78 Records

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78 Records is a music store is located in the Central Business District of Perth, Western Australia. The store also sells dvd's, books, clothing and tickets to music and comedy events. Due to the history of the business - and the large variety of music sold, and promotion of local acts, the store is said to have had a significant influence upon local culture and the music scene within Perth.

1 History
2 External links
3 References
4 See also

[edit] History

78 Records first opened to the record buying public of Perth on 19 June 1971 on the first floor of the Padbury Building in Forrest Place. Geoff "Hud" Hudson, John Hood, and John "Scruff" McGregor started the store to provide music that was unavailable from other outlets.

In its infancy, 78 Records boasted about 300 titles, all on vinyl and mainly imports, with a strong leaning towards blues but also encompassing an extensive range of other genres as two small rooms could physically accommodate. It was the three owners' love of the blues that inspired the store's logo, withs its photographic representation of Blind Lemon Jefferson. The name 78 Records derives from the format on which his original recordings were released.^[1]

78 Records steadily expanded by providing customers with music they couldn't find anywhere. Titles such as Rolling Stones Sticky Fingers, Jethro Tull's Aqualung and Neil Young's Harvest may be readily available now, but during the early 1970's they weren't so easy to come by. During 1973 rumours started regarding the proposed demolition of the Padbury Buildings, which eventuated with the construction of Forrest Chase in the re-designed Forrest Place during the late 1980's.

In May 1974 78 Records moved into what was essentially a tin shed next door to His Majesty's Theatre, Western Australia at 843 Hay street, which has become affectionately known as "the old building". The increase in floor size enabled the 78 Recorsd to add a lounge area where customers could lounge in beanbags listen to the music prior to making their purchases, the first such facility in Perth. 78 Records expand its available music and started it's tradition an in-house band the West Australian Chainsaw Orchestra, theme days and the selection of the instrumental A Walk in the Black Forest at closing time.

During the 843 era 78's also earned a reputation which traveled much further afield than the metro area, and visiting international performers often frequented the shop whenever they were in town - in search of that elusive record they just couldn't find anywhere else. Of course, some of them just wanted to check out how many of their own albums were in stock. Joe Cocker, Van Morrison, Elvis Costello, Bette Midler, Lou Reed and Elton John were just some of the artists that came back on their next visit.

843 Hay street was proposed for demolition 1987, wanting to stay in the same area they had become associated with 78's crossed Hay Street to number 884. In 1989 the Basement opened with videos, books, posters, comics T-shirts, and tickets for forthcoming events. 78 Records expanded from solely music related items with the basement developing an identity unique of its own with the inclusion of film, interactive media and cult writing.

78's moved again in March 1996 to 914 Hay Street it's current location, the first floor of this larger building has its own stage which is in constant use by local, national and international artists.^[2]^[3]