While today's musicians often strive mightily to create CDs that have a warm "analog" sound, it is nearly impossible to match or best the sound of a real record album. The ones and zeroes of digital recording simply cannot capture the uniquely rich sound of a stylus riding across inscribed spiral grooves cut into vinyl (or, earlier, "shellac" and even hard rubber). No wonder, then, that true audiophiles work so hard to collect and maintain copies of actual record albums.Commercial record albums date back to the phonograph and gramophone records of the late nineteenth century. Mass production of such records made it possible for the first time for musicians and spoken-word artists to capture and distribute their performances so easily, so economically, and on such a large scale. While early "78s" (signifying the record's rotation at 78 rpm) eventually gave way to "45s" and the longer-playing 33 1/3 albums with which many of us are so familiar, the fundamental recording and playback techniques have changed little over the years.
Record Albums in a Digital Age
In a digital age of CDs, SACDs, and MP3s, record albums chiefly appeal to two overlapping populations. For people who love music of an earlier age that was never re-released on CD, record albums represent a vital connection to an analog past. While this population has dwindled somewhat with the advent of home-recordable CDs and similar media, many people still prefer the original professional package.
At the same time, however, record albums have only become increasingly popular with DJs and hip-hop artists. While part of this affinity for vinyl is based upon a preference for using and re-using albums released prior to CDs, record albums largely appeal to this second constituency due to their physicality. Unlike with CDs or MP3s, you can lay your hands on spinning vinyl to create the scratching, cross-fading, and speed alterations so central to hip-hop and other dance music.
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