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Vinyl Treasure Hunting: Great Music, Great Sound, Great Price
Record Shop
One of the things I absolutely love about vinyl is that I can get so many excellent used records for so cheap. A few weeks ago, I was in the vinyl section of my favorite music store in the area, Rasputin. I was looking through the jazz and rock sections, and while it was a slow process, I did find a few albums that I was interested in.
The truth is that the vinyl section tends to be hit and miss. There is a lot of crap, no doubt. However, flipping through the albums is always rewarding when you stumble upon a used record in great shape for only a dollar or two. That was the case for me: I found 4 albums that I took home for a grand total of $17.
Here’s what I scored: Rolling Stones: Hot Rocks (double album!), Lynyrd Skynyrd: Gold and Platinum (Another double!), Aerosmith: Toys in the Attic, and Al DiMeola: Electric Rendezvous. 4 albums, 2 of which were double LPs. iTunes would charge me $60 for all that music, and the record store would probably charge me at least $40 for the same music on CD.
So, I spent about a half hour of my time looking through used records, and found 4 that I wanted. I got them for a measly $17. I spent the next 4 hours enjoying them (and, of course, several more time later on enjoying them!) I also enjoyed better sound quality. Vinyl totally rules, and I encourage you to go out and score some great deals too! Enjoy the music!
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Topics: Record Collecting, Vinyl Praise | No Comments »
Vinyl’s Revival
Record Playing
Ever since I first took the time to listen carefully to a record, I noticed that the sound quality was better than anything CDs, cassettes, and of course, MP3s had to offer. Being a music lover, I wanted to share with the world, and especially younger kids like myself (I’m only 28) the virtues of the vinyl record. I had been thinking about it for at least a few years, but really couldn’t gather the motivation to approach such a massive project.
Then, at the end of 2007, I read an article in Time Magazine about how Gen-Y and “Millenials” are embracing the vinyl record. This was the catalyst that got my site off the ground. I saw some great potential in this topic, with major journalists getting behind this theme. In January (2008), the original Vinyl Revinyl was launched, and a complete re-do was launched in July (2008).
So, what caused this resurgence in interest in vinyl records?
Well, the kids these days have been going through their parents’ music. They’re finding all sorts of albums that have a retro appeal. Classic rock, 80’s music, and old-school R&B. They’re like “Alright, it’s Led Zeppelin I! Let’s listen to it!” or “Dude! It’s Marvin Gaye, let’s get it on!” Instead of going out and buying the music on CD, many of the kids just take their parents’ turntables and albums (Since the parents are all becoming hip with iPods and downloading music online), and listen the old-fashioned way.
Then, the kids venture down to their local record store (since many of the chain stores are dying off–Tower Records, Sam Goody), where vinyl records are often on prominent display. Since the kids have been flipping through their parent’s LPs, they’re also flipping through the stores’ LPs. Then, they notice that many of these LPs are used, hardly played, and cheap–Often as low as $.50 or $1. So, instead of spending $10 on a CD, they opt for 4-5 records for the same price.
Then the kids head home with their new records, and put them on the turntable. Since playing a record requires a bit more attention, the kids are taking the time to listen to albums more closely. They’re noticing stuff. They say “Oh wait, the bass doesn’t sound like that when I listen to this album on CD”. They begin to listen even more closely, and begin to notice that the sound is all-around better, warmer, cleaner, you name it.
Then, the kids tell their friends about it. They say “Dude, you gotta come over to my house and hear this ________ album I got on vinyl. It sounds sweeeeet!” Then the friends come over. They all gather together in a room, and pop it on. They get social. They talk about the music, and more music. They notice the superior sound quality. All of a sudden, you have a group of kids who are more engaged with the music, and have a yearning to listen to their favorites in analog.
They tell their friends, they go out and buy more, they spread the word. Ands so on and so on.
Of course, it’s not just about the kids. The people who were raised on vinyl are re-discovering it. They are recalling those days when they would hang out with their friends and listen to music together. They remember the sound. They have a yearning to experience the old days, to take a trip down memory lane, to use a terrible cliche.
