Back to Venus Records

Everyone remembers Venus Records on St. Marks Place, but those fetishistic nostalgists among us who still pine for the era of vinyl records (notice I didn’t say “vinyls”) might remember its original address on the other side of town at 61 West 8th Street.

In case you’re not familiar with it, you can actually catch it on video in the oft-cited -- well, oft-cited on this blog, anyway – video for “Run and Run” by the Psychedelic Furs (above, as captured at the shoot for same by Gene Shaw, and below). As I described it back on this ancient post, …

Originally located towards the 6th Avenue end of West 8th Street, Venus was found through a non-descript door (you'd have to be buzzed in, if I remember correctly) and up a flight of stairs. Once inside, you were met with an efficiently-laid out series of aisles, featuring packed record bins economically arranged to fully maximize the shop's somewhat cramped space. Presentation was fairly key at Venus, and the shop -- like many other of my faves -- specialized in imports (I remember prizing the 12" of Killing Joke "Adorations" there, and then sitting on the shop's steps, stupefied by the single's hair-gel-frenzied sleeve -- what had happened to my band?).

In any case, at some point in the early 90’s, I believe, Venus moved to that bigger space on St. Marks Place. But, of course, that’s all long gone as well.

Today, the space that the original Venus Records occupied is now a “bodywork spa” and the St. Marks incarnation is now Pho 32, a place to get Korean grub. The only reason I’m bringing any of this up is because apart from the `Furs vid, it’s hard to find evidence that the first incarnation of Venus ever existed. That was the case, at least, until I spied the ad below on The New York Hardcore Chronicles page. Bless’em.

And just because … stroll back to Venus Records and through the downtown Manhattan of 1982, with the Psychedelic Furs…

Comments

[Fred]

I met Keith Levene there and he had a stack of Commercial Zone LPs under him arm. I still have a copy of that record purchased from Venus, but after all this time I can't remember if that was the day I actually bought it. Also, they were the Syd Barrett/The Pink Floyd Sound go-to store. Great shop, always had something in stock worth my hard earned $$$!!!

[David George]

Wow--thanks for posting--completely forgot about the original location. I believe Richard Butler lived on Mott Street just below Houston at that time. Used to run into him at odd hours.

[Lyn]

Thank you for this. I used to go to the W. 8th St. location in the early 90s. I remember having to go up the stairs to get to it. I never knew it was featured in The Psychedeluc Furs video. I grew up on Long Island so it's great to see 1982 NYC again.