When CDs came out they were marketed as being fairly indestructible in day to day use type of environment. Besides the digital hype and the “CD” quality of back in the day DAC turning things into music I could plug into my analog amp. There were certainly growing pains. The CD was just easier than a record. You didn’t have to worry about them getting warped, they were easier to transport, store and the idea of cleaning a CD was child’s play when compared to the religious ceremony type of ritual that audiophiles adhered to when cleaning vinyl.
Here we are today, about 30 years after the “death” of vinyl and from what I heard, more music is being sold today on vinyl than on CD and it’s the number one source of actual tangible medium music sales.
I miss album cover art. I miss liner notes. Album cover art was an art onto itself, you could look at pictures and read about your artist while listening. There are artists that had entire careers solely on their prowess to produce covers, iconic covers. God damned Rolling Stones would have had a gallery wing all onto themselves with their album cover art. Even Warhol was prolific.
But this isn’t about album cover art, it’s about spinning vinyl being cool, to the point of exclusion by some. Pops, scratches, wear from a stylus, whatever it was. Other than the “analogue”, there was nothing going for vinyl, yet here they are. Certainly not dead.
For some of the reasons already noted, the fact that yo have to store for them, care for them, baby them to a degree and they’re a PITA to transport. Yes, I helped carry milk crates for DJ friends back in the day.
Would love to hear from someone who’s a vinyl head today. No judging, different formats, different times, the involvement and commitment that vinyl takes over other sources. I get that. I’m just not disciplined enough for vinyl but I’d love to hear what today’s generation has enjoyed, gained, rediscovered from the current revival of the medium.
Couple more questions, are today’s albums more resistant to damage? Is audiophile phono gear better today than it was back in the day?