Vinyl LPs making a comeback

[meev992]

Apparently, even the lay-person enjoys warm, vintage tone.

http://www.time.com/time/magazine/ar...702369,00.html

Originally Posted by Time Magazine

From college dorm rooms to high school sleepovers, an all-but-extinct music medium has been showing up lately. And we don't mean CDs. Vinyl records, especially the full-length LPs that helped define the golden era of rock in the 1960s and '70s, are suddenly cool again. Some of the new fans are baby boomers nostalgic for their youth. But to the surprise and delight of music executives, increasing numbers of the iPod generation are also purchasing turntables (or dusting off Dad's), buying long-playing vinyl records and giving them a spin.
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Like the comeback of Puma sneakers or vintage T shirts, vinyl's resurgence has benefited from its retro-rock aura. Many young listeners discovered LPs after they rifled through their parents' collections looking for oldies and found that they liked the warmer sound quality of records, the more elaborate album covers and liner notes that come with them, and the experience of putting one on and sharing it with friends, as opposed to plugging in some earbuds and listening alone. "Bad sound on an iPod has had an impact on a lot of people going back to vinyl," says David MacRunnel, a 15-year-old high school sophomore from Creve Coeur, Mo., who owns more than 1,000 records.

The music industry, hoping to find another revenue source that doesn't easily lend itself to illegal downloads, has happily jumped on the bandwagon. Contemporary artists like the Killers and Ryan Adams have begun issuing their new releases on vinyl in addition to the CD and MP3 formats. As an extra lure, many labels are including coupons for free audio downloads with their vinyl albums so that Generation Y music fans can get the best of both worlds: high-quality sound at home and iPod portability for the road. Also, vinyl's different shapes (hearts, triangles) and eye-catching designs (bright colors, sparkles) are created to appeal to a younger audience. While new records sell for about $14, used LPs go for as little as a penny--perfect for a teenager's budget--or as much as $2,400 for a collectible, autographed copy of Beck's Steve Threw Up.

Vinyl records are just a small scratch on the surface when it comes to total album sales--only about 0.2%, compared to 10% for digital downloads and 89.7% for CDs, according to Nielsen SoundScan--but these numbers may underrepresent the vinyl trend since they don't always include sales at smaller indie shops where vinyl does best. Still, 990,000 vinyl albums were sold in 2007, up 15.4% from the 858,000 units bought in 2006. Mike Dreese, CEO of Newbury Comics, a New England chain of independent music retailers that sells LPs and CDs, says his vinyl sales were up 37% last year, and Patrick Amory, general manager of indie label Matador Records, whose artists include Cat Power and the New Pornographers, claims, "We can't keep up with the demand."

Big players are starting to take notice too. "It's not a significant part of our business, but there is enough there for me to take someone and have half their time devoted to making vinyl a real business," says John Esposito, president and CEO of WEA Corp., the U.S. distribution company of Warner Music Group, which posted a 30% increase in LP sales last year. In October, Amazon.com introduced a vinyl-only store and increased its selection to 150,000 titles across 20 genres. Its biggest sellers? Alternative rock, followed by classic rock albums. "I'm not saying vinyl will become a mainstream format, just like gourmet eating is not going to take over from McDonald's," says Michael Fremer, senior contributing editor at Stereophile. "But there is a growing group of people who are going back to a high-resolution format." Here are some of the reasons they're doing it and why you might want to consider it:

Sound quality LPs generally exhibit a warmer, more nuanced sound than CDs and digital downloads. MP3 files tend to produce tinnier notes, especially if compressed into a lower-resolution format that pares down the sonic information. "Most things sound better on vinyl, even with the crackles and pops and hisses," says MacRunnel, the young Missouri record collector.

Album extras Large album covers with imaginative graphics, pullout photos (some even have full-size posters tucked in the sleeve) and liner notes are a big draw for young fans. "Alternative rock used to have 16-page booklets and album sleeves, but with iTunes there isn't anything collectible to show I own a piece of this artist," says Dreese of Newbury Comics. In a nod to modern technology, albums known as picture discs come with an image of the band or artist printed on the vinyl. "People who are used to CDs see the artwork and the colored vinyl, and they think it's really cool," says Jordan Yates, 15, a Nashville-based vinyl enthusiast. Some LP releases even come with bonus tracks not on the CD version, giving customers added value.

