Welcome to the 16th interview in our series, ‘Stories About Records’ where we ask our members and some of our favourite Djs about their most cherished 45.
This is not about perceived or discogs monetary value but personal value that is tied up in memories, stories, love, loss, life, family and a passion for this particular 7″ vinyl record.
We want to know what the record is, what it sounds like and why it is so important to you.
If you’re interested in being apart of this series drop us an email or sign up for our Newsletter to be informed when these wonderful stories drop.
Now to the interview and it’s great to present the The Allergies from the UK.
Firstly, tell us about yourself as a Dj and Collector of 45s, how long have you been playing and collecting, why 45s, what was the first 45 you were given and also the first 45 you bought? Do you still have them?
Roy: Yes, party people. I’m Roy aka DJ Moneyshot – Your mother’s husband’s favourite disco jock and all round record slinger/appreciator. And I’m also one half, if we’re splitting it that way, of professional recording outfit, The Allergies (who LOVE 45s).
I’ve been DJing since about 1996, and getting paid to do it a coupla years after that.
I was mainly DJing in and after uni at Cardiff. Joining party crews like the Cake Mix Cartel and playing hip-hop at cafes and club nights with them. Then I bagged a residency in the same city at The Hustler Showcase. Another hip-hop gig, playing mostly 12s and album cuts in the amazing three floor Club Ifor Bach building and loads of university main hall parties, warming up for anyone that was doing it on a decent scale and passing through back then.
Around 2001-6 I really started to pick up on 45s.
Grabbing oddball beats on labels like Cindedelic (who were putting out Arabic and Latin joints over fast beats), and bugging on cut and paste producers like Ch3vy, Fletch, and labels like Puma Strut.
Small records with big ideas.
Not many people were into playing out 7’s as far as I could see, but I started to get a great few crates together.
Mixed in with stuff like Taxman by the Beatles, some booties that were on the rise, and that dope version of ‘Apache’ by the Jimi Entley Sound.
Most stuff was copped in the field.
Cardiff had some great spots, from the Oner Signs paint place to Kellys Records, Catapult 100% Vinyl, and D’Vinyl.
As well as dingy spots in the student areas, markets and charity shops. Classics.
I’m not sure the first 45 I got, as that whole period of time was a hot fusion of influences, digging, mixtape making, 5 night a week club and bar gigs, house parties, and hangovers.
One night I left a my ultimate party box of 45s in a cab, and that hit me for six. I called around, and nothing (SOB!) Hopefully they ended up in a charity shop so at least someone has a happy ending on that.
After that I sold most of my 45s to a mate, and then stuck to 12s as I was touring around Europe, DJing on four decks with my man Parker. We needed acapellas and instrumentals to live remix and stuff so I forgot all about 45s for a while.
Then after forming The Allergies with my man, Rackabeat, the love came back.
Thanks to the legend that is Pete Isaac from the world famous Jelly Jazz. He asked us to do a 45 set. And up till then we had been heavy on the Serato. Everyone was.
Starting to dig out seven inches again, and hitting Juno and Discogs 100% awoke that passion again for vinyl. Then I went mad for them. I wake up and the first thing I do is check my “wantslist” on Discogs for stuff to cop.
All my birthdays bring Juno vouchers.
As The Allergies we almost always play 45s at gigs and on our Twitch channel. And I think, under that name (and a few others) I have probably had a hand in making and releasing about 30 45s!
In fact (plug, plug, plug) The Allergies will have a fair few more 45s coming, so hit up Bandcamp: https://theallergies.bandcamp.com!
Adam: Well, it all began with a love of drum ’n’ bass for me at an early age. I started collecting D’n’B 12’s from the age of 18-ish.
We had a local record shop and I got friendly with the folk there. It was called Dance 2 in Guildford and it was run by Jazz T (hip hop legend). They’d hold me back white labels once I earned their respect, by putting out my own record. It soon got expensive!
I still have stacks of these dotted around the house and attic and can’t bring myself to get rid of them!
It wasn’t until Roy and I met and started putting out 45s that I started really getting into them. We thought, “If we are putting these out we should really be playing them.”
I guess my collection is a mixture of our own stuff, new edits from Juno etc, random finds in record shops and of course, when I discover something unusual or old I hit Discogs.
I only really buy stuff that’s gonna work on a dance floor as that’s what it’s intended for.
I like to let music find me, rather than go searching for it. If I hear something dope on the radio or in a mixtape, I’m hitting Shazam and then Discogs.
It feels natural and organic that way. I’ve got lots of Afro stuff on 45 and the rest is super broad, that part reflects our DJ sets.
I think the first 45 I bought was Mary Clarke’s ‘Take Me I’m Yours’. It’s an absolute classic, sounds great on 45, and wasn’t expensive at the time, so was a justified first purchase.
As for the first 45 given to me, I think Moneyshot bagged a load of 45s from a charity shop and gave me a stack for my birthday…what a lovely chap, eh?
What is your most cherished 45? Why is it so important to you? What is it’s story (label, year, artist, musicians), where did it come from? Is the B-Side any good?
Roy: I’d have to say the first release by The Allergies on 45.
It’s ‘Heartbreaker’ [Smoove / The Allergies – Big Bird / Heartbreaker (Wack Records, 2014)] and our homie Smoove put it out on his Wack label.
The digital dropped in 2013 and it got a fair few people looking our way.
I love that record because it opened the door for us, and also represents the time we moved from thinking like digital DJs to behaving like vinyl DJs again. Mainly because when the record dropped we got given a few copies and gave them away, not being that fussed on the format.
That came back to bite us on the ass.
When we started to rock sevens again we NEEDED that track in our sets. I think Adam had to nick a copy back off his brother. And I had to eventually track one down off eBay. My OWN record. I got a good price for it. But the ones on Discogs were going for 100 quid!
It taught me to value my own work. Digital feels like you can throw it away and move on. Vinyl will always be cherished, coveted, and eventually overpriced (LOL!). So, hold on to it while you can.
Oh, and the B-side rocks. It’s Smoove – C’mon, man. You KNOW he makes dope sevens…
Adam: Roy and I, being the chaps we are, are gonna use this opportunity as a selfless promo angle, of course! But, I am SUPER proud of our next release ‘Move On Baby’ backed with ‘Are You Ready’ (Jalapeno Records, 2021).
Firstly, there’s nothing like the feeling of having your own music on 45. It somehow validates it. And to know many DJs will carry it around to gigs and will be playing it for a long time to come makes you feel great.
It’s so easy to forget about an MP3 on your laptop, but if you’ve got the wax, you know it’s getting played!
I feel particularly proud of this one because I just know every 45 DJ is gonna want it.
The A-Side is that Latin banger you hold back for the right moment to drop in your set, because you know there won’t be much coming back from it. And the B-Side is a super catchy band song, that just highlights the talent we’ve got in our ranks. It’s essential….go bag it!
Check Out and Bag a Copy of The Allergies brand new 45 ‘Move On Baby/Are You Ready’:
https://theallergies.bandcamp.com/album/move-on-baby
Also Check Out The Brand New Exclusive ‘All Live Latin Beats Mix’ The Allergies have done to accompany this interview!!
Find Everything You Need To Know About The Allergies Right Here:
https://linktr.ee/theallergies
Interview by Mr Lob