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| I’d love to get my hands on those Vinyls <3 |
I don’t have a record player nor do I have a single vinyl-yet but as my CD collection steadily grew (that tends to happen when you write album, EP and LP reviews) and after visiting Satchmi I wanted to start collecting vinyls as well.
My father-in-law had his own vinyl collection back in the day and so with much excitement I told him of my interest of wanting to collect vinyls, there was a pause after I said my piece then he says: “Why?” “Why would you want to collect vinyls?”
Words like “Classic” and “Vintage” popped into my head as I thought of responses to this question; I thought ‘because I am an aspiring music collector and as some someone who blogs about music I should have my own vinyl collection!”
‘Because the sound of a vinyl being played on a record player – is just awesome!
‘It’s an amazing conversation piece!’
‘It would be a bad as* element in my interior design’
There are many reasons to start collecting vinyls at a time when songs can be streamed and downloaded for free; at a time when music can be played from anything and anywhere. There are many reasons to start collecting vinyls, some maybe superficial, some acceptable and understandable but there is one thought that has stuck with me and is probably the one that means the most – Vinyls reminds us of the love and respect that music deserves.
Songs being available digitally have become a double-edged sword; while it has made songs and music easily available; the artist is not compensated for their craft. Sound familiar? Yeah that’s probably the sad story of every creative struggling to make a living out of his or her art.
“People are not respecting the music and devaluating what it really means” Jay-Z told Billboard. “People really feel like music is free, but will pay $6.00 for water. You can drink water out of the tap and it’s good water. But they’re okay paying for it. It’s just the mindset right now.
Which brings us back to what the humble vinyl represents – the good old days when people happily paid for the music – and here are some reasons why the vinyl is humble and mighty in its own stead.
Vinyls are not cheap and that’s because music should not be, as my husband would say: “We have to give back to the artist” and this means paying for the music, something that should be done – no questions asked.
Vinyl collectors take care of their Vinyl, just as toy collectors would care for their own toys. Great care is taken care so that the vinyl and the turn table is not damaged, scratched or that dust does not settle on it. The same should go for music. We should value and support the music that gets us through a difficult time, the music that was there when no one else was (oh come on, I know you’ve had those moments too).
You might think that paying for a digital download on iTunes or streaming apps is a good enough way to support an artist, while that may be the case just think about it this way – the artist only gets a small portion of what you’re paying for those digital downloads- it’s literally just change. You’re also missing out on the packaging that goes with the albums, I mean there is a lot that goes on in conceptualizing these covers and sleeves and it’s just a shame that all you have is a digital copy when you can have one that is printed.
I love that Vinyls represent the good old days, I love that despite the digital world that we live in right now – the love for good old days still resonates and you can be a part of that good old way of loving music too – just head on over to Vinyl day!
