As someone who likes owning vinyl and CDs – I don't buy online, don't download and have 50Gb on my iPod I guess I'm going to have to start – guess I'm going to have to wait?

...and if the Greens are the fall, that means Russ Norman is Mark E Smith. I'm not quite sure he's grumpy enough...

whilst I will miss RG if it goes... I like many of my music buying friends stopped going there a long time ago as its easier, quicker and cheaper to buy online and get ya vinyl shipped to NZ

retail (physical) for?

That said, I've spent more money at Real Groovy than probably any other music shop (exception?

I've done a quick browse on music I was thinking of purchasing before bothering to sign up; some they have, some they haven't.

Real Groovy was always a destination store, but it became an increasingly isolated destination.

That Town Hall?

Also, if you join then quit, every 3?

I just liked knowing they were there still. But it's a sign of the times I guess.

And the Greens remind me more of Sally Oldfield – anyone else?

...and if the Greens are the fall, that means Russ Norman is Mark E Smith. I'm not quite sure he's grumpy enough...

Or witty enough.

Like y'all, I've spent loads in there over the years – it was always?

Any feedback on using emusic.com?

I've only been joined a short time and I think they are fantastic. Actually, I can't quite believe the costing model. I get 100 tunes a month for US$24.99 (approx NZ$40). 100 tunes equates to about 7 albums worth of material for $40!?!

I've grabbed?

But over the past few years, living in Auckland, I went to Real Groovy less and less. It wasn't cheap (JB?

Alas, Real Groovy going the way of Colin Morris Records in Willis St. He broke my Greatest Hits syndrome. "Why live in the past, when every single week there's something new and exciting coming out?" Best?

doubt over whether buying the failing Echo Records stores in the South Island several years ago was a sound move.

it didn't work out well for either franchise.
where echo was a well laid out manageable affair when real groovy took over they moved to the barn in tuam street,?

Always liked the Dunedin shop as I could always score good reggae at a low price there. None of those scrawny, black jersey wearing guitar addicts appeared to buy it so it was always nicely discounted!

galaxy with its niche specialty store is a much better shopping experience.

Galaxy is a fabulous record shop. One of my essential 4 retail visits whenever I'm in Chch. The others being Whisky Galore, C1 Espresso and The Twisted Hop.

Surely there's some Christian country?

It wasn't cheap

A recent CD purchase for me was listed by Groovy at $59.95. I picked it up elsewhere (also new) for $36.95.

Nevertheless, many great vinyl finds there (4 for $10!) since the late '80s.

My last purchase from the Auckland store was a stack of awesome old horror dvds.

It will be missed.

http://www.madmaori.eu/index.php?option=com_zoom&Itemid=33&catid=1

Winston was once in the Hi Five of Rob Mob and now has become a tacky Benidorm act for retiring Poms and being The Mad Maori.

where echo was a well laid out manageable affair when real groovy took over they moved to the barn in tuam street, put out the trestle tables and made the whole shopping for music experience unmanageable. text

I thought that was a deliberate attempt to recreate the look 'n feel?

Can I use the musicality of this thread to remind PAS'sers that we now have our own group on last.fm and anyone is welcome to join.

D'oh! I've just added that information to day's post like I was meant to.

Colin is a legend
you you pop into his store whistle a tune and he knew the record every time. i know a few people who tried tot rick?

their imports were unjustifiably expensive

i would go there to sample cds, then buy them online...

And agree with the?

As for the demise of RG, I'm not a natural-born Aucklander so I didn't have a close relationship with the place. Sure, I'd been in once or twice but I'm not too much of a city boy so?

It is the association with teh National Parteh that I object to.

*sigh" Not as if Mick Jagger needs a tax cut – he doesn't bloody pay any to begin with.

Also, for Chris Hart to blame the demise on down-loading, JB Hi-Fi, The Warehouse, etc, is rubbish.

Well, Chris might have a point. As Russell said, JB Hi-Fi seem to have a grip on the whole customer service deal. The last time I was in the Queen Street Real Groovy?

Hi-Fi seem to have a grip on the whole customer service deal.

indeed. if i want to see sanctimonious record-store wankers i'll read hi fidelity.

ps. i'm mad, and i'm not going to take it any more.

