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Implications of vinyl on musical trends?

I’ve been super enamored with vinyl since making the leap from digital.  My mom gave me her old records; mother-in-law gave us hers; aunts and uncles have offered theirs, etc.  Throughout my life it seems vinyl was always around.  Maybe it was tucked away in a closet, but it was there—albeit a bit dustier during the 1990s.  As a result of its ubiquitous nature, it logically influenced musical trends in a similar hand-me-down sort of way (e.g. blues to Zeppelin et al).

I’ve watched over the years as rock & roll struggled and was always a bit vexed by it.  I generally chalked it up to aging; but, it struck me that maybe the decline of vinyl directly contributed to the decline of rock & roll.  Could it be that the decline of vinyl caused some sort of musical schism?  Or, maybe the “decline” was simply another evolution (though to what, I cannot say)?  I find it interesting that the resurgence of vinyl seems to correlate with a younger rock movement (e.g. Greta Van Fleet).  Nothing deep, profound, or particularly meaningful…just something I was thinking about on a random Saturday.

mikek1
sbank's avatar
sbank
3,378 posts
 

Interesting premise. 

I associate vinyl with intention. You make an effort and you're more likely to really listen. If you really listen, longer tracks whether prog rock or classical are more likely to fit vs. if other listening situations. Playlists, earbuds, whatever else suit singles, shorter tunes and more mixes. Perhaps as vinyl resurges, musicians will gravitate towards more long form and perhaps more complex music. That would be nice, IMHO. Cheers,

Spencer

sns
3,003 posts
 

I find many of these correlations may fit a lot of commercial, popular music which I generally don't listen to. Recordings with fine sound quality have always existed through time and genre, just more likely with music not made for mass consumption. I agree this became more difficult with innovations in portable audio, vast majority of my 50's-60's recordings all wonderful sound quality, starting in 70's these issues became more apparent.

mikek1 OP
13 posts
 

re: Moore’s Law.  Good point.  Maybe I’m misinterpreting the nature of Moore’s Law, but I thought the regression function assumed cost reduction relative to the physical size of transistors over time.  If so, then damn…I seem to have missed the cost savings ;)

Also agree on the quality aspect you mention.  I appreciate a wide variety of music—not just rock.  To that end, AP 45s from Chad and co have been a godsend.

ghdprentice
6,471 posts
 

OP,

Good thoughts.

 

But in reality, music moves on and appeals to the next generation. Bach was new music once. The truly great stereo recordings were in the late 1950’s and very early 60’s. I have a couple thousand vinyl albums collected since the 60’s. Many audiophile pressings from the late 50’s. 
 

My digital and analog ends now sound the same (see my UserID)… so, while some recordings are good, ok, am\nd great… I think some music stands the test of time and some doesn’t. Bach, Beethoven, Mahler, Billie Holiday Miles Davis, The Beatles, The Who, Crosby, Nash, and Young, Passport, Afro-Celt Sound System…. Etc will. Many will not. My niece loves XXX… I agree, great. There are bands that bond to a culture and time and will emotionally capture the time… some will remain timeless. 
 

The fidelity of the recording are secondary.

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