We are back . . . 12th April 2021

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The Strand Records’ Shop is open again today … Monday 12th April 2021 from 10:00am – 4:00pm. For the moment, we will remain open from 10:00am – 4:00pm during Monday – Saturday.

I want to say thank you so much for the support you have given to Strand Records over the past year. The online sales have been so vital and, roughly one year ago, I had literally no idea how we were going to deal with the various lockdowns. All of the online purchases have been essential and I will remain eternally grateful for your support. Thank you so much pop fans. 

For the re-opening, we’ve ordered new stock in and had a good old spring clean of the stock room to unveil plenty of pre-loved vinyl. It’s fair to say that the stock has had a fair old shakeup.

As you can hopefully appreciate, we are limiting customer capacity at any one time, insisting on face masks and the use of hand sanitiser. You know the score!

If you have any questions about visiting the shop or regarding the records we have in stock, please just drop us a line. By the way, the below ‘contact us’ form does work … you just get a weird ‘screen jerk’ once you click on ‘contact us’. Nothing to worry about, we are certainly receiving the messages.

Oh, by the way, we are taking orders/requests for RSD21. If you are interested in any of the RSD21 releases, please let us know by Sunday 25th April 2021.

Thanks pop fans, Ken x

Some lockdown records you might have missed?

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There have been some great releases during 2021 that you might have missed due to lockdown. The super six below may have drifted below radar given all that has been going on since January.

Dry Cleaning “New long leg” (yellow vinyl) £18 – Highly original album of post-punk, shape-shifting tracks … think Raincoats, Public Image Ltd, Gang of Four and Sonic Youth.

Joe Strummer “Assembly” (Red vinyl) With free Bandana. £25 – a new compilation of Joe’s solo output. Eclectic ain’t nearly the word as Joe tackles rock, pop, dub, rockabilly, hip-hop, and Spanish folk songs!

Lana Del Rey “Chemtrails over the country club” (Yellow vinyl) £20 – a very self-assured seventh album featuring reflections on Del Rey reflects on fame, love, loneliness and the solidarity of fellow female songwriters, from Joni Mitchell to Weyes Blood.

Faith No more “Who cares a lot (The greatest hits)” (gold vinyl) £30 – Some of their biggest hits from the period 1987 – 1997. Spread across four sides of glorious gold grooves!

The Wedding Present “Locked down and stripped back” £18 – The album features Wedding Present classics in acoustic, but not entirely unplugged form, plus a new duet with Sleeper’s Louise Wener.

Kings Of Leon “When you see yourself” (Cream vinyl) £25 – Rippling guitars and dirty riffs on their 8th album. “Arena rock of the mind” is a great description from Rolling Stone magazine.

Just use the contact form below if you would like any of these beauties. Please note that that contact form does indeed work. It just does a little on-screen ‘jerk’ once you press the ‘contact us’ button which is a little disconcerting. We still receive the messages though … honest!

As usual, delivery is free in the Stoke-on-Trent area and it is £3 for up to 3 albums elsewhere in the UK. Payment is by paypal. There are other postage options available should you require them.

Thanks pop fans, Ken x

Record Store Day UK – 12th June & 17th July 2021

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Hi pop fans . . . many of you will know that Record Store Day UK have revealed “The List” of official limited edition vinyl releases making their way to independent record shops this Summer.

There are special releases from loads of artists including U2, ACDC, Elbow, OMD, Suede, Oh Sees, Johnny Thunders, Pearl Jam, Elastica, Steely Dan, Ash, Genesis, Def Leppard, Belle & Sebastian, Tears for Fears, The Rolling Stones, Belly, Primal Scream, Stooges, Prince, The Cure, Add N to X, Motorhead, Crass, The Selecter, Goblin, Ramones, Fontaines DC, Mogwai, Jonathan Richman, The Clash, Amy Winehouse, Dio, Small Faces, Linkin Park, Ocean Colour Scene, Fatboy Slim, Jerry Dammers, Captain Beefheart, Status Quo, John Prine, The Cranberries, The Police and many more. There are also various compilations and soundtracks.

There are two ‘drops’ this summer and you can see futher details of all the releases below;

Please let us know via the below contact form what you would ideally like us to try and stock for each of the two RSD Drops.

As you probably know, we are not allowed to save RSD items for customers but we will try to stock adequate copies of titles based on the interest we receive. No guarantees sadly but the better idea we have of people’s desires, the more informed our order to suppliers will be. Fingers crossed eh!

Thanks pop fans, Ken x

£14 albums pop fans!

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Hi Pop fans, the mighty STRAND RECORDS are offering some top vinyl LPs at £14 each. There are limited quanitites available at this price. Free delivery in the Stoke-on-Trent area. Postage for up to 3 albums is only £3.00.

