Here at 4VinylLoverz, we love all things music but we also love all things vinyl!

I started collecting records about 6-7 months ago and I can say that I’m proud of the gems I’ve purchased so far from the likes of Luther Vandross’ ‘The Night I Fell in Love’, Kendrick Lamar’s ‘To Pimp A Butterfly’, as well as Teena Marie’s ‘It Must Be Magic’ to Lauryn Hill’s ‘Miseducation’.

Collecting records has opened me up to a whole new world and way of listening to music.

In today’s world of streaming music on platforms such as Apple Music & Spotify, collecting records seems like a dead art. However this is incorrect!

According to the BPI (British Phonographic Industry) , 2016 was the year in which record/vinyl sales reached its highest in 25 years in the UK, with over 3.2million LP’s sold; a 53% rise from 2015.

It’s safe to say that although record collecting is a niche way of listening to music, it is definitely making a comeback.

After the deaths of many legends such as Prince & David Bowie last year, fans crave a more tangible experience of listening to artists’ music, which streaming does not provide.

I must say that this is precisely the reason why I love collecting vinyl. Watching Michael Jackson’s ‘Off The Wall’ or D’Angelo’s ‘Black Messiah’ spin round and round on my turntable gives me great joy. Reading the credits and lyrics on the album is an experience in itself, and to top it off, the aesthetics of it all is pleasing to the eye

I was happy to find that there is a celebration for the love of records/vinyl, otherwise known as Record Store Day. This year, it will be taking place on Saturday 22nd April.

Throughout the country, there will be numerous events, gigs, parties etc. which celebrates records, independent record stores and independent artists.

So if you’re looking for something to do on Saturday, why not head to one of the many events taking place near you!

Here’s a link to Record Store Day’s website:

http://recordstoreday.co.uk/home/

Why not take a listen to BBC Radio’s David Rodigan’s talk with Lion Vibes about Record Store Day:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b08m04p3