I am of the age where records are all I know. Cassettes played a part when, as a kid, I got a boombox, and when I had a tape deck in my car or made mixtapes for girlfriends. But, the sound quality on tapes always seemed inferior, and the ease with which they could get damaged or the tape twisted, pulled, etc., irritated me. CDs were introduced when I was a teen and I was hesitant to transition, but eventually did, mainly because of space. I lived in student accommodation and small flats and already had a ton of records taking up space. CDs were perfect at that time.
But I always preferred records. I love the size of an LP, the liner notes, the routine of listening to the A & B sides, and the conceptual thought that went into not only the tracklisting, but each side of the record. And, of course, I firmly believe that by and large, records sound better! In previous posts, you and I have established that a clean record played on a nice system with a great cartridge & stylus is unbeatable (and essential to one's enjoyment!). The stylus I have is also very forgiving, and on a clean, used VG/VG+ record, I rarely hear any surface noise from visible marks.
Lastly, music filling the space makes me happy. Even if I buy a digital-only download off Bandcamp, I always move the WAV file into iTunes as a playlist, burn it to a CD, and enjoy it on my stereo so the sound can fill the space. No portable Bluetooth speaker or headphones can replace that part of the listening process for me. Thus why records are also my preferred media.
Thank you, Michael! Unlike you, I unfortunately only discovered records post-revival, due to generational circumstances (I'd kill to time-travel to the 80s or 70s, though) and yet, I agree with every single point you raise: from the artistic elements to the sound considerations... even the way you describe certain things, like "filling the space". All of that resonates so much with me (which gives me the clue I'm on the right track). Thanks!
One of my arguments were I ever to find myself in this situation would be that when I stay up late to listen to Close to the Edge on vinyl on a Friday night no one knows I’m listening to it but me. Not my wife, not my kids, not Daniel Ek. No one but me. The next day I won’t see ads related to it, I won’t see recommendations for Emerson, Lake & Palmer, I won’t see ‘Roundabout’ leading off my Favourites Mix. Nothing. The experience will only exist in my memory.
What is so good about these posts is that they work on several levels simultaneously. When you can learn and laugh at the same time, what could be better?
Thank you so much!! I had started something very plain vanilla, you know, to welcome my new subscribers… and then of course some devillish goblins knocked on my door, and of course I let them in, and of course I ended up with this post 😅😅😅 Glad you enjoyed!! Thanks again!
I’d imagine that, for me, if and when I do begin collecting and listening to vinyl, it will in many ways come down to “the experience”. The act of removing a record from its sleeve, placing it on a turntable and putting the needle on the record really makes the listening an active and thoughtful experience. In this fast paced age of convenience, automation and AI, the act of taking time to choose a record and then sitting down to actively enjoy it feels almost revolutionary in a way.
A perhaps snarky way to answer the question would be: “if you have to ask the question then you wouldn’t understand the answer”. Not sure I’d use it, but it’s probably accurate.
Thank you, Mark! Yes, I agree with you that it’s definitely an experience, not just in terms of the actual listening process (including the physical handling of the record) but also the collecting, hunting, browsing, etc.
I loooooove that response you suggest. Delivered softly and with a smile, the snark can be cunningly disguised. Thanks!!
If I like the person asking the question, I'll explain that I started collecting 45s in the late 60s/early 70s and enjoy the collecting as much as the listening, and a great deal of my collection, such as indie jazz labels and classical guitar records, has poor representation and curation on the streaming platforms.
If I don't like the questioner, I would say: If you could make me a list of the things I'm allowed to like that would be super helpful, thanks so much.
Thank you, Rich! One of my tricks, which I learned long before I learned how to fix record scratches with toothpicks 😅, is to be able to unpack implicit meaning in pretty much everything. My husband is delighted, as you can probably imagine 😂
Soooo true what you say about the drums. One hundred million per cent.
Breaking one's back is definitely a great one. "I really do like to show my crack when I reach down for my records, you see?" 😂 Ahh, some people will never understand!
Why vinyl?
I am of the age where records are all I know. Cassettes played a part when, as a kid, I got a boombox, and when I had a tape deck in my car or made mixtapes for girlfriends. But, the sound quality on tapes always seemed inferior, and the ease with which they could get damaged or the tape twisted, pulled, etc., irritated me. CDs were introduced when I was a teen and I was hesitant to transition, but eventually did, mainly because of space. I lived in student accommodation and small flats and already had a ton of records taking up space. CDs were perfect at that time.