The album titles currently on offer for £14 each are; Anna Birch “Quit the curse“, Coldplay “Everyday life“, The Doors “LA woman“, Drab City “Good songs for bad people“, Flaming Lips “Oczy Mlody“, Flaming Lips “Oczy Mlody reimagined” (Red vinyl), Terry Hall “Home“, Halo Maud “Je Suis une ile“, King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard “Gumboot soup“, Joy Division “Unknown Pleasures“, Modern Nature “Annual” (Gold vinyl), New Order “Power, corruption and Lies“, Night Beats “Perform The Sonics’ Boom“, Katy J Pearson “Return” (Red vinyl), Pom Poko “Cheater” (Clear vinyl), Max Romeo “Revelation time“, Royal Blood “Royal Blood“, Saint Etienne “Finisterre“, Saint Etienne “So Tough“, Saint Etienne “Sound of water“, Saint Etienne “Tales of Turnpike road“, Temples “Volcano“, The Orielles “Disco Volador“, Amy Winehouse “Back to Black“, Working men’s club “Working men’s club“, Van Halen “1984“, 77:78 “Jellies” (Orange vinyl).

Something for everyone I think you’ll agree. Factory Records’ austere, industrial classics from Joy Division and New Order, no fewer than four killer albums from Saint Etienne’s europop meets disco back catalogue, Amy’s crisp, emotive soul/R’n’B final LP, 77:78’s delirious heatwave of a beat pop album, The Orielles’ otherwordly party on plastic, Max Romeo’s crucial opus on religious and social themes from 1975 . . . and there’s The Night Beats’ Record Store Day (RSD) album which is an exact track by track cover of The Sonics’ 1966 garage album “Boom” . . . and there’s lots more too of course!

If you want to purchase any of the albums, payment is via paypal and, as mentioned, we can deliver for free in the Stoke-on-Trent area or we can send out up to 3 albums for £3 postage in the UK. Other postage options are available too . . . just drop us a line. Thanks pop fans.

Love Record Stores – limited indie vinyl releases

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Record shops have selected the top 100 independent albums of 2020 and the list can be seen at the https://www.loverecordstores.com/ site. The following limited edition items are available to buy/order from 18:00 on Saturday 5th December from Strand Records. There are coloured vinyl versions, picture discs and some with signed prints or other artwork.

Released on 5th December 2020; Tim Burgess “I love the new sky” (180g transparent splatter with exclusive signed print) £25, Thundercat “It is what it is” (Picture disc plus poster) £30, Perfume Genius “Set my heart on fire immediately” (Red gold coloured vinyl) £23, Nap Eyes “Snapshot of a beginner” (coke bottle clear vinyl with art print) £19, Field Music “Making a new world” (180g transparent red vinyl gatefold with signed print) £20, NZCA Lines “Pure luxury” (black vinyl with signed print) £20, Julianna Berwick “Healing is a miracle” (with limited 12″ x 12″ print) £23, Fontaines DC “A Hero’s death” (clear vinyl) £22, Laura Marling “Song for our daughter” (purple vinyl) £22, Pottery “Welcome to Bobby’s Motel” (special limited edition obi strip designed by Paul Jacobs) £20, Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever “Sideways To New Italy” (rose coloured vinyl) £20, Rose City Band “Summerlong” (buttercup colour vinyl) £23, Gil Scott Heron “We’re New Again – A Reimagining by Makaya McCraven” (pink vinyl) £19

Released on 18th December 2020; Georgia “Seeking Thrills” (140g neon orange coloured vinyl) £23, LA Priest “Gene” (140g neon orange coloured vinyl) £23, Sorry “925” (140g gold coloured vinyl) £23, Wilma Archer “A western circular” (140g creamy white coloured vinyl) £23

Released on 29th January 2021; Phoebe Bridgers “Punisher” (galaxy red and blue coloured vinyl) £23 *** PLEASE NOTE THAT WE HAVE NOW SOLD OUT OF OUR PRE-ORDER QUOTA. *** APOLOGIES FOR ANY DISAPPOINTMENT ***

Released on 5th February 2021; BC Camplight “Shortly after takeoff” (red coloured vinyl) £22

Released on 5th March 2021; The Orielles “Disco Volador” (soundtrack version of the album, colour vinyl, die cut sleeve – full details to be confirmed) £22, Working Men’s Club “Working Men’s Club” (picture disc) £20, Daniel Avery & Alessandro Cortini “Illusion Of Time” (clear blue vinyl edition) £22

Please let us know if you would like us to order any of these limited edition titles. As usual, we will be offering free delivery in Stoke-on-Trent or we can post up to three albums for £3.00.

Thanks pop fans!

Indie albums of 2020

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Record shops have selected the top 100 independent albums of 2020 and the list will be unveiled at https://www.loverecordstores.com/ site on Thursday 3rd December 2020.

It is the first time that such a list has been compiled as part of the LOVE RECORD STORES campaign and new vinyl products will be available to buy online or in store on the 5th of December.

