A-Z of Record Shop Bags: 1940-1990

A visual celebration of the shopping bags produced by British record stores between the 1940s and the 1990s. Fully illustrated with over 500 examples of this previously unrecorded aspect of popular culture.

This unique book tells the graphic history of the British record shop through a huge and inspiring collection of original and exceptionally rare carrier bags. From large chains to hidden basements, with a cast of famous staff and eccentric owners, these paper and plastic bags bring the visceral history of music shopping to life.

With a foreword by Jon Savage.

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Jonny Trunk and FUEL present A-Z of Record Shop Bags – a publication celebrating the humble record store bag.

This exhaustive collection of the record shop bag provides a unique perspective of record shopping in the UK over the last century, bringing together over 500 incredible bags (some possibly the only surviving examples) to document the fascinating story of British high street record shopping. Bags from famous chains such as NEMS, Our Price and Virgin (the amazingly rare Roger Dean bags), sit alongside designs from local shops run by eccentric enthusiasts. Packed with stories such as the first Jewish ska retailer, the record sellers who started the premier league, famous staff (David Bowie, Dusty Springfield, Morrissey, etc.) and equally infamous owners, these anecdotes of mythical vinyl entrepreneurs will entertain and delight.

With vinyl record sales at their highest ever for decades (outselling CDs in the US), this publication acts as an amazing insight into the history, culture and visual language of record collecting. Following Own Label, Wrappers Delight and Auto Erotica – A-Z of Record Shop Bags: 1940s to 1990s is the next book in the series by Jonny Trunk and FUEL, examining overlooked aspects of our collective past.