How Vinyl Got Its Groove Back

CBS Evening News: In This Digital Age, Vinyl Records Are Making A Comeback

(CBS)  Sixteen-year-old David MacRunnel loves his record collection.

"I have approximately 1,200," he said.

They're all vinyl LPs. Scratch the iPod.

"You experience the music versus hearing the music," MacRunnel said.

For 18-year-old Lukas Glickman, LPs have become an obsession.

"I spend all my money on it. It's a problem," he said.

They're true believers in a vinyl revival. Yes, in this digital age, the LP is coming back from the dead, CBS News correspondent Anthony Mason reports.

The group REM released its latest album on vinyl. So did Bruce Springsteen with his album, "Magic." Madonna's "Hard Candy" came out on vinyl and Coldplay's "Viva La Vida" as well. A new LP costs about $20.

"It's a business decision. The major labels are doing it, because there's a lotta demand for it," said Matt Wishnow, president of Insound, an online indie music store.

Vinyl records now account for nearly half of Insound's sales.

"If you're a music fan and you want to have music 'stuff,' this is the most prized 'stuff' you can have in your music collection," Wishnow said.

The vinyl plastic LP was created in the 1940s.

But by the 1990s, CDs had made LPs all but obsolete.

Two years ago, only 850,000 vinyl albums were sold in the United States. This year that's expected to nearly double.

Record Technology, a California vinyl plant, has a nearly 4-month backlog of orders.

"Have you actually played your album on vinyl?" Mason asked Grammy-Award winning vocalist Shelby Lynne.

"Shoot, yeah!" she said.

Lynne was thrilled when her 10th album was her first to come out on vinyl.

"Because look how big that picture is!" she said. "It's just the whole thing. The touchin' it. The puttin' the needle down."

Wishnow calls it the avid music fan's response to the fleeting nature of the digital age.

"This is not a trend. This is going to be there for a long time," Wishnow said.

Believe it. Vinyl is groovy again.

[quatermass2]

Only those too young to remember the hassles of cleaning an LP, the huge irritation of having a "pop" on a brand new record, the inconvenience of FINDING what you want to listen to, and the sheer waste of space coul find vinyl an attractive medium. Just as the vast majority of tube-amp listeners could be exposed in a double-blind listening test, the glamor of vinyl can be dispersed through critical listening (unless you happen to LIKE noisy LPs, that is.)

[republic1776]

"You experience the music versus hearing the music,"

I think they''re nuts, but to each his own.
Records sound like crappola.
Wonder when the 8-Track will make a come back. lol

[thee0racle]

over 30,000,000 ipods have been sold this year so far. Just exactly what does this guy (who runs an online store) mean by "fleeting nature of the digital age"?

[grizzster]

People laughed at us in the Neurotic Nineties when my wife and I built more shelves for our expansive LP library of classical, jazz, rock, folk, Motown, show tunes, and Latin music, some of which dates back to just after WWII and is still in their original sleeves with all that illustrious cover art (We even have doubles and triples of many Sixties classics, because it''s our second marriage for both of us).

Guess who''s laughing out the other side of their faces now, while we prepare to smirk all the way to the bank? Come to Mama and Papa with your moolah, suckers...er...Gen X/Millenial consumers. Step right up and have your money ready! [SNORT]

Grizzster

[deweyhowe]

Usually don''t like to argue with the lower apes, but in fact records produce more complete ("deep") sound than CDs. CDs may be "clearer," but that doesn''t mean better. And yes, CDs are more convenient. But again, that doesn''t mean better. McDonalds is more convenient -- get it?

[steeepe]

I think that music sounds better on a high quality turntable, but if you''ve got average equipment, a CD is better. MP3s are highly compressed and don''t sound as good as the vinyl counterpart. The packaging for vinyl is much better -- you can actually read everything. Of course, CDs are more convenient, but audiophiles don''t care about convenience!

[stevegrorge]

Listening to music on an ipod/mp3 is passive and this lack of participation devalues the listening experience. An LP requires effort, engagement and participation in the experience. It also provides tactile and visual stimulation.

