Bruce Findlay was interviewed in a Scottish publication in 1971, and this section of it above reveals his observations on how record companies deliberately try to rip-off customers.
This was the very first advert for Bruce's Perth shop, when they opened in December 1972.
Because it was nearing Christmas, there are a few commercial LP's in amongst the more adult rock albums.
I was 14 years old at the time and so my serious record collecting hadn't yet started, however, I did have the Slade "Slayed" LP, Rod Stewart's "Angel" single and the John & Yoko Christmas record.
Because it was nearing Christmas, there are a few commercial LP's in amongst the more adult rock albums.
I was 14 years old at the time and so my serious record collecting hadn't yet started, however, I did have the Slade "Slayed" LP, Rod Stewart's "Angel" single and the John & Yoko Christmas record.
21 July 1978...
Bruce's had a joint single of the week - Rezillos "Top Of The Pops" & Zones "Sign Of The Times".
Rezillos scored again that same week with "Can't Stand The Rezillos" getting album of the week.
I saw the Rezillos 3 times during the 78-80 period, but I never did have any of their records in my collection.
The were really good live too, but for some reason they never made it onto my record list.
Bruce's had a joint single of the week - Rezillos "Top Of The Pops" & Zones "Sign Of The Times".
Rezillos scored again that same week with "Can't Stand The Rezillos" getting album of the week.
I saw the Rezillos 3 times during the 78-80 period, but I never did have any of their records in my collection.
The were really good live too, but for some reason they never made it onto my record list.
Bruce's own Top Twenty singles chart for the week: 20 Aug 1977.
Quite a few classic punk/pop tracks in amongst them, with Dundee band, The Drive, way up in No2 position.
One of my favourites was in the "Bubbling Under" section - an act called Snatch.
A few months after this chart, 3 of the bands on the list - Eddie & The Hot Rods, Radio Stars & Squeeze - played together at the Caird Hall, a gig I was at.
Quite a few classic punk/pop tracks in amongst them, with Dundee band, The Drive, way up in No2 position.
One of my favourites was in the "Bubbling Under" section - an act called Snatch.
A few months after this chart, 3 of the bands on the list - Eddie & The Hot Rods, Radio Stars & Squeeze - played together at the Caird Hall, a gig I was at.
Even as far back as 1971, the date of this ad, Bruce's were referring to their own well known shop bag!
Pre-Dundee of course.
Pre-Dundee of course.
20 August 1977...
Bruce's single of the week - The Vibrators "London Girls".
Bruce's album of the week - Mink Deville "Cabretta".
Bruce's single of the week - The Vibrators "London Girls".
Bruce's album of the week - Mink Deville "Cabretta".
Another couple of pre-Dundee ads...
The one on the left is the oldest item I have referring to Bruce's and is a notice published in July 1969 announcing the opening of their shop in Edinburgh's Rose Street - the one that kicked it all off!
The other is dated October 1970 and is for the opening of their first Glasgow shop.
The one on the left is the oldest item I have referring to Bruce's and is a notice published in July 1969 announcing the opening of their shop in Edinburgh's Rose Street - the one that kicked it all off!
The other is dated October 1970 and is for the opening of their first Glasgow shop.
A general Bruce's ad dated 14 July 1977, displaying a few of their hot sellers for that week.
Flicking through some of the band names in there - Chelsea, Count Bishops, Radiators From Space and Rezillos all played in Dundee that same year.
Flicking through some of the band names in there - Chelsea, Count Bishops, Radiators From Space and Rezillos all played in Dundee that same year.
Bruce's trivia...
Bruce's was one of only 2 record shops in town whose staff used to check the condition of the vinyl before passing it onto the customer.
Handling LP's was a delicate matter. Holding it by the outer edge rim was the technique, you didn't dare touch the main area of the tracks itself.
Both sides of LP's would be examined, inspecting the surface of the vinyl for scratches, warping and other such anomalies.
It was common procedure to do this before the purchase transaction took place.
Jazz shop, Forbes, was the other Dundee record store who indulged.
Bruce's was one of only 2 record shops in town whose staff used to check the condition of the vinyl before passing it onto the customer.
Handling LP's was a delicate matter. Holding it by the outer edge rim was the technique, you didn't dare touch the main area of the tracks itself.
Both sides of LP's would be examined, inspecting the surface of the vinyl for scratches, warping and other such anomalies.
It was common procedure to do this before the purchase transaction took place.
