Record Revivals - The shop built with Beatles bricks

Record Revivals

6 Northway, Scarborough, North Yorkshire Y011 1JL
0172 335 1983
info@recordrevivals.co.uk
Tuesday-Saturday 10am-5pm
Stock: Vinyl, CD, Pre-owned, Merchandise
Established 1982

Record Revivals is housed in the beautiful art deco Stephen Joseph Theatre, originally a Rank Cinema. The theatre itself was formerly housed in a public library, later a boy’s school and then, in 1988, their long-serving artistic director Alan Ayckbourn found them a permanent home. Richard Hawley fans will be aware of the building as he poses in front of it on the cover of his 2005 album Coles Corner.

The record shop was originally owned by Rod Emms, who was working as an insurance broker. The shop only opened three days a week, as Rod continued to combine his insurance work with selling records.

The best deal Rod ever did originated from his insurance work. Through his company Royal Insurance, Rod learned that the famous Cavern Club in Liverpool was being demolished. Rod shrewdly contacted the demolition team and did a deal to purchase some of the bricks. The result was that a huge pile of rubble was delivered to the shop. Rod numbered the individual items, then started selling them in the shop as Beatle Bricks for £5 each. You could argue that Beatle Bricks laid the foundations of the business.

In 2017, Rod retired and sold the business to Paul  O'Toole who, after ten years working as a probation officer, felt he had served his debt to society. As a youngster Paul had worked at Golden Disc, a record shop in Oldham, since closed. He loved working there so much that he vowed to himself that one day he would own his own shop. While working in probation, Paul dipped his toe into gig promoting at a venue in the town called The Stage Door. It was here that he witnessed the power of music. He had been delighted to book one of his musical heroes, the Jamaican ska singer Desmond Dekker, famous for his number 1 single “The Israelites”. His manager called Paul and explained that although they would be leaving straight after the gig, Desmond would need to rest in a B&B in the town for a few hours, as he had not been well. On the evening of the gig, Paul entered the dressing room to meet the band. There, slumped in a chair, sat Desmond, looking very poorly. Paul questioned the band on whether the gig should go ahead. They told him it would be OK. Paul took his place in the audience but was apprehensive about the gig, worrying whether this frail elderly gentleman was going to be able to make it through the show. What happened next left him open-mouthed. Desmond burst onto the stage and soon was jumping, dancing, moving and singing with great passion. The crowd went wild and it was a fantastic gig. For Paul it showed the power that music can have on the soul.

Paul remembers his first trading day vividly. He had decided to stock more vinyl, so to make more space he removed a large spinner rack full of easy listening and classical CDs, having decided to cut back on that sort of product. It was a tough job carrying the heavy spinner and its contents up the stairs to the top floor, which he was using for storage. The first customer came in and asked Paul if he had any Mario Lanza CDs. Paul remembered that he had noticed one on the spinner rack he had carried to the top floor. Up he went to bring it down, procuring a sale. Soon after a woman came in and asked for a Perry Como CD. Yet again Paul remembered that he had one on the spinner upstairs, so off he went again. The spinner lasted one day in the top room before he brought it down. It is a good lesson in stocking what your customers wish to buy. The shop stocks endless quirky items such as musical bow ties, Beatles lava lamps and, my favourite, a Luther Vandross clock. Before you leave, check out the Weird and Wonderful vinyl section which offers some oddball recordings.

Record Revivals is the main outlet for most new vinyl, but there are five record shops in the town. Although technically they are in competition, they always point visitors to each other’s shops, the principle being if collectors know they can hit that many shops, it makes Scarborough a worthwhile destination.

For Northern Soul fans the shop is a must. Paul is extremely knowledgable and used to sell records in the record bar at Wigan Casino. 


Look out for Paul, as he is a DJ at festivals including Glastonbury and Womad, playing vintage R&B, jump blues, soul, funk and gospel on vinyl.

The books of Graham Jones are available in record shops or online. The latest book The Vinyl Revival and the Shops That Made it Happen' has been turned in to a film. It is released on 13 April on DVD and is available in record shops. Distributed by Proper Music.

 www.thevinylrevivalfilm.com

@Revival_Vinyl

For film screenings and talks contact Graham at graham@lastshopstanding.co.uk