11/06/2026
Both MONO (Japan) and Darkthrone are reviewed in the new issue of Record Collector Magazine.
July 2026 issue of Record Collector (585) - in shops now and available here: shop.recordcollectormag.com/current-issue
50 years ago this month, give or take, something momentous was happening in London town: Geoff Travis, was busy founding Rough Trade: first a shop, then a record label, and ultimately an ideal for living. In this month’s cover story, Simon Goddard meets Mr Travis – and Mike Joyce of The Smiths, Gina Birch of The Raincoats, Pete Doherty of The Libertines/Babyshambles and Jason Williamson of Sleaford Mods – to discuss the rise, fall, then rise again of an indie empire, one that prospers to this day, half a century on.
There’s much more: Joan Jett talks about surviving teen fame, falling out with The Runaways and finding solo success with The Blackhearts. We pick the 20 best ever football songs. We meet the latest iteration of prog-jazz exemplars Soft Machine. We choose Melbourne’s finest 45s. Storied Nuggets compiler Lenny Kaye reveals all about a lifetime working with Patti Smith. And Ian Gillan focuses on the latest hard rock opus from Deep Purple.
News this month includes a report on this year’s National Albums Day. The Vinylist contains more vinyl data that you can shake a stylus at. The Collector this issue is Australian vinylist Rami Resul. In Value Added Facts answers readers’ enquiries about The Police and Roberta Flack. Diggin’ For Gold disinters ancient punks Trash and discusses the art of the single with them, then shines a light on label, Ancient Grease. Most Wanted finds James Brown’s cape and Dave Gilmour’s guitar up for auction.
In Not Forgotten we pay tribute to Jesse Hector of The Hammersmith Gorillas, Beverley Martyn, and Nedra Talley-Ross, the last surviving Ronette. RC columnist and one third of Saint Etienne, Bob Stanley, waxes critical about great artists’ occasional stinkers. We spend 33 1/3 minutes with Mari Wilson, enter The Engine Room with April Stevens and go Under The Radar with Amy Rigby. Meanwhile, Red Box phone home, Nerina Pallot picks her favourite records, and we decide on the 10 prime examples of early psychedelia.
Over in Reviews, there are reissues and box sets reassessed this month by The Waterboys, Pink Floyd and Pixies and new albums from Boards Of Canada, Deep Purple and Kurt Vile. Books scrutinises Simon Reynolds’ brand-new tome on shoegaze and grunge. JR Moores sifts through the latest singles. Our team of intrepid gig-goers reports back from the frontline in Lives. And in Competitions & Crossword there are chances to win Yes and Jack Bruce goodies.
We’re already hard at work on the next issue, 9 July. The cover story asks: who have been the most electrifying performers of the last 100 years? Inside, there’s an in-depth interview with Peter Frampton, whose Frampton Comes Alive! also celebrates its golden anniversary this year, we go record shopping with the Wirral’s psych-iest, The Coral, and spend 45 minutes with Haircut 100’s Nick Heyward. And there are features on cult label él Records and the top 45s ever to come out of Lincolnshire.
Meanwhile, do listen to RC’s new podcast, Needlepoint, the next episode will feature us chatting to the aforementioned Rough Trade majordomo and his RT partner, Jeannette Lee -- and look out for our specials editions on Blondie (out now) and XTC (coming soon).
Thank you for your continued support of RC.
