Double Four (Stockport)

Located just off the main shopping centre and in amongst some interesting and slightly esoteric shops nestles Double Four records. A South Manchester stalwart, Double Four has been trading for over 25 years and had a number of shops across the conurbation and still retains two premises, this one in Stockport and another in Marple (9 Derby Way, Marple 0161 427 8300)

The Stockport shop places the focus firmly on cheap DVDs and CDs with rack after rack of pop and rock CDs. Indeed ninety percent of the shop is dedicated to the shiny little silver discs. Lots of bargain stuff, all the usual stuff  (Oasis, Queen, Kiss, etc) and the shop offers good deals for multi purchases. There are also more pop compilations than you could shake an old Woolworths gift voucher at and you’re guaranteed to get that Culture Club album or Handbag House Classics 1998 comp.

On the vinyl front it sadly all looks a little unloved and forgotten. The vinyl is over in the left hand corner with one set of racks against the wall and the rest either in boxes or stacked on the floor. There’s no order to it and it’s a case of sifting and getting down on the dogs shelf! Content wise its 70s and 80s denim heaven with the odd bit of Soul and Pop thrown in, possibly just to incorporate the element of surprise! One minute I’m looking at Nazareth and Genesis albums the next I’m faced with a Smokey Robinson airbrushed 80s effort, very disconcerting! Price wise…..hmm   Next! Also worth noting that there’s no listening post.

Ok, it was a rainy Friday and maybe my expectations were unrealistic but I left with my wallet intact and a slightly heavy heart..cheap CDs and unloved vinyl leave me reaching for the Rennies!