Show notes
Paths of Rhythm is a Remote-CTRL production. If you're looking for audio or video production, then check out https://remote-ctrl.co.uk to see how they can help.Other ways to support the showFollow the show on Spotify or Apple PodcastsAny feedback or questions? Hit up https://www.instagram.com/pathsofrhythmpodcast/Aidy West, owner of Vinyl Underground for over 30 years, shares his journey from breakdancing kid to underground record dealer. From attending Fresh '86 at age 14 to shipping directly from Detroit, surviving vinyl's dark days, and witnessing the Record Store Day boom - this is the story of passion over profit in the record game.Chapter MarkersPart 1: Musical Origins (00:02:03 - 00:17:45)00:02:03 - Introduction00:02:41 - Growing up with Madness and two-tone00:04:16 - First records: Buggles and WH Smith Saturdays00:05:09 - The Jam's "Going Underground" changes everything00:06:36 - Breakdancing and electro: "Oral sex spelled A-U-R-L"00:09:33 - Fresh '86: Afrika Bambaataa and the Wembley pilgrimage00:13:21 - The legendary Hammersmith Public Enemy gig at 1400:15:24 - Record shop culture and getting ignored in LondonPart 2: Hip Hop & Early House (00:17:45 - 00:30:26)00:17:45 - Northampton's healthy hip hop scene00:19:23 - Hip house and Doug Lazy's "Let It Roll" obsession00:21:12 - First DJ experience at college parties00:22:13 - A-level results and joining the family business00:24:54 - Buying Technics with summer warehouse job money00:26:17 - Meeting Alton and discovering Chicago/Detroit00:26:51 - Yorkshire Bleep: The origins of UK bass musicPart 3: Building Vinyl Underground (00:30:26 - 00:48:13)00:30:26 - ESP/Dreamscape and early rave scene00:33:12 - Moving to Brighton and the scene there00:38:09 - The Orbital "Chime" hunt across London00:40:44 - Adam Naked: "Talk about giving up food for funk"00:42:33 - The NEC record fair that started everything00:46:10 - "I'm gonna start a shop" - birth of 80s Vinyl Underground00:47:11 - First advert in Echoes magazine00:48:13 - The first customer: Stevie from BirminghamPart 4: Going Direct to America (00:48:13 - 00:59:12)00:48:58 - First Underground Resistance record and Submerge00:50:56 - Calling Detroit on expensive international rates00:53:04 - Why London couldn't get the records Aidy wanted00:56:28 - Passion first, business second00:57:14 - Eddie Richards buying records in Aidy's parents' bedroom00:59:01 - Specializing in what others ignoredPart 5: The American Dream (00:59:12 - 01:13:11)01:00:16 - The 1997 American buying trip01:01:50 - £5,000 cash in a bum bag01:04:05 - Walking into Guidance Records Chicago01:06:35 - Meeting Mike Banks at Underground Resistance01:07:48 - The Detroit tour that never happened01:09:11 - Getting tracked down in KalamazooPart 6: Growth & Technology (01:13:11 - 01:29:25)01:13:11 - Early website in 199801:15:22 - The rush to get new releases online first01:20:46 - Tech house boom and expanding the shop01:22:57 - The Moody Man effect: Bridging hip hop and house01:25:11 - Mathematics and "coming full circle" in 200901:28:34 - Dark days: Moving to London during the crash01:29:25 - The Saturday pilgrimage when he came backPart 7: Vinyl's Death & Resurrection (01:29:25 - 01:37:36)01:31:06 - Limited 300-copy pressings save the scene01:33:02 - When did vinyl come back?01:33:28 - Record Store Day: Love it or hate it01:34:55 - Too many record shops now?01:36:42 - 30 years to learn the DJ craft01:37:36 - Working with NRK and Dimitri from Paris01:39:20 - Driving American house legends01:40:59 - Angel Moralez and the Paradise Garage
