Roots Archives Forum

as did penny reel I believe

yeah was living in brighton at the time mainly bought 12 inch versions love dub

I remember Daddy Kool very well. My first contact was by mail. I think I was 18 yo maybe 19. I was not very rich and saved some bucks to make an order.I ordered 3 pre singles.I never recieved anything. 3 years later, after reading the reggae shops map in the french magazine "Best" I decided to go to London (Dean street) to be in the real place.It was another rainy day in London when I was searching for that shop. Actually, I was looking for a large shop window.Then I realized it was this very tiny window covered by old stickers. No display appeal. When I stepped inside, I discovered a dusty cave and saw old Studio 1 ska LPs. I first was amazed but quickly felt the strong vibe exhaling from the ancient speakers : a hippy boy, with a crazy knotty hair, was listening a fresh Freddy Mac Gregor plate. I took a tour in the small room, and saw all those thick heavy LPS (as they used to do in JA).
Tiles of singles were standing on a balance point,on the narrow desk. I submitted my want list to Mr Keith. He told me he had none of them and gave me an old spiral notebook, with scribbled pages, supposed to be the stock directory. After a while, as he felt I would persevere, he found some of my requested records.I also came back with this rare LP Israel Vibration "Same song DUB". It was a wonderful time!
I'll never forget this magical moments. When I got out of the shop I definitely had food for thought. Big up to veteran Mr Keith !

i went into the daddy kool shop on berwick street around 96/97 looking for jogging by freddie mcgregor. they made me feel very unwelcome and refused to let me listen to the record before i bought it, i only wanted to confirm it was the right version.
i'm glad they shut down

Dealing with Daddy Kool wasn't a pleasant expirience. Only twice have I encountered what I call expected service from them.
Steve Barrow and Penny Reel were actually in the shop that day and Penny served me - no waiting for 20 minutes for some wrenk faced sound man to finish pleasing himself playing tunes!
On a UK visit from my uncle my brothers and I descended on Daddy Kool because my uncle wanted to take some tunes back for his sound system. That my uncle was the build of a mandingo warrior and spoke with a american accent convinced those in the shop that it was worthwhile kissing our asses, we might spend some cash. Well it worked and we did.
Even dealing with Keith on e bay isn't pleasant - why offer the make me an offer option on a tune and then hold out for the asking price? I bought the tune cheaper from someone else in the end.

My experience in there was mixed. Sometimes I found them to be ok, other times anyone would think you'd just walked in with a turd on your head!

With me all of a sudden that changed. One saturday morning in about 1981, after a heavy friday night, there was a knock at my front door, I reluctantly got out of bed, and answered the door. The postman was stood there with large parcel shaped like a 12" album or single. I was confused because I hadn't ordered anything. I took the parcel opened, and inside was a whole heap of 12" and 7" singles from Daddy Kool. They had been sent to me by mistake.

Later that day I rang them and said explained what had happened, and that I would be up in london next week and that I would bring them back. I went back up, and the black guy who wore glasses was in there ( dont recall his name) told me that as I'd been so honest, I could choose a few 12" and 7" free of charge. After that they remembered me and were always extremely pleasant.

I suppose I can confess now that I did record all the stuff I'd recieved in error.

how right u r= i know 4 a fact he was the money man of the shop had no idea about reggae there was another guy who started with him who was the reggae man i just cant remember his name i think it opened around 1975/76 Been a reggae fan since 11yrs old now 53 i still remember waiting in the rain outside/inside there was 2 much smoke about 40 guys in a shop where there was only space 4 mayb 6 persons so i waited upstairs in comtempo record shop soul/jazzfunk/disco then. we where all waiting for the realese of Rasta man Vibration

you must b from my time yes you r right it must have been steve barrow bcus he knew his reggae as for the keith /owner he knew NOTHING about reggae

I´m glad I bought some Pablo 12"es released on Daddy Kool.