The Diskery Record shop, opened by Morris Hunting in Hurst Street, now resides in Bromsgrove St, B5 6QB – 0121 622 2219. It is one of the very few remaining independent record shops in Birmingham, with a predominant vinyl stock catering for all tastes (although originally jazz and swing). The shop was established in 1952, now the second oldest surviving record shop after Spillers in Cardiff.
Website: http://thediskery.com
Five years prior to opening the shop, a frustrated Morris Hunting wrote to the then jazz magazine, PICKUP [June 1947], venting his frustration. A wonderful insight into his shop’s eventual opening.
Information suggests the shop first opened in Union St in 1952 but actual company records do not show anything during 1952 (this could simply be a case of the shop opening slightly after the records were submitted). 1953 records are still being researched.
Research shows the shop was then situated at 82A Hurst Street B5 between 1967-1974 (again, under further investigation).
In this audio visual slideshow, Sam Coley visits the shop and talks to Jim and Liam about the shop and its history.
If you love music and are in Birmingham, make sure you go and visit the store.
Yu Ning Zhang, opera singer, shows her musical talent in The Diskery. She also talks about the friendliness of clients and Jimmy:
http://canalbis.globo.com/programas/minha-loja-de-discos/videos/2819336.html
Hi Jim
I hope your well ? I have a friend who is looking for an Album or Cd he can’t locate I’ve looked all over various sites for him and can’t find it anywhere. Then I thought if I wanted anything not listed I would visit your shop and I don’t know where you get things from but you usually succeed. So here is the challenge the Album was released in 1973 Wizzard “See my Baby Jive” not the single. Hope you can help. See you soon.
Regards
Ron
i will be in Birmingham on IRS Day and would like ti visit Diskery
What time do you open and is only Vinyl in stock
hi jim, liam. hope you are still rocking. the only problem with the diskery is when your in,you dont want to come out. did me some great tapes. think music, think the diskery. happy next 40 years. harvey (market)
Jim Liam remember you both well, mainly Hurst street, Jim Liam in them days I was running a Disco called Touch of class, in fact think it was you that asked us to go resident in a town night club, but declined. The thing is both I still have my records and want to sell. LPs with my records, approx 2000 in boxes. I would like to think I would get £200 the lot, some are out of the sleeves but still have them separately. would you be interested ? have no use at 74 now only memories. regards Bill Pearson.
Dear Bill,
Do you still have this collection for sale the Diskery has never had access to a computer until now Liam asks is your collection still for sale…………cheers Paul
i have hold of about 90 12” records ranging from jazz soul classical orchestra. They belonged to my grandad who was a musician and piano teacher who passed away a few years ago and we are now sorting out some old belongings. I believe some of these could be quite rare and maybe of value to someone with interest in this topic. I saw a few sites about dealing with old records and thought I would ask around what is reccommend before making a decision what to do with If anybody has any ideas get back to me that would be great.
bought my 1st overseas lp off you in 1967. still got it. . mothers of invention… hungry freaks daddy… cost me £4.19.6d to get it shipped in from the states. still got record !!
So glad you are still enjoying the lp Alan
I used to come into the shop in Hurst Street during the sixties,and we used to do swap deals with each other,as I used to import records from the US myself,but of course on a much smaller scale than yourselves.Very rarely did any money change hands.I presume to shop is still dealing but where exactly are you situated now.
As I would like to get some money for my old records now,mainly from the US,but also many british labels,mainly Rockabilly,rock n roll,some country,a lot of rarities such as SUN,PHILLIPS INTERNATIONAL,all original pressings.Please get back to me with information about contact etc.
Rockingly Yours, Rockintom Mcdermott
Hi there Rockintom,
Sorry for the big delay in getting back to you the Diskery has never had a computer until now and was unaware of any enquiries at all until now Liam asks is your collection still available please phone 0121 622 2219
Hi Guys! I’m from Brazil, Rio de Janeiro and I’ve saw a program TV about The Diskery. I love it. I have more than 600 vinil (rock, jazz, samba, bossa nova and other brazilians songs). If you want some, tell me. I intend go to your town just to know you. See you!!!
Bought Al Capone by Prince Buster in 1969 and some b*st*ard stole it but the Diskery got me another copy …magic!
