Diamonds Are Forever, a Record Store Story.
London, New York, LA, Paris, Milan, Hastings.
Most of those are a center of culture. One of them is slightly different, yet still, the setting for a classic record store story that we all hope for.
Undoubtedly one of the jewels in the collection is the 1972 Japanese, Gatefold pressing of Diamonds are Forever. It’s near mint, with a sleeve like no other.
But first, here is the story of how I came to find it.
As you may (or may not know) there are certain rules about finding records for this collection of James Bond Vinyl, the first being that records should be purchased from record stores (Sorry Discogs, I love you, but there’s nothing like finding a diamond (sorry) in a dusty box of a record store).
This particular record store happens to be in Hastings, a small seaside town in the south of England. There was no special reason for going on that day, and my usual planning of where record stores were had led me a little awry. After looking for a shop that had long closed down, disheartened I made my way back to the car, and then I noticed it, written on an A board ‘We buy records’. Ok, one last look.
It was inside an old office block, and after finding the way through a maze of hallways I finally found myself surrounded by record racks. I headed straight to the soundtracks, which were all, generally overpriced. I would love the Wargames soundtrack, I would, but not at £25. One copy of Dr No., a much fairer £6. Brilliant, can’t complain.
I ask the clerk about the full, unopened boxes on the floor, and if he had any other Bond records. “You know what mate, I think I saw some in this one”. Out come the usual compilations, and then two LPs - a STILL SEALED copy of The Spy Who Loved Me and a decent looking copy of Diamonds Are Forever.
Without looking any closer I ask, How much?
Ummmm well, £8 for The Spy Who Loved me, and £10 for Diamonds Are Forever.
I hand over £24 and walk away with a spring in my step. You know the one!
Now, as you know - but I did not at this point, this was no ordinary pressing. This was gold. It wasn’t until I got home a good 5/6 hours later that I took it out of the bag. I can tell you, dear reader, that if that clerk had seen the face I made when I opened it, that price would have been much higher.
I’ve never seen a gatefold like this, sure I’ve seen fully poster type inserts (See one of the copies of OHMSS) - but not a fold out poster on top of a layout. Not to mention the colours in this is stunning, thick card stock. A decent quality pressing all round.
This truly was the rarest of all the record shopping experiences. The best, the one we all hope to have at some point.
And that still sealed pressing was also a mighty find too.
To the shop, and the clerk:
Thank you for opening your cute little shop, and may your business thrive, that day the vinyl gods were in my favour. No hard feelings, I still want the Wargames OST.
This, is the discogs listing, with a bit more info for this pressing is here: https://www.discogs.com/John-Barry-Diamonds-Are-Forever-Original-Motion-Picture-Soundtrack-/release/9489189
This story happened on 28th May, 2016.
