Vinyl Heard:Dead or Alive?
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Transcript of Vinyl Heard:Dead or Alive?
The slow and steady funeral
music begins, marking the
commencement of the
funeral march.
The procession continues until,
suddenly, the music begins to skip;
over and over the same part of the song
repeats. Someone shouts “the needle is
stuck in a groove on the vinyl!” What a
nightmare.
In reality, vinyl is no longer the
most popular medium for listening to
music, but it’s not dead yet. Until the
1980s, vinyl was the primary medium for
listening to music that wasn’t live. After
that came 8-track and then cassettes.
Compact Discs (CDs) then took over
and eventually MP3s and IPods became
popular.
Indeed, the major issues
involved in the battle between modern
forms of listening and vinyl records are
the quality of sound, accessibility and
social interaction.
Carol Amberg, a teacher at Gou-
verneur High School and hippie from the
60s, loves her vinyl but acknowledges the
advantages to CDs and MP3s. Amberg
appreciates the sound quality in new
audio technology since there are minimal
“scratches or noise from overuse.”
My friends and I took a Van
Morrison record for a spin, prompting
a discussion of the advantages and
disadvantages of vinyl. Jeanne Verrilli, a
sophomore at SUNY New Paltz, believes
that vinyl is “more real because it sounds
like how it is live. We can hear the flaws.
It has more character.” Vinyl opens the
Vinyl Heard:dead or aliVe?
By Julia Amberg
Neil Young’s album After the Gold Rush
Minutemen’s album 3-Way Tie (For Last)
Vintage records are becoming a new trend, again. Many are reaching back, sometimes to their parents collections, to vinyl and craving the authenticity and warmth they resonate.
All
phot
os b
y Ju
lia A
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rg
listener to every gasp and even the shuffling of the feet of the
artist.
Some see this as an irritation. “It was an annoyance
even at the
time records
were in their
prime,” offers
Joey Hunter,
a freshman
at Cayuga
Community
College. “I like
to hear clarity in
music.” Whereas Verrilli prefers the realness
of vinyl over the perfection of CDs and MP3s,
Hunter loves his current modern sound
system.
Sound quality isn’t the only thing that has changed
in the transfer from vinyl to CDs and MP3s. Other physical
elements have been lost on modern music listeners as well.
Liz Clough, a sophomore at SUNY New Paltz majoring in
Anthropology, discusses her feelings about cover art while
examining the album sleeve to Crosby, Stills, Nash, and
Young’s album Déjà vu. “There is more room for art, which is
important.” Amberg adds, “Vinyl was not only auditory, but
also visual, tactile and olfactory. Most of my records from high
school and college I bought in used record stores, which had
their own aura and smell and feel.”
The feel of a record is not only in the psychical
elements, but also in the completeness of an album. Shuffle
on an Ipod, although
handy at a party, can
be a huge mistake.
The cohesive feel
of an album is
something of the
past. The order of
songs on an album is
something the artist
has to spend time
thinking about; it isn’t just random. “Even if you didn’t love all
of the songs on an album, you still knew them and understood
their place in the development of the artist,” said Amberg. John
Lefsky, owner of Jack’s Rhythms in New Paltz, states that this
cohesive element of records is starting to become popular again.
“People are starting to listen to full albums as an art form.”
“On a good day, and I always sell more on the weekends, I sell about 20 records a day.” —John Lefsky of Jack’s Rhythms
Van Morrison’s album Astral Weeks Live at the Hollywood Bowl
Bob Dylan’s album Self PortraitPixies album Come on Pilgrim
The tradition of sharing vinyl and
gathering to listen to it dwindled when other, easier
mediums of listening to music, became popular.
“You really listen to it,” said Verrilli, “I’m watching
the record go ‘round whereas a CD is invisible.”
At the topic of social gathering, Amberg
grew heated. “The social aspect of sharing face to
face and ear to ear has gotten lost, which is sad. The
great pleasure in sharing vinyl was that you sat in
the same room and everyone listened to the same
thing at the same time and talked about it or sang
along…loudly.” Although these listening sessions
are less frequent, they still occur. “We planned to
listen to records. It brings people together,” said
Verrilli.
With the invention of Walkmans and then
MP3s, music became a personal mobile entity.
“Although I like listening to records with other
people a lot,” said Clough, “it isn’t convenient.”
Music is not just for active listening. It provides
background sound to activities such as doing
homework to going on a run. As Clough states,
“you work for the vinyl, not the other way around.”
Typically, when people share music
today they usually just send someone the MP3
which is usually listened to alone, chances are on
headphones. “Music is no longer in the air, but in
the ear,” Amberg said.
Lefsky, of Jack’s Rhythms, believes that
vinyl’s coffin is far from closed. “The last couple
of years have seen a resurgence in vinyl, there is
The store front of Jack’s Rhythms with doors wide open
Records never went out of style at Jack’s Rhythms in downtown New Paltz
Remastered version of Neil Young’s self-titled album
Mason Proffit’salbum Last Night I Had The StrangestDream
Top 10 Selling Albums on Vinyl
IN 2009:1. Radiohead 45,700 2. The Beatles 38,800 3. Michael Jackson 30,4004. Metallica 30,2005. Wilco 29,6006. Bob Dylan 24,5007. Animal Collective 20,6008. Pearl Jam 19,9009. Bon Iver 17,10010. Iron & Wine 16,600
According to NYLVI: Your Place for Vinyl
even a day to recognize independently owned record stores, called Record Store Day,” which
took place on April 17 this year. This day celebrates vinyl today and those who listen to it.
Some artists, Weezer for example, release an album that is only available on this day from
record stores, said Lefsky. It sounds as though vinyl isn’t dead at all. “I get people in the store
anywhere from age 18 to people in their 50’s and 60’s. On a good day, and I always sell
more on the weekends, I sell about 20 records a day,” Lefsky reports.
This certainly is a resurrection of vinyl. As Lefsky predicts, recorded music will
once again become “warmer sounding and have multiple tones.”
So dust off that old record player in the attic or pick one up at a yard sale and
the next time you’re strolling around New Paltz, stop into one of the record stores and shop around. Buy something you
know you love, but buy it on vinyl and see if you can hear the levels that can be unlocked. You may discover a new love
for something old.
Rodger’s Book Barn•Hillsdale, NY
(518) 325-3610
Rhino records•New Paltz, NY
(845) 255-0230
Jack’s Rhythms•New Paltz, NY
(845) 255-1082
John doe Records•Hudson, NY
(518) 632-4273
According to laventure.net
Cat Stevens’ album Tea for the
Tillerman
Phil Ochs’ album Chords of Fame
Wu-Tang’s album 36
Chambers
Sufjan Stevens’ album Illinois