Inspire Appreciation for Vinyl Records

"I remember opening up my first vinyl and seeing the incredible artwork it had. There's nothing like it. You also get that true gritty sound on vinyl that really makes a rock record sound great, which CDs can never achieve." - Nikki Sixx, co-founder, bassist and songwriter of Motley Crue 

The vinyl record player is arguably one of the best inventions of all time. Well, it might not be as important as automobiles or traffic lights, but to a musician, vinyl record players revolutionized home entertainment. First invented in 1877, the record player brought sound into homes and people still love to collect vinyl records for many nostalgic reasons. 

Today, in honor of National Vinyl Record Day, I'm celebrating record players and vinyl records. I received my first record player for Christmas in 2019. I have always appreciated record players because they're simply fun and they remind me of the past. Once considered obsolete by CDs and digital downloads, record players have emerged as a popular collectible in today's age. People my age (especially artists) have fallen in love with record players, and I'm excited about that. 

My record player and a Frank Sinatra record.

Thomas Edison invented the first phonograph in 1877, and he's known as the inventor of the record player. The device recorded sound and could also play it back to listeners. But 10 years later, in 1887, Emile Berliner took the phonograph to the next level when he created the "gramophone." The device was made of hard rubber and shellac before it was finally constructed with vinyl. This would be the basis of the contemporary record player as we know it today. 

Gramophones (photo/Top Record Players)

In 1895, the first record player was released for consumer purchase. It quickly took off and the record player continued to be popular, even after the radio became a popular invention. People still loved the record player. They sold well in the 1930s, '40s, and '50s, with influential recording artists like Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Perry Como, Buddy Holly, The Everly Brothers, Ella Fitzgerald, Patsy Cline, Bing Crosby, The Andrews Sisters, Louis Armstrong, Nat King Cole, Hank Williams, and so many more.  

(photo/Business Insider)

But record players became really popular in the '60s and '70s when Dual released the first turntables to provide stereo playback. These record players (AKA turntables) had high-fidelity sound production. Everyone wanted a record player for their home. 

The 1960s became the Golden Age of record players, and it was also a transformative decade for music. You had Elvis Presley, The Beatles, Ray Charles, The Temptations, The Monkees, The Supremes, Pink Floyd, Simon & Garfunkel, The Who, The Mamas & the Papas, The Doors, Led Zepplin, Doris Day, The Beach Boys, Jimi Hendrix, Bob Dylan, The Rolling Stones, and so many other influential musicians. 

My record player.

Everyone owned a record player, and they had a personalized vinyl record collection. It was peaceful to put on a record, sit back, and listen to the music. 

By the 1980s, vinyl records began to lose their popularity due to cassette tapes and Walkmans. The 1990s and early 2000s started to get dominated by CDs, and then everything became digital with iPods and online streaming services. 

It seemed the vinyl record player had died. The once-popular music device was obsolete, but there were still hardcore enthusiasts and niche music audiences who preferred the vinyl industry over CDs and electronic devices. 

Now, in recent years, vinyl has come back into the mainstream media. Record players and vinyl records are sold at major department stores, grocery stores, bookstores, and there has even been a rebirth of independent record stores. Major artists are releasing new music as long-playing (LP) vinyl records so more people can re-instate record players and vinyl records in mainstream media. 

Anyone, no matter if you're six years old or 100 years old, can enjoy vinyl records. People appreciate the active, not passive, experience of listening to records on a record player. The needle needs to be moved over. Once one "side" is done playing, you have to flip it over to continue listening to the other side of the record. 

A vinyl record is something tangible you can hold. In the digital age of iPods, iPhones, and streaming services, you can no longer hold music albums. Vinyl records can be held, shared with friends, and some people have even tacked them onto their walls for decoration. You have to hunt for a good record. Whether it's at flea markets, record stores, or Walmart, you're looking for the next record to add to your collection. 

But most importantly, vinyl records are better because of the authentic sound quality. The records sound warm and full. Vinyl presents a wide range of frequencies that digital music can't provide. Music fans love the slight hiss or occasional crackle in a vinyl record. This means the record is old, and it reminds them of a much simpler time. It reminds them of the past, and in 2020, we need every reason and excuse we can get to remember the simpler times. 

Vinyl records are here and they're here to stay. I couldn't be happier. Now, excuse me while I flip over to the next side of my Frank Sinatra record...

-KJL-