Sorry about the so and so who stole your album glad we could help find you another copy Liam pop in anytime for a cup of tea
I have loads of old records. How do you operate? Do people just bring you loads of stuff in, or do you have specific requirements.
Hi Jim and Liam, Saturday 22nd March 2014 I’ve just called in to drop off some records and even though we haven’t seen each other for many years it was just like always. Your warmth and friendliness purvades the whole shop. Great to see you both and I will be down again soon with some more records for your collection. Warm regards Chatters the Council/Greek/Drummer
hi jim liam 28/3/14 looking for Jackie moore cd precious precious any luck its been over 25 years since I saw you both if you have it see you soon
Will you be selling green day demolicious on Saturday?
Can somebody help me? Im looking for an email adress to Diskery…
Give them a call and ask if they have one 0121 622 2219
Hi Lian,
The Diskery has never had access to the web or a computer but that will soon change in the meantime please phone 0121 622 2219 and ask for Liam
Dropped in today…..1st time for about 12 years…..last time i was on my bike pedaling home from work. Growing up i spent more time in the Diskery than i did at home, then in the early 70s i started working at Rebeccas & Barbs as a Dj so the Diskery could take up most of Saturdays. Happy memories.
Started using the Diskery when I was 12 so that’s 56 years of amazing record buying from an amazing shop with great , knowledgeable and friendly dudes . Hope guys keep rocking on for many years to come . Thanks for the vinyl , as a pro drummer it still brings me lots of pleasure.
Went in recently & met Liam….Jim had got the day off. When i started DJaying in the clubs & the shop was in Hurst St i gave Jim a list of every oldie i was after. Three weeks later he’d got most of them for me. Problem was i hadn’t got the money for all of them. I was earning about a tenner a week & the bill was about £50. £3 a week for the next 4 months. People still can’t get their heads around the fact that when i was at Rebeccas & a few other clubs the money was something like £3 a night. Good fun tho’.
Sad to hear Jim has now left what was the best record shop anywhere he and Liam where the diskory nothing was ever to much trouble in helping to find that ilusive tune .
Thanks for great memories and great times when evere we paid a visit to you both.
Hope the business continues well in its new and current form.
Good morning Matt,
So glad that you continue to visit The Diskery…………………Jim retired June 2015 he had a great send off with many people that knew Jim coming to say hi. The ‘understudy’ Liam continues to be a focal point at the shop along with Lee the latest custodian of The Diskery. The atmosphere is still the same as ever, mugs of tea/coffee, biscuits, donuts……………….lots of banter and recommendations are all part of the day still. Please do say hello when you are next in cheers Paul
I no longer live in the Birmingham area so can only visit infrequently. Loved my last visit rooting through boxes of 7″ singles looking for early disco tunes. And guess what, I found a few including Mike and Bill – Somebodys gotta go. Hope to visit again soon
The Diskery is a legendary shop and I bought lots of fine LPs and 45s when I dropped in there while researching my book on the history of the UK record shop. Lee and Danny were very amenable and I look forward to returning. Oh my book is now published and it features The Diskery in many chapters – Going For A Song: A Chronicle Of The UK Record Shop.
My vinyl collection is a debt to the Diskery from the late 1970’s on. I would go in be treated like a long lost friend taken thru a realm of new artistes. I’d leave with a dozen or more albums. I still fantasize about a return visit though the West of Ireland is a long way away
Brought my first Blue Beat track from the Diskery in 1963. Oh Carolina by Prince Buster. This with a lot of my vinyl collection went missing in action around 1972. I lent the whole collection to a DJ. He was a good friend of mine. I took a contract out on him but he moved to Sheffield. 🕴🏽
great to see this page, and that co still going; used to get get great stuff from Hurst St before I moved to The Smoke.
I have a lot of LPs and some singles from my dads when I had to empty the house after he passed away. Some are box sets. Would the diskery buy these old records
Morris Hunting was my Dad’s best friend in the 1940s and onwards. They met doing National Service at RAF Cranwell and had the same birth date. Morris said it was his dream to open a record shop. He was allowed to leave before the 2 years was up as his Dad died so he had to run the business. I went to the shop in 1974 and asked him for any record he thought my Dad would like.