I can but hope that either – or preferably both – Borders or JB Hi-Fi open in Dunedin before too long.

You certainly won't get a Borders, Grant. Borders has drastically pulled back its overseas business and is concentrating on America. It's been trying to sell its NZ stores for?

"If I could give you a bigger tax cut,
'Cos I hear they're all the rage
Would it satisfy ya, while actual policy slides on by ya,
Would you think the ploy was strange??

Well, Chris might have a point.

He does, but down-loading and competition are red herrings. By his own admission it's the bad foreign exchange deal (read "umpteen container loads of crap) that's landed?

Real Groovy.. the days I spent with Kerry and Kirk Gee in the late 1980s and early 1990s talking shit and trawling through boxes of new US hip hop and house 12's, often at very great end expense to myself.

The hiphop was excellent when Kerry worked there. I used?

You certainly won't get a Borders, Grant. Borders has drastically pulled back its overseas business and is concentrating on America. It's been trying to sell its NZ stores for a year, and whitcoulls almost bought them but I think the deal fell through at the last minute.

Nope, it did?

but it's the solidly profitable overseas operations that are getting sold?

To be honest though, Borders isn't a shadow of it's past. When it arrived in Auckland it was fantastic, but since then it's depth of stock has slipped year by year.

NZ has some wonderful smaller bookstores but has?

The only place in Wellington with a small but excellent vinyl rap selection was 'Soul Mine' in Kilbirnie.

Ah....Mr Tony Murdoch, who used to be in a killer band called Marching Orders. Grant and I mused over him back here..

A branch of Kinokuniya would be a wonderful addition.

not for my wallet it wouldn't. I spent SO much in there last time I was in Sydney. And I never got near the comics....

And yes, Simon, the best bit of Borders is the email coupons – I don't think I've ever bought a full price book/cd/dvd there. Full?

A branch of Kinokuniya would be a wonderful addition.

I want a Muji.

Bring back Crawlspace, somebody

Amen, Paul.

I was gutted to come back to NZ and discover Stu & Gonzo had disappeared.

I'd also put in a plug for Pretty on the Inside, in Palmerston North, though I believe Paul has decamped to Aus in the last few years...

Ah....Mr Tony Murdoch, who used to be in a killer band called Marching Orders.

Yeh, that's right. I always got the feeling that Eric B & Rahim, Gangstar, Tribe Called Quest etc... were not totally his cup of tea but he was still very enthusiastic and could still confirm which were?

NZ FIRST would be BB KING – hugely popular and influential in his day, but basically a cabaret act now that should just retire.

NZ FIRST would be BRITNEY SPEARS – learning the moves early parlayed an ability to look good whilst lip-syncing pop into a high maintenance lifestyle. The?

For United Future I?m trying to think of something offensively Middle of the Road. Air Supply?

Graham Capill on the other hand would nbe Gary Glitter ....

Ah....Mr Tony Murdoch, who used to be in a killer band called Marching Orders. Grant and I mused over him back here..

An amazing individual. I could tell you stories about him that would make your eye-balls explode. It's thanks to him that I'm the music junkie I am. In?

And that would surely make Jim Anderton Prince — a huge burst of relevance in the '80s but playing to the faithful ever since.

The Politician Formerly Known As Promising ?

not for my wallet it wouldn't. I spent SO much in there last time I was in Sydney. And I never got near the comics....

Luckily I get to go to cities (Bangkok, Jakarta, Kl & Singapore) that have very large branches fairly often, and, yes, it's a dauntingly expensive thing..as?

It?s hard to go past John Rowles for NZ First...

Oh yes! Cheesy, bombastic, secretly rather entertaining.

United Future should be something like... who's a kind of crossover, mildly Christian, shittily average band? The Jonas Brothers?

The Jonas Brothers?

Too young. Would have to be a 50 year olds equivalent.

who's a kind of crossover, mildly Christian, shittily average band?

Evanesence? Peter Dunne as Amy Lee – there's an image.

United Future should be something like... who's a kind of crossover, mildly Christian, shittily average band?

Evermore?

Luckily I get to go to cities (Bangkok, Jakarta, Kl & Singapore) that have very large branches ...

kunokiniya in Singapore was a highlight for my youngest son who is a mad manga fan. He couldn't believe the range they had, he was nearly hyperventilating. Came in very handy before long?

