Record shop boss Rab Smith reckons he has uncovered some “real gems” in a donated collection and rates them as one of the best finds ever.
The owner of Domino Records at the Whitesands in Dumfries recently took in a batch of vinyl which includes a couple of rare recordings by Buddy Holly and another from Elvis Presley.
They are in original sleeves from long defunct Dumfries store Semple and Ferguson and Rab, 70, is ecstatic about the find.
He said: “They are real gems and Buddy Holly’s ‘Every Day’ could be from 1955/56.
“The two records are some of the best to come to the shop.”
Rab moved his shop from English Street in 1987 to the Whitesands and added: “I have been here ever since. I was at the English Street store for nine years and before that I worked as an architect to trade.
“We take in vinyl which I call pre-loved and to be honest, the attraction for it has never gone away.
“But it is just recently the younger generation are getting in to it. They seem to like the idea of having something to hold and put a needle on and read the album sleeves.
“We have a 14-year-old customer who loves Johnny Cash and there is an 11-year-old who loves AC/DC.
“There are much older customers as well, of course, but the younger ones are just discovering it now and hearing stuff like that for the first time.
“Some people come in to buy and then sell it on, which is fine, but I just want to make a
living.
“The most expensive vinyl on the go just now is The Stranglers’ first album (Rattus Norvegicus) which is going for £1,000 online.
“But, to be honest, a record is worth what someone is willing to pay for it and it maybe a collector looking for a specific album
etc.”
Rab told how a resurgence in vinyl has sparked a boom in record sales for groups such as 80s new romantics Duran Duran to ELO and even Adele has orders in production for her albums to be manufactured in vinyl. He said: “There are only 18 pressing plants to make records, but there will probably be more in the next few months due to this new demand.
“Duran Duran and Adele have ordered up one million vinyl records of their work and so there is a big backlog for other groups.
“The biggest selling album in the world right now is the Eagles’ greatest hits.
Rab revealed that even cassettes are making a big comeback. He told how younger music lovers have been buying up old ghetto blasters in charity shops and playing tunes from the past and discovering 80s, 90s and 00s hits now.
