Do you remember walking into a record shop, flicking through rows of vinyl and wondering how to spend your last few quid?
For many Islanders, that place was Happy Daze on Newport High Street, where teenagers, collectors and music lovers spent hours browsing records, chatting with staff and discovering new bands.
The shop stood between a greengrocers and a toy shop, just 2 doors down from The Castle pub.
Happy Daze grew out of an earlier Newport shop called Sounds Around. On 23rd November 1978, the business was taken over by Tim Parsons and John Wheeler, who began developing it into one of the Island’s best-known independent music retailers. Parsons later sold his share to Wheeler as the business expanded.
During the early years Wheeler appointed Rick East as manager through a youth training scheme. Rick soon became a familiar face behind the counter and part of the shop’s personality. Known locally for his punk roots, he also played in a band called Feedback and helped give the shop a connection to the Island’s grassroots music scene.
Among the publications available was Sprog Mag, an independent punk and underground music magazine that sat on the shelves alongside mainstream music press.
From the beginning Happy Daze built a reputation that went beyond simply selling chart hits. The shop prided itself on being able to obtain almost any record that had not been deleted from catalogues, tracking down obscure or difficult-to-find releases for determined collectors.
Inside the shop, the selection was impressive for an Island retailer. Around 6,000 LPs were kept in stock alongside a vast catalogue of “oldie” singles.
Happy Daze was also one of the few places on the Isle of Wight where customers could find the entire Top 100 chart singles in stock. In the days when new releases arrived weekly and chart positions were followed obsessively by teenagers, this made the shop a regular destination for Island music fans.
The layout of the shop is still remembered by regular visitors. Rows of LP sleeves lined the walls while chart singles filled the racks downstairs, and customers often spent half an hour flicking through records before deciding what to buy.
One former customer later recalled:
“Best music shop. Staff all had such a wealth of knowledge and would suggest other bands when you took your purchases to the counter.
You could listen before you bought as well. Loved it – many hours spent flicking through the records there.”
In the years before the internet, discovering music often relied on the recommendations of others.
“Word of mouth to promote new music. Someone would hear about or read about a band and pass on that info. Discovery by digital medium is not as much fun.”
For many Islanders, a Saturday trip into Newport meant heading straight to Happy Daze.
“Saturday morning happy place. Spent so much time and money here.”
Others remember building their record collections there.
“All my money went there. Great shop. Used to get patronised while building up my Quo collection!”
Rick East himself is remembered fondly by many customers.
“I remember Rick the punk rocker used to work there. Great guy – probably spent most my pocket money there.”
Even particular purchases remain vivid decades later.
“Used to love that shop… it was my happy place. I remember being so excited when CD singles came out and I distinctly remember going in to buy a Sinéad O’Connor one and a Morrissey one in 1994.
Such a cool shop and always had a good chat with the knowledgeable and friendly staff. I was very sad when it shut down.”
The business expanded in 1982 with a second Happy Daze branch opening in Cowes, while the Newport shop itself was renovated the same year, attracting Isle of Wight-born Level 42 bassist Mark King to the reopening.
Happy Daze also diversified beyond record retail, hiring out mobile disco equipment and later developing a sound and lighting operation that supported many Island events, including the Isle of Wight Festival and Bestival.
Another part of the business was a mail-order record service run by Harvey Jackman, allowing collectors to obtain titles through the post at a time when specialist shops were often the only reliable way to track down rare releases.
The High Street shop closed after the arrival of HMV in Newport in 1996, reflecting the growing dominance of national chains and changing music-buying habits. The Happy Daze business continued from an industrial estate, focusing on sound equipment and event services.
“Well remember that place. Went many times – so sad that places like that don’t exist these days.”
If you remember Happy Daze – the records you bought there or the hours spent flicking through the racks – share your memories in the comments below…
You cannot beat the vintage sound of vinyl.
Great news Vinyl is back
Are you wheelchair bound? You should go outdoors
Loved going in bought a few records still got them now.
Apart from Studio 4 in Ryde, I’d purchase much of my vinyl from Happy Days. Always greeted with a smile by Jed Meekins, particularly when picking up vinyl by the band JAPAN.
I remember hiring out equipment from them many times.
Great shop, we all went there ,built up my vinyl collection from there , remember John and rick well (and feedback )
Surely everyone can’t have forgotten Teagues? With the insulated booths for listening to a record before you bought it? It was next to the town hall (a takeaway is there now) and was where we all congregated after school. Definitely happy days!
And Murdochs, where Watson, Bull and Porter are now.
Rick later on was in a group called
BE BOP DUSTBIN
Great piece, but what a ridiculous opening sentence. You can do that now in hundreds of record shops in the UK!
I remember buying my records from John & Rick at Happy Daze. Started going there after Mike Ledgers Music Workshop in Shanklin closed in around 1980. Used to buy the singles for Julisa’s nightclub in Ventnor where I was Dj at the time, as well LP’s for my own collection.
There’s a good record shop almost opposite Man in the moon ‘spoons. Tshirts & other interesting stuff too
great shop we would spend Saturdays in their looking at what to spend paper round money on this week with Gav and Coos behind the counter!