Remember vinyl LP's?

Anyone out there who began listening to music on vinyl LP's ever miss them?

I've attempted, on a couple occasions over the past 10-15 years or so, to resurrect my old vinly record albums. Yeah... I bought an old-fashioned style turntable (you know those ones made by Crosley, etc.) and all that. But, in the end, I went back to CD's. I felt like I was going from a computer to a chalkboard by going back to vinyl. I just couldn't do it. Well, I am going through another vinyl phase, but I'm sure it too is doomed.

Kind'a sad... I always loved buying albums. You'd get something to open up (especially if it was a gatefold), posters might be inside, etc....

I read a really great article many years ago about vinyl LP's, in some Sunday newspaper magazine section, about how we lost something when music went digital. Not only does vinyl have a warmer sound than digital, but - as the author of this article pointed out - you had an actual relationship with your albums... you were sort of forced to listen to each side straight through - treat it as a peice of art... then physically turn it over to continue listening....

These days, you just forward through your CD's to get to your favorite songs (Unless you're listening to The Beatles where every song is yuor favorite).

I don't necessarily hate that music went digital. I suppose I even like some things about digital better when comparing it to LP's. However, I sometimes miss vinyl/analog. Has anyone been able to retain vinyl in their regular arsenal of music? How did you do it? How did you retain that mindset with the convenience (and clarity) of digital at your disposal? Are new albums even available on vinyl???

I have a collection of about 30 vinyl LPs, mostly Beatles, but a few other ones are in there as well. They've been sitting in a box since I moved out of my parent's house--I don't have a turntable accessible right now. There's definitely a warmth to vinyl, like you mentioned, that CDs are lacking. The sound on CDs seems so sterile at times, even though it's digitally processed and you can hear every single note clearly. The first time I heard Ram on CD, I felt like there was something missing from it--I was so used to the pops and scratches and just the general tone on my vinyl copy.

I LOVE vinyl! I've got a huge collection of vinyl from the 60's and in particular a treasure-trove of Beatle records. I also have an immaculate 1961 Decca Stereogram record player downstairs that gives off a beautiful warm sound. I tell you, the only way you can fully aprpeciate an original 60's record is when you're listening to it through an original 60's record player!

I have a decent collection of vinyl LPs, but my ancient and not-so-immaculate record player finally keeled over last year, and I haven't gotten around to replacing it. But I agree, vinyl is the best way to go when listening to albums that were first released onto vinyl.

I have over 200 vinyl albums, but my turntable hasn't worked in at least 7 or 8 years. I really should get a new one because I have a bunch of bootlegs and rare stuff that I haven't/can't replace on CD. I generally prefer CD because I can listen to it on my stereo or on my portable, whereas vinyl isn't portable at all...and you really can hear more details, but I do like vinyl and the A-side/B-side phenomenon that people who grew up with CD will never quite get.

Wow, this makes me feel... sad... I bet vinyl was much better then CD, I'm almost certain it is. The thing is, it was Cds from when I was born. God I missed so much, I wish I was back in the 60s.

I don't know if it was "better," necessarily....One scratch on the record and you were sunk. And it wasn't fun having to stop what you were doing to flip the record over to listen to the other side (and let's not even get started about 45rpms...our stereo would play maybe 5 or 6 of them before we had to change the stack). The convenience factor of cds/mp3s definitely wins out in this case.

It's kind of funny...people right around my age experienced it all within about a 15-year time span as we grew up. I had tons of records when I was real young...then I switched to cassette tapes...then CDs...and now mp3s. (And I'm just slightly too young to have dealt with 8-tracks. )

Originally Posted by beatlegirl9977

I don't know if it was "better," necessarily....One scratch on the record and you were sunk. And it wasn't fun having to stop what you were doing to flip the record over to listen to the other side (and let's not even get started about 45rpms...our stereo would play maybe 5 or 6 of them before we had to change the stack). The convenience factor of cds/mp3s definitely wins out in this case.
It's kind of funny...people right around my age experienced it all within about a 15-year time span as we grew up. I had tons of records when I was real young...then I switched to cassette tapes...then CDs...and now mp3s. (And I'm just slightly too young to have dealt with 8-tracks. )

LOL! Thanx for making me feel better, I guess that does make sense.

But I still feel like I was born in such a material world... I mean, I'm on the internet everday, I'm a slave to a machine! (And I don't want to be) If I lived back in the 60s, I dunno, it seemed funner! More natural maybe... I hate it how kids don't read now, because of short attention spans, they watch movies instead, or that people are becoming so much bigger and lazier because there are more efficient ways to do things, using machines. I dunno, I feel that if I lived in the past, it would have been much better, but maybe I'm taking things for granted as well.

