Back in the old days, you didn't press a button on your phone or iPod to listen to music. You had to work at getting sound. Ironically, it is the work I miss.
You would pull a record out of your collection, lovingly admire its cover-art, slide the vinyl album out of its paper sleeve, run a brush around the grooves to clean them, blow off the dust, place it tenderly on a turntable, lift the needle and settle into a groove of musical delight. If it's a double-album, you'd shake the pot seeds out of the crease in the cardboard album-cover.
I missed those experiences so... I bought a turntable! There used to be dozens to choose among, now the stores carry one or two, if any. I picked up a cheap Sony ($120) and attached it to the sound system I already have for my TV.
Even though I have an old record collection (about 80 albums), I went to one of the few record stores still existing to see what they had. I was shocked -- the albums of my youth are 25-cents! Wow. They were expensive forty years ago; now, they cost less than gum. I picked up a dozen.
Playing records is an unexpected treat. The process is deeply satisfying. You feel like you are earning the music. Today I played early rock 'n roll songs from the "American Grafitti" songtrack, then some old Barbra Streisand, "Fiddler On The Roof" (original cast with Zero Mostel), ZZ Top and Sha Na Na. Of course, I cranked it up loud. Loud!
Have you ever played vinyl records?
I grew up with vinyl records. The sound just is incomparable--much richer and full than anything digital!!
ReplyDeleteMatt and I got a turntable last year from a friend. We've spent a few nice Saturdays perusing some of Columbus' many vinyl stores :)
ReplyDeleteYep! My dad had an awesome turntable and set of speakers he bought when he was stationed in Korea years ago. He has a pretty impressive record collection too. I was about 7 or 8 when my parents got a CD player, but I totally remember playing vinyl until then! Some of my first music as a kid was on vinyl even!
ReplyDeleteL and I were given a high-quality 80s turntable - we fixed the belt and bought a new needle and voila! I love the rich real sound of vinyl - but it freaked my cats out!
ReplyDeleteMy grandparents had a stereo that had a turntable that could hold several records. You would stack what you wanted to hear and when one side of a record finished playing, the needle would automatically return to it's home and the next record would drop. Then the needle would go back and start playing again. It also had an eight track player. I wish that I had snagged that thing.
ReplyDeleteI forgot about those multi-players! Yes, I remember them, too.
DeleteI understand completely what you mean about the ritual. Things like that can be calming, and are part of the experience! I feel much the same way about preparing tea in the morning.
ReplyDeleteThat said, some of us have to work for half a day to get music onto our damn iPods (I hate iTunes so I went searching for an alternative, ended up having to jailbreak it, go into the root, and try 4 different programs, then reorganize and relabel my music so it would show properly with the new software. Not looking forward to doing this with over 100 albums. ARGH!)
My father used to play records, and he's quite a bit older than you are. My brother took apart his record player and kept breaking his needles though, so it went into disuse when he learned to walk, and after that we switched to compact disc. He still longs for the warm crackle of the album though. Doesn't like the clear digitized sound.
Did you know you can frame albums? I love the artwork of some I have found in thrift stores, so I bought some album frames at Target and hung them on my wall. (:
Nice. So much artistry went into those album covers; many deserve to be framed and hung.
DeleteYes, i have played vinyl records and i love those first seconds before the music begins... the needle just waiting for the magic moment: sound.
ReplyDeleteI have a dish at home, its a 1910's Victrola that needs some repair and have a a few records too.
we call them record players! and yes I have one, it's cheap, not the best quality but dang it, it's the best thing ever! my husband gasps over my awful handling of the vinyl (I try!) and some of my LP's are certainly not classic's but yes, you can get them for next to nothing and have a ball - any parties we have now have a bit where everyone has fun over my music and a sing-a-long! perfect! x x x
ReplyDeleteThat's marvelous!!! We bought a record player last year (as a bit of a moving in gift to ourselves) and quickly started amassing records from yard sales shortly thereafter. Our sweet pup ate - well, chewed up at least - a few last summer, but otherwise they're all in good shape - and stored on much higher ground now, so there's no risk of a repeat (unless a music loving bird finds its way into the house :D).
ReplyDeleteEnjoy this classic, awesome way to savour music, my friend!
♥ Jessica
We have a collection of over 1000 LP's. We keep moving them and never seem to get the record player set up. This time for sure! We've got an old Oracle turntable and some speakers that are so big, they'd kill you if they fell on you.
ReplyDeleteShake the pot seeds out of the crease ... ;D
When I was young we only had vinyl's. My son who is 18 is in love with vinyl the only problem is a turntable costs a fortune nowadays! There is a 3 in one available (turntable/tape/cd) which I think I will get for him as we still do have a number of vinyl's which we kept (The Doors being one of them).
ReplyDeleteLoved listening to American Graffiti on my dad's record player growing up. Saw the movie once... doesn't seem to hold up, but the music definitely does! We have a record player (not a good one), and are slowly building up our collection of vinyl.
ReplyDeleteThey are timeless and listening to Them is something special
ReplyDeleteThis takes me back. How I loved my Hi Fi. I spent tons of money on that system, with my special automated turntable so that I didn't have to put the needle on the record. I used to lay in my room and listen to it. My teenage years of angst and perceived loneliness, listening to the only people that understood me and what I was going through.
ReplyDelete{sigh}
Seems like everything was better back then.
Crap I sound old! LOL
bisous
Suzanne
Love vinyl records; still have quite a few albums just waiting around to be played. Now I want to buy another stereo, or turntable or whatever they're called nowadays.
ReplyDeleteYes. My dad had one of those with loads of records. While most of the music was not to my taste, I remember it quite well
ReplyDeleteI know a lot of kids my age buy vinyl because they think it's cool or kitschy or just something to collect... I buy vinyl because it's cheap music! You can either go to the store and buy a CD for $10, or go to Goodwill and find it for fifty cents!
ReplyDeleteI hate to start my comment by saying yes, my parents have a record player, but it's the truth. I used to have a Fraggle Rock record when I was little and my grandparents had a bunch of kiddie records and a Fisher Price record player we loved. Nothing lately though I do love buying CDs.
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