More evidence that LPS are still alive

I live in the Pacific NW, and yesterday I was out on errands with my 21-yr-old stepson who wanted to get a CD at Fred Meyer. When we got there, lo and behold, there was a shrink-wrapped 2-disc LP of R.E.M.'s "Accelerate" release, leaning up against the music dep't's cash register. The clerk didn't exactly know why it was there, but since it had a price tag and UPC code, I could have bought it.

But after reading the link, now I know how it got there, and I may have to go back and get that one.

Fred Meyer selling vinyl in the Pacific NW is like Mervyn's (in CA) or Target (anywhere) selling vinyl. It can't get much more mainstream.

I also agree with the above statements about tape, but that day won't come again. Digital does keep getting better, esp. SACD and DVD-A. Again, it requires expert mastering and direct to disc with minimal eq. I was listening to Bob James/Dave Sanborn last night on LP. Then I listened to a CD of Dave Sanborn. Both were great, but the CD was quieter and almost as dynamic. New CDs are now costing $15 while new LPs are even more. It means that computer based audio is the future.

hi,

About 12 years ago I got divorced. I had shelves ( about 12 running feet packed with LPs ( jazz, classical, rock and folk). I BECAME TEMPORALY INSANE and when it came time to move I gave, yes gave, most of them to oe of the men on the moving van ( THANKFULLY I KEPT MOSTOF THE CLASSICAL SUFF). I could kick myself now. I thought CDs were more convient.

So now what am I doing .... buying vinyl wehaerever I can find it.

sigh,

Larry

The article in the cnn.com link about the resurgance in vinyl was in today's business section of the Nashville paper. The word is out.

After 3 days of equivocating, I decided to take one more look at the R.E.M. LP at my local Fred Meyer, and guess what?

It's a 45-rpm release mastered on TWO 180g LPs! That was the clincher. Even though I'm not a huge R.E.M. fan, I wanted to celebrate the experience of buying a new shrink-wrapped vinyl album of a mainstream artist from a mass-market department store in 2008.

Even though it's 45rpm on 180g vinyl, don't expect it to sound like an Analogue Productions release. Even so, it is very quiet, reasonably dynamic, and sounds pretty good, though I'm aware of its digital roots. It also comes with the CD. Not bad for $26.99.