RECORD STORE DAY Let’s celebrate this warm, analogue sound It might be hard to tell where the music industry is going. However, it’s safe to say that vinyl will always have a legion of devoted fans who believe in its unique sound R ecord Store Day is celebrat- ed worldwide every third Saturday in April, repre- senting a global celebration of music and these carries of sound, accompanied by exclusive vi- nyl releases. This day is a genuine holi- day for music lovers, because it brings together fans, artists and collectors, and capital cities around the world or- ganise concerts, meetings with mu- sicians and record exchanges... Bel- grade is no exception in this sense, which is why World Record Store Day will be celebrated in Čumićevo Sokače on 12 th April. Lovers of vinyl will once again have an opportunity to enjoy the unique atmosphere that’s created by music, collectors and exclusive releas- es, with everything set to be accompa- nied by an extremely interesting music programme. This day leads us nostalgically back through the rich history of the vi- nyl record, which has actually exist- ed for more than a century and has roots going back to famous inventors. The grandfather of the modern turnta- ble was the phonograph, an invention created by Thomas Edison way back in 1877. This device was a far cry from the record players of today, but the in- genious technology at its core was re- markably similar. After it changed the world, the next innovation in audio technology came from a German immi- grant named Emile Berliner. Berliner’s gramophone, the father of the modern record player, was invented ten years
after the phonograph, and it bears much more resemblance to the turn- tables you’re familiar with today. Fol- lowing growth in the popularity of the gramophone, new versions were creat- ed that made the technology more ac- cessible, affordable and suitable for the early 20 th -century consumer. After years of only 78-RPM records be- ing available on the market, the first 12-inch, 33-RPM record was produced in 1948. These albums arrived on the scene at a time when the postwar en- tertainment industry was boom- ing. Consumers were more than ready to buy these LP (long-play) records, and they quickly became the indus- try standard. LPs consisted of polyvi- nyl carbonate, the material that gives vinyl records their name. This material was also used to create seven-inch re- cords that were designed to be played at 45 RPM. Prior to the advent of the LP, there was no way for an artist to release more than a handful of songs at once. That meant that there was essentially no such thing as the modern album un- til midway through the 20 th century. It was the LP, which could hold over 20 minutes of music on each of its two sides, that revolutionised the way mu- sic was recorded and released. Thanks to the LP, artists and bands started re- cording full-length projects consisting of around a dozen songs. With the LP also came the advent of a brand-new genre in American mu- sic: rock ‘n’ roll. It was around the time
that 12-inch records started becom- ing widely available that musicians like Elvis Presley and Chuck Berry were revolutionising the sound of popular music. Radio was also experiencing its golden age around this same time, and the combination of record sales and ra- dio airplay made superstars of Elvis and his contemporaries. Records experienced a historic decline in sales during the 1990s. The mar- ket was dominated largely by CDs and cassettes at this point, with consum- ers looking mainly for convenience and portability rather than an immersive listening experience. Some anticipated that vinyl’s death rattle would be heard around the turn of the millennium and that no one would ever turn on their turntable again. Fortunately, that wasn’t how things turned out. A devot- ed group of audiophiles kept collect- ing records, swearing by them for their sound quality, aesthetic appeal and col- lectability. It was the CD that would ul- timately fall out of style – leaving vinyl to rise to the top once again. Vinyl sales have increased over the last decade, with many millennials and Gen-Z discovering the appeal of its warm, analogue sound. Just about every major-label artist, and a wide ar- ray of independent bands and mu- sicians, are releasing their latest re- cords on vinyl these days. The format has made a historic comeback and had a massive cultural impact, as well as shifting the tide of the music industry forever – and it’s over a century old!
Vinyl records » Ploče | 47
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