Record and music shops in the city

My brother was the owner of Hits & Misses Records in Far Gosford Street. Anyone remember it? I worked in there with him for a few years. I've got some good pics somewhere.

I remember Hits & Misses Records in Far Gosford Street - friends & I spent many a Sat afternoon browsing in there. A couple of years ago I worked closely with a chap who knew your brother well.

Who was that? I may know him as well. My brother's name is Phil.

A favourite shop experience was always in Fennells in the Lower Precinct, watching Derek Fennell in action finding the LP or 45 that had been requested The guy had the most amazing memory for artists, titles and labels, and to see him go over to the far wall, perhaps 6 or 7 shelves high packed out with literally 1000s of LPs, and pick out the exact record the customer had asked for, never ceased to amaze me, even when I worked there on Saturdays on the build up to Christmas, selling record tokens What a star

Sadly, I believe that Derek died in 1999 (age 72 or 73)

Sorry to hear Derek died. You're right he had a remarkable memory, my mum used to comment regularly of his ability to search and find just about anything, however obscure. May he rest in peace.

If you are talking record shops you have include Hansons in Hertford Street with it's dark wood cubicles for listening to your chosen record. Wonderful shop. I believe Jill Hanson was the owners daughter. Another popular shop was Paynes (or was it Cranes) in Lower Ford Street next to the old Art School. I bought a copy of the first Presley LP there in the mid 1950s. Still have it safely stored.

"Paynes" of Ford Street. They had other branches around town as well. My mother bought it too! (although not from there). "An RCA Microgroove Recording". There were only about four tracks on each side and the audio quality was abysmal. We left it behind in a garage when we moved!

So it was Paynes, thank you. I used to have my hair cut at Jacksons next door. Remember the humiliation when I was sent back by my mother to have the square neck changed to a taper. Can you imagine that happening today. Where was Cranes, was it Far Gosford Street. Has there ever been a thread about the Coventry Coffee Shops of the 1950s/early 60s? If not Portofina and the Beaker for starters.

The one in Far Gosford Street was also Paynes. It differed from the other branches in that it specialised in music. Not just records but sheet music, instruments and recording equipment. I remember that everything in the window was a) Terrifyingly expensive and b) Priced in Guineas rather than Pounds! There hasn't been a dedicated thread but the subject was touched upon briefly in the "Favourite Shop" thread. Please feel free to begin a new thread on the subject. Would personally love to know the location of various shops.

Anyone remember buying their vinyl from Woolies and having to take it back because it was scratched or jumped?

Just read in the Coventry Citizen that Jill Hanson (which was her maiden name) - of Record Shop fame - has passed away aged 84. I'm sure many of us have fond memories of spending many an hour browsing through her record stock. The shop in Smithford Way closed in 1981 due to rising rents (sounds familiar!) My thoughts are with her family.

I am very sorry to hear that.

My late housekeeper knew Jill personally. She said Jill once told her she made more money from jazz and classical music sales than she ever made from pop music. Not that surprising as at the time an LP cost 37/6 whilst a 7" single was 6/8. The average wage for a shopgirl in those days was just £4 a week and very few pop albums were sold in this country before 1970. RIP both.

I remember buying my first Mario Lanza records from Jill Hansons. I think I may have had a schoolgirl crush on him at the time after seeing most of his movies. It was a shame he 'went' the way he did. Jill Hanson will long be remembered.