But I always preferred records. I love the size of an LP, the liner notes, the routine of listening to the A & B sides, and the conceptual thought that went into not only the tracklisting, but each side of the record. And, of course, I firmly believe that by and large, records sound better! In previous posts, you and I have established that a clean record played on a nice system with a great cartridge & stylus is unbeatable (and essential to one's enjoyment!). The stylus I have is also very forgiving, and on a clean, used VG/VG+ record, I rarely hear any surface noise from visible marks.
Lastly, music filling the space makes me happy. Even if I buy a digital-only download off Bandcamp, I always move the WAV file into iTunes as a playlist, burn it to a CD, and enjoy it on my stereo so the sound can fill the space. No portable Bluetooth speaker or headphones can replace that part of the listening process for me. Thus why records are also my preferred media.
Thank you, Michael! Unlike you, I unfortunately only discovered records post-revival, due to generational circumstances (I'd kill to time-travel to the 80s or 70s, though) and yet, I agree with every single point you raise: from the artistic elements to the sound considerations... even the way you describe certain things, like "filling the space". All of that resonates so much with me (which gives me the clue I'm on the right track). Thanks!
One of my arguments were I ever to find myself in this situation would be that when I stay up late to listen to Close to the Edge on vinyl on a Friday night no one knows I’m listening to it but me. Not my wife, not my kids, not Daniel Ek. No one but me. The next day I won’t see ads related to it, I won’t see recommendations for Emerson, Lake & Palmer, I won’t see ‘Roundabout’ leading off my Favourites Mix. Nothing. The experience will only exist in my memory.
Absolutely. That automomy of thought and choice, that… freedom we get with vinyl is second to none.
Thank you, Michael!
The "experience" tip is a very usefull one 😃. Great episode again Andy !
Thank you, Pe! ♥️
Another killer monologue.
What is so good about these posts is that they work on several levels simultaneously. When you can learn and laugh at the same time, what could be better?
Thank you so much!! I had started something very plain vanilla, you know, to welcome my new subscribers… and then of course some devillish goblins knocked on my door, and of course I let them in, and of course I ended up with this post 😅😅😅 Glad you enjoyed!! Thanks again!
I’d imagine that, for me, if and when I do begin collecting and listening to vinyl, it will in many ways come down to “the experience”. The act of removing a record from its sleeve, placing it on a turntable and putting the needle on the record really makes the listening an active and thoughtful experience. In this fast paced age of convenience, automation and AI, the act of taking time to choose a record and then sitting down to actively enjoy it feels almost revolutionary in a way.
A perhaps snarky way to answer the question would be: “if you have to ask the question then you wouldn’t understand the answer”. Not sure I’d use it, but it’s probably accurate.
Thank you, Mark! Yes, I agree with you that it’s definitely an experience, not just in terms of the actual listening process (including the physical handling of the record) but also the collecting, hunting, browsing, etc.
I loooooove that response you suggest. Delivered softly and with a smile, the snark can be cunningly disguised. Thanks!!
If I like the person asking the question, I'll explain that I started collecting 45s in the late 60s/early 70s and enjoy the collecting as much as the listening, and a great deal of my collection, such as indie jazz labels and classical guitar records, has poor representation and curation on the streaming platforms.
If I don't like the questioner, I would say: If you could make me a list of the things I'm allowed to like that would be super helpful, thanks so much.
Great answers! I love the distinction you make whether you like the person or not 🤣 Makes a lot of sense!
Might have to steal the “list of things I’m allowed to like” line 😅😅 Brilliant! Thanks, Ken!
“Every jacket tells a story, don’t it”!
Absolutely!
This is great!
Thank you for reading and commenting! 😊
Whatever gets us through the night: it's all right :)
Wise words!
Love the way you unpacked the question, Andres! So few words, so much implicit meaning…
I agree that ‘the experience’ answer pretty much cover all bases.
The sound one always throws non-vinyl fans. ‘What about all the crackles and pops?’, they say.
‘Listen to the drums,’ I say. ‘They’re fluid. The rhythm is natural. No 0s and 1s to get your head around.’
Pretentious? Yes. True? Undoubtedly.
It’s either that or saying ‘Because I enjoy breaking my back every time I move house.’
Thank you, Rich! One of my tricks, which I learned long before I learned how to fix record scratches with toothpicks 😅, is to be able to unpack implicit meaning in pretty much everything. My husband is delighted, as you can probably imagine 😂
Soooo true what you say about the drums. One hundred million per cent.
Breaking one's back is definitely a great one. "I really do like to show my crack when I reach down for my records, you see?" 😂 Ahh, some people will never understand!
Thanks a lot for reading and commenting 😊
Thank you, Linda! Your comment made my day!