Jazz shop, Forbes, was the other Dundee record store who indulged.
This was the final issue of Cripes - dated October 1979.
Gang Of Four were on the cover, and although I had their album, I didn't catch them live so missed out on their Tiffany's gig mentioned on the front.
The last ever singles and albums charts were flooded by new wave acts, with a few old punk bands still hanging around.
Looking at the singles - Dundee's, Headboys, were at #12 with "Shape Of Things".
I had some of the records listed but one of my favourites back then was Human League with "Empire State Human". An electronic dancefloor delight!
I actually saw them perform this live too the following year in Edinburgh.
The single itself was still being played a lot in 1980, most specifically in Edinburgh's Nite Club when it opened that year. They played it every weekend throughout '80 it seemed like!
Gang Of Four were on the cover, and although I had their album, I didn't catch them live so missed out on their Tiffany's gig mentioned on the front.
The last ever singles and albums charts were flooded by new wave acts, with a few old punk bands still hanging around.
Looking at the singles - Dundee's, Headboys, were at #12 with "Shape Of Things".
I had some of the records listed but one of my favourites back then was Human League with "Empire State Human". An electronic dancefloor delight!
I actually saw them perform this live too the following year in Edinburgh.
The single itself was still being played a lot in 1980, most specifically in Edinburgh's Nite Club when it opened that year. They played it every weekend throughout '80 it seemed like!
Bruce's business wasn't always derived from over-the-counter sales in his shops.
When he started Zoom Records, he had parties featuring live bands from the Zoom label and an invited audience made up of various music biz types.
This is a photo taken in August 1978 at one such get-together, with a couple of guys from Arista Records on the left, a female from a music publishing company, and Bruce himself on the right saying "Cheers" to it all!
When he started Zoom Records, he had parties featuring live bands from the Zoom label and an invited audience made up of various music biz types.
This is a photo taken in August 1978 at one such get-together, with a couple of guys from Arista Records on the left, a female from a music publishing company, and Bruce himself on the right saying "Cheers" to it all!
Bruce's had a SALE on for the entire month of July in 1979.
It was advertised on TV as well as radio, and of course this ad here appeared in an issue of Cripes.
No bands mentioned this time, just a rundown of the prices for the various record formats on offer.
Also badges and mirrors. The mirrors had album cover designs on them, I recall.
It was advertised on TV as well as radio, and of course this ad here appeared in an issue of Cripes.
No bands mentioned this time, just a rundown of the prices for the various record formats on offer.
Also badges and mirrors. The mirrors had album cover designs on them, I recall.
This is a typical example of Bruce's Mail Order service published in Cripes each week - the above being from August 1977.
Mostly new wave records on offer, with a touch of reggae and rock as well.
They also had fanzines available for purchase.
I never needed to use their Mail Order service of course, my weekly visits to their shop was enough for my supplies.
Mostly new wave records on offer, with a touch of reggae and rock as well.
They also had fanzines available for purchase.
I never needed to use their Mail Order service of course, my weekly visits to their shop was enough for my supplies.
Siouxsie & The Banshees and The Skids didn't add Dundee to these tours but at least Bruce's sold tickets for their shows.
Both of these took place in 1979.
Both of these took place in 1979.
2 Bruce's ads from June 1977, and what drops in the Edinburgh shop is available in the Dundee branch.
Mostly punk style product, with a few rock bands in the mix.
Both ads mention the imminent release of the Sex Pistols album, of which free posters were included.
Mostly punk style product, with a few rock bands in the mix.
Both ads mention the imminent release of the Sex Pistols album, of which free posters were included.
An advert dated December 1978 displaying commercial chart albums, just in time for Christmas!
An advert for the Perth shop - December 1972.
Being a 14 year old school kid at the time, I didn't have too much of a record collection but 2 LP's I did have mentioned here were Slade's "Slayed" and Hawkwind's "Doremi-Fasol-Latido".
Being a 14 year old school kid at the time, I didn't have too much of a record collection but 2 LP's I did have mentioned here were Slade's "Slayed" and Hawkwind's "Doremi-Fasol-Latido".
Bruce's "Single Of The Week" for 27 Jan 1978 was by Dr Alimantado and his reggae classic "Born For A Purpose".
Not got the 7" but I've still got the Dr Alimantado LP that has this track on it, which also came out on Greensleeves.
Ad was published in Cripes.