The record companies are starting to take notice, too. They are beginning to increase production. They are releasing audiophile grade 180 and 200g albums, pressed on virgin (impurity free) vinyl. According to an August 2008 NY Times article, shipments are up, and sales are up. Artists are re-releasing their stuff on vinyl, such as Queen’s recent highly publicized announcement that they would be re-releasing their albums on vinyl. New LPs are coming out too, such as Vampire Weekend’s debut, and Metallica’s recent “Death Magnetic” album.
It looks to me like vinyl is about to hit critical mass, and hey, I’m more than happy to help get that word out! Once you listen to an album on vinyl, you will be a convert too. Go wild, go through your parents’ and friends record collections. Throw some albums on, give them a listen. Hearing truly is believing when it comes to vinyl.
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Topics: Vinyl Praise | No Comments »
Classic Rock on Vinyl
Jimmy Page
Some of the most popular pages on my site are classic rock related. Every day, almost 20% of my site visitors go to my Beatles page. I also get a lot of traffic to the Pink Floyd page and to the Rolling Stones page. Surprising to me, very few people visit the Led Zeppelin page, although it still does get some traffic. It’s clear to me: Many people who are fond of vinyl are also fond of classic rock.
Why the appeal? Why do classic rock lovers adore vinyl so much?
Well, first of all, classic rock on vinyl totally kicks ass. Just last weekend, I was enjoying a nice day at home with my turntable, and decided to throw on some Doobie Brothers. The opening guitar riff to China Grove immediately got me in the rock mood. The slight reverb on the guitar part sounded so good to my ears. It was loud, crisp, and amazing live sounding. When the band kicks in, it sounds almost like being at a concert. When I flipped the album over and played “Jesus is Just Alright”, the intro harmonized vocals sounded really amazing. They just sounded so live and colorful, and warm.
Another example, I remember a time when I was listening to Led Zeppelin’s classic IV, and I remember the iconic guitar solo sounding so amazing. I also remember the part when it really starts to rock out, and the lyrics are like “And there’s a wind on down the road”, the guitars sounded so powerful and BIG. I never heard ‘Zep’ like that–even in my car with a high-end system blasting it. Seriously folks, get some classic rock on vinyl, and crank it up. You will be amazed at the sound.
Another reason why classic rock is so good on vinyl is because when the music now known as classic rock was actually being recorded and performed, it was only available on vinyl. Back in the 60’s and 70’s, everybody was listening to classic rock, and it was always being listened to at home on vinyl. You’d have some friends over, and you’d all be hanging out listening to an album. You’d take the time to listen attentively and carefully, and talk about it too. You may even have a guitar and play along. This type of scenario invited more interaction with the music, more sharing of it with friends, and most of all, more enjoyment of the music being played.
These days, everyone has their own music on their own iPod, and no one wants to talk about music because everyone has their preferences and is close minded about what good music is. The truth is that all music is good, and what makes it better is sharing it with people you enjoy being around. Of course, I’m not going to talk too much smack about the iPod: I have one, and I love it…But when I’m home, It’s all about the turntable.
Anyway, back to the point: Classic rock sounds best on vinyl (like everything else), and enjoying a classic rock album on the turntable is going to take you back to those good ol’ days of music. I say grab a few LPs of some of your favorite artists at a used record store, grab a few friends, and spend an afternoon sharing some good tunes with some good friends around the turntable. Enjoy the music!
*Feel free to substitute your music of choice. It always sounds better on vinyl.
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Let My Children Hear Music: The Genius of Charles Mingus
Charles Mingus is often seen as simply a jazz bass player. While it’s true that the bass was his instrument of choice, referring to him as just a bass player is not enough.
You see, Charles Mingus (Or, as afficionados often refer to him, Mingus) was an innovative composer and bandleader, and played the piano, and brass in addition to the bass. He always aspired to be a Duke Ellington for a new generation, and in many ways he has. Based on the title of one of his later albums “Let My Children Hear Music”, you can cleary see Mingus’s aspiration to leave his music behind for future generations to enjoy.
