1970s Virgin Records London Mystery location

[mikeluxy]

Hi Everyone

I know this is slightly "off topic" but then again this is an Off Topic Forum!!

Then again it might be argued that Virgin Records used to sell some Classic Brit movies on DVD!!!

On to my question!!.....I Run a facebook site detailing the History of Virgin Records in the 1970s.

We have a number of photos on the site as well as photos of Branches of Virgin Records from the 1970s.

One of the Photos taken in 1975 shows a guy stood outside a Branch of Virgin in London (see attatched link)

I would love to get a modern day photo of the same location to see how the area has changed and was wondering if any readers recognise the location..?

Its not Notting Hill Gate Branch and its not Oxford Street!!

Any help much appreciated

Best

Mike

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[Steve Crook]

Originally Posted by mikeluxy Hi Everyone I know this is slightly "off topic" but then again this is an Off Topic Forum!! Then again it might be argued that Virgin Records used to sell some Classic Brit movies on DVD!!! On to my question!!.....I Run a facebook site detailing the History of Virgin Records in the 1970s. We have a number of photos on the site as well as photos of Branches of Virgin Records from the 1970s. One of the Photos taken in 1975 shows a guy stood outside a Branch of Virgin in London (see attatched link) I would love to get a modern day photo of the same location to see how the area has changed and was wondering if any readers recognise the location..? Its not Notting Hill Gate Branch and its not Oxford Street!! Any help much appreciated Best Mike Login | Facebook

Can you link to the photo where we don't have to log in to Facebook?

Steve

[David Brent]

Just going by my memory I think Virgin, in the early days, used to have a shop in the Tottenham Court Road.

Dave.

[Gazza]

It used to be above a shoe shop, more or less on the same site as the Virgin Megastore in Oxford Street. You walked through the shop and up the stairs. It was owned by a Greek guy who saw us in school uniform and tried to do good deals on Doc Martens.

I used to go there straight from school to buy my records; Aladdin Sane and Tubular Bells were among my purchases from there.

It was tiny and scruffy and it had listening posts - the guys behind the counter would put a record on for you and send you off to a numbered set of headphones, a bit of a novelty in those days.

[David Brent]

Originally Posted by Gazza It used to be above a shoe shop, more or less on the same site as the Virgin Megastore in Oxford Street. You walked through the shop and up the stairs. It was owned by a Greek guy who saw us in school uniform and tried to do good deals on Doc Martens. I used to go there straight from school to buy my records; Aladdin Sane and Tubular Bells were among my purchases from there. It was tiny and scruffy and it had listening posts - the guys behind the counter would put a record on for you and send you off to a numbered set of headphones, a bit of a novelty in those days.

I remember those listening posts very well.
The Virgin store in Birmingham was set up the same way.

Dave.

[batman]

I used to love going into those listening rooms that department stores used to have in the 70s ..... you could ask for a record to be played and sit in there and listen to a whole side of music without being disturbed. One shop had a row of stereos lined up on a raised platform with headphones attached so you could listen to what they were playing. It was a good place to meet young ladies.

[Gazza]

Originally Posted by mikeluxy Its not Notting Hill Gate Branch and its not Oxford Street!!

Mike, just re-read your original post; sorry it wasn't much help me reminiscing about Oxford Street. If you can get a photo up I may be able to help.

[billy bentley]

You could buy bootleg records in the upstairs Virgin Gazza desribes and I was told you could light up a jazz woodbine in there (strictly a bring your own set up) !

[Freddy]

Didn't Virgin Records have a poster of a black and white naked pregnant woman. I had one on my wall but can't remember what it was advertising.

Thanks

Freddy

[Gazza]

Originally Posted by Freddy Didn't Virgin Records have a poster of a black and white naked pregnant woman. I had one on my wall but can't remember what it was advertising.

Condoms??

[Harleybloke]

Our local Dept store had a very middle aged lady in records in the 70s. When you had something on special order, you handed in your ticket and she'd see if it was in.

She was such a stickler for proceedure.

She'd take your receipt, get the record from the special order pigeon hole, read the title out to you, wrap it and ring up the sale. God she was slow.

Busy saturday, long queue.

'Neil Diamond's Greatest hits', thank you deary! 'David Bowie, Ziggy Stardust, Oh my what a title.......on and on it went until I got there. Thank you deary, 'Never Mind the Bol................' it shut her up anyway!

[Steve Crook]

Originally Posted by Freddy Didn't Virgin Records have a poster of a black and white naked pregnant woman. I had one on my wall but can't remember what it was advertising. Thanks Freddy

A woman, who was black and white?
Most unusual

Steve

[mikeluxy]

Hi Everyone

Ive been tying to upload the picture without success...ive now managed to add the photo to "my Photos"...If you click on my avatar of Christopher Lee in the Wicker man you should see a link to the Photo in the "about me" page!!

[Freddy]

Originally Posted by Steve Crook A woman, who was black and white? Most unusual Steve

Freddy