Background / History
Soul Brother Records grew from a passion for rare American music long before it had a shop counter. Laurence Prangell, together with his wife Doreen and brother Malcolm, began trading at record fairs and by mail order from Putney in 1991, riding the rare groove wave that was sweeping London at the time. In 1994 the family opened a permanent home directly opposite East Putney station on Keswick Road, and it has remained there ever since. In those early years Laurence travelled regularly across the United States, digging through stock in Los Angeles, Philadelphia, Baltimore, New York and Washington DC to bring back the soul and jazz records that British collectors could rarely find at home.
What You’ll Find
This is a specialist in the truest sense, built around soul, funk and jazz and the many styles that branch from them. The racks run deep with rare groove, disco, modern and northern soul, classic jazz, jazz-funk and rhythm and blues, with blues, reggae and classic rock added over the years in response to regular requests. Stock stretches to well over 10,000 vinyl records alongside more than 3,000 CDs, plus books, DVDs, T-shirts and related merchandise, all offered both new and second-hand. Soul Brother also runs its own reissue label, now more than 200 titles strong and dedicated to returning scarce and sought-after recordings to circulation; its celebrated Marlena Shaw reissue alone has sold tens of thousands of copies.
Experience / Atmosphere
Browsing here feels like time spent in a working archive of soulful music rather than a passing retail visit. The shelves reward patience, and the staff are known for treating every visitor the same way, whether a seasoned DJ, a lifelong collector or someone stepping through the door for the first time. Over the decades the shop has drawn respected names from the scene, Norman Jay among its regulars, and its standing as a destination store means customers travel from across the UK and further afield to dig through the bins. There is a real depth of expertise on hand, freely shared, and a conversation about a particular pressing or artist comes as naturally as ringing up a sale.
Why Visit
- One of the UK’s leading specialists in soul, funk and jazz on vinyl.
- A vast, carefully kept stock of new and second-hand records, plus CDs, books and merchandise.
- Home to a respected reissue label reviving rare soul and jazz recordings.
- Knowledgeable, welcoming staff who treat every customer with equal respect.
- A genuine destination shop with more than three decades of history behind it.
Summary
Few shops can claim the standing that Soul Brother Records holds within the UK soul community. From its beginnings at record fairs to its long-established base opposite East Putney station, it has spent more than thirty years championing soul, funk and jazz with real depth and care. Whether you are chasing a specific rare pressing, exploring the reissue label’s catalogue or simply losing an afternoon among the racks, it remains one of London’s essential stops for anyone who takes this music seriously.
