Advert, from The Book of Addiscombe Volume II, for Addiscombe Music Stores which was later called Addiscombe Music Centre and then Music Town, all at the same address and telephone number, before finally being demolished to make way for Croydon Tramlink.
Also from the book, there is a recollection of the shop from Paul Nihill:
"This store must have been the smallest record shop in the world yet they seemed to stock almost everything and – don’t forget – in the 1950s we are talking about cumbersome 78s. In those days you could collect, free of charge, no end of photographs of your favourite recording artists. They even had a 24-hour service where they would despatch an LP record anywhere."
Comments
Dave Harwood
29 Dec 2023 at 09:48
I found this advert in the 'Croydon Advertiser' dated 7th November 1958: “We still claim to hold the largest stocks of records in the Croydon area. Classical, Light, Jazz, etc. If you have any difficulty obtaining any record, phone or call at: ADDISCOMBE MUSIC STORES 235b-c, LOWER ADDISCOMBE RD., CROYDON. ADD 2624. 24-HOUR SERVICE. Classical L.P's from 22/6. Slightly used L.P.'s at less than cost. Generous allowances on your unwanted 78's. (Classical - perfect condition only).”
Dave Harwood
05 Feb 2024 at 09:42
I noticed that the Memorex advert (dated 28/09/1978) on this page has listings for two additional Addiscombe Music Centre branches at Sidcup in Kent and S.W.17 in London. The Addiscombe shop became MusicTown in the early 1980's and their shop bag (see their BRSA entries in Kent & Surrey) has addresses for 50 High Street, Sidcup, Kent. Tel: 01-302 5055 and (just about visible) 209 Upper Tooting Road, London S.W.17. Tel: 01-679 5977.
Name: Deryck
Comment: Yeah - a tiny place, almost under the railway bridge at Bingham Road. My mum and dad used to buy all our 78rpms here when we moved to Addiscombe in 1957 (I was 4). I bought a 7" plastic kid's 78rpm here in August 1961 and then, at the crossing, I ran across the road and got smashed up by a motorbike. Poor driver. I nearly died, but clearly I survived! I still have the little record of course! As I recall, the father got a bit older & 45s came out and his son took over running the shop until it eventually went.
Comment: It was a great place to dig. The two owners were great blokes. Got all my white labels free!
(10 August 2014)
Comment: Got all my rare import jazz-funk there... next to Bingham bridge.
(15 February 2013)
Name: Dave Harwood
Comment: The local launderette was right opposite the Addiscombe Music Centre so I couldn’t resist browsing the record racks, in what was a very small space inside the shop, after the washing was done! They used to do part-exchange as well.
(20 March 2015)
Name: Bernard McCann
Comment: Spent all my pocket money here. A great shop, 10 minutes walk from my house. Always used to play great music. I could browse for hours and choose which record to buy. I remember Sparks' This Town Ain't Big Enough For Both Of Us, all the Zeppelin catalogue up to Physical Graffiti, and then the rest as they came out, Jeff Beck's Truth, and later Hawkwind's Levitation. In truth the bulk of my favourite LPs were bought there. Loved the place!
(19 August 2015)
Name: Ian Johnson
Comment: I’ve still got T.Rex's Electric Warrior LP with an AMC sticker on it. I bought it when I was 10.
(2020)