DESPITE WHAT YOU MIGHT'A HEARD, I LIKE PEOPLE

Val Shively, owner of R&B Records in Upper Darby, PA shares stories from his life in records. Val is one of the world’s experts and biggest collectors of 1950s vocal group 45s. All archival images courtesy of Val.
Interview shot, and edited by Darin Mickey.
This short film was original screened at the New York Art Book Fair and the L.A. Art Book Fair in 2016. It accompanied the release of Darin Mickey's photo book, Death Takes a Holiday documenting a handful of record shops in New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania-independently run stores that opened primarily in the 1960s, ‘70s and ‘80s, many of which are now on their last legs, or have recently been shuttered. These stores are the alphabetized havens for the musical successes of a few and the forgotten failures of many. Shot from the perspective of a middle-aged man restlessly clinging to his youth and the hope of finding that elusive artifact to make anxiety subside and keep the reaper at bay, Death Takes a Holiday shows us a community of beautiful recluses brought together by obsession, compulsion and a pure, undying love of music.
from the publisher
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[@billstill1794]

I did the same thing when I was 12 - you should see my place now @73! ...Billy!

[@RobGa66]

In 2019, I went to his store. It is beyond amazing, and Val and Chuck are very nice. I collect picture sleeves and was able to look through his collection that he had.

[@Darvada]

Great stories!!!, I still buy from Time Square Records sometimes but it must be a newer store, Never retire Val , jez you must have a million records ..well done!!!

[@windy-seventies]

I need to find a few

[@oldskool1979]

What a legend this guy is...

[@TheMindIlluminated]

Why, because he hoards records and treats them like shit?

[@oldskool1979]

@@TheMindIlluminated haha

[@joshuadowling8778]

Wow. What a gold mine. I would love to pick this guy's brain. I wonder how much he absorbed as a business man. He said he bought most of it because he liked black R & B. There is so many good artists that got lost in the noise. Since TH-cam, there are a lot of pethat are saying, " holy shit, this was a good one" as they dig out a 45 from their attic trunk. I've recently heard Lee Moses stuff. I hope that there are 1000 more like this.

[@patrickkilpatrick1536]

I could listen to this guy all day.

[@finch45lear]

I'm a lifelong Philadelphian and music lover What a fascinating video!

[@soulcarrot]

Amazing

[@billstill1794]

I started out at the age of 12 buying 8-cent 45RPM records (15 for a buck) at Grants just by looking at the cool-looking labels! Example: The Four Frogs on FrogDeath Records - with pic sleeve! Wish I still had those! Sold or traded them for CDs - certainly wish I hadn't done such a dastardly thing! Since covid I began to recollect them because nobody else was open or selling. Dealers would come to me and I would ask how much for the carload and got great sub-wholesale prices! Now I'm still finding tons of records in the wild including large lots of promos from retired radio station DJs and others in the business. I've accumulated over 13,000 45s for my "recollection" since then plus thousands more piled up in my kitchen for trade or selling. It's a crazy world these daze! I'm approaching 73 and still rockin'!

[@billstill1794]

I now have MANY more that I did last year! You can quadruple that amount now!

[@bisket2003]

Wonder what's gonna happen to all his 45's........

[@bisket2003]

100,000's of $3 checks.........

[@mr.mirchenstein6549]

@3:28 OMG, All Those CHANCE Records! 😍