Page from my personal journal: a review of Camden record store Rhythm Records, from my trip to London, August 1995.
Ah, another review from the glory days of Camden Town as a London record-shopping haven.
My impression of Rhythm Records was decidedly mixed, as matched the record-pricing in this store. Never one to hold back on the snark, I took my potshots at two decidedly uncool-to-me U.S. artists in this brief review from my journal:
Rhythm Records, Camden New CDs (mostly upstairs) and vinyl (down). Spotlight on more well-known indies, but lots of good sale records (David Kilgour LP for £5, newish Slampt comp £4), small selection of mostly new 7″es. Amusing selection of ridiculously overpriced U.S. dreck (Jason & Scorchers, Willie Alexander) that has long since found its way into the 99-cent bin at home. Not a comprehensive selection of indie.
This review makes clear there were two things that I didn’t realize at the time:
1. Some artists (that “dreck”) are simply more popular overseas than at home. Imagine that!
2. The likely reason there weren’t a lot of indie releases, and those they had were very discounted, is that the store wasn’t really catering to customers like me in the first place. So that stuff just sat in the bins until markdown time.
At any rate, I am fairly certain I bought that David Kilgour LP (Sugar Mouth). How could I pass up a bargain like that?