A number of years ago, I sold the bulk of my vinyl. While every two months or so I have a day where I tear up with regret over this momentous decision, most of the time I can admit that I’m just happier with my iPod. But there are still plenty of people who would rather part with a digit or two than dump their records. And the WFMU Record Fair–three days of buying, selling, and trading vinyl (among other things) that helps benefit the much-loved New Jersey radio station–is one of the places the still-thriving vinyl community gathers to meet and greet. We sent Idolator videographer Alex Goldberg to the Record Fair this weekend to find out what crackly magic still draws people to drop serious money on black petroleum discs in 2007. Surprisingly enough, no one we talked to would ever trade the feel of a frayed cardboard sleeve for a tiny digitized square in the bottom left-hand corner of iTunes.
Another externality of the vinyl collection scene: you get a higher incidence of people with great taste. Really, half the appeal of holding a Faust record comes from first being a Faust fan.
I’m as steadfast a fan of LPs as you will find…
…but “too much clicking?” C’mon. Like going to a record convention is easier.
Kudos to the Folk/Celtic guy for not sounding like an elitist d-bag.
The one thing that amazes me is that I find a stack of 5 year old CD’s old but a vinyl from 25-35 years ago in good shape has such life to it.
I love record shows but can’t stand 98% of the people at them…