Comments on: Why I Love Vinyl – Reason #372

By: Dan Hart

Thu, 23 Sep 2010 13:27:06 +0000

An interesting missive Matthew.

I love my dusty old vinyl. Love mixing CDs in real time too. Compact Cassettes are all in a box in the loft and only get played when I’m up there having a sort-out, what a horrible format that was. Mini Discs were fun for a time prior to CD recording becoming so easy – they were a spiritual successor to the compact cassette with the ‘improved quality’ of CD and importantly random access, if required. With MDs you still had to record in real time – not a drag and drop in sight.

I’d forgotten how in the ‘old days’ I used to have a favourite side to an album. Something that can never happen with digital media (including CDs).

I’ve been collecting vinyl for over 30 years now and my music room has 6000+ 7/10/12″ records as well as 3 turntables and a wind-up gramophone. To me this format never went away and long may it survive.

By: Matthew

Matthew — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 13:29:30 +0000

C&B, you and DC have both bought one – good lads, good lads. Now, if you could just find another 288 pals…

By: Campfires & Battlefields

Campfires & Battlefields — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 12:26:18 +0000

Couldn’t resist that sweet LL/B&B 12.” I promise to bring it out only after bedtime.

By: Chris

Chris — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 20:59:32 +0000

Great Post!
I think the vinyl revival is interesting. It’s both nostaligic as well as indicitive of a desire for a more authentic life. I;m glad cds are dying out, I never really liked them. I have always enjoyed getting to know an album one side at a time. My desire for novelty kicks in about every half hour – average length of most lps – so it has always worked for me. I tried to break cds into sides but never got used to it. There are many cds i own in which I don’t know the last few songs as well as the rest.

By: Matthew

Matthew — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 01:52:37 +0000

Dev – kind of like why I prefer a cork in my wine, rather than a screw-top. I think wine buffs have decided that screw-tops actually preserve the wine better, and I am sure they may be right, because I certainly have no idea. But dammit I like the foil-removing, cork-wrenching, back-spasming part of that ritual and screw-tops will never be able to match that.

By: Ben

Ben — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 01:51:32 +0000

Matthew

1) I did point out that it was a sin.

2) The last time you make sent me a mix it was right after you heard of a great new band called Broken Records. I’ve been using the podcast for years champ.

By: Cogstar

Cogstar — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 00:57:08 +0000

Cd’s just don’t have the whole other side element either.

By: Dev

Dev — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 00:51:08 +0000

Matthew, I think you touched on the key element (aside from the reduced ear fatigue you get from vinyl versus assaultive mp3s):

It is about the *ritual* involved with playing a record that makes the whole experience more immersive and special. Rather like a Japanese tea ceremony…

By: Matthew

Matthew — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 00:03:24 +0000

C&B, then why the fuck did you just shell out on the Builders/Loch Lomond Split 12″ then? I’m not sending our fine vinyl to a household where it may be brutalised!

Ed, I don’t think there’s a good answer, really. I reckon for a single vinyl is a good bet. Someone will always be disappointed with the format though, especially these days.

Ben, I am never making you another fucking mix ever again in your life if you do that. You can just listen to the podcasts, dammit.

By: Ben

Ben — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 23:17:05 +0000

I know a mix tape is a labour of love but, but frankly I look forward to getting a CD every bit as much as a tape.

Where the mix tape has the biggest advantage for me is that you have to listen to a tape all the way through in order. A CD gets ripped onto your MP3 player and may never be heard in the correct order. Now that this a sin.