[One of the extra features on the DVD of the
documentary Last Shop Standing: The Rise,
Fall and Rebirth of the Independent Record Shop (2013) is “Shop Talk,”
which consists of outtakes from conversations with British independent record
shop owners and staff. These are my transcriptions of two stories about not initially
understanding a customer’s request.]
Laurie Dale, owner of Dale’s Music, in Tenby: Another
lady wanted “Jaws records.” I said, “Jaws records? The soundtrack of the movie?”
And she said, “No, no, Jaws records.” I said, “I don’t know what that is.” And
she said, “Jaws – J, A, double zed.”
Keith Hudson, owner of Hudson’s, in Chesterfield: A
lady came in one day with, um, on a piece of paper was scrawled the, uh, the
two words “Marsha Cup.” And we didn’t know if this was an artist or what it
was. Then we looked at it, thought about it, thought a lot more about it. It
suddenly tumbled that this was an Elvis Presley tune, “I’m All Shook Up” –
Marsha Cup.