[spike725]

I have a large collection of vinyl albums dating back to the 1960''s. I also have a large CD collection. Yes, CD''s sound clear and produce a nice dynamic range. But when I turn on the Marantz receiver, lower the Grado cartridge and listen to an album through my Pioneer speakers, nothing compares to the warmth and presence of vinyl. The key is having the proper equipment to fully enjoy them. And with proper care and maintenence, record scratches are not an issue.

[downsteamjim]

Wait until these people discover outdoor toilets!

[nothappyatall]

Believe it. Vinyl is groovy again. "
The puttin'' the needle down."

Yeah "groovy" might not be the operative word as much as SCRATCHY- like after you play the LP a few times and the wear of the diamond needle on that plastic along with some dust scratches from sliding it in and out of the "dust cover" and sleeve starts degrading it.
I absolutely HATED LP''s, dam things will warp, scratch way too easy, they attract dust like styrofoam and just sliding them in and out of the jacket leaves scratches if there is ANY dust which there always is.

All you need is a DVD/CD and a GOOD set of speakers, not those 4" computer speakers you buy for your computer for $19.95!!!, the SPEAKERS are the heart of the whole system, you can h ave the best LP and needle or CD in the world but if you have krappy speakers your music will SOUND like krap.
GOOD speakers are going to run ya well over a grand

[u-r-right]

The most frustrating thing I''ve found with MP3 downloads is when it sounds like it''s a mono recording trying to play through a nice stereo. I''ve had some oldies that did not have the same separation or dynamics through MP3 that they did on vinyl.

[nothappyatall]

Guess who''''s laughing out the other side of their faces now, while we prepare to smirk all the way to the bank? Come to Mama and Papa with your moolah, suckers...er...Gen X/Millenial consumers. Step right up and have your money ready! [SNORT]

Grizzster

Posted by Grizzster"

LOL, yeah worth a lot! used records sell for about a dollar each, NEW ones factory sealed $20, you can buy used records on Ebay and at stores for a dollar or two, they aren''t even worth messing with in a garage sale.
Time to retire them like the 8 track tapes were- lousy technology that served fine for the 1920''s thru 1950''s but like the kerosine lamps, wash-boards and clothe-lines to wash laundry on by the river, and horse-buggy, there comes a time when these things give way for BETTER.

[lovesamerica]

All the toys people have now are just going to be obsolete in the next few years anyways. I am glad records are still around as that will be what we will all be listening too before long anyways. Tv is no longer free, and I am sure hd radio will fill the airwaves and radio will nolonger be free either. I just may haul out my old records and find a record player...before they too bcome an expensive article that everyone must have. we''re on the down slope of the big circle folks.

[justspiffy]

There must be 1000 vinyl albums in my mom''s closet.
All kinds from the 80''s and even further back. They still play ok. Also some 45s.
Maybe I''m rich and don''t know it.

[CBSTV]

I can attest to the superior sound of analog audio on vinyl.

[blevine731]

Vinyl is final. GO LUKAS!!!!

[closethippy1]

The thought of vynil making a comeback brings tears to my eyes, but so does the thought of having sold my THORENS record player some 12 years ago.
Goodness gracious, what the f'' was I thinking when I sold it???!!!
Fortunately, I still have my vynil collection and my Harman/Kardon PM665 INTEGRATED AMPLIFIER!!! A true dinosaur of an amplifier (built when H/K gave a s.hit about good sound instead of profits) and when I say dinosaur I mean this baby has a monster sound I have not heard coming from any other digital friendly amplifier regardless of how expensive or "hi fi" they are.
I''m sorry I fell for the CD selling points. Yeah, no scratches and no pops heard on a CD but, Geezus!, how "cold" can a sound get?
I''m not an expert on sound dynamics but I can tell that vynil, 100% of it where you can see through the album when you put it up to the light, is it.
I just hope that the younger generation will get a chance to compare and hear the difference.
Can you imagine going to a record store and be able to finger through vynil albums again? Hold them up and enjoy the art work, smell that smell, and wonder what it looks like when you open it?
What a high, eh?

