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By the time I started buying vinyl here it was owned and run by Albert Price (99% certain that was his name) and although I actually only shopped there between 1979 and 1982 I spent a fortune. A large part of the shop was given over to country and western, numerous pictures of Albert with the likes of Boxcar Willie on the walls. But I was a callow youth seeking chart 45s and I now had my own wages! And Albert obliged, turning up to open the shop on at least one occasion to find me waiting outside. Such was the amount I was spending I got a lot of discount, usually a free single for every ten bought. More than once promo copies were gifted (including Joe Dolce 'Shaddup Your Face' six months before release).
I moved away in 1982 and on my return for a visit the shop was boarded up. I found it reopened in the Connswater Centre across the road. Albert explained that he had decided to diversify into video, unfortunately the local thugs got up on the flat roof, broke in and emptied the place. After that he simply couldn’t insure the place. I have to say the unit in the shopping centre looked a pale comparison to the old place and Albert looked tired. I last saw him I think in 1987, on the next visit I think it was his daughter running the place and CDs had arrived.
Many fond memories, even being entrusted to take the big brown envelope with his chart returns up to Dee Street post office. He swore me to secrecy on that but I think it’s safe now!
Dave Harwood
04 Mar 2025 at 03:02
I found this piece in the 'Belfast Telegraph' dated 16th November 1978: “Mr. Albert Price, of Graham's Records, on the Newtownards Road in Belfast, reckons the distributors decided to send all the attractive picture discs to shops in Britain where they would affect chart ratings. He thinks they aimed at the shops which send in returns to the chart compilers and as yet no shops in Ulster are included in this elite group.” ...and this piece in the 'Sunday Life' dated 15th December 1991: “Shakin' Stevens caused a sensation when he dropped into an Ulster shopping centre yesterday morning. Hundreds of fans crowded into Graham's record store in the Connswater Centre from early morning for a chance to meet the star.”
I moved away in 1982 and on my return for a visit the shop was boarded up. I found it reopened in the Connswater Centre across the road. Albert explained that he had decided to diversify into video, unfortunately the local thugs got up on the flat roof, broke in and emptied the place. After that he simply couldn’t insure the place. I have to say the unit in the shopping centre looked a pale comparison to the old place and Albert looked tired. I last saw him I think in 1987, on the next visit I think it was his daughter running the place and CDs had arrived.
Many fond memories, even being entrusted to take the big brown envelope with his chart returns up to Dee Street post office. He swore me to secrecy on that but I think it’s safe now!
“Mr. Albert Price, of Graham's Records, on the Newtownards Road in Belfast, reckons the distributors decided to send all the attractive picture discs to shops in Britain where they would affect chart ratings. He thinks they aimed at the shops which send in returns to the chart compilers and as yet no shops in Ulster are included in this elite group.”
...and this piece in the 'Sunday Life' dated 15th December 1991:
“Shakin' Stevens caused a sensation when he dropped into an Ulster shopping centre yesterday morning. Hundreds of fans crowded into Graham's record store in the Connswater Centre from early morning for a chance to meet the star.”