Customer Reviews

Last Shop Standing

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Trade size soft-cover,311 pages including 8 pages of record shops featured in the book,not including two pages of acknowledgements. There are also several pages of black and white photographs that,while interesting,don't add much to the book.

This book is an entertaining read from the very beginning. Part of the reason is it's written by an Englishman about record shops,primarily in England. The author's style is informative yet his story is told in that somewhat dry,humorous English manner. Since his style is very British,the humorous prose is that much more pronounced.

However,the subject is not a laughing matter-the demise of the independent record shops throughout England,Scotland,Ireland,and Wales. The author knows of what he writes about. Starting off selling used singles in our version of a flea market,he eventually becomes the founder of Proper Music Distribution. Besides releasing currant music,he also releases a wide range of jazz,blues,rockabilly,and other genres of music from the past. Proper's box sets of legendary performers in the above areas are widely known and sought after by music listeners the world over. In an immediate fashion,the beginning of this book lists dozens and dozens of record retailers no longer in business. These are stores that the author knew well,being in the record business for a number of years. Jones states that from 2003,when he had the idea for this book,until 2007,more than two record shops a day went out of business in England and related areas. For anyone who loves browsing in record shops,especially independent retailers,this is serious indeed.

This great book is filled with anecdotes of quirky shop owners and staff,and the sometimes even quirkier customers who inhabit them. The author tells many stories of his adventures in the music business,dealing with relatively unknown bands and managers,and other areas and people he came in contact with. There are also small tales of groups like THE BEATLES,LED ZEPPELIN,THE SEX PISTOLS and others. All of this is told with humor (especially if you're not British) yet the overall seriousness of the subject is never far from center. Jones explains why some retailers are still in business,and why many others are now just a memory. But this story is never dry reading.

Admittedly,this book will probably appeal to only a select few,those who like/liked browsing in independent,sometimes esoteric record stores,sometimes staffed with quirky though knowledgeable people-something that has now passed into history,for the most part. However,the author's wit combined with his working knowledge of these establishments,and the music business,combine to forge a compelling picture of the "brick-and mortar" music retailing industry. Sadly,the term industry may not be the word to describe the few remaining shops left.

After reading this book,you,too,may find yourself wishing for a store,where you can talk to people who are as excited about the music you like,as you are. And that is what this book is really about. The sad facts are told with humor,which makes this book a "cut above".