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More turntable than Spotify? You’ll adore Eel Pie Records in Twickenham, says Miranda Jessop...
Some of my fondest teenage memories are of weekends spent flicking through album covers in Our Price and listening in my bedroom to my favourite LPs and singles, over and over again. You can imagine my delight when my beloved record player, rescued from my parents’ loft, recently sprang into action after a lull of over 30 years.
But whether, like me, you are coming back to vinyl after a long lapse or discovering it for the very first time – or even if you never left it – Eel Pie Records in Twickenham is very much worth a spin.
Launched in June 2017, it’s the fruit of two Twickenham residents’ shared passion for music. Over a pint in the pub, old friends Kevin Jones and Phil Penman would often dream about opening a record shop together.
“We were both lifelong music fans who had stuck with vinyl when most people had abandoned it,” explains Kevin. “We always used to talk about how great it would be to open our own shop one day, but we never imagined that it would really happen. Then, a few years ago, when we saw that vinyl was well and truly back and here to stay, we knew that we could potentially make a go of it.”
Having lived in Twickenham for many years, the duo was never in any doubt that this would be the location for their venture. As for the name, it virtually chose itself.
“We have such a strong musical heritage here in Twickenham,” says Phil, “and Eel Pie is an iconic name that resonates around the whole world.”
That settled, the next requirement was premises. And when the opportunity arose of sharing a building in Church Street with Ricardo’s Cellar and specialist butcher Limpopo, Kevin and Phil knew it was right.
“It’s a beautiful space and people often tell us it’s the perfect mix of music, booze and biltong!” laughs Kevin.
In the two years since opening its doors, Eel Pie has already established itself as a popular independent record shop. Just over half its stock is brand new vinyl consisting of rereleased and remastered classics, as well as an increasing variety of new albums from emerging artists. The rest consists of original second-hand records.
“Almost daily we get enquiries from people who want to sell their collection or one they have inherited,” says Kevin. “We are always interested in rock, blues, jazz, country and soul, as long as the records are in really good condition.”
Now, with a classical music section on its way, Kevin and Phil want recordings in those genres too. They sell CDs, along with all the vinyl, plus a selection of turntables and merchandise. And then, of course, there’s the vital caffeine fix.
“We have a few tables for customers where we serve excellent coffee,” says Phil. “From the outset, this was really important to us, as we wanted to create a welcoming, friendly, relaxed environment for people to spend time and sit down for a chat.”
With the community aspect of the venture paramount, Kevin and Phil organise a variety of local music events, such as monthly record fairs in St Mary’s Church Hall and new music nights at The Eel Pie, the pub across the road. Live performances also take place around Twickenham, as well as in the shop itself.
One recent highlight was an appearance by Goat Girl, a successful all-female band signed to Rough Trade Records who released their debut album last year. The drummer just happens to be Kevin’s daughter.
And as the band gears up for Glastonbury later this month, Eel Pie Records is preparing to bring its own music event to Twickenham’s vibrant annual summer festival. ‘High Tide’, a day packed full of free musical acts, will take place on June 22. Church Street hosts the main stage and there will be performances at other venues around the town.
One initiative that has put Eel Pie Records firmly on the map, enabling it to reach out to music fans from further afield, is its participation in Record Store Day, which takes place every April. Inaugurated in the US back in 2008, this global phenomenon was created to ‘celebrate the culture of the independently owned record store’ and draw people back into the shops.
A number of records are pressed specifically for the day – a selection for each country taking part – and distributed to participating stores alone.
“The first time we really didn’t know what to expect,” says Phil. “But even before we opened, we had over 100 people queuing down Church Street. One couple had been there since 2 am! At the peak, we had 250 people outside. It really is a massive day for us.”
Another key project for Eel Pie is its very own, brand new record label: the first release came in February this year. Produced on bright red vinyl, Buffalo Blood is a collaboration between Scottish singer-songwriter, Dean Owens and three musicians from the US. Recorded out in the desert of New Mexico, the album is a series of songs about displacement, immigration, refugees and the power of the human spirit.
“Not only is it great music, but it has this really important message,” explains Phil. “A pound from every sale is being donated to the Redhawk Native American Arts Council.”
So what exactly is it that makes vinyl so special?
“As well as a warmer kind of sound, there is something emotionally engaging about it,” reflects Kevin. “In some respects each record is like a photograph, reminding you of a time in your life when you bought it, or the person who gave it to you. As two people who never left vinyl, we love seeing it popular and trendy again. We’re more than happy to be riding that wave.”
Eel Pie Records, 44-45 Church Street, Twickenham; eelpierecords.com; High Tide, Twickenham, Saturday, June 22 2019