Originally Posted by Rellevart

I have over 200 vinyl albums, but my turntable hasn't worked in at least 7 or 8 years. I really should get a new one because I have a bunch of bootlegs and rare stuff that I haven't/can't replace on CD. I generally prefer CD because I can listen to it on my stereo or on my portable, whereas vinyl isn't portable at all...and you really can hear more details, but I do like vinyl and the A-side/B-side phenomenon that people who grew up with CD will never quite get.

I have to agree when it comes to the clarity factor. I think it was the thing that sold me on CD's in the first place. I can remember listening to Pink Floyd's "The Wall" on CD for the first time, and I was hearing all kinds of subtleties like exhales and such that I'd never before heard on the vinyl LP.

The convenience thing is a +, as well. It's great to be able to burn a mix onto CD rather than make a cassette tape... although, I never had an issue with listening to tapes in my car stereo.

I don't mind the having to turn the record over part with vinyl LP's. I liked the whole side A/side B thing. You had two "kick-off" songs rather than one. Put you into a whole 'nother mind set to listen to a "record" in that manner as opposed to 12-15 songs running non-stop.

As for MP3... I have to say that I don't particularly like it. I've lost the ritual of going to my CD rack and choosing a CD, and walking it over to my stereo and popping it in. At least with CD's I had SOME physical entity attached to the music. With my iPod, I click a button, and the album plays. A very distant and impersonal experience. It's handy to travel with, but it can't replace CD's (nor LP's, for that matter!) as my primary music format.

My husband has a great vinyl collection...and our turntable still works..we listen quite often but the transportable aspect of cd's cannot be beat. However the artwork of vinyls are so much better :)

Vinyl? Never heard of it!

good morning all...still have alot of my vinyl LP's!!! and alot of 45's too!!!!!!!!!

Originally Posted by beatlegirl9977

(and let's not even get started about 45rpms...our stereo would play maybe 5 or 6 of them before we had to change the stack).

Hey, you were lucky! My turntable didn't do that, I had to change a 45 every 4 minutes or so.
But then again I wasn't so busy when I was 15, 20 years old. You actually had time on your hands and sometimes I wouldn't do much more than sit beside the turntable and have fun to change LP's or 45's...

You people had me wanting to listen to 33 & 1/3 a while back and I tried my once trusty turntable, only to find out that it's now squeaking... So I went out and bought the album on CD.
I haven't yet changed the V-belt and know that I have to or I will never use it again.
I've got a loads of LP's I would like to hear again sooner or later...

I had a trunk full of Beatles and Beatle related the last vinyl I bought was Georges cloud nine in about 1987

Originally Posted by twovirgins

I had a trunk full of Beatles and Beatle related the last vinyl I bought was Georges cloud nine in about 1987

I have that on vinyl somewhere. Great cover.

I have hundreds of albums! Love them! Nothing beats the "hiss" when the needle drops down on a record.

Originally Posted by .Psychedelic.Stars.

LOL! Thanx for making me feel better, I guess that does make sense.

But I still feel like I was born in such a material world... I mean, I'm on the internet everday, I'm a slave to a machine! (And I don't want to be) If I lived back in the 60s, I dunno, it seemed funner! More natural maybe... I hate it how kids don't read now, because of short attention spans, they watch movies instead, or that people are becoming so much bigger and lazier because there are more efficient ways to do things, using machines. I dunno, I feel that if I lived in the past, it would have been much better, but maybe I'm taking things for granted as well.

I agree with you 100% about attention spans (all ages) and physial inactivity
brought on by the overuse of electronic media (myself included), and wanting to be in the '60's!

Well, now that I got that out!
I have a Crosley that I play 45's on especially for the scratchy mono sound!
I got it for my nostalgia, not for hearing every ping in the studio.
We also play our old 78's that were made for children, they're hilarious, like
old radio programs. I'd like an awesome 50's or 60's record player, tho, like Harb has.

Some one asked me about my old records...I forget who & what thread, please private message me if it is you!

I have some vinyl LPs and 45 around the house. I recently purged my vinyl collection to reduce some house clutter. If I had an LP and CD copy of the same title, the vinyl went to the trash. I have some I could not toss, and some titles not on CD.

Occasionally I play some of my old LPs. If the record is reasonably pop and tick free, I'll transfer it to a CD-R.

Originally Posted by Lynner

I have hundreds of albums! Love them! Nothing beats the "hiss" when the needle drops down on a record.

and then...the POPPING!!!! AHHHHHHH!!!!!!...lol...naw...old records are cool...I used to go to a record store, but they're closing and they had some records for $1!!!! and they were in good condition too! I guess he was doing that because he was mostly a collector....i'm not....I buy them to listen to! But they were always that cheap...not just because he was moving either!