Camera-shy record collector Thomas Browne. (Photo by Maddie Clark)

by Maddie Clark

“As long as has been here, I’ve been a customer,” said Thomas Browne, a native Irishman and an avid record collector with an insatiable thirst for music.

Browne, who visits Hideaway Music every day during his lunch break, discussed all facets of record collecting that make this somewhat obsolete medium all worth it.

While listening to an eclectic array of classic music in the background, including Fats Domino’s “Ain’t That A Shame,” Browne said he started becoming interested in records when he was just a young lad at the age of 8.

Because he didn’t have a lot of money, Browne, who’s early interest in record collecting was influenced by his brothers, would scour the local music stores for anything that cost as little as 10 to 25 pence.

Since the better-known artists were usually pricier in cost, Browne has developed a relatively obscure taste in music due to his slim pickings as a child. Browne’s affinity for record collecting was also furthered by his three uncles who were into the art as well.

While thumbing through rows of CDs, Browne said that before emigrating from Ireland to the United States, he had about 1,500 records in his collection, though he had to give them away when he moved to Chestnut Hill in 2000.

Nevertheless, Browne was able to rebuild his music repertoire when Hideaway Music came to town around 15 years ago.

“A little bit of heaven came to earth,” Browne said, regarding Hideaway music, adding that the shop was the worst thing that happened in terms of his wallet.

But since the store’s debut, owner Brian Reisman and Browne have developed quite a friendship over the years.

Along with coming in to get his first pick at some of the shop’s dollar bins, Browne also gives Reisman a quick music lesson from time to time when more obscure albums come in stock.

When asked what kind of music he especially enjoys listening to – though he said it was hard to explain – Browne said “I like everything except opera and big bands of the 1940s.”

Relatively speaking, Browne keeps his music collection within the years 1904 to 1981. But in those decades, Browne likes everything from R&B, soul, exotica, sci-fi movie soundtracks, reggae, rock and roll, and so on.

Talking about his music collection at home, he said that he has shelves and shelves of records, some spanning from about five feet in width as he demonstrated by using the front counter of Hideaway Music as a reference.

While other record collectors would “have a heart attack,” Browne said that he doesn’t alphabetize or organize his music in any way. Though when it comes time to listen to something, he often settles with what’s easily accessible.

This system, however, gives Browne a little bit of guilt. Not that it’s life or death, but Browne said he felt remorseful at times for “not giving time to all the records.”

But when Browne does sit down and listen to a record, he fully commits to it. He used an analogy of how people listen to music today on their phone or through streaming services. He said he “wouldn’t listen to the first 30 seconds [of a song] and then change it.” Rather, Browne will listen to the entire record from start to finish.

Browne also likes to play his records at Hideaway Music, especially on Record Store Day, an annual event held on a Saturday in April where the culture of independently owned record stores is celebrated.

During this year’s Record Store Day on April 21, Browne will be at Hideaway Music from 1 to 3 p.m. where he’ll share his music assortment with its customers.

Brown particularly likes playing his music because, as he puts it, “ worth nothing if you can’t share with people,” and “[it’s also] chance to share [my] collection again.”

One of the aspects of Ireland that Browne misses most is the connections that he had had with his friends and their shared liking for music and vinyl. Browne recalled times when he and his friends would be hitting each other in a store going, “oh, look at this, or look what they have.”

In addition to getting to share his own musical taste with the public, Browne explained that Record Store Day is a great celebration locally because it keeps the doors open at places like Hideaway Music.

Having previously worked in music retail at a chain store, Browne said that it was surprising and frustrating to see how little music knowledge that most of the staff had. Whereas in places like Hideaway, “they’ll do everything they can to get for” Browne said.

Before leaving for his usual Hideaway routine, Browne shared one of the main reasons why he fancies record collecting so much. With around 120 years of recorded music out there, “I can still find stuff I haven’t heard before,” Browne said. For Browne, music is the gift that keeps on giving.

Record Store Day will begin at Hideaway music at 10 a.m. on Saturday, April 21. There will be special savings including 20 percent off vintage vinyl records as well as additional free Record Store Day items.

There will also be exclusive items, including releases from The Grateful Dead, Phish, David Bowie, Led Zeppelin and much more.

You can also check out Hideaway Music’s official video honoring Record Store Day here.