People Sound Record Shop (2021-04-26/2021-04-26) by Naomi FitzsimmonsNotting Hill Carnival
Record Store Day is the one day of the year when over 200 independent record shops all across the UK come together to celebrate their unique culture. Special vinyl releases are made exclusively for the day and many shops and cities host artist performances and events. To mark the day, we spoke to shop owners about their history and experiences.
People's Sound Record Store
Listen to Roy at People's Sound Record talk about about the origins of the store, based at 11 All Saints Road, Ladbroke Grove, W11 1HA.
People Sound Record Shop (2021-04-26/2021-04-26) by Naomi FitzsimmonsNotting Hill Carnival
Tell us about the store?
"I believe this record store was opened in 1988 and previous to this Daddy Vego who is the owner of the shop had been involved in many music outlets. He's been a DJ from back in the 50s, back in the days he was the young selector for Duke Vine who has now past and Count Suckle.."
People Sound Record Shop (2021-04-26/2021-04-26) by Naomi FitzsimmonsNotting Hill Carnival
Is there any noticeable changes from Vinyl to Digital?
"It been quite a journey coming from vinyl, CDS, 78's, LPs, 45's Cassettes..."
People Sound Record Shop (2021-04-26/2021-04-26) by Naomi FitzsimmonsNotting Hill Carnival
Has the shop been affected by this?
"I think most businesses have but then you get another generation coming into this now and it has opened up all over the world... A lot has changed but you find that the young people are getting involved and looking for the old-school stuff the real sounds"
People Sound Record Shop (2021-04-26/2021-04-26) by Naomi FitzsimmonsNotting Hill Carnival
What types of genres of music does your shop provide?
"You'll find all types, the majority is Reggae music. Daddy Vego would buy soul,Rnb, Calypso. The main focus for sound system purposes is reggae. Carnival is 4 days in this country but Reggae is 365 days"
People Sound Record Shop (2021-04-26/2021-04-26) by Naomi FitzsimmonsNotting Hill Carnival
What's the ambiance here during the lead up to Carnival?
"It can be hectic, as then have the pan nights and everyone's practicing. Theres a lot of activity. People travel from all over the world."
Walk down the street where the store is located
People's Sound Record Store: 11 All Saints Road, Ladbroke Grove, W11 1HA
People Sound Record Shop (2021-04-26/2021-04-26) by Naomi FitzsimmonsNotting Hill Carnival
From his early days in the UK, late founder Daddy Vego had promoted and supported the development of Jamaican reggae music through People’s Sounds. His legacy continues to make a positive impact through a shared love of music and its origins.
We spoke to Mitch to tell us more about the sound.
"I help to run the record shop. We do it all in the flavour of Daddy Vego. He passed away 4 years now and we try to keep the shop as a community, so we all partake in running the shop. I'm the main one and Roys always there."
People Sound Record Shop (2021-04-26/2021-04-26) by Naomi FitzsimmonsNotting Hill Carnival
"The sound was named by the people. He asked the people what he should name the sound and they started shouting Peoples! Peoples! Peoples! and that's how the name was born."
People Sound Record Shop (2021-04-26/2021-04-26) by Naomi FitzsimmonsNotting Hill Carnival
What has been your favourite gig?
"One of Daddy Vego's last gigs at the Westbank. It was 2000-2002 but it was back in the day. The atmosphere and the ambience - that's was it was all about."
People Sound Record Shop (2021-04-26/2021-04-26) by Naomi FitzsimmonsNotting Hill Carnival
"My favourite gigs had always been Carnival because we are free to do as we please, anyone can come and there's no money involved. The toilets are free in our shop and that's what I love, the whole ambiance of all those people coming together."
People Sound Record Shop (2021-04-26/2021-04-26) by Naomi FitzsimmonsNotting Hill Carnival
What's your favourite record of all time?
"Little cottage in Negril, it's a record Daddy Vego made, he produced it that's probably my favourite record because it has meaning and he always wanted a little cottage in Negril.'
The Last Dance (2020) by Misan HarrimanWhat We Seee
What's coming up next for People's Sound Records?
"We are focusing on Carnival if it happens and if it's not we take it as it comes. We tend to get a lot of bookings but we don't always do them because things have changed a lot and we don't want to go somewhere that is competitive..."
"...We are what we are, we play how we play and we do what we do. We just try to keep our traditional values"
Explore more Carnival culture here
