Northern Rocks Vintage Vinyl – Hartlepool
We are heading back to Hartlepool on a sunny Saturday afternoon to visit Phil Dunn at his Northern Rocks Vintage Vinyl store. We first met Phil at the Hartlepool Record Fair and promised to visit and suss out his set up.
His vinyl collection is located within Kiwi Trading antiques emporium in Osborne road West Hartlepool.
This is the first store we’ve visited that isn’t a bricks and mortar shop but an area he rents within the emporium.
You walk through the large double doors past the various antique traders to the far end to Phil’s area.
It’s quite a surprise how big his trading area is and once you start digging it’s obvious this is very well curated.
All genres catered for at all price levels and even a really good selection of new and sealed stock.
There’s a good selection of 45’s and a separate room with albums selling at 2 for £5 they are admittedly not in the best of shape but many would clean up quite nicely.
Phil is obviously a massive music fan and a real friendly guy, he still has a day job but he is hoping to retire soon and devote more time to his passion.
Even though Phil isn’t at the store during the week it is still open most days.
With no end to his talents Phil is the lead singer of The Original Passion Killers a rock cover band so if you fancy some Smoke on the Water or Rockin’ in the Free World then get down to one of their gigs.
Phil also sells bits and pieces of Hi-Fi equipment and even had a couple of jukeboxes for sale.
Steve and I had no problem spending money here and Phil had no problem giving us some generous discount.
Well worth a visit and quite a hidden gem.
STOP PRESS – Phil has informed me that he is definitely retiring in January so this place will only get better.
Phil Dunn’s Five Vinyl Records I Can’t Live Without
1. My Aim Is True – Elvis Costello
2. Eastside Story – Squeeze
3. I Don’t Live Here Anymore – The War On Drugs
4. You Can’t Hide Your Love Forever – Orange Juice
5. Hex Enduction Hour – The Fall
Phil’s selection for the Press on Vinyl collection.
Fairport Convention – Liege & Lief
Steve’s selection – Aphex Twin – Richard D James Album
Neil’s selection – Sparks – Kimono My House
For this blog we’ve decided to use my selection of Kimono my House by Sparks as our classic album.
First released in 1974 this album was the launch pad for an amazing career and now nearly 50 years and 20 plus albums later they are wowing crowds all round the world just ask Phil about their Glastonbury performance just amazing.
Steve’s Track Ranking
1. Amateur Hour
2. This Town Ain’t Big Enough For The Both Of Us
3. Falling In Love With Myself Again
4. Hasta Manana Monsieur
5. Here In Heaven
6. Equator
7. Talent Is An Asset
8. Thank God It’s Not Christmas
9. In My Family
10. Complaints
Neil’s Track Ranking
1. Here In Heaven
2. This Town Ain’t Big Enough For The Both Of Us
3. Hasta Manana Monsieur
4. Amateur Hour
5. Thank God It’s Not Christmas
6. Falling In Love With Myself Again
7. Equator
8. Talent Is An Asset
9. Complaints
10. In My Family
It’s pretty obvious we are never going to agree but this album is particularly difficult give it a listen you’ll see why.
P.S. For our next blog we’ll be going to Skipton to visit The Sound Bar and our classic album is Led Zeppelin IV that should be interesting.
P.P.S. Despite getting several good offers from the Antique Dealers I decided to bring Steve home.
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