Jumbo Records

With the ever decreasing circle of music shops, it came as pleasant surprise to realise there were several independent outlets in the city centre, Jumbo Records being one of them. For years I’d been a slave to the buy it in a chain buy it cheaper, but it became a bit tedious when I’d manage to eat up all the generic chart tripe my cd holders would allow, and I started to search beyond these horizons. That’s not to say chart music is anything to be sniffed at, sometimes you just want something a bit different. I’d been a big fan of a particular band for a while, and after downloading their stuff, I was semi satiated in the music void department, that was until I had a mini scare with my mp3 player and my external HDD. I’ve always preferred to have the hard copy when it comes to music, some mp3 players just don’t cut the mustard, and there’s no warning when those bad boys decide to go to the technology heaven in the sky. Ordering in from the States is a no go cos it’s unreliable for the most part and it’s expensive when sorting out charges and whatnot. I’ve traipsed up and down the larger music shops asking in vain if anyone’s even heard of my band of choice, let alone do they stock it, and for the most part all I’ve come across is blank faces and shoulder shrugs. Expecting not much I was in Jumbo Records one day and after sifting gently through the old school style trays of music, I come across my band of choice. Hallelujah. Awesomeness! Seriously, shock and pleasure know no bounds.
That was my first yay you moment in here, the second was looking to the right of the till and spotting a stand dedicated to local music, local generated, local artists. Local. Kudos Jumbo. The third was noticing that Jumbo Records sells tickets to gigs. Hmm, you earned yourself another nod there. It looks a little shabby from the outside, but it’s got a homely vibe about it, and despite the claims it’s the largest independent music store in Leeds, it’s not large and cluttered inside, more not small, and nicely filled.
There’s still a heavy emphasis on vinyl in Jumbo, which I guess is a nice touch to all the die hards out there. But vinyl doesn’t really do it for me. It was of worthy note when looking for a gift for a die hard vinyl, and the staff came through on versions and most appropriate gift purchase. Let downs? It’s higher priced than chains and internet outlets. But it’s local right? So we have to support the extra expense? Don’t we?

I really like going to these guys for gig tickets and plastic wallets for my vinyl, but for actual vinyl they’re a bit pricey. Don’t get the hype with this place, other than the service is good. Some of the prices for especially the hip-​hop and jazz stuff suck. Relics Records is much much better.
Amazon and E-​bay and second hand dealers are cheaper for vinyl to be honest. I’m not really buying much new stuff to be honest anyway. Maybe it’s a sign of the times. Labels and record shops don’t make much doe as they used to so they jack up the prices. If Jumbo make money from ripping off hipsters and clueless fanboys then good luck to em.
Leeds used to be so good for vinyl before the Corn Exchange died :(I used to travel from Doncaster to go digging in Leeds, now it isn’t even worth stopping in for record shopping. RIP Leeds.