City Sounds

Comments

Name: David Cohen
Comment: Used to buy all my bootlegs from City Sounds back in the early 1990s

Name: Michael Fleming
Comment: Paul Weller would go and listen to records here in the late 1980s. Great Memories.
(2020)

Name: Mark Lusty
Comment: I was a rep in the 1990s, I lived in Soho so looked after all the dance stores. This was by far the best. Dave was (and still is) a lovely guy who had a great knowledge of music. No one ever left that shop without some vinyl under their arm, Dave and his team were amazing sales people. They put out records as well, just the best period of music, it's lost now and nothing can ever replace those shops and the fun times...
(2021)

Name: Bukky Leo
Comment: Hi Mark, I had a number one in the City Sounds/Fusion Charts for my album Rejoice in Righteousness released by Acid Jazz Records. I know the album came out in 1988/9. I’m trying to find the album charts in the Blues and Soul BM. The chart was supplied by City Sounds. I’ve searched the Blues & Soul website and archives but I cannot locate the magazine let alone the page because I don’t know the date the chart was published. I will really appreciate your help if you can help recover the page.
Kind Regards
Bukky Leo
[email protected]

Name: Paul Frith
Comment: I worked in City Sounds on a Saturday when I was maybe 18 (1984ish), I had fond memories of my days there and I don't think my bank account ever recovered.
(2023)

Name: Richard Simmons
Comment: I loved City Sounds! Started visiting in 1990. Dave could sell ice to the Eskimos 🙂

As you say, always came away with some gems. Lots of stuff was imports in those days. After a while Ray Keith joined the team around the time of UK Hardcore/early Drum & Bass. In fact, the first time I heard the term 'Drum & Bass' was from Dave in City Sounds.

Great memories of that shop 🖤

Name: Chris McLeod
Comment: I worked on Red Lion Street in the 1990s. I was in there most lunchtimes spending my wages. Happy days.
(2023)

Roger Drakes

15 Sep 2023 at 02:42

aka DJ Dodge
Worked here with Dave Silby (1989-1991ish )
The best times and great fun, I met a large chunk of those who would become the biggest DJs in the UK here.
Pete Tong
Judge Jules
Carl Cox
Fabio & Grooverider
plus loads more...

Mickie S

26 Aug 2024 at 08:30

Oh my days! What a record shop - bought one of of my first vinyl LPs from there, Dr. Buzzard's Original Savannah Band, what an LP and what a tune, 'I Play a Fool For You'. After that every payday I was back in there buying vinyl and 'Blues and Soul' Magazine - what a time those days were! 😜😜😜😜

Dave Harwood

14 Oct 2024 at 02:28

I found this advert in the 'Westminster & Pimlico News' dated 19th November 1976:
“CITY SOUNDS RECORD STORE Require young man, 5-day week, salary negotiable. Hard working lad needed, must be soul and pop music lover. Tel. Mr. Wright at 405 5454, not between 12 noon and 2 o'clock.”

John Elsom

01 Mar 2025 at 10:55

I worked in Red Lion Square from 1975-1986 just around the corner from Procter Street.
Got into soul music from when I was 18.
I use to visit a small record shop in Rainham Essex to buy 7” imports.(Disco 2 + 2 )
Then one day in 1978 in my lunch hour I went into City Sounds I always thought they just sold pop music and discovered they were a wholesale importer from the states with a van on the road.
I spent every evening after work in there I use to take the boxes of records to Liverpool Street station for dispatch to other retailers.
Mick Clark (RIP) DJ started working there in Jan 79 followed by Richard Kaye working with Paul Redmond when Johnny Wright the owner moved over to Hammersmith to bigger premises for the wholesale side.
Great days & great music.