The Record Album on Terminus Road has been selling soundtrack albums, on vinyl, to its discerning customers since the 1940s. Now in his 80s George Ginn has has no plans to stop or, heaven forbid, start selling CDs.

How long have you had the shop?
The shop was established in 1948 while I was in the Air Force. When I left in 1960 I had a two year gap before I took over the shop. It was the normal rock-based second hand shop but over the course of the next couple or three years I imposed my own interests, while still catering for every need. My main interest is theatre and film.

Who buys records from you?
Most of my customers are in their teens and twenties. I deal with most of the DJs and people who sample, and all the rock groups like The Kooks and The Coral tend to end up in here too. The Avalanches spent the whole day in the shop. Radiohead were the last to come in – Thom whatever his name is. Damon Albarn’s been in. But Amon Tobin is one of my best customers and I even received due credit on his last compact disc.

Who’s made your favourite soundtracks?
My favourite film composers are the composers who composed in the symphonic style. That period is referred to as the Golden Age, with composers like Franz Waxman and Bernard Herrmann. There’s only one composer now, in my estimation, who equates with those and that’s John Williams. He does compose in a symphonic style. But my favourite is a chap called Erich Korngold, who did the music for the film Kings Row.

Where do all these gems come from?
I don’t know what governs releasing soundtracks but they are increasingly re-pressing some vintage material. For example there are three classic Nino Rota albums that have just been released in Italy, limited to 500 each. I have to dig a little bit. There’s over a thousand soundtracks and original stage show recordings in stock and 99.99% of those are totally brand new, unplayed copies, although they may date back thirty years or so.

Photo by James Kendall

More Unsung Heroes: Click Hereunsungx