Back in time: Discover the fascinating history behind iconic vinyl records
Vinyl records are an invention with over a century of history that continues to revolutionize the music industry today. Every artist offers their fans this format because it has become an essential part of the meaning of the record as a whole. It envelops the essence and art behind the work that goes into an album.
The LP format has delighted listeners and collectors since the 20th century, when RCA Victor released the first commercial long-playing vinyl record back in 1930. The popularity of vinyl records has been growing and that is why we bring you this article so that you can learn about the history of vinyl records and, why not, inject the desire to be a future collector of this format.
What is the origin of vinyl records?
The entire origin of vinyl records begins with two names: Emil Berliner and Thomas Edison.
Thomas Edison patented the phonograph in 1878, considered the first instrument capable of recording and reproducing sounds by rotating a cylinder. The process was as follows: it transformed acoustic energy into mechanical energy that came out through the cylinders that were covered in wax and that when coming into contact with the needle, which was connected to an amplifier, allowed the previously recorded sounds to be heard.
A decade later, Emil Berliner gave us the famous gramophone, which evolved from Thomas Edison's phonograph. The process in this case consisted of reproducing sounds recorded on a record that, when in contact with the needle, was heard repeatedly.
For decades, both instruments have been at the center of what is considered “the first war of musical formats.”
When was the Vinyl Record popular?
In 1948, the boom in vinyl records as we know them today exploded. Although it is true that the evolution and the twist that Berliner gave to Edison's Phonograph with his Gramophone was a great success and allowed us to enjoy long-lasting collections of vinyl records, the material used to manufacture vinyl records at that time was very fragile.
The materials used to create the first vinyl records were metal, shellac and other compounds that offered nothing but fragility and some wear. It was not possible to use and use a record created with these characteristics, much less preserve it.
This is when vinyl records as we know them today were invented. And the main thing to obtain the hundreds of copies that are sold is to create a master disc , which is an aluminum disc coated with black enamel from which the copies that you have in your collection will come out.
What were the first vinyl records like?
The first vinyl records rotated at 78 revolutions per minute (RPM), but the shellac material was too fragile and made too much noise, so in 1948 Columbia Records manufactured a 12-inch record that rotated at 33 rpm, the “long format” record that we know today: LP
Here you can learn the history of the first vinyl record, called Columbia ML4001 Many collectors have found it today among forgotten records at some flea market.
Go ahead and look for it. If you are from the capital or are coming to Madrid, go to El Rastro on a Sunday and be sure to look for it to include it in your collection.
At KTS we are working on it now, and if we find it, we will share a photo on our Instagram profile -Follow us @keepthemspinning- with it hanging on our wall.
And as any collector and lover of vinyl records would say: “There is something about vinyl records and their sound that simply cannot be explained.”
After many years of arguments over which format was the predominant one, the 12”/33 rpm LP emerged as the winner for albums, and the 7” record became the format of choice for singles. EPs offered that same playing time as 78 rpm records, and LPs allowed up to 30 minutes of continuous playback on one side only.
Although vinyl records are treasured today and even used to decorate your home, back in the 2000s they were gathering dust, having been left behind. They weren't as sought after until vinyl record stores started celebrating Record Store Day in 2008 , which we've also dedicated an article to, so don't forget to check it out!
Record Store Day and Vinyl Records
While it is true, Record Store Day revolutionized shopping and activated demand for vinyl records like it hadn't been since 1986. And
That's because, as we mentioned earlier, the quality and sound behind vinyl records continues to be acclaimed.
In fact, today's musicians have joined in by putting their albums in this format and not only offering CDs and music streaming , not only because vinyl records bring a vintage look and are easy to decorate, but also because the sound quality is unmatched. Fans are clamoring for vinyl records and there is nothing like bringing back the good things of the past.
Vinyl records are the perfect excuse to enjoy our favourite bands and have a vinyl record shelf at home , full of art. Because in addition to sound and an incredible format, the LP format decorates your walls and offers that special touch to your home.
You can try buying a few vinyl records and decorate a corner of your house that needs some life. Play with the colors of the covers and their position. Take a look at our website. Where you will find new furniture for vinyl records and everything you need to decorate your home and display your collection.
What Other Musical Formats Exist?
In the early 1980s, vinyl records were replaced by compact discs as the most commercial formats in the music industry. This format was developed by Sony , who was later joined by Phillips, helping in the development of the so-called compact disc .
Record labels largely stopped producing vinyl records and concentrated on digital formats. It is worth noting that vinyl records remained on the market thanks to DJs, music lovers and collectors.
On the one hand, many people agree that one of the drawbacks of the LP format was the fact of transporting them. Hence, new music formats were created in order to end this difficulty. Cassettes, CDs and, today, streaming music.
However, after decades of music being stored in MP4 and MP3 format on computer hard drives, vinyl records experienced a surge in popularity again in the late 2010s. And 2017 marked the tenth consecutive year of growth in vinyl record sales and purchases.
It is said that this growth was largely due to the indie rock genre and, of course, the appearance of more vinyl record stores and the novelty of the format for younger people.
Also, because of how collectible vinyl records are, many record labels have joined forces to bring back this format, and its return has been welcomed with open arms. Some people claim to have become addicted to collecting it, so the market is becoming larger, more diverse and more demanding.
The most popular format today is MP3, and although it does not have the sound quality of a vinyl record, there are opinions against it. This has become a controversial topic, but experts explain that the compression of the sound in the MP3 format makes it sound much worse than analogue sound.
Although digital sound is of phenomenal quality for generations raised on digital, collectors say there is no comparison.
And you, have you had the opportunity to surround yourself with the sound of a vinyl record or are you more of a digital format person?
Tell us in the comments if you enjoyed learning about the history of vinyl records, if you have already bought the first one in your collection or if you are an endless collector of this format.