Name: T. L.
Comment: J & J Records had a bricks and mortar shop in Lower Kings Road, Berkhamsted, as well as the market stall in Watford Market. It was a tiny space but managed to cram in a great selection of new and used records. In the early 1980s most of my pocket money went in their till.
Name: Jamie Crampton
Comment: John (the proprietor) was a lovely bloke, did a lot of secondhand stuff and some new. Spent many a Saturday afternoon in there (and many a pound too). Went a bit downhill in the 1990s, lack of stock availability I guess.
(2020)
Name: Mark Rogers
Comment: I worked for John and Janet at J & J records' Hatfield shop in the 1980s; great memories of working with Ian and Annie. Would love to make contact with them again if anyone knows what happened to them.
(2020)
Name: Chris Goddard
Comment: I worked here from its opening in 1980 until February 1982 - Ian was the store manager and I was the assistant manager, and Annie also worked there... she worked for Virgin in Oxford Street and appeared in the video for Ziggy Stardust by Bauhaus. Bananarama came in and had a few games on the pinball machine. The LP bags were yellow and there was also a branch in Berkhamstead run by Bob (a huge Springsteen fan); Stuart Clarke - semi-famous photographer (Homes Of Football) - was the Xmas temp in 1981. There was also a market stall in Watford Market. I began my record shop career in Royston with Tracks (aged 14) in 1976 run by Dennis and Geoff - they also had a branch in Hertford where they lived and think another shop in Harpenden.
(2023)
After Chris left Ann became assistant manager and my good friend Marc Bayford became the third employee. Marc left in early 1985, Ann left shortly after to work for Virgin records megastore on Oxford Street. Ann married her longtime boyfriend and emigrated I believe to Australia (maybe South Africa?) the last I heard is that Ann had passed away in the early 90’s. Very sad news, we were (Marc and I) big Bauhaus fans, we’d travel to see them play and Ann often came with us. She became a close friend, i was a shock and sad to hear of her passing.