Why Vinyls Are A Mainstay in Popular Culture
Vinyl Records: The format that has stood the test of time
Vinyl records are more than just a way to listen to music– they are a timeless work of art. They take listeners through the golden ages of music, spanning from the 1950s and 1980s to the modern day.
Listening formats for music have changed drastically over the years. It started with vinyl records in 1948, followed by cassette tapes in 1963, and the famous Walkman in 1979, which allowed us to take music anywhere without relying on the internet. Then came CDs in 1982, and finally, streaming devices like Spotify and Apple Music, which are the most common ways to listen to music nowadays. While each format is still relevant in some way, there is one that has consistently made a comeback.
Vinyl Records.
There’s something special about vinyl records that no other format can replicate. With vinyls, you can go record shopping and build your collection. Nearly every city has at least one store dedicated to vinyl; where records are displayed on the wall as art, boasting rare vinyls such as The Beatles alongside modern artists like The Weeknd. Seeing the cover art can take you back to a time when things were more simple and there wasn't much to worry about, or remind you of a loved one.
One could argue that CDs offer a similar experience. But vinyl has an aura that has lasted since the 1960s-1970s, when a lot of us grew up with bands like Fleetwood Mac, Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, The Doors, Janis Joplin, The Ronettes, The Supremes, America, and many more.
While streaming music may be more convenient nowadays, both for artists and listeners, it lacks permanence. Since you have your tunes downloaded on your phone, you may think you can listen to them forever, but if a streaming service like Spotify ceased to exist, all your music would go with it. Vinyl records will always be there, as long as you take care of them. They will sound just as good as the first time you played them. And, you won’t have to worry about an outside party taking them down. That’s why some of the most influential modern artists like Taylor Swift, Harry Styles, and The Weeknd still release music with vinyl. It creates an experience of seeing the cover art, decorating walls or dorm rooms, and putting them in a collection. If you’re a music fan, how could you not collect this piece of history? Sound quality-wise, the audio is smooth and relaxing, with no ads, breaks, or scratches.
In the 60s and 80s, album art, lyric books, and vinyl designs were integral to the experience. With a lyric book, you could sing along to “The Chain” by Fleetwood Mac. With the cover art, you could make a poster and hang it on your wall. But vinyls have gotten more creative over time. Today, records come in different shapes and sizes–7” and 12”-- and a range of colors. Thanks to modern technology that will preserve the sound quality, they can even take on different shapes such as a heart or a pumpkin. For example, Vince Guraldis's It’s The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown” was released in the shape of a pumpkin, adding more specialty and collectability.
When you add this to your listening experience, it's something no other format can come close to. It’s not only something on your phone but true art that you can look at while you listen. It is no wonder why vinyl records have been able to last decades, and they don’t seem to stop anytime soon.
Written by Luis Zavala
Graphics by Monica Watson
