Craven Park/Craven Park Road

[Frontline Bwoy]

Hi Everyone,

This is a photo of me and my mate Pete, taken on Sat 4 September 2009:

http://www.zshare.net/image/65209625d9e3afcd/


We both grew up about two miles from here, me in Ladbroke Grove and Pete in Shepherd's Bush, during what we consider to be the Golden Age of reggae and dub: 1970-1985. Good times, good times.

For all you older reggae and dub fans out there, I'm sure you'll be aware of the significance of London NW10, and Craven Park/Craven Park Road in particular, in terms of promoting and distributing JA reggae in the UK as well as giving the emerging UK reggae acts a leg up.

There were loads of labels that had a Craven Park address; at one time it seemed that every house, flat or shop in that area had somthing to do with reggae music!

So, I'm starting this thread to pay tribute to Craven Park and Craven Park Road: do you have any memories to share? Did you work or live in the area at the time? What artists were around which addresses/labels?

Also, at the risk of sounding hopelessly nostalgic, anal or both, I'd like to try and compile a list of all the labels with a Craven Park address: I'll start us off:


Ballistic Records, 94 Craven Park Road, London NW10, England.

Ok, over to you lot!

[Reggaemusicstore]

Wasn't the Coliseum Suite on Craven Park Rd? I saw Shaka there around 83 or 84. And you're right there were loads of labels and shops not only on Craven Park Road but all over Harlesden including Hawkeye & Starlight...

[Tanty Dub Shop]

Where to start!

On Craven Park Road you had Arawak Records on top of All Ears Record shop which was just across the road from Pama Record Shop (Mr Palmer of Jet Star). Further down By Church Road Estate you had Freedom Sounds Records run by Mr Rubie. At the other end coming from Kensal Rise you had Venture Records which was a shop and also released all the killer tunes by Tradition. Then coming into Harlesden you had Orbitone Record shop and Then Hawkey Record shop on the hill.

Them were the days!

Kelvin
Tanty DUB SHOP
http://www.tantyrecordshop.com

[skunkride]

Nice piece of history...are there any reggae shops left in the area ?

[Tune In]

Greetings
Hawkeye Records are sill there plus a few others check dis link
http://www.allinlondon.co.uk/directory/1093/38581.php

[dudley one]

some great record shops back then, during the late 70's especially saturday i would check various shops seeing what's new on the Pre's