[barbaram99]

I ''member the LPs and 45s. That''s what we had. I rather have CDs as they are legally blind friendly. Cand stand cassettes as that is the reason I sent my talking book machine back. Ever seen 78s. I knew of old persons that had them when I was a kid. My friend would love them if they came back.

[deweyhowe]

"Can you imagine going to a record store and be able to finger through vynil albums again? Hold them up and enjoy the art work, smell that smell, and wonder what it looks like when you open it?
What a high, eh?"

Hold on there, closethippy1!!! I have a strange feeling you''re not talking about records any more...

[deweyhowe]

"Can you imagine going to a record store and be able to finger through vynil albums again? Hold them up and enjoy the art work, smell that smell, and wonder what it looks like when you open it?
What a high, eh?"

Hold on there, closethippy1!!! I have a strange feeling you''re not talking about records any more...

[fdextro]

I''m 45, an old coot when it comes to modern technology. I have an indoor toilet and a CD player. I''m certainly not a luddite, but I don''t automatically dismiss past achievements. For example...

The first all-digital CD I bought was Dire Straits'' MONEY FOR NOTHING. I was amazed at the crisp sound and how you could turn up the stereo and never hear a whisper of hiss. But...

The music had a metallic sound, equivalent to tasting a mounthful of pennies. The warmth and depth of "Sultans of Swing" on vinyl was replaced by a sonic vacuum.

Yeah, I know all about having to clean vinyl and having to put up with the sounds of pops and scratches, but it doesn''t bother me. I remember taping pennies to the tone arm to keep a 45 from skipping. Today, if a CD starts skipping, you have to throw it out and buy another one. Would you rather pay a penny or 15 bucks?

For me, it''s about the music. I don''t care about the format. I have a Columbia Gramophone 78rpm from the year 1909 featuring marches conducted (or performed) by Militar Kapelle. Vinyl is worn as hell, but still plays. Will CDs do the same a hundred years from now?

I own hundreds of CDs. I own thousands of vinyl records. I see no reason to upgrade. Ever hear a vinyl copy of AC/DC''s BACK IN BLACK? Doesn''t matter how cheap the system or how loud you turn it up, the album never distorts. It''s an amazing piece of production.

Anyhow, that''s my vinyl answer.

All the best,
Fidge

[jydavis1]

vinyl is the superior medium for enjoying music - and you can find good condition used stuff for a buck .. that''s a whole album for a buck .. who needs itunes at that price !?

[gmond]

I still have all my father''s old 78''s. Too bad I have nothing to play them on.

[gramto8]

Wow!! All my LP''s that I''ve saved all these years are back in style again! Good thing I am a pack rat!

[dedlen]

My question is where did vinyl go? Didn''t seem like it had gone anywhere. My quote is the 4th down:

http://www.recordstoreday.com/CustomPage/382

I do my art to celebrate vinyl and passion for music:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QisMMD_TKrA

Now I just use my iRecord to preserve the warmth and crackle of analog music.

Peace.

[ybotheratall]

Can you imagine going to a record store and be able to finger through vynil albums again? Hold them up and enjoy the art work, smell that smell, and wonder what it looks like when you open it?
What a high, eh?

Posted by closethippy1 at 09:24 PM

Closehippy1, we have a store like that in my area that has lots of vinyl to thumb through! It''s a place that buys your music (cassettes, vinyl, CDs etc) and you get store credit for them. They have lots of imported vinyl as well for enthusiasts. Nothing like a good crackle from an old 45!

[shameonbush]

CD''s and DVD''s scratch too easy. Isn''t it time they made a chip or something that didn''t scratch?

[andor3]

you know, kids today are also discovering the joy of sending messages by telegraph instead of texting. Messages are so much more meaningful when you have to transcribe them from Morse code.

