photo supplied by Tony May
Among the features in this months Hastings Town Magazine May 2016 are… The View From The Pier book by Anthony J Berry, Tony May’s thoughts on the reopening of Hastings Pier, Hastings Pier the early days, Hastings Pier is born again and The Dolphin Rock A Nore. Also the latest instalment “Letters From Keith’ including the above great photo of Jack London in The Record Shop. Chat about answer records, single b sides to flip and remembering Keith Emerson with talk when Jimi Hendrix was going to join ‘Nice’ and they would have been called ‘Help’ and collecting record shop bags. Congratulations to Hastings Town on reaching your 100 edition. Now available from your local newsagent.
Peter Fairless… What a great picture!
Steve Sampson… Is that Brian London ?
Dave Stevens… Jack London
Jim Breeds… Awwww. Wow, I can smell it – paper and plastic. Wonderful memory! Any clues as to date from the LP covers? I don’t think I recognise any for certain. There’s music cassettes on the right, and a picture disc above those. 1980s?
Lynn Graham… Dear old Jack
Peter Fairless… Diana Ross, ‘So Close’, single, picture bag, makes it 1983, Jim.
Alan Esdaile… Well spotted Pete. I think it is Culture Club Time above this.
Peter Fairless… Yes, ‘Time (Clock Of The Heart)’ released in November 1982. I’m going to call this as the end of January, 1983
Chris Meachen… I miss Jack and Sonia.. They gave me my first kitten.. Jack would often come out with the most inappropriate things.. “Were you breast fed?” being the one I recall most vividly…
Mick O’Dowd… Jack & Sonia. What a duo! They sold my Mum my first Dansette and knocked a bit off because it was a bit more than she had budgeted for.This was my first real(as apposed to second-hand) machine. !0 stack of singles and all the speeds! Wowee! God bless ’em both!
Paul Bridgett… Could get you any album no matter how rare or unheard off.
Tony May… Well done for posting this Alan! Sorry, I completely forgot to send you the original. Might have one or two more somewhere – I will see if I can find them. I wrote a song called ‘The Record Shop Revolution’ as a tribute to Jack & Sonia – its on my STILL to be finished ‘Elementary’ album.
Peter Fairless… Oh, yeah, the number of times Jack said he’d have it by next week, and always did!
Alan Esdaile… I bought my first lp from The Record Shop, Bee Gees 1st. I couldn’t afford to buy it straight away and paid something like a shilling a week and Jack wrote it on the back of the album sleeve until I paid it in full. Really lovely couple and many happy memories of staring at all the new exciting record sleeves in the window after school. Then off to the Pam Dor and probably one drink between four of us!
Clifford Rose… I learnt a lot about pop/rock groups from their 33p discount singles box.
Peter Fairless… Jack’s breadth of knowledge must have been phenomenal, whatever you were into he’s always think of something to suggest you listened to. Usually, got another sale out of it, too!
