So...You Want To Get Into Vinyl Records?

Welcome to a Musical Journey!
I am very impressed at anyone who is interested in vinyl records. It is important for younger people like you to get involved!

An LP is more than just “getting some music”. Its an entire experience including and intermission and everything! Vinyl records can only fit 30 minutes of sound per side. So you have to flip the record over halfway through! Some people complain about this but it really adds a neat dimension to the album. Bands make a big deal out of picking which song will be “the first”. On CDs and iPhones there can only be one first song. But an LP is really like 2 musical experiences back to back! Back in the early days bands would often have very distinct differences between the sides. Nowadays people don’t do that any more since there is no difference between halves of an iTunes playlist! lol.

If you’re like me you may discover that you hear the songs toward the end of a CD much less often than the ones at the beginning. It just makes sense. The longer you listen the more chances of interruptions to make you stop listening. With an LP you can easily start on side 2 when you begin listening! The songs toward the end are much more accessible! You hear more of the music.

Hear With Your Eyes, Too!
Artwork is a huge draw for LPs! Because of the large size (12 inches), the record companies are able to add a ton of extra neat stuff! A lot of times the albums open up like a book to show really cool artwork! There is plenty of room for extra posters and books, etc. There is so much potential! A little CD jewel case is tiny. They tried to put booklets and stuff to entice people but it didn’t work. It was too small. Not enough room for COOL stuff!

I recently got the vinyl rerelease of “Give Up” by The Postal Service. Its one of my favorite albums of all times! It came out in 2003. Only recently they came out with the vinyl version. There is so much extra cool stuff it is mind blowing! First of all, its a double album! Record #1 has the entire album and record #2 includes b-sides and other versions of the songs. So cool! It also included a 16 page color booklet with all of the lyrics and paintings telling the story of each song. There is also a double sides poster that looks really neat! When I play the music I can look at all that stuff and it really takes me inside the music! Check out these photos from “The Postal Service” so you can see what i’m talking about.

Put Your Money Where Your Needle Is!
Record costs can be high or low depending on what you want. If you’re talking about brand new albums they are generally between $16-$20. Sometimes you’ll come across special editions and other things that can be closer to $30. But most of the time they are affordable. For me the most fun comes in the used vinyl! Almost all record stores carry a giant collection used records that are $1 (yes ONE DOLLAR) a piece! Most stores have THOUSANDS of them in stock, too. They aren’t always in the best condition….its random. Some are scratched so bad you can barely play it. But a lot of the time its in perfect shape. It just might not be a popular record. I picked up a James Taylor album for $1 a while back ago and it sounds perfectly pristine! The sleeve was all scratched and nasty though which is why it was so cheap. It still sounds great though! That is all that matters. You may come across $2 bins too. I see those a lot.

You’ll also find a used section of albums that are in better condition and more rare/popular. For an example I picked up Led Zeppelin #1 for $10 the other day. When I got Sgt Pepper it was $30. There are a lot of variables for the pricing ranging from physical condition to popularity of the album to timeframe of the release. A mono version of Sgt Pepper can be worth 4-5 times more than the stereo version. I have no clue why this is, mind you.

A Little Bit Special!
If you're like me...you may have musical tastes that aren't quite mainstream. You'll find that a lot of mainstays of indie rock that you wouldn't expect to find at Wal Mart...tend to be a normal component of the shelves of your favorite record store. However we all have our favorite bands that haven't had the pleasure of gracing the Total Request Live stage or been distributed to your favorite college radio stations.

Just because you don't see your favorite album on the shelves doesn't mean its a lost cause! Most of the time your neighborhood record store can special order an LP for you. I find that more often than not...I need to do this. Usually record stores have distributers and can find anything you need pretty quickly.

Here are my directions for getting ahold of an album. This usually works out to be the best route. The safest idea is to do all of these steps and go with the cheapest.

1. Record Store: Special Order. No matter how old of an album...this is always the best first choice. Much of the time the record stores can track down whatever you are looking for and save you a lot of the hard work. Plus you don't have to pay any shipping. I've found that much of the time the cost of a special order from a record store is about what you would pay on the web + shipping. This option has the least risk because you normally don't pay for the full product until its in. If what shows up is not what you want...just tell them 'nevermind. its wrong.' I find that the record stores are very good at locating hard to find items. Plus if you have made buddies with the staff there...they will always go the extra mile!

2. If the record store can't find anything...check the web stores! My personal favorite is (www.AuralExploits.com). I find they have the widest selection at lowest prices. But also check Amazon and whatever else Google recommends. There is a little more risk involved if you go with less popular sites (which often your only choice with records). I have ordered many from that site that I mentioned above. Google will help you establish the reputation of any site. There is also risk like in getting anything else online. You don't get to hold the final product until you've already paid for it and waited a while. Make sure your site has a good return system. I have had to return a record once because of a defect and Aural Exploits handled it very well. I was pleased.

3. As my dad calls it... "gar-Bay" or eBay! A lot of the time this is the only option for rare and out of print items. I have used this method and had good luck. I am not going to go over the risks of eBay as it is obvious. A lot of albums (especially by indie artists) are only around for a very short time. Once they are out of print...it can be years (if ever) before you will see a reprint. This may be your only hope.

