Selfie Time

Abdul Razzak has been serving up vinyl treats for 30 years! Everyone has special records they bought from him.  

I still remember a winter noon of 1994 when he called my office to say that “a lot” with “Coltranes” had shown.  All record collectors, or “listeners” as some liked to be called, wait for the day – when years of patronising your record dealer pays off. When he calls you first to offer a Gem – or two – before anyone else. Razzak had apparently pulled off a vinyl coup. And I had the right of first refusal. Awesome. 

I was out the door in seconds – running, literally, from my office at the Wankhede stadium to DN Road through the then familiar cross maidan. Razzak was calm and placid with a satisfied smile. He enjoys seeing ungentlemanly excitement on customers' faces. The eagerness on mine was verging on vulgar.

He proceeded to unwrap a promisingly thick pack of records. What emerged was a treasure of Avantgarde jazz. John Coltrane, Archie Shepp and Pharoah Sanders. 14 first pressings - in mint condition. I gave an embarrassed Razzak a hug – and insisted on buying him lunch. I didn’t go back to work. Instead I looked over the records and read liner notes all afternoon  over beers at Mocambo.  Figuring out the order in which they ought to be played. A king in every sense - in his counting house.

The haul that afternoon remains the greatest ever for a single day – over 30 years of dedicated collecting. I am not the “selfie” taking variety – but if I had a phone at the time I would have taken one with Razzak and the records.

Razzak is a fixture on D.N. Road and anyone in the neighbourhood will guide you to his stall. Hundreds of collectors make their way to his stall with the hope of finding the rare Gem. Gems are way rarer now - but they do surface. Eddie only recently landed a 1963 Bluenote pressing of Gordon’s – Our Man In Paris. Gems apart, Razzak continues to provide hundreds with beautiful music; and keeps countless turntables spinning. 

He has played a seminal role in keeping Vinyl alive. He is an absolute gentleman who counts every single record collector in the city amongst his friends.

As I write this note I decide to take the selfie that’s overdue a quarter of a century. Razzak and I look properly weathered – but the records, thankfully, haven’t aged a day. Magic.

Click on the links below to read more articles:

LLB:
https://lbb.in/mumbai/buy-records-starting-inr-250-fort-2/

Homegrown:
https://homegrown.co.in/article/22281/mumbais-lp-man-veteran-street-vendor-abdul-razzak-elaborates-on-a-life-built-around-vinyl
 

Contact Details: 
Phone: 09820933365
Address: 192, Kitab Mahal, Next To Suvidha Hotel Dr, Dr Dadabhai Naoroji Rd, Fort, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400001.

Written by Manu Trivedi