Absolute comfort.. that's what it is. A simple ritual, a prompt to unwind, slow down, and connect with a part of us that simply doesn't know how to emerge in the daily frenzy.
Agreed! And as someone that’s seen vinyl, tapes, the advent rise of CDs (and DATs, for that matter), iTunes, and now streaming I think it’s nice to go have a medium that’s both consistent and intentional. You can listen to a tape while you drive; you can’t really do that with a record.
Thanks, Kevin! Yes, exactly: records and turntables are things we need to go to, kind of like "attending" somewhere. I love the ritualistic element that comes with it.
Another thing about vinyl (or even CDs or cassettes) is that in deciding what to play, you’re spending time with yourself rather than an algorithm. What I mean by this is you made a decision when you were 12 or 32 or 52 to buy that record, or perhaps it was given to you. And when you decide to put it on the turntable, you’re engaging with that time when you acquired the record even if the reason you acquired it is different from the reason you want to listen to it now. The simple act of scanning the spines (or jewel cases) and deciding what to play is an engagement with yourself, rather than with a code sitting on a server somewhere.
This is spot on, Marcus. The tangible aspect gives it a whole new layer of meaning. It’s not just isolated tracks, but a record as an object that can instantly evoke memories. Thanks a lot for this!
music in any form is a comfort. but the process and the engagement of vinyl transforms the experience to something very personal. it’s why i always choose the longer process of grabbing a vinyl from the self then pressing a button on applemusic
What a lovely reminder of the comforts of a ritual. I don’t listen to my record player often enough but one thing is for certain. Sundays are for soul music on the record player. Otis Redding and coffee on Sundays are just right.
“...we are stubborn enough to stick to 12” discs that can only be played on machines that can’t be used for anything else.” Pretty much sums it up. Though stubbornness is but a small sliver of the reason. Everyone will be unique, but for me, it’s part nostalgia summoning, part meditation, part museum browsing, and a dozen other parts. There’s an ineffable analog warmth as well.
Thanks, Steve! Yes, I think it's quite cool that, although all vinyl lovers are (roughly, more or less, and for lack of a better word) "doing the same", or engaging in a similar activity, the underlying motivations and goals can be quite varied when you start talking to other vinyl lovers and comparing. That's beautiful because we are united in our sameness but also in our differences.
If one doesn't know one ever existed, one doesn't know to Google it. Your wonderful articles (this one included, of course) never fail to make me think of Dad, my font of all things vinyl, about which you know much, by now!
Had I never had a first-hand experience with it, I'd-a never knew it existed! He called the label it was on ("Decca") Decay Records! Thanks so much, again, Andy, for making Dad-memories even more of an "as-usual" thing!
Thank YOU, Brad! You see, this is one of the reasons why I (and more generally all the vinyl revival aficionados) benefit so much from first-hand memories of those like you who were there when vinyl was in its heyday. It’s true that now more than ever there’s a considerable amount of information about how all things vinyl, but still, nothing beats that first-hand experience of having been there. So I thank you, my friend, for your invaluable contributions to this space!
Thank you very much for your kind words, Michelle! Your feedback is golden. Means a lot to me. The restaurant is our local Indian curry house in West Kilburn/Queen’s Park. It’s called Queen’s Indian Restaurant. Never disappoints!
My pleasure! Another great one if she likes Indian food is The Rajdoot near Baker Street tube station. Authentic, delicious food; good service, nice spacious venue (for London standards) and unpretentious. Hope she has a great time!
Absolute comfort.. that's what it is. A simple ritual, a prompt to unwind, slow down, and connect with a part of us that simply doesn't know how to emerge in the daily frenzy.
Thanks, Diego! Absolutely: an instant of peace and quiet amidst the madness.
Agreed! And as someone that’s seen vinyl, tapes, the advent rise of CDs (and DATs, for that matter), iTunes, and now streaming I think it’s nice to go have a medium that’s both consistent and intentional. You can listen to a tape while you drive; you can’t really do that with a record.