Social experience Crowding around a record player to listen to a new album with friends, discussing the foldout photos, even getting up to flip over a record makes vinyl a more socially interactive way to enjoy music. "As far as a communal experience, like with family and friends, it feels better to listen to vinyl," says Jason Bini, 24, a recent graduate of Fordham University. "It's definitely more social."

[Pilgrim]

More power to those who prefer them...I'm pleased to see that industry continue. We don't need to abandon it!

Personally, I lived with 45s and LPs for decades and I don't care to touch another one. CDs and DVDs are more durable, sound great, take less storage space, hold more music, and resist damage. I have plenty of LPs with scratches and nasty static at the start from being cued repeatedly in my DJ days. Considering all factors, they are NOT the best recording medium as far as I'm concerned.

[bluestarbass]

I wonder if this will force bands to make records one of their mediums, and in turn see a band do an all analog record. How cool would it be for a new album to never be converted to a digital signal!?!

Im not trying to start an analog vs digital debate here. I just think its a different way of doing something, like an artist using charcoal.

[meev992]

With the whole community of "Indie-with-old-school-flavor musicians / fans", it's only a matter of time before bands go ALL analog, and the purchase of Vinyl becomes more of a novelty/trend rather than a genuine trip down memory lane.

I was seriously considering buying a decent record player with output jacks...

but I just didn't have the scratch for it.

[dancehallclasher]

Originally Posted by bluestarbass

I wonder if this will force bands to make records one of their mediums, and in turn see a band do an all analog record. How cool would it be for a new album to never be converted to a digital signal!?!

ever heard of the White Stripes??

This is nothing new, by the way. Must be a slow news week.

[meev992]

Originally Posted by dancehallclasher

ever heard of the White Stripes??

This is nothing new, by the way. Must be a slow news week.

Journalists are getting lazy. They're desperate for things to write about and they're hardly staying on top of things.

[Matt Till]

For a great modern all analog recording: Check out Witchcraft's self titled. Apparently, all of the equipment they used (recording/playing) was created before the 70s.

I collect records. Mostly older ones, but there are a lot of bands that put out their stuff on vinyl. I bought a bunch of vinyl from Tee Pee records and was amazed by all of it.

[Bruce Lindfield]

Originally Posted by Pilgrim

More power to those who prefer them...I'm pleased to see that industry continue. We don't need to abandon it!

Personally, I lived with 45s and LPs for decades and I don't care to touch another one. CDs and DVDs are more durable, sound great, take less storage space, hold more music, and resist damage. I have plenty of LPs with scratches and nasty static at the start from being cued repeatedly in my DJ days. Considering all factors, they are NOT the best recording medium as far as I'm concerned.

I agree with this entirely - there was a time for Pop/Rock albums when they took mixes aimed at vinyl and just put them on CD meaning they didn't sound as good as the vinyl - but nowadays there is no doubt that CD is a far better medium from any standpoint!

[CrashBang]

There's nothing like the vinyl experience. Opening the wrapper and getting a whiff of that virgin platter. Cracking open that gate fold LP and exposing the artwork not available to those who bought the cassette or 8-track. Cueing up your turntable and dropping your cartridge on the first track.

This is still possible. All of my Pearl Jam cds are also owned on vinyl (cds are much more convenient). The last Foo Fighters was bundled with a 45. And how about all of that great blues catalog that was not available on cd until recently.

B.B. King live at the Cook County Jail for $1.00.

Or the great jazz you can pick up at record stores used and cheap. Miles Davis and Charlie Parker just do not sound right unless played on vinyl.

Long live the long play record album. You can kill the 8-track.

[Bruce Lindfield]

I remember it well - great first time - but then after that, pops, noises and eventually unplayable/unlistenable after a few weeks!

Give me CD any day!

