This might be a controversial one. Records are having a huge resurgence – people get genuinely excited about them. They talk about the warmth, the sound, the ritual, the experience. Record stores are thriving again. New albums are being released on vinyl and some people seem convinced it’s the ultimate way to listen to music.
Me? I’m not a fan. Maybe it’s because I grew up with them. I remember buying records when they weren’t cool. They were simply what we had. And while I understand the nostalgia, I also remember the frustrations.
Now, before the vinyl enthusiasts sharpen their pitchforks, let’s acknowledge something. Early records often do sound interesting. They have a character and a vibe but there’s a reason for that. Back then, the entire recording chain was analogue. Artists recorded onto analogue multitrack tape. The recordings went through analogue mixing desks and analogue outboard gear. The final mixes were printed to analogue master tapes before being pressed onto vinyl. The warmth people love wasn’t coming from the record itself. It was coming from the entire analogue recording process. That’s an important distinction.
Today, most music is recorded digitally. Unless a band has a significant budget, they’re probably recording into a computer, mixing inside a computer and mastering digitally. The final product is digital from start to finish. Pressing that digital recording onto vinyl doesn’t magically turn it into an analogue masterpiece.
For me, that’s where the argument starts to fall apart. I completely understand why people buy records. It’s not always about sound – it’s about a connection with the artist. A record is something you can hold, admire the artwork, read the liner notes and put on display. It feels like ownership in a way that streaming never will. When you buy a record, you’re supporting a band and taking home something tangible. I get that. What I don’t get is pretending the format itself is flawless.
I remember buying second-hand records years ago (the only way to build up a collection when you are young and skint, which probably hasn’t changed today!) and never knowing what I was going to get. Some sounded fantastic, others were terrible. Manufacturing quality varied enormously. If you got a pressing that wasn’t great, especially towards the end of the stamper’s life which was getting worn out, the experience could be disappointing from the first track. By the time you reached the inner grooves near the centre of the record, the sound quality could be unplayable. That wasn’t rare. It was part of living with the format.
When cassettes became common, I actually preferred them. I know that’s probably even more controversial than disliking vinyl. But for everyday listening, I found cassettes more practical. They travelled well, they were durable, and they gave a more consistent listening experience, though I accept they too eventually wore-out or snapped.
Then there is another question I rarely hear discussed. The environmental side. I’m not taking a political position here, and I’m certainly not claiming to be an environmental expert. But I do wonder about the manufacturing process. Vinyl records are made from PVC, a petroleum-based plastic. The production process involves energy, chemicals, packaging, shipping and all the other things that go into manufacturing a physical product. For younger generations who are often passionate about environmental issues, I sometimes wonder whether they’ve thought about the full lifecycle of the format they’re embracing. Maybe the answer is yes. Maybe the connection, collectability and support for artists justify it. I don’t know. It’s an interesting question.
And yes, I know you make new records by recycling old records, but its not a zero-energy, zero-chemical manufacturing process.
At the end of the day, people should enjoy music however they want. If records make you happy, fantastic. Buy them, collect them, display them proudly. As for me? I’ll stick with digital files (24 bit thank you very much), streaming services, and the occasional cassette tape for a dose of nostalgia. I spent enough years living with vinyl the first time around.
