Sam and Annie at Vinyl Heaven
Vinyl Heaven is the name of a record shop visited by Sam Tyler and Annie Cartwright in episode one of Life on Mars. According to the shop's sign, it was established in 1964. The shop is typical of its time, if somewhat basic, displaying vinyl record albums in its large front window, selling them out of bins for customers to flip through, and having a sound-proofed booth for customers to listen to an album before buying it.
The shop is entered by a short flight of steps, next to which is a traditional red telephone box, and is next door to Dan's Barber shop.
Plot Importance
The Vinyl Heaven scene is pivotal to the plot of the first episode. It occurs at a moment when Sam Tyler has decided that this world of 1973 is not real, and that he will keep walking until his mind can't invent anymore. Annie tries to dissuade him, but fails, when Sam suddenly spots the record shop and remembers he used to go there. Entering the shop, presumably out of nostalgia, Sam flips through a few records before heading to the listening booth where he realizes that the sound-proofing material on the walls explains how the killer keeps his victims quiet without gagging them. Vinyl Heaven is therefore a turning point in Sam's belief in (or commitment to) his new surroundings as well as in the murder investigation and the race to prevent another victim.
Behind the Scenes
The Vinyl Heaven scene was shot in Manchester at the corner of Turner and Kelvin Streets, across from the entrance to Red Lion Street. While most of the surrounding scenery was appropriate for 1973 Manchester, clever digital compositing was used for a 360-degree pan which would have otherwise revealed a very modern car park across the street. This location was also used for a number of promotional photos apparently shot during filming, as well as other posed shots that included John Simm, Liz White, Phil Glenister and the Cortina.
Trivia
The album covers displayed in the shop window include, Days of Future Past, On The Threshold of a Dream, Seventh Sojourn, and Every Good Boy Deserves Favour, by The Moody Blues; Moods, by Neil Diamond; Confusion About a Goldfish, by John Kongos; American Pie, by Don McLean; Home Thoughts, by Clifford T. Ward; Everybody Knows This is Nowhere, by Neil Young and Crazy Horse; Sweet Baby James, by James Taylor; Past Present & Future, by Al Stewart; and Tiny Tim's Second Album, by Tiny Tim.