Once you have seen the list, please let us know if you would like us to order any titles. As usual, we will be offering free delivery in Stoke-on-Trent or we can post up to three albums for £3.00. Thanks pop fans!

Another Lockdown 2.0 sale – £15 albums

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Hi Pop fans, here are some more reduced price titles . . . £15 each. There are limited quanitites available. Free delivery in the Stoke-on-Trent area. Postage for up to 3 albums is only £3.00.

Payment via Paypal.

Please let us know what you need by Friday 27th November.

The Lemon Twigs “Go to school”, Lush “Ciao” (best of), Dead can Dance “Into the Labyrinth”, Dead can Dance “Towards the within”, Dead can Dance “Garden of arcane delights and Peel Sessions”, Yo La Tengo “There’s a riot going on”, Sonic Youth “The Eternal”, Kurt Vile “Walking on a pretty daze”, Soak “Grim town”, Lankum “The Livelong day”, Lankum “Between the Earth and sky”, Belle & Sebastian “Dear Catastrophe Waitress”, The Decemberists “I’ll be your girl”, Prodigy “Music for the jilted generation”, Prodigy “Their law”, New Gen “New Gen”, Powell “Sport”, The XX “I see you”.

Lockdown 2.0 sale … £13 albums

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Hi Pop fans, here are some reduced price titles. There are limited quanitites available. Get them whilst they’re hot!! Free delivery in the Stoke-on-Trent area. Postage for up to 3 albums is £3.00. Payment via Paypal. Please let us know what you need by Friday 27th November.

Aldous Harding “Designer”, Bauhaus “The Sky’s gone out”, Bauhaus “Burning from the inside”, Belle & Sebastian “Days of the Bagnold Summer”, Black Midi “Schlagenheim”, Bon Iver “For Emma forever ago”, British Sea Power “Open season”, Camera Obscura “Desire lines”, Cocteau Twins “Blue Bell Knoll”, Cocteau Twins “Heaven or Las Vegas”, Cocteau Twins ” The Pink Opaque“, Daughter “Not to disappear”, Dead can dance “Dead can dance”, Dead can dance “The Serpents egg”, Efterklang “Altid sammen”, Everything is recorded “Everything is recorded”, FKA Twigs “Magdalene”, Future Islands “The Far field”, Gary Numan “The Pleasure principle”, Grimes “Visions”, Honey Hahs “Dear someone happy something”, Interpol “Marauder”, Jack Penate “After you”, Kim Gordon “No home record”, Sleaford Mods “English Tapas”, Snail Mail “Lush”, Stereolab “pENG!”, Strokes “Is this it”, Strokes “First impressions of Earth!”, Strokes “Angles”, Strokes “Comedown machine”, The Amps “Pacer”, The Breeders “All Nerve”, The Fall “This Nation’s saving grace”, The Libertines “Time for heroes – the best of”, The National “The Virginia EP”, The XX “Coexist”, The XX “I see you”, Torres “Three futures”, Tubeway Army “Replicas”, Tune-Yards “I can feel you creep into my private life”, Tune-Yards “Sorry to bother you” (original score), Vampire Weekend “Vampire weekend”, Vampire Weekend “Contra”

RSD Drop for 29th August 2020

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RSD1

As you know RSD will now take place across 3 dates: August 29th, September 26th and October 24th.  These revised RSD Drops will not be like normal RSD events given the COVID-19 pandemic. Clearly, we need to observe social distancing rules in order to keep our customers and staff as safe as possible.

In order that we can maintain the principle of first come first served, but equally ensure responsible social distances practices, we are going to open the STRAND RECORDS’ shop from 08:30am on Saturday 29th August and operate a socially distanced queue.

This approach will consist of the following key elements;

  • Allowing customers to form a socially distanced queue outside of our shop
  • Keeping all customers 1m+ apart and serving on a 1st come 1st served basis as normal
  • Restricting the number of customers in our shop at any 1 time to an appropriate number
  • Asking customers to wear a mask
  • We may restrict the number of customers in the queue on the day if the queue begins to get unwieldy.

Please note that this guidance could change on a local or national level in response to COVID-19 and government guidelines.

Record Store Day – drops for August, September and October

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Hi pop fans, you may recall that there will be three RSD Drops for 2020;

  • 29th August 2020 – vinyl listing here
  • 26th September 2020 – vinyl listing here
  • 24th October 2020 – vinyl listing here

RSD drops AUG

We realise that some of you sent lists of RSD vinyl ‘wants’ earlier in the year but please can you take a look at the ‘new’ listings of releases;

Please let us know what you would ideally like us to stock for each of the RSD Drops.

Apologies for the quick turnaround, but ideally could you let us know by Saturday 11th July 2020 so that we can make sufficient requests to suppliers.

As you probably know, we are not allowed to save RSD items for customers but we will try to stock adequate copies of titles based on the interest we receive. No guarantees sadly but the better idea we have of people’s desires, the more informed our order to suppliers will be. Fingers crossed eh!

Thanks pop fans x