Written by Chris Milz
Amid the phasing out of the compact disc as a music form, the vinyl record is in the middle of a resurgence in popularity. Much of this increase comes from the release of various collectable album pressings, as well as the resurge in the popularity of vintage items.
While older bands have their original album releases on vinyl, they continue to re-issue the recordings in the same format. More modern bands, such as the Killers and Muse, among others, release their albums on vinyl alongside CD and digital download releases
It’s not difficult to find music on vinyl, with websites such as Amazon.com selling used and new records through their warehouse and outside sellers on their site. Record stores are also easy to find if you look hard enough for them, particularly in and around larger cities. The Oak Park/River Forest area alone has three stores. College towns, such as Ann Arbor, Michigan, are easy places to find used record shops as well.
The vinyl collector can range from the hardcores, who go to extreme measures, and extreme prices, to obtain rare editions, to the more casual collectors, who just get what versions and editions they can.
Record Store Day, an annual event held on the third Saturday in April, has helped vinyl gain popularity among hardcore collectors due to bands releasing limited reissues and pressings of certain albums. After Record Store Day the prices on these pressings vary. A 10th anniversary Record Store Day reissue of the White Stripes’ 2003 album “Elephant” currently ranges from $32 to $110 in new condition on Amazon.com.
But, to me, it’s just about the music. I’m a believer in the saying, “Music sounds better on vinyl.” There’s just something about hearing “Stairway to Heaven” on a record that makes it a completely different experience from anything else. It’s interesting going “digging,” or shopping, in different places because, depending on what city you are in or around, what you will find will vary due to the popularity of certain bands in certain regions.
Whether you are a hardcore collector or just buy records for the music, it is safe to say that, after a short sleep, vinyl is very much alive and well in today’s music business.
