About Level Crossing Records
Give us the background... when and why did you decide to open a record shop?
We decided to open a record store around 5 years ago… I have always been a collector, played in various bands so the dream to open my own store has always been there. We live 10 minutes from the shop in East Sheen, South West London. The store's regulars have become an extended family to us. They are the reason we get up in the morning and the best thing about owning a record store.
Our store is much more like a bar than a record store. People hang out all day talking about music and listening to vinyl whilst having a coffee, it's a real community. We don’t focus on any specific genres and we pride ourselves on being eclectic. Our staff members regularly play live sets in-store and our customers often DJ. Probably the best story so far in the shop was Anna Calvi coming in to buy her LP on release day and me not realising who she was...
The first record we sold in the shop was Bobby Womack - 'The Bravest Man in the Universe' and the last record was Van Morrison - 'Moondance'.
The first record store I went to was on Portobello Road. I am unsure of what it was called but I remember buying a single that said Great Little Groover in marker pen and I was sold. Personal memories of record stores when I was a kid was everyone that worked in them was as mad as a hatter but I kinda liked it. I dare say we have kids that come in here now that think the same about me.
My favourite record store apart from my own is Sounds of the Universe. It literally is heaven on earth.
My most memorable record store experience was queueing up for Record Store Day a few years ago in Soho and thinking this will be us next year...and it was.
BRMC - Somerset House
Wonderland Avenue - Danny Sugarman
I will have to say Once Upon a Time in Hollywood as it’s fresh in my memory and I loved it.
Yeah Yeah Yeahs – Show Your Bones
White Stripes – Elephant
Nuggets – Original Artyfacts From The First Psychedelic ERA
Allah-Las – Allah-Las
Curtis Mayfield – Curtis
Miles Davis – Kind of Blue
BRMC – BRMC
The Stone Roses – The Stone Roses
The Doors, James Brown, Joy Division, Dusty Springfield, Unkle, Flaming Lips, 13th Floor Elevators, Lykke Li, Curtis Harding and Growlers.
Tighten Up Volume 2 - this is the record that started everything.
Lockdown for Level Crossing Records has been an ever changing journey and we owe a massive thank you to our loyal customers for sticking by us.
As soon as the lockdown begun we started hand delivering records to the surrounding area on foot with weekly stock lists and recommendations being emailed and posted on social media. As we didn't have a website we had to adapt quickly.
As the lock down started to ease we started booking private digging sessions for customers to have the store to themselves and feel as safe and comfortable as possible.
We still operate a one person at a time in store and our home delivery service is still available.
Our favourite part of Record Store Day is arriving at the store at 6am and seeing the early birds all discussing what's in their wishlist.
It's a very special thing...
Events Coming Up
Level Crossing Records are creating a festival of sounds for Record Store Day on the 22nd of April, with live performances from DARGZ & Dynamite Cuts.
Doors will open at 8.00am when Record Store Day vinyl officially goes on sale. Festivities will be continuing in store from 6.00pm till late with a special after party, offering guests the official beer of RSD, the Meantime Double Groove and cocktails.
The full schedule of artists playing at Level Crossing Records on Record Store Day is:
12.00pm AMIT
12.45pm Luke Pearce & Evie Balfe ( Level Crossing Records )
1.30pm Duncan Covey
2.15pm Don Dayglow
3.00pm DARGZ
4.00pm LCR DJs
5.00pm Malachi Trout from Dynamite Cuts