4. The Band/Record Label. Duh. Often times bands and record labels have stores and sell vinyl versions of products. sometimes the only way to get a vinyl copy is through the band or label directly so always keep that in mind! Sometimes they sell so little of them that its not worth it to nationally release the LPs.

5. Best Buy / Wal Mart / BIg Chains, etc. They almost never have records. But they are getting more and more every day. The nice thing about the big stores is the prices are low. I got Abbey Road at Best Buy for $10. Its about $18 at my indie store for the same exact copy. Loss leader much?

Make Great Haste!!!
Vinyl is getting more common place...but we are still in a place where most vinyl albums by indie artists are only available for a short time. It takes more to press a record than to make a CD. So its not easy to "keep making them forever". My advice...if you come across a record of a (not super popular) band you love...and you know you're going to buy it some day...just get it now! Don't risk waiting. Especially if its right there in the flesh at your record store! That almost NEVER happens. Call it 'fate'.

I was planning on getting a double LP of 'Futures' by Jimmy Eat World. I saw it on AuralExploits and was all ready to buy it...but then I decided to wait a little bit. No real reason. I just figured I could get it any time. I was wrong. A few days later it went on backorder...now its just not available! Luckily my local store was able to make a few dozens phone calls and they found me a copy (that is on the way now...). But it cost me quite a bit more. Its one of my favorite albums. I knew I would buy it someday but I took the risk. I was lucky :-). I'm not saying buy every album you see. But if you find your favorite album that may be a pain to locate later...smack down your mastercard. Thank me later.

Digital Get Down!
No matter how much you spend on a record you are going to want to listen to it! Sometimes in your house….but sometimes on the go! One concern you may have (other than the fact that I just made an N-Sync reference) is, “Geez. If I buy a big old 12 inch LP…how am I going to listen to the music on my iPhone or iPod? I don’t want to have to buy it TWICE (once with the LP and again on iTunes). The geniuses at the record labels have fixed the problem! Its BRILLIANT, too!

Nowadays the record labels cram the magic of MP3s into your LP! What you get is a little card that comes with the record. You go to the band’s website (or iTunes) and type in that code and then download a FREE digital copy of the album (MP3s usually). That way you have it portable for your iPod, iPhone, etc. Its a genius idea because the only downside to vinyl is that it isn’t portable at all. You can’t pop a record in the CD player in the car. lol. People started buying the music on iTunes since digital music can be played anywhere. But nowadays with records…you get the digital copy, too! This doesn’t always happen. But most newer stuff includes it. Sometimes they even include a CD. When I got the new Jack’s Mannequin record they threw in a CD, too. It was cool.

Time To Spin!
Now that I have sold you on how wonderful vinyl is…you need to get a turntable!!! I can help you pick out a good one. ☺ Its a fun hobby! I know Best Buy has some great models that sound great for their price. They have ones that go over over $700 of course. lol But there are plenty of nice ones that are way more affordable. Around $150-$200 is around what you’d expect to pay for a good one that sounds good. These models actually have preamps built in (easy to hook up to speakers. The audio signal from a record player is very different than that of an iPod or even CD player. A device called a “preamp” converts the signal. Newer models have these built in. Mine was old. I had to spend money on a preamp.

Many of them have USB, too. This allows you you can plug it into the computer and import. Records are better quality than CDs so some people like to import that way. But, as I said, much of the time you’ll get MP3 versions for free.

There are 2 major classifications mechanical-wise. Direct Drive and Belt Drive. Direct drive means the electric motor is connected directly to the turntable! The Belt drive system works sort of like the chain for a bicycle. Direct Drive is the best! It often costs a little more…but it will make sure your record spins at the best speed and has a much less chance of breaking down in the future. Belt drive machines aren’t as precise. They’re cheap. lol

Here are some basic suggestions for turntables. If you'd like more details...send me a message.

Stanton USB Turntable $199 Here is my first choice for you. This is the best (mid range) one Best Buy offers. Very good sound quality. Respectable brand. It also has the USB connection and built in preamp system. This is also a direct drive (which means it is more powerful).

Numark USB Turntable $169 This is similar to the above one. Just a little cheaper. Its also a belt drive so it isn’t as good motor-wise.

I’ll keep my eye out for more and add them as I find. :P Usually you can find decent stuff in pawn shops, too. I got mine there for $80 and I love it!

The Sum of the Grooves!
Being a Vinyl record enthusiast is a fun way to add something different to your musical experience. It makes you a member of a somewhat small (yet constantly growing) community of people that really and truly love music. People wouldn't be into this hobby if they weren't really serious about it. Anybody can buy a CD at Wal Mart. But to take the time to search out and find a record...that takes love. A lot of us record people act like we love music more than "CD Players" (the people...not the devices...hehe). That isn't always the case...but hey! What good is being a part of a sub-culture if you can't practice a little superiority? (Kidding...)

I hope you enjoy yourself and discover new music through your hobby. So far I have found a few albums and artists I never would have given a chance had I not allowed the fact that a fellow "record player" had taken the time to special order it. The music was worth a little more effort. That makes all the difference in the world.

So lower your cartridge into the groove and hear what analog music has to offer. You'll be glad that you did.