A child of the Sixties, a record collection, and Hong Kong museum owner’s search for the purest sound
- James Tang’s life has been filled with music, and The Record Museum is the result of a 30-year search for the most satisfying sounds
- The Causeway Bay location has a collection that numbers in the tens of thousands
Every day in a 600 sq ft tenement building flat crammed with bunk beds, a group of 20-somethings used to make room for their guitars and drums, and rehearse until the afternoon sunshine dimmed.
A child of the 1960s, James Tang Hong-sum remembers those times, and a home filled with music, and a host of different characters.
“Our home would become a hotspot, as neighbours, street vendors, even police officers, all gathered to listen,” the 58-year-old says. “Strangely, no one ever complained about the noise. That’s how I learned about music.”
Two of Tang’s brothers were in the band, and meagre as life could be with a family of 10 siblings, he had the privilege of hearing the most up-to-date songs during his childhood.
Music has been part of Tang’s life ever since, and he now owns The Record Museum, a delicately decorated retailer in Causeway Bay that houses a collection of some 20,000 vinyl records, cassettes and CDs, including about 700 master tapes.
Visitors can also see antique turntables and recorders, as well as posters of classic artists such as The Beatles.
