Wow... I have a question about your time in the shop/s, I’m sure most on here will remember this kind of experience.
when I really got into collecting House records about 87/88 we used to go to a shop called Don Christie’s in Birmingham, Don was white but he was the main man for Reggae in the city and his shop the the place to go on a Sat morning, we went because he was astute and would always have a great box of the latest imports from Chicago Detroit, New York.
We were the only white kids in that shop, and you had watch yourself a bit, you took your place on the long counter and he would play things while you went through the box he got from under the counter. You gestured if you wanted it, and they would throw the track to your way. It was an experience in its self, but Don took no shit of anybody and if we got comments because of our colour or choice of music, the person involved was out on the street!!
One thing I miss in this ‘digital’ age is that interaction with other buyers like that, I met all kind of folk in there and other shops like it, you must have stories from LA and Chicago, I’d love to hear some of these if you are happy to share a few...
Malcolm