[skaliwag66]

Originally Posted by Matt Till

For a great modern all analog recording: Check out Witchcraft's self titled. Apparently, all of the equipment they used (recording/playing) was created before the 70s.

I collect records. Mostly older ones, but there are a lot of bands that put out their stuff on vinyl. I bought a bunch of vinyl from Tee Pee records and was amazed by all of it.

+1

[Philbiker]

Originally Posted by Bruce Lindfield

there was a time for Pop/Rock albums when they took mixes aimed at vinyl and just put them on CD meaning they didn't sound as good as the vinyl - but nowadays there is no doubt that CD is a far better medium from any standpoint!

Actually, it's very typical these days for CDs to be mastered with brickwall limiting that completely kills the sound, with the LP retaining the dynamics of the original recording. So we've come full circle! Technically deficient LP records sound significantly better than their CD counterparts!

[Bruce Lindfield]

Originally Posted by Philbiker

Actually, it's very typical these days for CDs to be mastered with brickwall limiting that completely kills the sound, with the LP retaining the dynamics of the original recording. So we've come full circle! Technically deficient LP records sound significantly better than their CD counterparts!

It depends what you buy - so I have heard this is a problem with current rock/pop - but I only buy Jazz and Classical and there is no doubt for these genres that CD is far superior.

I heard that it was the "download generation" who are having a bad effect on CD mastering - ironically! - so they have to master loud as people will download single tracks and if it sound quieter it won't sell, as they are more likely to buy something that sounds more immediate and in your face as it has been compressed/limited to push it!

But as I say I don't buy this way or these genres, so CD is the easy winner!

[RedemptionBass]

My wife is currently wearing my record collection on her ring finger right next to our wedding ring.

I love my wife a lot. She rocks.

I always thought the sound of vinyl was VASTLY superior to anything else. If you take care of your records, they last a lifetime. Now when I see the turntables with usb (I sold long before technology had come this far) cables built in, I get depressed. Would have been way cool to still have them and dropped them all to mp3 for convenience.

I miss my records a lot. They rocked.

[CamMcIntyre]

I've been buying on LP the albums that i felt had the most impact on me. I also want to hear things about how would have been typical for the time period in which they came out. My mom gave me her old Motorola brief case turntable.

So far i've bought: Jaco's self titled, Marvin Gaye 'What's Goin on', and Cannonball Adderley 'Somethin Else'. I've got a few that my Dad has given me [used to belong to my Grandma] and some that i bought b/c they were just that cheap [Weather Report's Mysterious Traveler].

First thing i thought when i heard the Jaco one was "How did they transcribe from this?"

take it easy.

[keb]

I have to admit I miss the LP days, warts and all (pops, scratches, etc). The "experience" of it all. I still have a big collection of vinyl, but no turntable at the moment (mine crapped out.)

The whole modern pop/rock CD mastering thing has taken on a life of its own; not only the loudness war atrocity, but it also seems like albums are being mastered with the idea that they're gonna be chopped down to mp3s and stuck on a phone as a ringtone or an ipod and playing through little headphones. They should release CDs with two different mixes of the album: one with the dynamic range actually preserved for pure home listening pleasure, and another that's the "modern" squished version that's perfect for your phone or if you just like crappy sound quality.

[Bruce Lindfield]

I think they assume that only people who listen to Jazz and Classical are remotely interested in sound quality!

[mikemulcahy]

CD's for quality hands down...I miss the album covers.

Mike

[Bruce Lindfield]

Originally Posted by mikemulcahy

CD's for quality hands down...I miss the album covers.

Mike

Agree 100% - I remember buying "Yessongs" in the 70s, with the fantastic triple gatefold sleeve with the Roger Dean artwork and it was a big part of the experience!!

[dlloyd]

I replicate the experience of vinyl by going, "ffhhhhhhhhhhCHHKKffhhhhhhhhhhCHHKKffhhhhhhhhhhCHH KKffhhhhhhhhhhCHHKK" when I switch my ipod on. For variety, I go, "vvvvwwwrrrrrrrppppp" as I switch it off.

Vinyl was rubbish. Good riddance.