[summarex]

I never got out of vinyl. But for me the fun was finding old records worth having. Buying new material on vinyl seems silly if CDs are available. Besides I could never buy anything from R.E.M. I hate girly rock.

[erichsh]

Like the music they contained, vinyl records were one of the signature elements of 70''s when I grew up. Music wasn''t just some background noise to dance to - it was an event in itself. The release of a record by a major band (Boston, Fleetwood Mac, Pink Floyd, Bob Seger, and so many others) was always eagerly anticipated. Taking that record out of its sleeve, carefully cleaning it, holding it by the edges as you lay it down on your turntable, adjusting the speed to exactly 33 1/3 RPM using the strobe light, and precisely positioning the needle on the track you want to hear - it was all part of the ritual that helped you bond and connect with the music in ways that the current generation just can''t understand.

[dinodavid220]

TOO EACH, HIS OWN. STOP UR HATING....

[wrb42]

I ordered Alice Cooper''s "Along Came A Spider" on vinyl 8/12/08 from Amazon.com. It was backordered. It''s in the mail now. Guess they underestimated the demand for vinyl as a lot of people did. I bet they ordered more the second time around.

[oneworldusa]

I have a 1960''s suitcase record player with the large detachable speakers I inherited from my father. My husband and I both have vinyls from the late 60''s and 70''s that we''ve protected and saved. Perhaps soon will be the time to Ebay these items and put the proceeds towards our son''s college education.

[cmalone24]

Yeah I can see it now vinyl in dash players in your cars or my whole 740 cd collection in my pocket hmmmm?

[gocubs58]

I have about 200 vinyl LP and 200 45''s from the 70''s....time to go to ebay!

[kirkules]

I was wondering why I saw brand spanking new record players being sold with USB hookups for the purposes of computer attachment. I just thought the digitizing of old records was getting popular.

[checkthepast]

I never got out of vinyl. Buying new material on vinyl seems silly if CDs are available. ''''
Posted by summarex

I never got out of vinyl either, I own some albums on CD and plastic and there is no comparison on sound quality. My old Quasar 7200 diamond stylus kicks the best CD players butt! Digital just doesn''t do real music justice.

[closethippy1]

Closehippy1, we have a store like that in my area that has lots of vinyl to thumb through! It''''s a place that buys your music (cassettes, vinyl, CDs etc) and you get store credit for them. They have lots of imported vinyl as well for enthusiasts. Nothing like a good crackle from an old 45!
Posted by YBotherAtAll at 11:02 PM : Aug 19, 2008

There''s a couple of used vynil stores in my area I go to and still get surprised by what I can find.
Love them boolegs!
There are also hundreds if not thousands of vynil records that never made it to CD, many of them forgotten classics.

[summarex]

I never got out of vinyl either, ...... My old Quasar ...kicks the best CD players butt! Digital just doesn''''t do real music justice.

No way man!
I love vinyl and I have decent pickup gear
td124 lp12 bluepoint etc. But any decent CD on any decent cd player will gives you better fidelity and better imaging. Of course you may find vinyl more pleasing, warmer or less harsh. But if that''s the case you are really praising the lack of fidlity! There''s nothing wrong with that BTW:

[raskal_2]

analog is analog and digital is digital it is the old apple and oranges argument. I am older and professional sound reinforcement was my first technical job. Nothing in digital can match the echo accomplished with a Fender echoplex nor a sweeter feedback guitar sound can be gotten than when you take the speaker output from a Marshall tube amp (with a rank of 4 80c5''s tubes) and plug it into the input of another Marshall.

Audio has gotten mathematical what with sampling rates, time shifting, and Fast Fourier Transforms to try and do what can be done in analog tinkering. Nothing doing with audio has fooled me before and I am not fooled now. I have always found the childish joy in playing music with the biggest stereo I can build the best way to enjoy music.

