Peckings

"I scraped and scrimped for the money, making all those trips to Peckings record shop in Shepherd’s Bush on the number 9 bus from Barnes to buy three singles. The shop owner George Price had been a personal friend of Coxsone Dodd in Jamaica." - from Life In Reggae David Rodigan.

Comments

Name: Neil Foxlee
Comment: On the lifestyle of the UK reggae shop: you'd stand at the counter, the guy would play a bit of one of the latest singles and look round to see who wanted a copy, then distribute copies accordingly before moving on to the next one. Single sleeves with the names of the songs and artists written on in big print would be pinned up on the wall so you could see what was available. When you'd finished, you'd hand over your pile of singles for counting and divvying up.

Name: Paul from Sweden
Comment: When in the UK to see family on holidays, I started checking record shops. Began listening to philly, soul and also reggae at 11-12 years. My brother and I never missed Daddy Kool. But one year, summer of 1980, we crossed the city by bus to check out Peckings Records. Took ages it seemed. The shop was in 142 Askew Road. At the store, Mr Peckings asked us to wait outside, while he popped out for some milk. We then spent a good two hours in there, getting selections including Prince Jazzbo, Burning Spear, Ethiopian and also some ska albums, all Studio One releases. There was a big speaker on the floor, opposite the counter. I came back the following year, also in 1984 with a mate from Sweden. Compared to other stores, Peckings was brighter, more airy and more friendly. Great shop, top man.
(2022)

Dave Harwood

30 Jan 2024 at 02:57

I found this listing in the 'Acton Gazette' dated 10th December 1981:
“Peckings Studio One 142 Askew Road W.12. All kinds of reggae, dub and blue beat records. Specialists in imports from Jamaica. Albums from £2. Open Mon to Sat 9.30-7p.m.”

Dave Harwood

06 Dec 2024 at 07:27

I found this piece in the 'Acton Gazette' dated 26th March 1981: “In Askew Road, Shepherds Bush, there’s a record shop catering for all and every type of reggae taste. They stock literally hundreds of singles and albums from Jamaica and they’re open until 7 p.m. most evenings, so you can go there after school, college or work. Peckings Studio One, run by a man who calls himself “Peckings”, is half-way down Askew Road. You can’t miss it for the window is packed with reggae LPs. They sell early reggae, ska and bluebeat as well as disco and modern sounds. Singles sell for £1.25 and albums for about a fiver. Peckings lists current top reggae artists as Johnny Osborne, Bob Marley, Dennis Brown and Burning Spear, but there are countless others.”