The Resurgence of Record Players
by Russell Lee, Arts, Literature and Sports Department, Central Library
Édouard-Léon Scott de Martinville created the phonautograph in 1857 to study sound waves by inscribing airborne noise onto paper for visual study. The phonautograph was mainly used in lab settings.
Afterwards, Thomas Edison furthered this development by inventing the phonograph in 1877, which could record and play sound. It inscribed audio to tinfoil wrapped along a cardboard cylinder for subsequent playback.
Alexander Graham Bell added wax to Edison’s phonograph design in order to record waves of sound. This was called a graphophone.
Emile Berliner developed the gradophone concept further by creating the gramophone and secured a patent for the device in 1887. The gramophone was made of hard rubber and shellac. It could interpret grooves on flat discs instead of a cylinder. This was the basis for the contemporary record player.
The first commercial release for the contemporary record player was in 1895. They sold well in the 1930s and 1940s. Record players became very popular in the 1960s and 1970s when Dual released the first turntables to provide stereo playback. The automatic high-fidelity turntable was an immediate hit in the early 1960s, which was called “The Golden Age” of record players. During this era Electrohome released its famous space-aged Apollo Record Player alongside their classic wooden stereo consoles.
I witnessed the popularity of the 1980s record players decline due to the invention of CD players and MP3 devices. Hip-hop DJs used record player turntables creatively through the '80s, '90s, and beyond by connecting audio mixers to record players. They would guide their hands along the records so they “scratched” against a needle to produce a rhythmic sound which added another element to their music.
Streaming and downloadable music has invaded our lives but music obtained by these means do not offer the sound quality that vinyl records can because the music has been compressed so many times to make it fit onto their service and to make it easier to download.
Here are a few reasons for the resurgence of record players and vinyl:
Record players have evolved to include Bluetooth wireless capabilities. Readers, in case you are wondering, yes, I have a record player, turntable, or whatever you want to call it. There is nothing like hearing that snap, crackle, pop, and crisp sound coming through the speakers when I need to renew, rediscover, and energize my musical palette.
I can remember in the 1970s how enthralled I was rummaging through one of my older brother’s album collection. Looking at the album covers of new and old purchases was the biggest highlight before I started my listening experience. Typically, when my brother was away, I would indulge in the great pleasure of listening to those big round vinyl discs on the turntable. I knew that I had to be very careful because if I were to drop the album and break it, he would not have been happy. The snap, crackle, pop, and occasional skip of vinyl playing through the speakers always sounded so good. On occasion I would sneak an album to school for show and tell because I knew he would be at work during those times. He always had the highest tech sound system that included a top end turntable, huge speakers, an amplifier, cassette deck, and, at one time, a reel to reel player. His love of music definitely influenced mine.
Sources:
Electrochome.com – "The History of The Record Player"
Baltimore Post-Examiner – "How vinyl records influenced the culture and pop music," May 06, 2019
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| A drawing of a phonautographic recording session |
Édouard-Léon Scott de Martinville created the phonautograph in 1857 to study sound waves by inscribing airborne noise onto paper for visual study. The phonautograph was mainly used in lab settings.
 |
| Thomas Edison and his early phonograph, c. 1877 |
Afterwards, Thomas Edison furthered this development by inventing the phonograph in 1877, which could record and play sound. It inscribed audio to tinfoil wrapped along a cardboard cylinder for subsequent playback.
 |
| A Columbia model AZ Graphophone, c. 1905-07 |
Alexander Graham Bell added wax to Edison’s phonograph design in order to record waves of sound. This was called a graphophone.
 |
Emile Berliner with the model of the first phonograph
machine, c. 1910–1929 |
Emile Berliner developed the gradophone concept further by creating the gramophone and secured a patent for the device in 1887. The gramophone was made of hard rubber and shellac. It could interpret grooves on flat discs instead of a cylinder. This was the basis for the contemporary record player.
 |
| Dual 1225 turntable, c. 1970s |
The first commercial release for the contemporary record player was in 1895. They sold well in the 1930s and 1940s. Record players became very popular in the 1960s and 1970s when Dual released the first turntables to provide stereo playback. The automatic high-fidelity turntable was an immediate hit in the early 1960s, which was called “The Golden Age” of record players. During this era Electrohome released its famous space-aged Apollo Record Player alongside their classic wooden stereo consoles.
I witnessed the popularity of the 1980s record players decline due to the invention of CD players and MP3 devices. Hip-hop DJs used record player turntables creatively through the '80s, '90s, and beyond by connecting audio mixers to record players. They would guide their hands along the records so they “scratched” against a needle to produce a rhythmic sound which added another element to their music.
Streaming and downloadable music has invaded our lives but music obtained by these means do not offer the sound quality that vinyl records can because the music has been compressed so many times to make it fit onto their service and to make it easier to download.
Here are a few reasons for the resurgence of record players and vinyl:
- There is a more intimate experience with listening to vinyl records. You actually get to hold the album in your hand and take it out of the cover and place it on to the turntable to begin your musical journey. This yields a very high sense of pleasure.
- A big plus is you own the music through your purchase of vinyl. It is yours to keep and you can listen to it as many times as you like. Buying vinyl also puts more money into the artists’ hands by you purchasing LPs.
- It just looks cool to have a record player in the home and some vinyl that is guaranteed to be an eye catcher and subject of good conversation. It is easy to find vinyl for sale in the many record stores that have recently opened or been in business over the years.
For a blast from the past, watch the the documentary about the rise and fall
of Tower Records, available in streaming on Hoopla and Kanopy, and on DVD.
of Tower Records, available in streaming on Hoopla and Kanopy, and on DVD.
Record players have evolved to include Bluetooth wireless capabilities. Readers, in case you are wondering, yes, I have a record player, turntable, or whatever you want to call it. There is nothing like hearing that snap, crackle, pop, and crisp sound coming through the speakers when I need to renew, rediscover, and energize my musical palette.
I can remember in the 1970s how enthralled I was rummaging through one of my older brother’s album collection. Looking at the album covers of new and old purchases was the biggest highlight before I started my listening experience. Typically, when my brother was away, I would indulge in the great pleasure of listening to those big round vinyl discs on the turntable. I knew that I had to be very careful because if I were to drop the album and break it, he would not have been happy. The snap, crackle, pop, and occasional skip of vinyl playing through the speakers always sounded so good. On occasion I would sneak an album to school for show and tell because I knew he would be at work during those times. He always had the highest tech sound system that included a top end turntable, huge speakers, an amplifier, cassette deck, and, at one time, a reel to reel player. His love of music definitely influenced mine.
Sources:
Electrochome.com – "The History of The Record Player"
Baltimore Post-Examiner – "How vinyl records influenced the culture and pop music," May 06, 2019
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