Here in Nottingham, we are so lucky to have three great second hand record shops (in fact, we have a total of four second hand record shops altogether, but one of them isn't really worth bothering with unless you're into 'classic rock' albums).
I have previously written about Rob's Records & Anarchy Records, two Nottingham second hand record shops which are my equal favourite second hand music shops (out of all the record shops I visit throughout the U.K).
Big Apple Records is a shop I don't visit as much as the other two, primarily because it doesn't tend to stock the unusual & offbeat genres that interest me. However, it is still a great second hand record shop, and I'm always glad when I pop in there (even if I don't buy much).
The shop is situated in the West Side Arcade, in Nottingham's city centre. It has been at this location for about six years. Prior to this it was in a different city centre shop for 10 years, then it shut down for a couple of years, before finding these new premises.
It tends to cater for the more 'old-fashioned' record collector, specialising in certain genres, such as 1960s albums, The Beatles, psychedelia, reggae etc. Having said that, there are some surprises in the sections. The shop will often get in a huge collection of really rare stuff in the 'Punk' album section - dozens of obscure Sex Pistols or Damned rarities & bootlegs (though the 'Punk' 7" singles section is the same bog standard stuff that fills up most 'Punk' sections these days - the usual & predictable Punk / New Wave singles that made the charts - Sham 69, Toyah, The Skids etc. It seems that rare or interesting punk singles just don't turn up in second hand record shops anymore, but I suspect this has a lot to do with people being able to sell the more 'offbeat' & valuable stuff on the internet). There's also, rather curiously, a well-stocked section for grindcore & hardcore punk albums, and this is one of the few second hand record shops I've come across that does this.
Being into original 1950s rockabilly, I like this shop a lot, as there's a really good selection of albums, old 7" singles & p/s e.ps in this genre. In fact, anybody who's into 1950s / 60s picture sleeve e.ps (in any genre) will find a good section of these here.
Having said all that, I don't actually buy a lot in this shop. It's biggest failure for me is that it's too hooked into those classic 'collector's' genres (variations of western rock & pop) & there's a total absence of all the 'miscellaneous' stuff that interests me (ethnic music, spoken word, sound effects, comedy etc). I did recently get a couple of great Indian classical albums in there, but they tend not to stock that kind of thing (& when they do, they're probably only selling it off some tenuous 'connection' to late 60s psychedelia).
However, despite not buying much in there (due to personal tastes), there's still a lot I would commend about the shop.
There's tons of obscure albums from the late 1960s (psychedelia etc), a lot of which just doesn't turn up in other shops, & which normally you would have to go to a record fair to find. As for prices, it's hard for me to comment, as I'm not an expert on the value of these kind of rare 1960s L.Ps. However, with the kind of records I buy in there (such as punk, early 1960s instrumentals, & rockabilly), I've always felt they've been fair & reasonable prices, a bit less than you would pay at a record fair or a more upmarket 'collector's' shop.
The grading in the shop is refreshingly honest. I've never pulled out a record there described as 'Excellent Condition' & thought 'Who are you trying to fool ?' (a complaint I have in many other second hand record shops). Some rare albums are even graded (when appropriate) as 'a bit battered', and are priced down accordingly. I appreciate that honesty, and it is a rare thing among second hand record sellers.
The owner, Steve, is a little .... shall we say ... 'eccentric', but comes across a nice bloke, who is always cheerful & will always be helpful (such as allowing you to check anything by playing it on the record deck) & doesn't harangue you to buy things.
Overall, even though it doesn't stock as much of the kind of records I buy as other shops do, this is still an excellent second hand record shop, that's well worth a visit.
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