having taken a risk on the single after rave reviews in the NME. The LP sleeve is good too (it can be seen on the site) … Continue reading →

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Christmas sleeve

Posted on December 7, 2018

I cannot trace James Russell & Co. This charming Christmas sleeve printed for their record department looks to be from the 1930s judging by the stylistic outline drawings of the man and woman who are carrying the letters which make … Continue reading →

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Beresford’s Birmingham

Posted on November 30, 2018

This vintage paper bag turned up a few weeks ago at an antique shop, and for £3 I couldn’t resist. Lovingly crafted from brown paper with string handles, and complete with the HMV and Columbia record logos, it must be … Continue reading →

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Binn’s department store

Posted on November 23, 2018

I kind of assumed Binn’s department stores must have sold gramophone players and records at some time, but this is the first 78 rpm bag featuring their name I have found. In fact the shop had three slightly different ones … Continue reading →

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Records and railway tickets

Posted on November 16, 2018

Palmer, W. G. & Son, on the North End Road in Kensington apparently not only sold gramophone players, wireless sets, and of course 78 rpm records, but also acted as a ticket agency for all the London Theatres and even rail … Continue reading →

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