Vinyl's back, tell a friend. After having been ousted by more compact forms of music containment, those shiny PVC songholders are back with a polite and largely inoffensive vengeance. New vinyl sales currently stand at around 600,000 units for 2013. Ok, I admit it, 600,000 units is hardly going to strike fear into the cold, grey hearts of iTunes et al. But there's definitely a wave of support which shows no sign of breaking any time soon. Why's that then? Contrary to popular belief, it has less to do with Shoreditch Hipsters and more to do with the people realising just how much they love music. And a bit to do with good old consumerism. The record's original enforced semi-retirement was due to its size. The smaller, far more practical, cassette bowled up and basically picked on it for carrying a bit too much timber. It was like getting changed for P.E all over again. Nowadays, as my girlfriend regularly assures me, size doesn't matter. Whether big or small, it's the quality that counts. And that's where vinyl comes into its own. As enthusiasts will preach to anybody willing to listen, needle on record emits a far richer sound than any of its counterparts. Gone is the hollow, tinny track you once knew and replacing it is a tune embedded in a maelstrom of sounds and notes you didn't even realise were there. That warmth and depth, assisted by the hum of the record player, provides a real audial delight. Visually, aside from the imposing dark sheen of the disk, the covers are works of art in their own right. My own personal favourite being London Calling, The Clash's take on Elvis' first solo effort. The green and pink typography set against the image of Paul Simenon trashing his Fender bass really gives an insight as to what the band was about. Ironically enough, it was also used by that well-known anti-establishment pillar of society, The Royal Mail, as a stamp. Doesn't get much more rock and roll than that, does it..? Another important factor in the resurgence is the fact that you can actually touch a record. And people like touching stuff. It's as simple as that. We like having something tangible to show for our pound. The silky feel of a glossy record and the pops of static as you run a finger across is one of life's small but sincere pleasures. MP3s certainly don't cut the mustard in this department. Obviously, they have their plusses but in my part-neanderthal mind's-eye, they're a series of zeros and ones that float around in the ether until somebody presses play. They're reminiscent of most recruitment consultants: impersonal, fickle and will devour part of your wages with very few qualms. Whereas a battered old record is like that friend you don't see as often as you'd like: they'll turn up on time, be the first to the bar and gladly go all nostalgic about the good times.
Where can I find records? You know that big space above the rafters in your parents'/grandparents' house? Aye, that's the one. The loft. See if you can have a rummage in theirs. Chances are your parents were pretty cool before you came along and ruined all their fun/exhausted their expendable income. Or, in my father's case, before my mam came along and ruined his fun. Pre-mam it was The Ramones, The New York Dolls, Blondie etc. Post-mam's arrival... imagine our mutual dismay to find the likes of Simply Red, Genesis and Whitney Houston. Those must've been dark times for him. Dark times, indeed. Charity shops are also great for finding bargains. You may have to trawl through an inordinate amount of Cliff Richard, Abba and Classical, but you'll generally find gold at the end of the rainbow and you'll also be doing a bit of philanthropy. A win win situation if ever I heard one. I recently acquired a first pressing of Pink Floyd's Dark Side of the Moon. The damage? £3. Records shops. Support them. They keep old music alive and bring new music to our attention. This is important. Go to your local record shop. Go now. Unless it's late, then wait until tomorrow. The staff in those places are awesome, they'll chat, they'll haggle and they'll appreciate you stopping by. I think the unofficial rule for hiring staff in those places is "knobheads need not apply". You will pay a few quid more than you would online, but you'll also be upkeeping an entire industry. Ah, you're a good'un, aren't you? The internet. That ethereal world of ones and zeros. As much as it pains me to say, eBay is a vast fonts from which you'll be able to find absolutely anything your achey-breaky heart desires. However, proceed with caution. Collecting records is addictive. eBay is addictive. Combining them when you're five sheets to the wind can be costly, not only to your wallet, but also your dignity. I once ordered an INXS album when in this state. The less said about that, the better. Go forth. Join the revolution. Buy vinyl, the fourth building block of the Universe.
Out of touch, out of date and out of work. With no other discernible skills of any real use to society, I thought I'd give this a bash. My main focuses are food, music, sport and anything remotely related to ISS Pro 98. I spend half of my life listening to records and the other half wondering whether it'd be possible to become John Cooper Clarke's mate. He, alongside Stephen Fry and Countdown's Rachel Riley, should run the country.
Vinyl's back, tell a friend. After having been ousted by more compact forms of music containment, those shiny PVC songholders are back with a polite and largely inoffensive vengeance. New vinyl sales currently stand at around 600,000 units for 2013. Ok, I admit it, 600,000 units is hardly going to strike fear into the cold, grey hearts of iTunes et al. But there's definitely a wave of support which shows no sign of breaking any time soon. Why's that then? Contrary to popular belief, it has less to do with Shoreditch Hipsters and more to do with the people realising just how much they love music. And a bit to do with good old consumerism. The record's original enforced semi-retirement was due to its size. The smaller, far more practical, cassette bowled up and basically picked on it for carrying a bit too much timber. It was like getting changed for P.E all over again. Nowadays, as my girlfriend regularly assures me, size doesn't matter. Whether big or small, it's the quality that counts. And that's where vinyl comes into its own. As enthusiasts will preach to anybody willing to listen, needle on record emits a far richer sound than any of its counterparts. Gone is the hollow, tinny track you once knew and replacing it is a tune embedded in a maelstrom of sounds and notes you didn't even realise were there. That warmth and depth, assisted by the hum of the record player, provides a real audial delight. Visually, aside from the imposing dark sheen of the disk, the covers are works of art in their own right. My own personal favourite being London Calling, The Clash's take on Elvis' first solo effort. The green and pink typography set against the image of Paul Simenon trashing his Fender bass really gives an insight as to what the band was about. Ironically enough, it was also used by that well-known anti-establishment pillar of society, The Royal Mail, as a stamp. Doesn't get much more rock and roll than that, does it..? 
