Why is it that a vinyl record can hold so much beauty and mystique as opposed to the foul and ugly CD, I've just had an hour playing and handling vinyl LP's, the aesthetic is absolute, the sheer thrill of holding and placing this piece of history on the turntable and gently lifting the tone arm across, then gently letting it fall in the dead wax.......then the anticipation, it holds your attention that Shhhh noise .....THEN THE SOUND BREAKS THROUGH...the emotion overflows, besides the wonderful musical resonance, there is the chance to watch this superlative Black object move almost to the rhythm and tempo of the song. Yet the CD in comparison is a heinous and filthy little creature, devoid of any charisma, even when I place the hound in the tray it disappears into the dark grey abyss of the machine...almost hiding itself in shame, as if it realises that in my household he/she is surrounded by illustrious vinyl relations whom look down in disdain at this urchin in it's god damn awful jewell case............

In conclusion I'll quote the late great Spike Milligan, who upon being woken as a small child , in the middle of the night by his father and being asked.."Son, I Have Never Shot A Tiger"...Spike replied rubbing his eyes "Why Are You Telling Me This"....his father replied...."I Had To Tell Someone"....

VINYL is like GOLD, you can hold it, feel and hear it, even the skips and pops, and showing your mate your latest 45 is something new kids on the block will never experience. Imagine this, kid sat at computer saying to his mate what do you think of my latest music track, and you are viewing all these 10111000011100101 (Computerized music in binary code) real cool or what, I don't think so.

By the way lots of new vinyl still coming out you just have to look for it, I found some great 2005 tracks on 7" and 12", search them out, buying them encourages even more releases. You will also save yourself money in the long run getting them now instead of paying 5 or 10 times the value in a few years time.

Keep on keeping on BUYING VINYL.

the aesthetic is absolute, the sheer thrill of holding and placing this piece of history on the turntable and gently lifting the tone arm across, then gently letting it fall in the dead wax.......then the anticipation, it holds your attention that Shhhh noise .....THEN THE SOUND BREAKS THROUGH...the emotion overflows,

Ginger Taylor said they look so nice when you're handling them and then you put them on ... and even more magic.

Few things share the same excitement as the anticipation of listening to the crackley run in of a new single you've just got home and paid a king's ransom for. Especially if it's one you've been after for years.

Part of that "Vinyl Sounds Better" thinking comes from how CDs have been mastered for a longer time now. If you play any of those modern waaaay overcompressed CDs on a really good hi-fi system, they sound like crap. Sure, the volume race had begun long before, but back in the 'golden' age of vinyl, there weren't even those tools to compress the music like it's been done from the early 90's with CDs. Also, vinyl can't be pushed so hard, since it's physically "saturated" at a certain level, and even if that level is reached, the distortion is 'warm' compared to the digital signal clipping. So I don't know... maybe an older, properly mastered CD with good dynamics is a match for a well pressed & mastered 12" single, if your comparing them on a decent sound system.

*BTW, I've noticed certain brands of (writable) CD's with audio have degraded over the last 4 years or so, to the extent that they're not even recognised by my CD players anymore! (This is after they've been stored in a drawer and not used for the duration.)

Chris

I'd just like to make a case for the MINI DISC Don't panic, I am a vinyl man through and through. But if you are a vinyl collector, the mini disc is something you should consider bying. Let me explain.

Whenever I get a new piece of vinyl I put it staight onto a mini disc, and that's it. I only play my vinyl when I'm doing a spot somewhere. All my vinyl is on mini disc, and to me, and all other owners of mini discs that I've spoken to, they sound much better than cd. AND, the process of recording seems to clean up any background from the vinyl. Unlike cd's, mini discs can be wiped clean, instantly. or individual tracks moved, or removed at will. Mini discs really are the dogs doo dahs, and I can't understand why they never took off. Even the discs themselves are far nicer to handle than those horrible cd's. And they are so small to cary arround. Mini discs are the best thing since cassette tapes, and far superior to any other medium, except vinyl of course. Can't recomend them highly enough.

I couldn't live without mine. One of the worlds best kept secrets.

I'd just like to make a case for the MINI DISC Don't panic, I am a vinyl man through and through. But if you are a vinyl collector, the mini disc is something you should consider bying. Let me explain.

Whenever I get a new piece of vinyl I put it staight onto a mini disc, and that's it. I only play my vinyl when I'm doing a spot somewhere. All my vinyl is on mini disc, and to me, and all other owners of mini discs that I've spoken to, they sound much better than cd. AND, the process of recording seems to clean up any background from the vinyl. Unlike cd's, mini discs can be wiped clean, instantly. or individual tracks moved, or removed at will. Mini discs really are the dogs doo dahs, and I can't understand why they never took off. Even the discs themselves are far nicer to handle than those horrible cd's. And they are so small to cary arround. Mini discs are the best thing since cassette tapes, and far superior to any other medium, except vinyl of course. Can't recomend them highly enough.

I couldn't live without mine. One of the worlds best kept secrets.

Hi Quinvy, i have a Sony Mini Disc player/recorder i bought a number of years back, and to be honest i haven't used it in years (i originally bought it for holidays etc), but your post has prompted me to get the little swine out of it's hiding place and i think i'll have a bit of fun this afternoon.

Brett

Hi Quinvy, i have a Sony Mini Disc player/recorder i bought a number of years back, and to be honest i haven't used it in years (i originally bought it for holidays etc), but your post has prompted me to get the little swine out of it's hiding place and i think i'll have a bit of fun this afternoon.

Brett

Sorry Brett, I was actually talking about the mini disc unit in my hi-fi system. I don't know about the portable ones. Are they as good or as easy to use? I don't know. Certainly worth a try though. I just turn my hi-fi on and stick in a disc, then play my collection of 45s.You can even stick it on radom play, so you never know what's comming on next. Awesome. Phil.

I remember going to Woolworths or some godforsaken store with my eldest sister, when i was in battleship grey shorts and socks, while she listened to the latest release in one of those booths......Happy days...

Brett

I'am going back a bit earlier and that showing my age,now i can remember at the Norwich railway station, there used to be a record booth you drop your money in the slot,sang a song out pop a vinyl record,coming back from the nighters we used to tape some sounds and transfer them on to vinyl and sold them as cover ups,i bet there still some a bout today what we used to do,oh by the way it was good recording.

Billy

Karen, I appreciate your sentiments, but the whole ethos of the "Rare Soul Scene" is built upon the playing and collecting of original vinyl records. There is absolutely nothing wrong with a child listening to the music through whatever medium, but I'd like to think that with time and education the "addiction" would take hold, thus continuing the very foundation that we hold so dear.

To quote Voltaire.....

I may disagree with what you have to say, but I shall defend, to the death, your right to say it.

.

I also disagree with you brett that the whole ethos of the rare soul scene is built upon playing and collecting rare vinyl, it is partly that, I am a collector as you know, but i do like the cd to bring stuff i will probably never have the chance of owning in the near future such as the limelights, jimmy gresham etc without the CD i couldnt sit in my car and enjoy those classics so yes vinyl is a thrill but listening to very rare tunes by whatever means is a thrill too.

Geeooooordie