United Future should be something like... who's a kind of crossover, mildly Christian, shittily average band?

That band that used to play on The Herd ?

(OK, showing my age)

I am DEEPLY offended.

About BB.

Of course.

Winston Peters is stealing oxygen other people might need one day.

NZ has some wonderful smaller bookstores but has a big gaping hole when it comes to the large comprehensive variety, of the sort that most cities the size of Auckland have elsewhere.

A branch of Kinokuniya would be a wonderful addition..

I can't disagree with you there — I spent?

For United Future I?m trying to think of something offensively Middle of the Road. Air Supply?

Savage Garden.

Burn.

Savage Garden.

Burn.

I wish they would.

United Future has a bit of a Dave Matthews thing going on as well. Incredibly bland, but the Stones and U2 keep inexplicably getting him to join them on stage...

To be honest though, Borders isn't a shadow of it's past.

I agree. Visited there on Tuesday and it seemed a bit down-at-heel--great gaps in the magazine section and unexciting DVD specials. Upper Queen Street visits will never be the same,.

United Future should be something like... who's a kind of crossover, mildly Christian, shittily average band?

Creed.

I spent so much time there that it became a home away from home, and I became friends with Nev and Steph there

Great people, and Nev's stash of vinyl in the basement was huge

Never really liked?

That said, the CDs were retailing for an average of about NZ$15

that's more in the ball park.

youll know this of course simon but in nz a lot of people don't realise that almost half of a $34 cd price is mark up.
a CD selling in at $17.74?

For United Future I?m trying to think of something offensively Middle of the Road. Air Supply?

Air Supply are currently hosting a great infomercial for Time Life's Soft Rock collection ... perfect.

Here's an observation – most main street music shops now seem to have more of a focus on DVDs rather than CDs. The DVDs are the exciting displays up the front that lure the punters in, while the CDs are the specialist section down the back.

That's pretty true- and?

youll know this of course simon but in nz a lot of people don't realise that almost half of a $34 cd price is mark up.

I first worked this out years ago when I hooked up with Nathan from Chant Distribution to buy import reggae at wholesale prices. I?

A drop in disposable income around 2004 saw me paying?

What was that called?

Revival Records?
Used to be where the Sky Tower is now. Great shop, in its day.

Then the university bookshop was run by some cool musicians and there were some great imports out there and a small second hand section.

When I was at school it was managed by Tony Peak of the Vandals and Newtones, who was super-cool. We'd go in there and leaf through?

United Future should be something like... who's a kind of crossover, mildly Christian, shittily average band?

Creed.

James Blunt/Mayer/Morrison

Tony Peak of the Vandals and Newtones, who was super-cool. We'd go in there and leaf through the new wave imports. I think my first import orders were placed via Tony.

same. the had some extreme music just sitting on the shelf, and they actually played a lot of it?

Tony Peak of the Vandals and Newtones, who was super-cool.

Circa 1980 it was the best record store in the country. We used to go to work Chch into North Island tours just to go there! Tony used the university's academic exception to import restrictions to bring in punk, reggae?

Circa 1980 it was the best record store in the country. We used to go to work Chch into North Island tours just to go there! Tony used the university's academic exception to import restrictions to bring in punk, reggae and indie vinyl,

Yeh, we practically used to live there?

Then realised it was the guy who's idea of "a campaign" is a Facebook group – seriously, how?

It's internet activism. Or, as I like to call it, inactivism.

That's... beautiful, man.

Then realised it was the guy who's idea of "a campaign" is a Facebook group – seriously, how is 23 (random number pulled out of my arse) people blethering and wittering (and probably twittering – yes, I'm down with the kids) in Facebook a CAMPAIGN?

It was on stuff's front?

That's... beautiful, man.

It was funnier in my head, and it's late here. Leave me alone.

Of course, for the time being at least the media will report this sort of crap as if it's something serious, in the same way that 'subject x has 800 000 hits on google'?

It was funnier in my head, and it's late here. Leave me alone.

I actually thought it was bloody good. I spent some time trying to think of another term that captured the idea, but I think you got it in one. Having a pleasant evening? :P