[johnstossel]

Neil Young has always hated digital music. Amen

[checkthepast]

analog is analog and digital is digital it is the old apple and oranges argument. I am older and professional sound reinforcement was my first technical job. Nothing in digital can match the echo accomplished with a Fender echoplex nor a sweeter feedback guitar sound can be gotten than when you take the speaker output from a Marshall tube amp (with a rank of 4 80c5''''s tubes) and plug it into the input of another Marshall.

Audio has gotten mathematical what with sampling rates, time shifting, and Fast Fourier Transforms to try and do what can be done in analog tinkering. Nothing doing with audio has fooled me before and I am not fooled now. I have always found the childish joy in playing music with the biggest stereo I can build the best way to enjoy music.

Posted by raskal_2

a BIG AMEN to that raskal!!
I play a ''72 Les Paul thru a ''72 Fender and wouldn''t trade it for all the digits in cyberland! And for apples and oranges... vinyl reproduction gives the closest resemblance to live anyday. (although the old Akai reel to reel does a pretty good job too!)

[trillion1]

From a completely non technical point of view the cover art on an album can never be done on a cd or cassette.

[shingles1]

Vinyl never really went away. Punk and independent bands continued to cut 45s and LPs all through the 90''s and up through today.

As far as your old vinyl records being worth money - this is only true for certain types of records. The rule of thumb (or the rule of supply and demand) is that anything that was popular will not be worth a dime...too many copies are floating around out there. Likewise, anything obscure, independent, in which less than 50,000 pressing were made, is probably going to be worth something.

Analog DOES sound better, by the ways. But I haven''t picked up a new release in vinyl form in years - digital is just too convenient.

I''m surprised however that no one mentioned one advantage of vinyl - cleaning weed on the inside spine of a double album. You can''t do that with CDs!

Ah, memories.

[cmp271]

CD''s do lose the experience of the music, being digital they can''t reproduce much of what we hear on LP''s. I still play my records, I have over 600 albums, and at least a thousand 45''s. Look into the history of the music industry, it is amazing how it has been done.

[jaykay3141]

"I still have all my father''''s old 78''''s. Too bad I have nothing to play them on."

Posted by gmond at 10:45 PM : Aug 19, 2008

Hunt around on the Web. There are still 78 rpm turntables being sold. You''ll have to get a compatible cartridge and needle, though - a standard 0.7 mil LP stylus will just bounce from side to side in the wide grooves of a 78. Look for a 3.0 or better yet a 2.5 mil diamond stylus instead. You''ll also need a good sound processing program like Audacity (freeware) to handle surface noise and compensate for the lack of RIAA equalization.

But the good news is you CAN play and restore 78s at home. I''ve copied most of my parents'' collection and have everything from Stokowski to Count Basie. Go for it!

[dedlen]

An artist''s perspective:

http://vinylart.blogspot.com/2008/08/groove-was-gone.html

Peace.

[recordweb]

Great story about Vinyl and Records. Forever Vinyl was the first online record vinyl store and has access to two million rare and out of print vinyl records. Best wishes to all the fans.
Scott Neuman - President - Forever Vinyl
http://www.forevervinyl.com

[barbaram99]

Vince he said* Barbara I miss the old day when things were simple. You had a pocket radio,records,13 ch TV and I can''t understand this new stuff*. He ''d talked about the music on records..I can''t hear the high end. He is not mappy TV changeing..Years ago records were every where. He said records,I say CDs.

[seafang]

Well I''d sure like to see one of those LPs from the 1940s, because I was there in the 1940s and there weren''t any LPs then.
But 1950s yes; in fact I still have my very first LP; a Decca (London) recording of Beethoven''s 5th; and it dates from 1957.

But despite CDs and all that; there''s still no recording of Wagner''s Der Ring Des Nibelungen that can hold a candle to the Georg Solti/Vienna Philharmonic recording on Decca (London). I have both the Original LPs and the CD reprint of the same recording, and the LPs still sound much better than the CDs. The CD is a bit more convenient so I do play it.
So now the Phono Cartridge companies are going to have to come out with some modern cartridges, that don''t ruin the record, the first time you play it.