Back in 2009, CrateKings.com posted this video clip, Vinyl Wax Records, featuring a great cross-section of people geeking out on vinyl records.
There’s nothing more gratifying than seeing people like those in this video getting enthusiastic about vinyl records–not just interested, but REALLY into it. Some of the best moments in this are when turntablist Swan is doing his thing–but especially when he’s explaining why his vinyl has stickers all over it. Pretty awesome stuff.
by Joe Wallace
I was contacted earlier this week by a fellow vinyl junkie and YouTube poster about a growing community of vinyl collectors who post video clips about vinyl collecting, their latest finds and other topics. I had no idea this sort of thing was happening on YouTube–I usually go there for exploitation movie trailers and related ephemera.
So it was with great delight that I found a massive trove of posts about vinyl, collecting, finds, etc. These aren’t produced or slickly done with titles and effects, etc. Just people who LOVE the format, the discoveries, and the excitement of being involved in a community like this.
Here’s a sampling of some of those videos, but there are MANY more online waiting to be discovered. One of the very best vids I’ve seen so far (by poster MrHoffame) who shares some really important information about insurance specifically for your vinyl record collection. Amazing, and VERY good to know. Did you know some vinyl insurance policies are SUPER cheap and have NO DEDUCTIBLES? See MrHoffame’s clip “Vinyl Collectors Should Know” below–it’s the third and final one on the page. Viva Vinyl!
This is a clip from Vinyl, the documentary film about record collectors, hoarders, miscreants, and music lovers in general. In this segment, filmmaker Alan Zweig talks about maybe packing it in, getting a life (huh?) and finding a girlfriend. The most insane moment in the clip is when he intimates that collecting vinyl and having a life are incompatible. What?
Fascinating, but the sentiment is a bit misguided. You don’t have to be a no-life cellar dweller to collect vinyl, but I DO understand the obsessive need to immerse yourself in something. What did you think of this clip? I haven’t seen the full documentary yet so it’s hard to say if he’s deadpan kidding here or if there’s a scary degree of seriousness to his idea that vinyl might be incompatible with life in general.
–Joe Wallace
There are plenty of excellent guides to the turntable online, so I don’t need to rehash anything here, but I will just say for the record that one of THE most extensive and comprehensive guides to record players is the Turntable Basics post at AudioJunkies.com.Wow, that is extensive! A great start for newcomers to turntables, indeed.
I can’t tell you how many people I’ve run into at conventions and shows (not record collector shows, mind you) who are completely surprised that not only is vinyl in vogue once more but that thousands of new vinyl albums are coming out, both reissues and new material.
Not sure where these people have been hiding since even Best Buy carries vinyl these days, but at EVERY show there is at least on surprised punter.
So let’s answer a few basic questions: Is there new vinyl coming out? Yes. Do companies still manufacture turntables? Yes. Do these companies still make replacement record needles? Oh yes indeed!
If there’s one thing I would strongly urge people reading this to do who haven’t done so already, it’s to purchase a turntable and get back into record collecting. Simple fact–at almost every record store there is a bin of cheapies, some for a dollar apiece.
That makes getting into vinyl and collecting new-to-you music FAR CHEAPER than downloading single MP3s. I love MP3s for their portability and ease of use as a DJ, but vinyl is still my hands-down favorite for the whole music listening experience including the artwork, which is far more enjoyable in those 12×12 formats.
–Joe Wallace
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