Vinyl
I started buying records again on a whim. One day I was roaming the aisles at Target looking for some hair dye (don’t ask, I already have had the platinum blond phase) and I happened upon a turntable. I’ve seen turntables before, when I’ve been trifling or going to garage sales but they always seemed to be just an artifact of some bygone era. They didn’t really look functional. Cool, yes. Functional, no.
Yet there it was. Very XXI century. In all its consumerist glory. So I bought it. It's dangerous to let me loose in some stores. Especially if there's something interesting to go after or if there's cute clothes laying around.
And I have not regretted buying that turntable. At all. The fact that I have to get up and go change the record (one of the things people bitch about) or that I need to clean each record and store it in milk crates (obsessed with those!) are actually quite fun and even add to the whole experience. Really. I have records that are seventy years old. I have records that I know my mom had. I had records from the eighties that hold a special kind of meaning for me. I have Ella and Aretha and Stevie and Debbie and Janet and Madonna. I have twelve inches and six inches and LPs. And I love them all.
I have noticed that many people are going back to this technology and I think it may be some kind of response to all the electronic brouhaha surrounding almost every aspect of our lives. I, for example, refuse to go all-electronic for many things: books, music, home appliances, home safety, paying my bills, choosing my clothes. You name it.
I think the next thing I'm going to get will be an actual Polaroid camera. I know. I won't be able to post the pics or use them here or I'll have to take a pic with my phone to send it to someone and that, may say, will beat the purpose. But still. It's more tangible to me, more anchored by the senses. Sometimes this life in the ones and zeroes does get to me.
XOXO
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gurl, spouse has over 5000 LPs/45s/78s in his collection. and, like you, all electronic ain't the way to go; it's low and slow for us. and we like it that way.
ReplyDeleteAhhh a bygone era. We do have a number of albums. I have an eclectic taste in music: classical, jazz, pop, Broadway, etc. Nowadays I consume most of my musical entertainment digitally or CD. It’s been awhile since I’ve spun up a record. I may have to blow the dust off of some of them this week and sit back and enjoy. Thanks for the reminder, babe.
ReplyDeleteXOXO 👨❤️💋👨
That's an interesting theory about why vinyl is making a comeback! When I switched to CDs 25 years ago, I got rid of all my records except for a handful that were never reissued on CD and a few cherished 45s from my youth. A few years ago I bought a portable turntable that I set up every once in a while to play them and be overcome with nostalgia, LOL! But I have not purchased any more LPs -- been there, done that, I've moved on.
ReplyDeleteOne of the great things ab out vinyl is you listen to the entire album, or at least one side, at a time. No one gets up and changes an album after one song. Even though most of my music is downloaded, I still listen to entire albums. Give the artist the credit he is due. He spent a lot of time writing and recording those songs.
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ReplyDeleteWow, how interesting that you posted about this, Friday at work I had a good discussion with twenty somethings that are buying their music on albums. They said that people their age are craving "real" experiences. I have started buying c.d.s.again and the store owner was telling me that the reason so many albums are being 're-released on CD, is because they are back out on vinyl and if sales are good for the vinyl version then they put out CD versions as well. I'm replacing tapes that expired long long ago.
@AnneMarie: That's an awesome collection. I do have some 45s, too. So quaint!!
ReplyDelete@Bae. You sure do! It makes for a cool, relaxing listen.
@Debra: that's cool! It's awesome yo have kept some of those 45s! Ahh I can imagine the stories behind those singles!
@Dave: Yes! And that having to listen to the whole production gives a better view to the artists' original intent. Also, liner notes!
@Steve: It's true! The whole vinyl thing feels a little more grounded. From going crate digging for a specific album to the scratchy sound some have. And I didn't know about the reissues. That's super cool!
XOXO
Our music tastes overlap quite a bit. I still have many albums from back-in-the-day, although I have no turntable. The jacket art and sleeve art were often as interesting as the music.
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