Source: theguardian.com
Ahead of
this year’s Record Store Day, the broadcaster and vinyl obsessive on how to be
crafty when crate digging – and what to do when you’re new to the game
On why record shopping reigns
I’m 50
years old now, and what I enjoy most in my life is walking into a record shop
knowing that I’ve got the whole day to go through stuff. It’s a form of therapy
and I love it. I don’t know whether it’s to do with bringing back memories of
youth, or that I’m at my most comfortable doing it. Maybe it’s something to do
with the time my brother and I went record shopping in London at Our Price on Sutton High Street. I
was only eight, and when my brother was going through the racks I started doing
it, too. He laughed at me and said: “Why are you doing that? You don’t know
what you’re looking at!” From that moment on I wanted to be the king of the
rack.
On Record Store Day
I’m
beginning to have doubts about Record Store Day. It’s doing my head in a bit.
If you’re a regular record store person, you find a lot of shops are a bit of a
desert for a few weeks beforehand. Everything is a bit focused on Record Store Day,
which is great because it puts focus on selling vinyl, but also means nothing’s
in shops because everyone is waiting until 18 April. I don’t give a fuck about
Record Store Day! I’m not going to be queuing up for an hour beforehand to get
that one-off piece! It’s the barrenness that worries me. Also, if you want to
press vinyl, forget it – leading up to this day all of the pressing plants are
booked. It’s put a whole new spin on everything.
On horrible record shops
Some
people at record shops are rude. There was a shop in London called Haggle Vinyl,
and the rudest record store bloke in the world worked there. I can’t remember
what he did, but it made me walk out. There’s nothing worse than a horrible
record store person. And I hate bullies, which are particularly found in the
specialist shops. The blokes who manage the shops have a lot of power. I
remember seeing people getting completely shamed in front of other shoppers.
On spending
The
biggest pleasure for me is finding a record that isn’t rare yet. That hasn’t
been spoiled by being noticed. A lot of people find out what’s in demand and
buy it like people would buy art and hide it away, like the Russian oligarchs
who have basically got to have that piece to complete their collection. I don’t
pay any more than £300 or £400 for an album. A couple of years ago, I was in a
shop in Tokyo
called Disk Union.
I’m in the store in Shibuya, going through the records, and they are playing
this music and I’m like, what the fuck is this? It’s brilliant. It’s the
African record I didn’t know existed. It’s like Fela Kuti but better! So I said
to the guy: “What’s this?” He told me it was Love
and Death by Ebo Taylor, a Ghanaian musician. I said:
“Great, I’ll have that”. And he said: “No it’s not for sale!” He played a
record I couldn’t buy in a record shop! That really pissed me off. I was so
frustrated that I became an eBay member and paid £350 for it. A month after it
came through the post, Love and Death got re-released.
On record store etiquette
Obviously,
the thing is to never show too much enthusiasm. If there’s a record at a shop
that’s really great and you’re around people who are watching what you’re
doing, the thing to do is go: “Yeah, yeah. How much is that? Yeah maybe,” and
put it in your pile, and hope they’re not going to think you’ve found a gem.
On what to wear while shopping
Just
gloves. Or something to cover up your nails if you’re going out afterwards. You
do get dirty fingernails if you go in deep. Record Store Day should do special
finger puppets.
On what to do if you’re new to the game
Walk in
like you know what you’re doing, but equally don’t be frightened to ask
questions. This is a big difference between shops now and those back in the
day. There was a horrible period in the club scene when anyone jumped on record
shops because it was an easy way to make a quick buck. Back in the day, there
was a lot of money to be made from white labels. But when there was the massive
change in the way people bought and enjoyed the music, loads of shops closed.
That was depressing, but it means all of the record shops today are run by
people who are passionate. Now it’s a more beautiful and a great sharing
experience.
Most
difficult record Peterson has bought: Tam Tam
Tam by José Prates.
Most
he has spent on a record: £450, on Praise-Jah by
Oluko Imo – a disco-reggae album.
Most
welcoming shops: London’s
Love Vinyl
on Pearson Street
and Sounds of the Universe
(formerly Soul Jazz) in Soho.
Records
in Peterson’s collection: approximately 30,000.