Not got the 7" but I've still got the Dr Alimantado LP that has this track on it, which also came out on Greensleeves.
Ad was published in Cripes.
This ad is dated July 1977 and so most of the records are punk/new wave based although it mentions their Album Of The Week was by Steve Winwood.
One of the records I had on here was Jonathan Richman's "Roadrunner" - and then a little later The Scrotum Poles recorded a version of it.
One of the records I had on here was Jonathan Richman's "Roadrunner" - and then a little later The Scrotum Poles recorded a version of it.
Bruce's trivia...
How apt it was for Bruce's Reform Street address to be at number 33.
33 rpm - the speed an album plays at.
How apt it was for Bruce's Reform Street address to be at number 33.
33 rpm - the speed an album plays at.
An advert for the release of "Life In A Day" by Simple Minds, the album & single.
This was in April 1979, on Bruce's own Zoom label of course.
I remember I got this album from Bruce's in Rose Street, Edinburgh, where the photo above was taken, also in 1979.
This petite shop was actually Bruce's main home-base.
This was in April 1979, on Bruce's own Zoom label of course.
I remember I got this album from Bruce's in Rose Street, Edinburgh, where the photo above was taken, also in 1979.
This petite shop was actually Bruce's main home-base.
This was the time when The Rezillos popped into Bruce's in Reform Street for a meet & greet session with their fans.
August 1978.
August 1978.
An LP I remember buying - "Reggatta de Blanc" by The Police.
It had at least 3 of their singles on it.
Advert published in October 1979.
It had at least 3 of their singles on it.
Advert published in October 1979.
In the late 70's, weekly music paper, Record Mirror, had a regular double page spread of singles & album charts. Along with the typical Top 50 best sellers, they also had specialist charts dealing with disco, new wave and so on.
One of those alternative charts was titled the "Other Chart" whereby record shops would send in their chart list.
Bruce's used to make an appearance once in a while, and above are 3 such examples.
The chart on the left was in August 1978 - a couple of Scottish acts in that one.
Middle chart is dated April 1979 - no real surprise to see their own product at No1
Chart on the right is from September 1979 - the debut single by The Associates has made it to the list, despite only 500 records pressed.
One of those alternative charts was titled the "Other Chart" whereby record shops would send in their chart list.
Bruce's used to make an appearance once in a while, and above are 3 such examples.
The chart on the left was in August 1978 - a couple of Scottish acts in that one.
Middle chart is dated April 1979 - no real surprise to see their own product at No1
Chart on the right is from September 1979 - the debut single by The Associates has made it to the list, despite only 500 records pressed.
These 2 adverts are dated May 1976, and refer to a book called The Penguin Stereo Record Guide.
The orange ad then recommends records released on the Decca label and the Bruce's ad reminds customers to watch out for the penguin sticker on the album covers.
Quite a quirky marketing idea.!
The orange ad then recommends records released on the Decca label and the Bruce's ad reminds customers to watch out for the penguin sticker on the album covers.
Quite a quirky marketing idea.!
I put the original photograph of this one up on the Shop Launch intro page, but this is how it appeared with its caption when published in the Scottish press the day after the event.
A reminder that this took place on 14 December 1974.
A reminder that this took place on 14 December 1974.
A month after Rod Stewart opened Bruce's, Billy Connolly made a personal appearance at the shop.
This was on 18 January 1975.
He was accompanied by footballer, Dundee born Rangers player, Derek Johnstone.
Billy had played the night before at the Caird Hall, so was kept busy signing autographs inside Bruce's.
The photo is of him outside the shop in Reform Street.
This was on 18 January 1975.
He was accompanied by footballer, Dundee born Rangers player, Derek Johnstone.
Billy had played the night before at the Caird Hall, so was kept busy signing autographs inside Bruce's.
The photo is of him outside the shop in Reform Street.
This was a very large advert, almost a full sized page worth.
So it does manage to cram a lot of info on as a result and was published in November 1977.
Album of the year - album of the month - top selling albums - golden oldies - new releases - Cripes ad - Zoom Records ad - new wave singles - top selling singles - heavy metal records - staff choice and lots more nooks and crannies filled with interesting stuff.
So it does manage to cram a lot of info on as a result and was published in November 1977.
Album of the year - album of the month - top selling albums - golden oldies - new releases - Cripes ad - Zoom Records ad - new wave singles - top selling singles - heavy metal records - staff choice and lots more nooks and crannies filled with interesting stuff.