Joey Bell

Name, where are you from?
Joey Bell from Forever Records.

What do you do?
I own a small record shop based in Nottingham that specialises in vinyl. We sell a curated selection of the best new releases and reissues plus quality second hand. We stock most genres but I tend to swing to the more alternative side of music.

Describe your style in three words:
Punk, Smart, Confused.

What was the first song you played on repeat?
Harry Nilsson – ‘Think About Your Troubles’.
I was addicted to ‘The Point’ album when I was really little and I used to play the album on repeat everyday when I came back from nursery, my Mum said I used to have conversations with the album whilst it was playing. For an album that’s aimed at children, it’s a very depressing listen that deals with some heavy themes. This track is heartbreaking.

How long have you been working here?
Forever has been open for just over 9 months but I have been working in record shops most of my life.

What’s the best thing about your job?
Discovering new music never stops being exciting for me. I love talking to my customers about new records; it feels great to have a shared passion with so many different people.

What releases are you most excited about for RSD?
There are some great records this year, I’m really excited about the David Bowie – ‘The Cracked Actor’ as I love that period of Bowie’s career during that tour he morphed from 'Diamond Dogs' to the soul sound of 'Young Americans'. The ‘BOWPROMO’ is very exciting because for me, ‘Hunky Dory’ is one of Bowie's greatest albums, so it will be great to hear these different versions and I love the track ‘Bombers’ so it will be nice to have that on vinyl.

‘Quatermass and the Pit’ is one of my favourite films so I’m really looking forward to the soundtrack and the electronic cues records. I’m also really excited about the ‘Close To the Noise Floor’ compilation, which looks at the origins of electronic music in the UK.

I’m also really excited about the ‘Close To the Noise Floor’ compilation, which looks at the origins of electronic music in the UK.

What music defines the teenage you?
I grew up during the rule of Britpop, it was such an exciting time and I’d buy every record, read the NME and Melody Maker and go and watch as many gigs as I could. One of my first big shows was Blur and Pulp at the Aston Villa Leisure Centre, while this period definitely pointed me in the right direction musically it's also sadly embarrassing to me now. I can’t really listen to most of those bands without a slight cringe, there are a few exceptions but it wasn’t until I started working in (the legendary) Selectadisc, that my musical knowledge broadened, it helped open my mind and sent me off into so many different directions.

A song from your favourite album?
The Monks - 'Complication' from 'Black Monk Time'.
It’s hard picking a favourite album, but The Monks were such an incredible and weird band that they will always hold a special place in my heart. They wanted to be the anti-Beatles and Black Monk Time is such a perfect collection of savage Proto-Punk songs. Genius.

A song you wish you had written?
It’s between Roxy music - ‘Love is the Drug' or Talking Heads - ‘Burning Down The House’ - I don’t think that they are the two finest songs that either band wrote but they are two of the most fun pop songs they wrote. I could dance and sing to these everyday without getting bored.

A British icon that has inspired you?
Bryan Ferry - I wouldn’t like to meet him but I am constantly inspired by his sense of style he always looked so cool. Bowie always gets the recognition but in his prime Ferry was doing something unique.

What was the last piece of music you bought?
Amor - 'Paradise/In Love an Arc' 12” on Night School, two epic disco bangers, very Arthur Russell, it’s a guaranteed floor filler.

Most meaningful lyrics to inspire change?
Robert Wyatt - ‘Shipbuilding’ - such a beautiful protest song written by Elvis Costello about the Falklands War. Made even more powerful by Wyatt’s beautifully fragile vocal performance.

Best song to bring people together?
Robyn - ‘Dancing on My Own (Rex The Dog Remix)’ – I’ve had so much joy singing and dancing to this song with some of the best people I know.

What has been your all-time favourite gig?
This Heat - Café OTO 2016. Probably an odd choice to pick something so recent but I can safely say it was one of the most incredible and moving shows I have ever been to. This Heat are one of my all time favourite bands and I thought I would never have got to see them play live, unlike a lot of reformation shows it felt vital and necessary.

What was the last album you bought?
Kelly Lee Owens - S/T on Smalltown Supersound, I have played this album to death, I absolutely love it. It ticks all of the boxes for things I love and the final track ‘8’ is sublime. Electronic pop at its finest.

Best love song of all time?
'God Only Knows' – The Beach Boys
Any love song that starts with the line “I may not always love you...” has got to be a winner in my book.

Is there a song you like that people wouldn’t expect?
Erasure - ‘Drama!’ - I love Erasure. I always have. They were one of the first bands I got into and I think they are one of the most important British bands we have ever had, Andy Bell and Vince Clarke have written some amazing songs over the years. I have chosen ‘Drama’ because it sums up everything I love about the band, overwrought and pompous but self-aware and joyous at the same time.