The Sound Cellar, Nassau Street

Del.Monte

Is there anywhere more Retro in Dublin?

I found myself in Dublin yesterday in search of the elusive "Red Peters: Rare Recordings 1968-1989" CD - retro enough in itself - and arrived at Claddagh Records (Westmoreland Street) shop to find that it had moved. A notice in the window mentioned a 'moving' sale and my heart sank as I had visions of the CD which I had been promised that they had in stock in April (!) would have been disposed of. Anyway, the notice directed me to their new premises in Temple Bar - Cecilia Street - but on arrival at 11am there was no sign of life.

Despair was about to set-in when a light bulb came on - the "Sound Cellar" on Nassau Street. I made my over to Nassau Street and found the hidden entry - suitably 'sandwiched' between a branch of Subway and Peterson's. The narrow corridor still led down into the small cellar with no natural light in the bowels of Nassau Street. Nothing much appeared to have changed since my last visit which must have been about 1976! However, my heart sank as I could see a major spring clean was underway and all the stock was piled up behind the counter and against one wall. I enquired about "Red Peters" and instead of a blank stare or laughter I was assured that there was a copy and if I could wait five minutes it could be exhumed from the pile. Boxes were sent flying in all directions and in less than five minutes the CD was in my hand - €20 didn't seem fair given all the work involved!



Back in the day (mid-1970s), when I was a teenager, the "Sound Cellar" was the in-place while the great unwashed shopped in the likes of Golden Discs. Back then it was the only place to buy obscure heavy rock albums, but then along came CDs closely followed by the Virgin Mega Store on Aston Quay and the rest is history. I'm glad to see that the Sound Cellar is still thriving long after Virgin and the rest of them disappeared into the sunset. 10/10

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jayobray

Doesn't sound like a spring clean, sounds like it has been like that for years! Great place, long may Tommy keep it there.

SteM

Nice story but I can't see how places like this will survive in the future unfortunately. When I was a young lad I used to get the bus in from Greystones on a Saturday once a month and go on a tour of record shops in Dublin - Soundcellar, Freebird etc - I could spend the whole day doing that. No one needs to do that anymore, whatever stores are left are feeding on scraps I'm afraid

RoryMurphyJnr

Bought all my albums (metal) in Sound Cellar, loved going through the albums.
Loads of picture discs available, remember those.
And being able to stick a tenner deposit on a ticket for a gig genius.

drake70

I buy nearly all my tickets for metal gigs there. Only a €1.00 mark-up on the price compared to TM's €6.00+.

Usually buy a few CD's while there as well.

jayobray

I avoid TM for tickets, get them all off Tommy where possible. And I still buy the CDs, love having the collection. I guess that's the market that the likes of the Sound Cellar is after. Yes, it's a dwindling market, but there are still a few of us around to cater for!

breadman

Bought a Mellow Candle lp there it became a collectors item

Arthur Daley

Yes always handy to save a few quid on tickets and avoid greedy tm booking fees. Surely with the vinyl resurgence they have seen a fair pick up in trade compared to 3/4 years ago.

Also like to watch the board on the street which let's you know the gigs coming up. All in one handy spot.