I have a thing or two to say about listening to record albums, you know, vinyl LP’s. Because we’re trying to simplify, and basically get rid of a lot of stuff, Joe spent last weekend in the attic, going through, throwing out, and discovering treasure. He came upon our old Pioneer turntable and Sony receiver (remember receivers?) and brought it out as a fun holiday treat. And what it a treat is has been.
My kids watched in amazement as I placed the needle on the vinyl, as if it were some kind of surgery.
As we’ve spent the last few days listening to albums, not Spotify or Pandora, I have some revelations to share with you.
Back then, you listened to music on an album, on the turntable. When the A side was done, you turned the album over to the B side to play it… because the music stopped playing… There was silence, indicating an action needed to occur. You physically had to get up from your chair, walk over to the unit, and flip the album.
Now you listen to your favorite music, but every three songs you are (violated) interrupted by an ad for some product. You have given THEM (the advertiser) control over your “party”. Your focus is shifted from the music or the artist vocals rhythm, lyrics, to another place- the advertisers ad-the product they are selling.
An “Experience”
There was a whole process involved with playing records. The Selection Process. Flipping through your collection. Evaluating the artist. Evaluating the band. Evaluating the album cover. If you had multiple albums by one artist- ooh, what else have they done? I loved their “first” album! – That kind of thing.
Then you pick what you want to hear- look at the back cover- read where your favorite song is- what number is it on the list, so you can know where to place the needle on the record.
You study the cover artwork – the photo, the illustration, the CONCEPT- you “experience” the cover. Okay, maybe you don’t’ “experience” the cover…but as a visual artist, I sure did.
You slip the album out of the cover- the anticipation- then you read the label adhered to the vinyl reviewing which side to play first based on what songs you prefer. In your hands, you hold music, you hold the “party tunes”- YOU are in control right now! We’ve lost all this with our new listening routine.
There was something sacred about playing albums. It was a little “commitment”. You were much less likely to hop around to different songs on the album…so you just stuck-it-out and listened…you actually listened, even though you hated this song, and loved the next.
I was always quiet progressive with my music listening habits. Yes, I did own an original Sony Walkman with the big clunky headphones. Bringing the turntables down from the attic was revealing to me. We’ve lost something in our music experience. I’m not sure what exactly, but I know we lost something. Yes, perhaps we have gained…but we have lost, too. Taking that turntable out of the attic has made this season wonderful ride.
Do you agree with me? Have we indeed lost something here? I would LOVE to hear YOUR experience with “listening to music” today. Leave your comment below.