There's still a deal of enjoyment to be had out of even the mainstream guys.  My first musical memory is of Millie's 'My Boy Lollipop'.  Pre-school.  About 1964?  Chris will know.  Rod the Mod on harmonica?  My ageing skinhead chum remembers 'Liquidator' as massive on the terraces.  Delroy Wilson's cover of 'Get Ready' is top.

I think Elms talks of similar experiences.

There were lots of shops that sold all sorts of electical stuff from lightbulbs and plugs to record players so I suppose it seemed natural they would sell the records as well.
A couple of other bizarre pairings were record shops in Chapel Market, Angel and at Harrow & Wealdstone that were both situated behind green grocers, you had to negotiate the spuds and the greens before you could browse the vinyl.

Aye.

sorry, i was being a record nerd!

My mother came home with some second hand singles from Key Markets supermarket in Wembley - one of the first of the larger size supermarkets in the area. One was a Blue Beat single with the centre knocked out. I cannot remember the name. She would have had no idea about pop music but probably thought it was a good price. Vinyl cost an absolute fortune. A lot of looking at covers was done. Not so much buying.

Irish Catholics were often mean on the dance floor.  Very competetive on the Midlands Northern scene.