Thanks, Kevin! Yes, exactly: records and turntables are things we need to go to, kind of like "attending" somewhere. I love the ritualistic element that comes with it.
Another thing about vinyl (or even CDs or cassettes) is that in deciding what to play, you’re spending time with yourself rather than an algorithm. What I mean by this is you made a decision when you were 12 or 32 or 52 to buy that record, or perhaps it was given to you. And when you decide to put it on the turntable, you’re engaging with that time when you acquired the record even if the reason you acquired it is different from the reason you want to listen to it now. The simple act of scanning the spines (or jewel cases) and deciding what to play is an engagement with yourself, rather than with a code sitting on a server somewhere.
This is spot on, Marcus. The tangible aspect gives it a whole new layer of meaning. It’s not just isolated tracks, but a record as an object that can instantly evoke memories. Thanks a lot for this!
music in any form is a comfort. but the process and the engagement of vinyl transforms the experience to something very personal. it’s why i always choose the longer process of grabbing a vinyl from the self then pressing a button on applemusic
Thanks a lot for your comment. Absolutely! Vinyl lets you experience music in ways other formats can’t even come close to.
What a lovely reminder of the comforts of a ritual. I don’t listen to my record player often enough but one thing is for certain. Sundays are for soul music on the record player. Otis Redding and coffee on Sundays are just right.
Thank you!! I love that tradition of yours. As a soul lover myself, I can but concur!
“...we are stubborn enough to stick to 12” discs that can only be played on machines that can’t be used for anything else.” Pretty much sums it up. Though stubbornness is but a small sliver of the reason. Everyone will be unique, but for me, it’s part nostalgia summoning, part meditation, part museum browsing, and a dozen other parts. There’s an ineffable analog warmth as well.
Thanks, Steve! Yes, I think it's quite cool that, although all vinyl lovers are (roughly, more or less, and for lack of a better word) "doing the same", or engaging in a similar activity, the underlying motivations and goals can be quite varied when you start talking to other vinyl lovers and comparing. That's beautiful because we are united in our sameness but also in our differences.
If one doesn't know one ever existed, one doesn't know to Google it. Your wonderful articles (this one included, of course) never fail to make me think of Dad, my font of all things vinyl, about which you know much, by now!
Your list of vinyl sizes, quite understandably, left out this rare and adorbs '40s-era 3" 78 rpm record. I only know about it from it being nailed on the wall above the door in Dad's den in his mid-'70s house after he and Mom divorced (so I just Googled it): https://www.popsike.com/RARE-3-Inch-78-rpm-DECCA-MINI-Record-Russ-Morgan-Does-Heart-Beat-For-Me-25080/233679521530.html
Had I never had a first-hand experience with it, I'd-a never knew it existed! He called the label it was on ("Decca") Decay Records! Thanks so much, again, Andy, for making Dad-memories even more of an "as-usual" thing!
Thank YOU, Brad! You see, this is one of the reasons why I (and more generally all the vinyl revival aficionados) benefit so much from first-hand memories of those like you who were there when vinyl was in its heyday. It’s true that now more than ever there’s a considerable amount of information about how all things vinyl, but still, nothing beats that first-hand experience of having been there. So I thank you, my friend, for your invaluable contributions to this space!
This is such a wonderful ode to the unsung beauty of sameness.
Also, inquiring minds want to know: what is the restaurant you and Stephan visit weekly?
Thank you very much for your kind words, Michelle! Your feedback is golden. Means a lot to me. The restaurant is our local Indian curry house in West Kilburn/Queen’s Park. It’s called Queen’s Indian Restaurant. Never disappoints!
Cool, thanks! My sister-in-law is going to London in a few weeks. I’m going to pass the recommendation on😊
My pleasure! Another great one if she likes Indian food is The Rajdoot near Baker Street tube station. Authentic, delicious food; good service, nice spacious venue (for London standards) and unpretentious. Hope she has a great time!