FREEBIRD RECORDS, one of the oldest independent record retailers in the business, is celebrating its 21st birthday this year.
From day one, the shop has specialised in the non-chart side of things, selling a mix of indie and obscure as well as classic names and big sellers in both new and second-hand formats. And it s the latter, in particular, which has discerning music-lovers returning time and time again to the Eden Quay basement in search of that elusive gem.
On the face of it, working in a record shop should be a music fan s dream, but while it has its definite advantages, like any other business it has its downside too.
Brian Foley, who founded Freebird along with Des Keily, knows just how much of a struggle it can be to run an independent store.
When we opened the shop, 21 years ago, we almost immediately went under, he recalls. We had to move back to our parents, took very little in wages and put every penny we made back into the shop so we could build up the stock. It was U2 s first album, Boy, which represented the point where the shop began to get really popular. In its first few weeks we outsold any other shop. But, unfortunately, as soon as an act like that gets popular they take off in the bigger shops and slow down in ours.
Happily, Freebird has survived and thrived, establishing itself as a real alternative to the megastores. In particular, their mix of new and used product attracts a loyal clientele.
Says Brian: We have regular customers, some of whom drop in every day, to check out the second-hand racks, as well as the CD deletions and vinyl albums that are still unavailable on CD.
People who collect, adds Des, want to trade and exchange and love finding a bargain.
However, although Freebird attracts collectors, it would be misleading to tag it as a collector s shop, since they rarely charge high prices and, indeed, offer many interesting items at a very fair price.
Over the years, the shop has changed to keep pace with changes in music tastes.
Music has spread into dozens of genres, Brian points out, and the result is that shops of our size have to specialise more. We still do stock a wide range, particularly in the second-hand section, which makes us a sort of mini-megastore. But we ve also seen a lot of our stock shift in the past couple of years to drum n bass, techno and hip-hop in the new album and 12 category.
John Dee, Freebird s dance and indie label buyer, has been well-placed to witness the rebirth of vinyl.
In the last five years, after a large downturn in the early 90s, vinyl has made a huge comeback mainly due to dance music and re-issues of jazz and soul/funk albums. Where the dance scene is going to go in the next couple of years, I m not sure, but as long as independent labels continue to sign people who have adventurous ideas, then it s certainly not going to fade away.
A bit like Freebird itself, you might say. So where do the lads think the shop will be in another 21 years time?
Hopefully not stuck in a basement a five-storey megastore on Stephen s Green wouldn t be bad, says Brian. Des speculates that with technology changing so fast they may no longer be selling CDs in even five or six years time: CDs could become an endangered species a bit like myself! he quips.
Happy birthday Freebird here s to 21 more. n
Freebird can be found at 1-2 Eden Quay, Dublin 1. Phone (01) 8731250
BRIAN FOLEY S FAVOURITE ALBUMS
LUCINDA WILLIAMS: Car Wheels On A Gravel Road
STEVE EARLE: El Corazon & Train A-Comin
DAVID BOWIE: Hunky Dory
TELEVISION: Marquee Moon
ARETHA FRANKLIN: Spirit In The Dark
ELVIS COSTELLO: King Of America
THE CLASH: London Calling
NICK DRAKE: Five Leaves Left
THE BEATLES: White Album & Revolver

DES KIELY S FAVOURITE ALBUMS
VAN MORRISON: Veedon Fleece
THE BEATLES: Revolver
JERRY LEE LEWIS: Rocking My Life Away
ROLLING STONES: Beggar s Banquet
ELVIS COSTELLO: My Aim Is True
BOB DYLAN: Highway 61 Revisited
DEXTER GORDON: Go
THE UNDERTONES: The Undertones
FRANK SINATRA: Songs For Swinging Lovers
BB KING: Live In Cook County Jail

JOHN DEE s FAVOURITE ALBUMS
DE LA SOUL: 3 Feet High & Rising
LEE MORGAN: The Sidewinder
DJ SHADOW: Entroducing
A TRIBE CALLED QUEST: Midnight Marauders
APHEX TWIN: Selected Ambient Works
THE SMITHS: Meat Is Murder
CURTIS MAYFIELD: Curtis
GANG STARR: Hard To Earn
BILLIE HOLIDAY: Torching
KING TUBBY: Dub Gone Crazy
THE SPECIALS: The Specials
SPIRITUALIZED: Ladies & Gentlemen We Are Floating In Space
VARIOUS: For Dancer s Forever
VARIOUS: The Northern Soul Of LA Vol.1
MOBB DEEP: The Infamous
DUKE ELLINGTON: Money Jungle
STEREOLAB: Emperor Tomato Ketchup
TALK TALK: Spirit Of Eden
ULTRAMAGNETIC MCs: Critical Breakdown
CYPRESS HILL: Cypress Hill

FREEBIRD S FAMOUS CUSTOMERS
Sonic Youth
Jay Mascis
The Beautiful South
Morrissey
U2 and Paul McGuinness
Elvis Costello with T-Bone Burnett
Phil Lynott
Therapy?
Laurel Aitken
Portishead
Maria McKee
Paul Weller
Housemartins
Andy Smith

THE SHOPPERS FAVOURITES
U2: Boy
THE BLADES: Last Man In Europe
RADIOHEAD: OK Computer
THE PIXIES:Surfa Rosa
REM: Murmur
NICK CAVE & THE BAD SEEDS: The Good Son
JESUS AND MARY CHAIN: Psycho Candy
SONIC YOUTH: Daydream Nation
NIRVANA: Nevermind
TINDERSTICKS: Tindersticks
PORTISHEAD: Dummy
MY BLOODY VALENTINE: Loveless
ORBITAL: Snivilisation
PRIMAL SCREAM: Screamadelica
FUGAZI: Repeater
MASSIVE ATTACK: Bluelines
PUBLIC ENEMY: It Takes A Nation Of Millions
THE STONE ROSES: The Stone Roses
BEASTIE BOYS: Check Your Head