My first encounter with Charles Mingus was around 2001, when I started collecting Ken Burns Jazz CDs to become more familiar with the most important recordings from artists that I was interested in. I picked up the Mingus CD, and immediately enjoyed the walking bass line for the opening “Haitian Fight Song”. I also enjoyed the big-band sound, and emotional soundscape of “Solo Dancer, Stop! Look! and Listen, Sinner Jim Whitney!”, from Mingus’s legendary composition “The Black Saint and the Sinner Lady”. I enjoyed the album, but never really dug deeper into the work of Mingus until I started doing research for this website.
I went out and got a copy of “Tijuana Moods“, “Let My Children Hear Music“, and most recently, “The Black Saint and the Sinner Lady“. All three albums are total knockouts in terms of the musical complexity, emotional subtext, and straight up musical enjoyment. Let My Children Hear Music is widely reported as one of Mingus’s favorite albums, and The Black Saint and the Sinner Lady tops many of the greatest jazz albums in history lists.
So, without further ado, let me talk about what I love about Mingus.
First of all, I love the big band. Many of Charles Mingus’s bands have 10-11 different musicians playing various parts of the composition. The resulting sound is big and complex, with all sorts of colors, textures, and emotions coming at you. People who love orchestral music are sure to appreciate the sound of Mingus’s compositions.
I also love the unique instruments that Mingus uses in his bands. While many musicians prior to Mingus stuck with percussion, piano, brass and sax, Mingus’s compositions have excellent guitar parts, as well as strings, flutes, oboes, tubas, and other instruments not commonly found in jazz.
Lastly, I wanted to talk about the emotions. Mingus’s compositions are heavy emotionally. Being highly outspoken and political personally, it follows that the same sort of emotional expression would be found in the music. The Black Saint and the Sinner Lady is up there with A Love Supreme in terms of emotional intensity. Popping one of these albums on commands your attention, and is a feast for the mind.
Charles Mingus is one of the great contemporary composers of jazz music, and his music definitely deserves some attention. Pick up an album or two, put your feet up, grab a drink, and enjoy the music.
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Topics: Artist Tributes, jazz, Musicians I Like | No Comments »
Musicians Against Air Travel: Randy Rhoads
Randy Rhoads
So the other day I was listening to a classic: Blizzard of Ozz by Ozzy Osbourne, and I was reminded that the virtuoso guitar player Randy Rhoads died tragically in a plane crash back in 1982.
Now, I know Randy Rhoads has fallen into obscurity by 2008, but this young musician was truly poised to make a huge impact on 1980’s heavy metal…if he hadn’t died in a totally stupid plane crash.
Apparently scared of flying, Randy Rhoads somehow ended up on a small plane with a few other people, and a pilot who was either high on cocaine or had used it in the recent past. The pilot apparently flew the plane close to a tour bus where the rest of Ozzy’s band were sleeping. After doing this a few times, and going back for another run, the plane hit the bus causing it to crash, killing everyone on board.
Randy Rhoads was only 25 when he died, and yet in his short life, he was able to secure his place in rock history. Born in 1956, Randy started playing guitar at age 7. He learned guitar by playing folk music, but his style of lead guitar playing also shows a heavy influence of classical guitar. Most notable is the song “Dee” (Also on Blizzard of Ozz), which Randy named after his mother. At age 14, Randy Rhoads formed the band that would eventually become Quiet Riot. Playing around the LA area, Quiet Riot never achieved much success, and was never signed to a record label in the US. However, CBS/Sony did sign them, and released two albums in Japan in the late 1970’s.
In 1979, Randy Rhoads’ name was passed on to Ozzy Osbourne who was putting together a new band after being fired from Black Sabbath. Ozzy reportedly hired Randy Rhoads while he was still warming up for his audition with Ozzy. What followed were two of the greatest heavy metal albums ever recorded: Blizzard of Ozz and Diary of a Madman. Shortly before his death, Randy Rhoads had expressed interest in retiring from rock music temporarily to pursue a degree in classical guitar. Sadly, he never was able to pursue that musical path.
