B AT H L I V E S
Q&A
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here was a time in the not-so-distant past when traditional record shops looked doomed, but with the colossal resurgence in vinyl, the tides have now turned. Having worked in the music industry for over two decades – in which time he also set up his own label – Mark O’Shaughnessy has just opened an independent record store in Bath’s Green Park market. We dropped by Resolution Records for an enlightening chat with him…
So you’ve just opened the doors of your record store. Why, in this digital age, do you think there’s a demand for vintage vinyl in Bath? Bath people are definitely big record buyers; I am extremely busy already. I think Bath was crying out for a good indie record shop – and mine is the only one – and there’s been a huge upsurge in the amount of people buying records recently. Music and records are a huge part of my life; I’ve worked in the music industry for 23 years and have been a professional record dealer since 1993, and I saw that there was a huge gap in the market for a record shop here, so I thought it was the perfect time to set up the business. Bath has a very eclectic, creative scene. Do you feel your shop fits in with this dynamic? My shop helps to promote and fulfil several parts of Bath’s eclectic scene – DJs come to me to buy records for their gigs, producers come to me to buy tunes and samples, and artists come to me to buy music to inspire them. Why do you think records have come into fashion again? People want to ‘own’ stuff again – it’s not enough just to have a track on your phone anymore. A record is something to actually hold, read and love – which you can never get from an MP3. There has also been a huge resurgence in all things vintage recently, which helps. What do you think the difference is between listening to a song on a record compared to the sound of it on a iPod or CD player? It’s a different experience completely; I believe records sound so much better audio-wise than digital tunes.
MARK O’SHAUGHNESSY The record dealer, who has just opened a store in Bath, talks vintage vinyl, childhood memories and his favourite al fresco spots in the city Where do you source the records for your shop? I buy people’s collections. I mainly have records which were made in the 60s, 70s and 80s. I stock everything from rock, prog and psyche to folk, Latin and Reggae genres. Are records as expensive as people may think? That has never been an issue, people are happy to pay the price for a record they really want. Records aren’t actually that pricey; when compared to other items, they are relatively cheap. What’s your first memory of buying a record? When I was nine years old I purchased Slade’s Everyday single in Birmingham, where I was born. What’s your all-time favourite record in your collection? Marvin Gaye’s What’s Going On LP. Where’s home for you and what are the pleasures of living in Bath? I live in Lower Weston right now. There are nice relaxed vibes in Bath and great people here.
106 I BATH LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk
Share a favourite spot in the city… The beer garden of The Hare & Hounds pub in Lansdown (even though I am strictly teetotal nowadays); I also love The Locksbrook Inn. How do you like to relax after a hard day at work? I love cycling, walking and playing football. Anything sporty, really. Your most treasured possession (apart from your records)? My three children. Surprise us… I lived in the USA when I was in my 20s, which gave me a love for that country and its different cultures from an early age. Your finest hour so far? Setting up my own label and releasing several records that had high critical acclaim.
www.resolutionrecords.co.uk