I'm gutted to hear that Spiller's Records is under threat to get shut down. It will be a shame if it happens. It will be a loss. Instead of being shut it should be listed. It's the oldest surviving record shop in the world! It's been continuosly open since 1894, yes, that's right it has been alive in three different centuries. Sign the petition. Now! If you don't want such gems to disappear. I quote the petition below.
Petition to Save the World's Oldest Record Shop - Spillers Records
We the undersigned recognise the importance of the world's oldest record shop - Spillers Records, founded in Cardiff in 1894 and believe that every effort should be made to preserve its presence at its current location at the Hayes in Cardiff. We call on the landowners, Helical Bar to acknowledge that Spillers Records is an asset to Cardiff's city centre and part of our musical heritage and to reflect this view by charging an affordable rent to safeguard its future.
Deiseb i Achub Siop Recordiau Hynaf y Byd - Spillers Records
Drwy lofnodi'r ddeiseb hon, rydym yn cydnabod pwysigrwydd siop recordiau hynaf y byd - Spillers Records, a sefydlwyd yn 1894. Rydym yn credu y dylid ymdrechu i gadw'r siop yn ei lleoliad presennol ar yr Aes yng Nghaerdydd. Rydym yn gal war berchnogion y safle, Helical Bar, i gydnabod bod Spillers Records yn ased i ganol dinas Caerdydd ac yn rhan o'n treftadaeth gerddorol ac i adlewyrchu hynny drwy godi rhent rhesymol er mwyn sicrhau dyfodol y siop.
Petition raised by Owen John Thomas AM - Plaid Cymru (South Wales Central)
slight hint of nostalgia, but no tears
Shopped there for 20 years or more. It was a good shop once, but i'm not so sure now and I consider myself a record trainspotter! The atmosphere changed over the years... I remember the days when underground music was underground and not mainstream (indie/alternative and electronic being mainstream these days). I don't find it thrilling in there now.
If you factor in things like the Internet then maybe it's just about run it's natural course. You're more likely to get an mp3 of a new track way in advance of what Spillers can match.
Admittedly, you'll get fans of vinyl and people still wanting to buy CDs for superior quality from places like Spillers, but how many people will happily get a copy of an album on mp3 from a friend. You only have to look at CD prices to see how the market is in freefall.
The game has changed. Time to move on.
true words
yes, I get my tunes mainly off the net, stil I do like browsing for cds, and maybe sometimes even, horror, horror, buy some. And I buy them not so much for the quality, since I rip most of the tunes to my hard disk, but I feel it's just right to buy the music of musicians I like.
And Spillers do cater for an alternative music taste. Fair enough, you can't find a lot of stuff you've heard about on the net, but still their catalogue is richer with music for my taste than Virgin, HMV and the rest of the 'every high street has one of them'.
You could be right, it's time to move on. But it will be a pity to cut short a shop like Spillers for the wrong reasons.