BillF

Elspeth Smellie Stinker Murdoch The Whiffenpoofs

There's a widespread aversion here in England - not in Scotland, of course! - to bagpipes, but in the hands of Rufus Thomas what could be more cool?

Charles Barry Nicholas Pugin Algy Pugg

Philip K Dick Lyndon B Johnson Willie Smith

Peter Hennessy Linda Colley Ian Kershaw

To my shame, not me! Brits are allowed to use wikipedia for this one!

Reginald Veal Paul Calf Eric Heffer

Archie Rice Frank Ricotti Brian Rix

The Personchester Person Personfred Person Herbie Person

My impression from the comments so far is that the sort of record stores I like have survived far better in the US than in the UK. A couple of years ago I would have had a few good places to mention, now there's virtually nothing and every sign that even this will go shortly - and this in a conurbation of 2.25 million population!

The Master of the Rolls Mick Jagger Minnie Cooper

Jack Straw Gunther Graas Dr John Reid

Fat Albert Rotunda Mr Five By Five Fatty Arbuckle

My first one, too - followed quickly by War of the Worlds and John Wyndham's Day of the Triffids and The Kraken Wakes, but much later than you, at age 16. (Still have the Wyndhams on the shelf, with "1956" written in them!)

Cootie Williams Baldy Pevsner Sid and Doris Bonkers

Jazz from Studio Four from WGBH. Now playing: Terrell Stafford, "One for Shirley".

Mandy (Mandelson) Mandy Rice Davies Randy Mice Davies

Friar Tuck T S Monk Sister Salvation

William of Orange Joe Bananas Peaches Geldoff

Fiona Trott Eric Ambler Claude Schlouch

How much the model resembles Shirley MacLaine, a very "in" star at the time of this album (1959)!

Very similar experience to yours, MG. As a very small child Rupert Bear, later Just William and Enid Blyton, still later Biggles. Pointers to present taste for science fiction: Jules Verne's Journey to the Centre of the Earth at 11, Superman and Captain Marvel comics at 12 or 13, The Time Machine at 16.

Confession: no Fats in the collection at the moment, as previously owned LP and audio tape have been lost or stolen. But I have a fairly recent CD of Little Richard's greatest hits and I believe he used Fats's great band, so some solace there!

Clarissa Pamela Sir Charles Grandison

Celia Birtwhistle Celia Mingus Celia Powell