Vinyl Music Store: A Nostalgic Relic That Defined Musical Eras
Before we get into the spinning part, let’s understand how the vinyl came to be.
The fact that you’re reading this on your device is a testament to the innovative spirit of numerous exceptional thinkers, visionaries, and theorists. One pivotal figure, central to our narrative, is Thomas Edison - often mistakenly attributed to the invention of the telephone (actually invented by Alexander Graham Bell) and more accurately credited with the development of the first practical incandescent lightbulb and improvements to the telegraph.
[Trivia]
- The Longest Vinyl Record Ever Made: In 2016, a team created a vinyl record that played for 48 hours non-stop. This was achieved by using a very slow playback speed and a specially designed record.
- Splatter and Marble Vinyl's Accident: The first splatter and marble vinyl effects were accidental, resulting from leftover colors being mixed together at the end of production runs. Their unique appearance later became desirable.
Interestingly, Edison’s inventive prowess extended beyond these achievements, as evidenced by the creation of the phonograph, a groundbreaking device capable of recording and playing back the human voice - an invention he reportedly held dear as his favorite.
In the June 1878 edition of North American Review, Edison shared his vision for the device's potential uses, including "reproduction of music," education, dictation, and even functioning as a verbal clock for telling time.
The 1880s saw an update in Edison’s designs, resulting in the development of the gramophone. Emile Berliner developed the gramophone in 1887, improving upon earlier designs by replacing the wax cylinder with a hand-crank mechanism and lateral-cut flat discs. Additionally, Alexander Graham Bell worked on the graphophone, a related device, experimenting with a hand-crank mechanism and a cylinder coated with a thin layer of rubber.
Seven years later, Emile Berliner created lateral-cut flat discs and held the first official vinyl party in history.
[Trivia]
- The First Vinyl Records Were Not Vinyl: The first "vinyl" records, introduced in the late 1800s, were made from shellac, a resin secreted by the lac bug, mixed with wood flour and pigments. Pure vinyl records as we know them today didn't appear until the mid-20th century.
- Hidden Messages in Vinyl Run-Out Grooves: Many vinyl records contain hidden messages or symbols in the run-out grooves, the space between the last track and the record's label. These can range from humorous notes to cryptic symbols, often requiring a magnifying glass to decipher.
Spillers Records
As vinyl technology continued to evolve, it laid the groundwork for a burgeoning music industry, where innovators like Henry Spiller would soon capitalize on the growing demand for recorded music. Subsequently, Spiller opened the first dedicated vinyl music store in 1894, named Spillers Records, in Cardiff, Wales.
Just imagine for a moment: 1894 - candles illuminating the surroundings, a river polluted with raw sewage, horse droppings accumulating to a depth of six inches in the streets, the air thick with coal smoke, and the country's elite jamming to some hardcore Mozart at Spillers Records.
This vinyl music store became the cornerstone of history's greatest musical archives. It defined a new music standard, as vinyl was the primary medium for listening to music until the late 1980s when digital formats like cassettes and CDs gradually gained dominance. (Interestingly, CD is an abbreviation for Compact Disc.) The mid-1960s to the early 1980s are often referred to as the golden age of vinyl sales, as artists measured success by vinyl record sales rather than by Spotify listens or YouTube views. This history segment saw iconic releases from The Beatles, Pink Floyd, and Fleetwood Mac.
[Trivia]
- The Science of Vinyl Crackle: The crackle heard at the beginning of a vinyl record is partly due to the stylus navigating the "lead-in groove," which is intentionally designed to produce a consistent, gentle crackle to help the stylus settle.
- The World's Most Expensive Vinyl Record: As of my last update, the Guinness World Record for the most expensive vinyl record sold at auction is held by Elvis Presley's "My Happiness" (1953), sold for $300,000 in 2015.
As the music world transitioned into the digital age, vinyl records seemed destined for obsolescence, yet, in a surprising turn of events, 2020 witnessed a heartfelt vinyl revival, surpassing CD sales.
This nostalgic yet vibrant resurgence of vinyl in the DJ scene also speaks to a desire for authenticity and a tangible link to the rich history of DJ culture, allowing modern DJs to pay homage to the pioneers who first revolutionized the art form on these very same rotating platters.
[Trivia]
- Vinyl Graveyards: There are "vinyl graveyards" around the world, such as the one in Neenah, Wisconsin, USA, where millions of unsold and returned vinyl records from the 1970s to the 1990s were buried. These sites have become somewhat legendary among collectors.
Now that you've spun through the fascinating history of vinyl with us, why not experience it firsthand? With great homage and admiration towards Spiller Session’s very first vinyl music store, here at Sunday Sessions, we're dedicated to keeping the spirit of vinyl alive. Every Sunday, our LA venue comes alive with local talents spinning the rarest, most timeless sounds on wax. Join our community of music lovers and collectors as we celebrate the warm, rich tones that only vinyl can provide. See you this Sunday!