Garth Cartwright

The in-depth history of the rise, fall and rise of the independent record shop in the UK.

Travelling the length and breadth of the UK, Garth Cartwright conducted 100+ interviews with many record shop pioneers, noted musicians and record collectors. Utilising comprehensive research, Cartwright traces record retail history across a century of unprecedented social, cultural and political change. From market traders selling music hall 78s via HMV’s gloved classical emporium through Soho’s post-WW2 jazz, blues and folk scene to mods hungry for imported ska and soul 45s, Going For A Song documents how popular music and youth fashions took shape around influential record shops.