RevUpRecords

Digital downloads have turned cassettes and even CDs into dust-collecting paper weights. These days, everyone likes their music the way they like their food-hot, instant, and ready to go anytime, anywhere. Ipods, Zunes, Mp3 players and even phones can take an entire media library and put it into a single, easy-to-carry format. Despite their old age and popping white noise, however, Vinyl records may be making a comeback.

These big black disks, about the size of a paper plate, were one of the most popular formats for commercial music distribution in the 20th century. Vinyl records are the embodiment of the glory days, bringing back memories for those who grew up in the 1960s and 1970s. The white hiss and pops have become a symbol of when music was a purer form of expression, when lyrics had a much simpler but deeper meaning to those who took the time to listen.

Unfortunately, today’s generation never grew up with these floppy forms of music playback. Outside of 60s themed parties, many kids today don’t even know what a vinyl record looks like, let alone listen to one. Joshua Homme, American Rock musician and record producer, states that, “Vinyl has gotten to the point where it’s exclusively for the collector, I guess.”

Not Dead Yet

With the exception of ebay, it can be difficult to find shops that still sell Vinyl records in good condition. But despite apparent limitations, new statistics have shown that Vinyls are making a comeback in the music industry. Nielsen SoundScan tracks audio sales in the United States, and a surprisingly 3 million records were sold last year. By June, that number had grown by 40 percent. Though these numbers are small when compared to CDs and Digital downloads, Vinyl Records are becoming a novelty.

Vinyl records have a “retro” appeal to younger generations. As iPod listeners dust off their parent’s collections and experience music from another age, many people are recognizing vinyl’s ability to produce ‘good sound.’ Vinyl records produce an entirely different timbre and texture that often get lost in digital recordings.

Listening to a Vinyl record is a lot like performing a sacred ritual; it’s an experience of the heart and soul, not just the ears. Picking up the needle and watching the old turntable spin creates an entirely different anticipation of sound than simply putting in a pair of headphones and setting your player to shuffle.

In this fast-paced world, it’s easy to let Vinyl records collect dust in the attic and fade into the background. But for all their quirks and limitations, Vinyl records are still very much alive, and more music lovers are recognizing their potential for playing quality music.

So before throwing away that old collection of Vinyl records that have been sitting in your parents’ attic for years, give Vinyl a chance.