5 Reasons Vinyl Still Rocks

Everyone knows that vinyl has been making a comeback over the last ten years, as cassettes and CDs have quickly become obsolete. Well, now it’s finally come back to my own home and I couldn’t be happier.

In all of this past winters’ cleaning, we decided to move my husband’s Technics record player from the basement (where we rarely used it) to a more prominent place in our den.  As a point of reference, the den is about half the size of our living room, with bookshelves and a fireplace. It’s a cozy room that also now houses the bar. In truth, my husband has finally given up on ever getting the basement as his “man cave” (it’s the kids’ room for at least another ten years…), so this was the compromise. But “den” sounds better than “man cave”, so here we are.

Now, besides the Madmen-inspired martini glass collection, the record player and piles of vinyl are finally getting center stage. Here are my top four reasons why vinyl records still rock:

1. It’s a physical experience. Unlike popping in a CD or turning on the radio, where you tend to leave and go do something else, listening to a record requires that you be present and paying attention. Your little 45 might only last for two minutes, which is barely enough time to go fold a load of laundry. You need to actually touch the covers, the liners, and the album itself. You can even place the needle on the record manually if you want to hear a certain track. Perhaps it sounds overly romantic, but there’s something about doing those things in preparation for the music that is inherently enjoyable. Critics may argue the scratchy sound is a distraction, but I believe it helps to keep you in the moment. (I happen to believe that anything that keeps us in the moment is, as Martha used to say, a very good thing…)
2. It’s a social experience. You don’t typically sit around and listen to the radio, or even CDs with your friends. Records, however, invite you to sit and look at the album artwork, or read the liner notes, or even better, read the song lyrics. (I realize many CDs have song lyrics, but I’d need a magnifying glass to actually read them.) Sometimes we dance together, or sometimes we sing. Sometimes we just talk about it. It’s definitely an activity that is more fun with friends.
3. It’s cheap. Many artists like Taylor Swift and Beck are releasing their albums on vinyl today at the hefty price of $20+, and collector’s quality will take you in that price range or higher as well. In general, however, you can get used records for under a few bucks. Good will, yard sales, and salvage yards always have boxes of records to look through, and at those prices, you can afford to grab several to build a collection rather quickly.
4. It’s educational. Since most of what you will buy or already own is probably older music, it’s just fun for 40-somethings to walk down memory lane. I learn things about my spouse that I might not have otherwise. (Really? “Cha Cha Charms” was your favorite in high school?) I also would not normally listen to Elvis, the Grease soundtrack, the Honey Drippers, Hank Williams, the Police and Pavarotti in the same night, but it happens. If we let the children choose the records – which is usually based on cover art more than anything else – we end up with interesting mixes, and they get exposed to music they’ve never heard before.
5. It’s eco-friendly. I know it sounds odd, but reusing and recycling just makes good sense and totally applies to a product market that mainly falls into the “used” category. In general, vinyl lasts a long time, meaning the stuff being produced today will be useful for years to come. Yesterday was Earth Day, so consider this and earth-friendly hobby to pursue.

Thinking of starting your own collection? Take a gander at this article first, which goes over some of the more technical points of stereos and sound. After that, just invite a few friends over, and start spinning!