Why I Am Fine With Second Hand Vinyl

Introduction

Several years ago my friend Marek at RPM in Newcastle persuaded me to buy a second-hand reconditioned record player. I was impressed by the looks and sound, he came and set it up and since then my vinyl record collection has increased significantly.

I always say I don't need any more vinyl, and I don't but I still see albums and singles that catch my eye and then add them to my collection.

While we want to be able to listen I am fine with a few scuffs and crackles that become surface noise on records. Scratches are less desirable and sticks and jumps I find difficult to tolerate, but if that is the only copy I can get then I will live with it. I probably can get the music digitally anyway.

It seems that there is always a new more perfect digital format being released, and while digital music is definitely convenient and can sound acceptable is it always a series of blocks (no matter how small whereas analogue is a smoothe curve.

Someone once said to John Peel how they hated surface noise on vinyl and Peel replied "Listen Mate, Life has surface noise" and I go with that.

Surface noise on vinyl means it has been played and enjoyed before, and you also get a much larger piece of art to maybe read when you listen.

This is mainly telling you what I like about vinyl so I thought I would share a few songs from the records that I shared with you in the main pictureand hope that you enjoy them.

David Essex - "Lamplight" from "Rock On"

I bought this single from The Beehive in Alnwick and noticed that it said it was produced by Jeff Wayne on the picture cover.

The running brass breaks make me think of Thirties trad jazz and this does move a lot faster than "Rock On" but is still an unexpectedly impressive single in my opinion.

More on my thought on David Essex here:

Peter Schilling - "Major Tom (Coming Home)" from "Error In The System”

Originally released in 1983 and I completely missed it (I also completely missed AC/DC), I first heard it when it was used as the theme tune for the TV series "Deutschland '83" and I loved it . Then I went for a vegan meal with my friend Katie, the restaurant also sold vinyl and they had a copy of the single which I immediately grabbed.

The song was originally recorded in the German language and released in West Germany on 3 January 1983. It reached No. 1 in West Germany as well as in both Austria and Switzerland. The English version was first released in the United States on 24 September 1983. This version reached No. 1 in Canada, and No. 4 in South Africa and peaked at No. 14 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart the week of 24 December 1983.

Split Enz - "History Never Repeats" from "True Colours"

I remember getting this on laser-etched vinyl and I decided I wanted to get a copy. I went to RPM and they had a copy for £3 which I snapped up immediately. If you want to see it in action I posted it on Instagram here:

A bit about the laser etching on the single and album:

When it was later released on the A&M label, imaginative shapes and patterns covered the vinyl using a technique known as "laser-etching". When light hit the record, these designs would protrude and spin about the room. The album was the first to ever use this technique, originally designed to discourage the creation of counterfeit copies.

Thank you for reading and I hope you found something that you enjoyed