According to Nielsen Soundscan, sales of vinyl albums in 2009 have already topped the 2-million mark.

This beats 2008’s, 1.9 million, which means that 2009 sales of vinyl LPs are on target to be the highest since at least 1991, when Soundscan began tracking music sales.

Digital music sales aren’t doing too bad, either.

Total purchased album downloads are on pace to top last year’s figure of 65 million.

This is a cool trend. In my book, the perfect music format is Vinyl + MP3; you buy your nice big sexy album and you get a download code along with it.

What do you think about the resurgence of LP sales?

Is this just a vinyl fetish – or do you think vinyl actually offers a better way to get your music fix?

via LATimes

Image: karola riegler photography

The album features remixes of tracks from the classic album Tracks & Traces by Shackleton, Appleblim & Komonazmuk.

It will be available on limited white vinyl & as a download starting Monday, November 2nd.

Download the remix at the rcrdlbl site.

Sy Smith’s B-Side Love Affair is an ode to crate-digging love and finding yourself someone with alternative tastes.

via ptmahasha

Touch DJ: teaser video

This is the early alpha preview of Amidio’s new app Touch DJ, expected to be out in September 2009.

Available in five different physical configurations, Voltaic is a loving look at the past two years of Björk’s Volta activities—her sixth studio album, which came out in 2007, and the subsequent two-year world tour.

Nonesuch Records will release it in the US. One Little Indian in the UK and Universal for the rest of the world.

Details below.

• Voltaic DVD 1 contains filmed highlights from the Volta tour, recorded in Paris and Reykjavik, with performances of songs from Volta as well as tracks from previous albums including Hunter, Joga, Army of Me, and Hyperballad.
• Voltaic DVD 2 features all of the Volta music videos, including the “Declare Independence” clip directed by celebrated Oscar winning French director Michel Gondry; the “Wanderlust” video directed by encyclopedia pictura; and the “Earth Intruders” video directed by renowned French animator Michel Ocelot.
• Voltaic CD 1 is a selection of songs from the Volta tour recorded live at the legendary Olympic Studios in London, just before Björk’s headlining show at the Glastonbury Festival in 2007. It was recorded in one afternoon, and the whole set was played live and captured in one take before being produced and mixed by Björk.
• Voltaic CD 2 features key remixes from Volta, with versions of “Earth Intruders,” “Declare Independence,” “Innocence,” “Wanderlust,” and “Dull Flame of Desire,” by the likes of Simian Mobile Disco, Matthew Herbert, Graeme Sinden, Ghostigital, and Modeselektor.

Björk’s band on the Volta tour included Mark Bell (LFO) on computers and keyboards and Damian Taylor on keyboards and programming. Drums and percussion were played by Chris Corsano (Sonic Youth, etc.); Jónas Sen played piano, harpsichord, and church organ; and Björk’s all female Icelandic 10-piece brass section rounded out the group.

This is a look at Detroit’s last vinyl pressing plant.

Can you imagine all the great music that must have been must have been pressed at this plant?

via ottosiderspunk

Aaron Howell and Sharon Shattucks’ Records is like the 45 of vinyl documentaries – short and to the point.

Enjoy.

via cratekings

Image: chaosbit

Doesn’t this delicious image of a Technics 1200 turntable sync ring make you want to spin some vinyl and actually feel some music?

It’s Record Store Day 2009 – so go visit your local record store and dig up something fun.

If you make a cool find, leave a comment and tell us about it!

If you’re like a lot of music fans, you probably have fond memories of discovering music at a local record store.

The trend towards digital music has rendered traditional record stores obsolete, yet there are still thousands of indie record stores still standing.

Why?

Because they don’t suck – and they are still working to keep indie music alive, in towns all over the world.

Support indie music and your local music scene by making a trip to your local record store on April 18th!

The National Association of Recording Merchandisers has announced that over 1,000 record stores around the globe will be celebrating Record Store Day on Saturday, April 18.

This second annual event was created to recognize the impact local record shops have had on the world of music over the years. Participating countries include the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom; France, Italy, Germany, Belgium, Greece, the Netherlands, Israel, Japan, Australia and New Zealand.

Across the United States, hundreds of other live performances and signings will be featured at participating retail outlets throughout the country. All confirmed musical appearances are listed here: www.recordstoreday.com.

Record Store Day is organized by the Music Monitor Network, the Coalition of Independent Music Stores (CIMS), Alliance of Independent Media Stores (AIMS) and Newbury.

OT: This is a video demo of the Mikiphone Pocket Phonograph, a sort of steampunk precursor to the Walkman and iPod.

via bb

This BBC documentary reveals some of the secrets of how vinyl LPs are created.