Randy Rhoads’ legacy lives on, especially amongst heavy metal guitarists. Randy’s guitar playing is shreddy, skilled, and technical. The Crazy Train riff is classic. He is #4 on Guitar World’s list of greatest heavy metal guitarists. It is so sad that a musician with such talent and technique had such a short life. If he had lived, it is no doubt that Randy Rhoads could have influenced so many more people on a much deeper level. However, what Randy Rhoads left behind is something to celebrate. Pick up a copy of Ozzy’s Blizzard of Ozz or Diary of a Madman to hear the amazing musical talent of this amazing guitar player. Ozzy’s album “Tribute” also features several live performances, and is essential listening for any lover of great guitar playing.
Randy Rhoads: 1956-1982. RIP. We miss you.
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How to Clean Vinyl Records: 2 Methods
I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again. Vinyl records are high maintenance. They’re like the hot, high maintenance girlfriend (or boyfriend) who takes two hours to get ready to go out. Of course, when they’re ready, they look good. In the case of vinyl, they sound amazing, but they take a little extra work to get there. Part of this maintenance is keeping them clean. Here is how to do it:
Before and After listening to a record…
First of all, before listening to a record (and after), give it a quick once-over with a carbon fiber brush designed for records. These brushes are great for removing small particles of dust and lint. They also de-staticize the record, reducing the chance that the record will attract more dust and lint. Most of the time, this is all you’ll have to do to keep your records in great shape. If you’re noticing that a record is popping and hissing a lot, a quick brush will clean up the sound considerably.
Giving the records a more thorough cleaning…
After listening to a record several times, it will probably get dirty. When your records get dirty, it’s a good idea to clean them. Cleaning records doesn’t have to be done very often if you treat your records with care, but it’s not a bad idea once a year if you listen to a record more than a few times in that year. When you clean a record, the goal is to remove grease, dirt and other contaminants.
To do it properly, you have to use some sort of cleaner. There are many products on the market that are designed for cleaning records. If you want to clean your records on the cheap, you can make your own cleaning solution with some distilled water and isopropyl alcohol.
Here’s what you do: Mix up one part 90%+ isopropyl alcohol and four parts distilled water. Add 5-6 drops of dishwashing (non-moisturizing) soap to the mixture. Next, apply the solution to a clean paper towel or record cleaning pad. Do not use your “dry” brush for this! Stroke the paper towel around the records, moving with the grooves. Sometimes it is helpful to use a back and forth motion. Repeat if necessary. Next, rinse the record with more distilled water. Dry with a clean towel. Let the record sit out for at least a few hours to ensure that it has dried completely. Just set the record on a clean towel, vertically leaning against something. After the record has dried, place it in a brand new paper or plastic sleeve, and put it back in its cover. Paper sleeves can be purchased on the internet and eBay, as well as in local record and audio shops.
Using a machine to clean your vinyl…
If you’re a baller, you can always buy a Nitty Gritty (or similar device), which is a machine that sucks dust off your records. This system works very well, is very easy, and will help you clean a large vinyl collection. These machines are pretty expensive, but worth it if you have a large collection and listen to a lot of music.
Most of these devices have a platter that you place your record on. Put the record on the platter, and get it spinning (Some machines are motorized, others are manual). Apply some cleaning solution to either the machine’s brush (If it has one), or to your own (again, never use your “dry” brush for this!) Add a few drops to the record too. As the record is spinning, hold the brush directly on the record, allowing it to pass several times. Don’t use too much pressure. After the surface of the record has been brushed, push the vacuum opening over the surface of the record, and turn it on. Let the vacuum suck the debris off the record for a minute or so. To do the other side, make sure the platter is clean before putting the clean side of the record on it. Repeat for the second side.
Once you have cleaned both sides, let the record air out for awhile. It’s true that the solution evaporates quickly, and the vacuum gets most of the moisture off the record, it’s still a good idea to let it dry for maybe a half hour or so before you put the record back in a sleeve or play it.
Once it’s dry, put it in a brand new paper or plastic sleeve, and return it to its cover. Easy, right?
Keeping your records clean will give you plenty of years of listening enjoyment. In addition, when they start to sound bad, you can just give them a quick wash, and they’re back to like new. Enjoy the music!
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Topics: maintenance, Sound Quality | 17 Comments »