Thanks for the music - iconic West Australian store to close
By Judy Evans
@JudyEv (382555)
Rockingham, Australia
February 6, 2019 5:13pm CST
We have a number of members who write about music and very knowledgeable they are too. JJ (@myklj999) collects vinyl records by the score and his latest post showing him in a music store collecting even more made me think of this news item with appeared a day or two ago.
The iconic Perth, Western Australian music store 78 Records will close on March 3. It has been in operation for almost 48 years but the rise of streaming services and declining retail conditions has made its continued operation unviable.
It opened in 1971, stocking 300 mainly imported titles. The current manager joined the store in 1986 when the top-selling artists were Paul Kelly, the Hoodoo Gurus and U2.
The streaming service has had the biggest impact, he said. Even the recent vinyl revival had not been enough to keep the store afloat. Over the years, some of its more noted customers were Bette Midler, Lou Reed and Elvis Costello.
For young West Australians in times before the internet and its associated technology, 78 Records was THE place to go to get the music you wanted. I guess its closure is a sign of the times.
As FourWalls (@FourWalls) would say ‘thanks for the music’.
14 people like this
15 responses
@allknowing (153529)
• India
7 Feb 19
@JudyEv 
They must have seen it coming. They could have diversified. Amul who are specialised in butter have added inner wear clothing.
They must have seen it coming. They could have diversified. Amul who are specialised in butter have added inner wear clothing.1 person likes this
@JudyEv (382555)
• Rockingham, Australia
7 Feb 19
Yes, that's right. And nothing stays the same for ever. Not even record shops.
@snowy22315 (209177)
• United States
6 Feb 19
Record stores are far and few between these days. The only ones I have seen in the past few years were combined with video stores and selling other electronic equipment. I am sure there are some vintage stand alone stores somewhere though.
2 people like this
@arthurchappell (44941)
• Preston, England
6 Feb 19
sounds a great place - sorry it has to go
2 people like this
@wolfgirl569 (136008)
• Marion, Ohio
6 Feb 19
Sad to hear of another store closing. More everywhere are.
2 people like this
@JudyEv (382555)
• Rockingham, Australia
7 Feb 19
Yes, nothing stays the same for too long. In a way, it's a bit surprising it's held on this long.
@vickyrose (2236)
• Cooma, Australia
6 Feb 19
It is sad, it’s now another generation, the old stores need to reinvent themselves to survive.
2 people like this
@JudyEv (382555)
• Rockingham, Australia
7 Feb 19
They do. They need to come up with new gimmicks or branch out a bit if they want to survive.
@crossbones27 (53005)
• Mojave, California
7 Feb 19
That sucks, I always found the early 90's the best for music. Right before the internet hit and screwed everything up. It is almost to easy now. I miss hearing that one awesome song on the radio that stood out but was to different for most, but you knew in time it was gonna stand the test. So you could never find out who it was or where to get it. You had to put in some serious work to figure it out but once you found it, you were never letting that song, band go again. Internet killed all that, but have to say, lazy me likes that too and kind of cool having all this knowledge at your fingertips. You do find music you would have never heard if it stayed the way it was.
1 person likes this
@crossbones27 (53005)
• Mojave, California
7 Feb 19
@JudyEv Indeed, funny how life changes.
1 person likes this
@Letranknight2015 (52665)
• Philippines
7 Feb 19
I didn't know that kind of plaque still exist, do you keep it or play it as well? Have a nice day.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (382555)
• Rockingham, Australia
7 Feb 19
We don't play it. I'm not sure we have a player for it now. You can read about the record here:
If it won't open, search for 'gramophone'.
I was moving things around in our large cupboard and came across some LP and 78 rpm records. One title caught my eye and I could immediately recall the words...
@JohnRoberts (109841)
• Los Angeles, California
7 Feb 19
That is so sad. You would think Perth's area population could support it and enough people want to actually browse in person.
1 person likes this
@Ronrybs (21492)
• London, England
7 Feb 19
I know there is a movement back to vinyl, but I guess only so many record shops can be supported. Sad to see them go. Over here, HMV was just saved with the new owner saying there would be more emphasis on vinyl, but the iconic Oxford St store has closed as part of the plan
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (382555)
• Rockingham, Australia
7 Feb 19
They did say they'd had a lot of fun along the way.
@DocAndersen (54399)
• United States
21 Feb 19
We chase progress but forget its impact. Sometimes it is critical to remember what was. Sad, to lose an icon!
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (382555)
• Rockingham, Australia
24 Feb 19
@DocAndersen It's the same when we go back to places where we lived previously. One house has gone altogether.
@DocAndersen (54399)
• United States
22 Feb 19
@JudyEv I lived in Thailand in 1972, went back in 2004, it was so massively different I was in shock. Time is one thing that always changes.
1 person likes this