It’s fascinating – but it’s also amazing at how complex and labor-intensive the process is.

This is a short but sweet documentary looking at the future of vinyl, and the individuals who share a passion for it….

Vinyl Wax Records takes an affectionate look at vinyl LPs.

via Darren Cole:

This is a documentary I made my freshman year of college about apart of my life that I love so much and never plan to give up.

This video, Steve’s Vinyl Chops, demos physical mashups – music collages created by physically chopping up records, reassembling them and then using them to DJ.

Anyone ready to trade Traktor or Ableton Live for this?

via CrateKings

A beautiful incursion into The Vinyl Factory’s manufacturing unit, where you can see the vintage vinyl manufacturing process in action.

According to The Vinyl Factory:

All our vinyl is created using the classic EMI 1400 Press at the original EMI vinyl pressing plant at Hayes, Middlesex, a century-old landmark in British manufacturing. Our paper stocks are individually sourced and hand-chosen, while our print techniques combine tradition with modernity to create beautifully-produced collectors items.

The Vinyl Factory was established in 2003 when the company acquired EMI’s vinyl pressing plant in Hayes. The plant now presses over 50% of the UK’s vinyl. In addition to high end special editions, The Vinyl Factory group also includes gallery spaces in central London, an independent music & arts magazine and website (FACT) and record shop (Phonica).

via Califaudio

Who doesn’t need one of these babies?

This is a promo video for the Vinyl Recorder T-560. 

Made in Germany: “Schallplatten selbst herstellen!”

Two videos that look at how vinyl records are made. 

Click here to view the embedded video.

via cratekings

I’ve been listening to a lot of vinyl this weekend – but not the usual 70’s & 80’s classics.

I went to a book sale at the Iowa fairgrounds, and they had a fairly large collection of records. Even more interesting, though, they had a lot of 78’s. And I happen to have a Victrola VV-XIa that I’ve never really used much, because all the 78’s that came with it were pretty awful.

Digging through the crates of 30 cent 78’s, though, I found some great finds, including a 78 of Nat King Cole doing the Christmas Song; lots of great big band numbers; some early Raymond Scott releases; and the Ink Spots doing If I Didn’t Care. If anyone can guess why I’d be into the last one, let me know in the comments.

Amazingly enough, the records are in great shape and sounded fairly good. I’m betting that the Victrola doesn’t sound like it once did, though, just because of aging of materials. The thing is built like a tank, though, and sounded impressive for a device that’s nearly 100 years old.

While most people aren’t into records this old, vinyl is making a big comeback, because it’s cheap, it’s tangible and it’s fun.

Here are a few vinyl facts for you:

• Vinyl album sales are up by 36% since 2006;
• Vinyl sales are estimated at 5 million/year new and 20 million/year used;
• LA’s Amoeba Records sells 2,000 LPs a day, up 15% since last year;
• Best Buy stores are starting to sell vinyl;
• Turntable sales are up to 500,000 last year;
• There are reports of production delays, because demand has grown so much for vinyl;
• All sorts of new releases are coming out on vinyl, including LPs from Metallica, Bob Dylan, David Gilmour and hordes of electronic and dance artists, while labels are reissuing landmark releases by the likes of Miles Davis and Jimi Hendrix.

Listening to my 78 finds, I realized that there’s not just a world of mostly-forgotten music out there, but that the technology is mostly-forgotten.

Did you know that you’re only supposed to use a needle once with an old Victrola? The discs are so abrasive that it quickly ruins the needles, which can in turn ruin your records.

Later 78’s are apparently made of softer material and aren’t designed for old Victrolas. I’m not sure how to distinguish the difference yet – so if you know anything about this, let me know in the comments.

Also – after playing around with the old Victrola, it made me think how awesome it would be to get some new 78’s made up of electronic music. It would be a startling clash of new and old, and there might only be an audience of a dozen people to buy them, but it would be very cool.

I wonder if anyone can even make old-school style 78s. If you have any ideas on this, let me know!

Image: KGBKitchen

Looks like we are all Devo – CBS reports that vinyl is having a resurgence – which means the vinyl fetish is going mainstream.

Just as DJ’s were getting comfortable with digital, too.

This documentary tells the story of Paul Mawhinney and Record-Rama, the largest collection of vinyl LPs in the world.

Mawhinney was born and raised in Pittsburgh, PA. Over the years he has amassed what has become the world’s largest record collection. Due to health issues and a struggling record industry Paul is being forced to sell his collection.

A really interesting look at the historical value of vinyl, and the obsession of collectors.

via Crate Kings