Vinyl Countdown

Vinyl as a medium for music has had a tremendous resurgence after many believed that it had perished with the dominance of CD's, MP3's and Downloads.

In the last seven years the sales of pressed records has shown continuous growth and in 2014 this reached a 20 year high.

This phenomena has been recognised by the music industry just this week by the creation of a new dedicated chart for vinyl.

There has always been a niche market for vinyl being the preferred format for DJ's and enthusiasts and frequented by those looking to replace original recordings perhaps worn out or damaged from a wasteful youth or poor storage in lofts, garages and understairs cupboards.

Many have gone full circle to return their collection to vinyl after a brief foray into other forms.

This acknowledges the touchy-feely aspect of vinyl, a more realistic sound and ambience and above all that sensation of possessing something of material substance and value.

I have spent many hours revisiting my selection of long playing albums and EP's on 7" and 12" and have revelled in the pleasure of firing up the record player, listening to the crackle and hum and reading and re-reading the information on the cover and inner sleeve.

CD's by comparison are rather cold and impersonal, a bit mechanical and engineered. MP3's have persistently failed to deliver quality and Downloads, well, they are just a bit fly by night and transitory.

There are merits to having portable music in the modern forms on smartphone or technical equipment for a hectic life very much on the go but vinyl is reserved for a more special and meaningful moment.

The inaugural top ten in the vinyl chart gives some clues as to the age of those contributing to the vinyl revival.

Official Vinyl Albums Chart - Q1 2015

1 CHASING YESTERDAY NOEL GALLAGHER'S HIGH FLYING BIRDS
2 PHYSICAL GRAFFITI LED ZEPPELIN
3 AM ARCTIC MONKEYS
4 ROYAL BLOOD ROYAL BLOOD
5 THE RACE FOR SPACE PUBLIC SERVICE BROADCASTING
6 SHADOWS IN THE NIGHT BOB DYLAN
7 THE DARK SIDE OF THE MOON PINK FLOYD
8 LOST IN THE DREAM WAR ON DRUGS
9 HAPPY PEOPLE PEACE
10 FOUR SYMBOLS LED ZEPPELIN

40% of the chart is represented by classic rock albums by Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd and Bob Dylan suggesting that the over 40's are active in spending on vinyl although anecdotal evidence indicates that it is also the children of the baby boomer generation who are rediscovering the mega bands of the 1960's and 70's.

The remainder are an eclectic mix of pop and rock showing that vinyl is being embraced by more of the younger age group.

The main source of sales is from the Independent Record Shops who have been under a persistent onslaught by mega chains such as HMV (the sole survivor on the High Street) and the now demised Virgin, Zavvi, Andys Records and even Woolworths.

There has been a dramatic decrease in the number of small record sales outlets over the last few decades and in the peak download years many struggled to survive or just failed and disappeared from our High Streets and side lanes.

Those still open and trading strongly should feel vindicated by their loyalty and support for vinyl and fully justified in reaping the rewards from the upturn in demand.