Approximately 13 years ago people began to once again buy vinyl albums, also known as LPs. Some people just call them records. No matter what you call them, they are making a comeback more and more each year. Since last year, album sales are up by 15 percent according to the Nielsen Company.
But why are they making such a dramatic comeback? As someone who had grown up with them, I certainly have my own opinion as to why. Simply put, they have a sound that can not be duplicated. What you hear on a compact disc or even what you would download or stream online all have a different sound. Each time the music is digitally remastered for whatever medium it is going to be placed on, it loses that quality of sound that you find on vinyl.
As a kid, I remember music being on what was called a reel-to-reel or on 8-track. At the time, vinyl was beginning to phase both reel-to-reel and 8-tracks out. Then came the cassette tape. It was smaller, portable and could hold more music than a vinyl. From there, we moved to compact discs (CDs) which could hold even more music. With cassettes and compact discs, you could also record your own music on them. Fast forward to today, people are streaming and downloading music on to their phones and mp3 players.
Albums first were made starting in 1948. 8-tracks, which were like large cassette tapes, began in the mid-1960s. Cassettes, which were compact compared to the 8-track tapes, began being made in the 1970s and were phased out in the 1990s. CDs began appearing in stores around 1982. They surpassed sales of both albums and cassettes. With that being said, streaming music has caused a massive decrease in physical sales.
But, beyond that, there are some similarities as well as differences. If you think about it, in many aspects CDs are mini-albums. They both are round and have tracks. Wow, what a concept! They both have to spin in order to play. Albums are played on turntables (sometimes called record players) and CDs have their own player that makes them spin as well. Albums are made of vinyl and CDs are made of a plastic material. So, overall there are minimal differences. The biggest difference is the quality of sound.
Will album sales continue to grow or will they fade out due to streaming? My belief is that album sales will continue to grow. While doing searches online, I found that album sales increased each year while downloads/streaming declined.
Challenge yourself and try out listening to albums. You may find that this is a music medium that you really like. If you enjoy the sound of vinyl you can go downtown to Triple Play Records and check out their huge selection. They are located at 530 Main Street. Just keep in mind that inventory changes from day to day. If there is something in particular you are looking for they can special order that item for you. They also sell turntables, CDs and even band t-shirts. They even offer a discount to Colorado Mesa University Students. Make sure to bring your MavCard to receive that discount.
