The Cycling Popularity and Origins of Vinyl Records in the 21st Century
By Valeria Arreguin
“I’ve been getting interviewed about the resurgence of vinyl for the last 20 years,” says Rick Wojcik, one of two founders of Dusty Groove.
Established in April 1996, the record-selling company started as an online Chicago business. Because of its popularity, they opened their business in Hyde Park and Wicker Park and finally opened to their present location in 2001. Their business expanded out of their love of music and sharing it. The popularity of record sales leads to people asking: What are vinyl? And why are they so popular?
History of Vinyl
The vinyl record was invented in 1889. Emile Berliner’s gramophone was the earliest record player to play flat discs, which was revolutionary for being the first device to play pre-recorded music. Shortly after, the first commercially made record was sold by RCA Victor in 1930. However, it did not sell due to its release during the Great Depression. Columbia Records released its records in 1939, which resulted in a record-selling rivalry. Back then, companies created 12” LP records, while today, most records produced are 12″ (30 cm) LP or Maxi Single.
Walter Gieseking, Schumann/Brahms- Scenes of Childhood, Op. 15/Intermezzi, Op. 117 released in 1952
How do records work? As a music lover, I was curious to know how these records produced music. Vinyl records have grooves that spiral from edge to center that vary in width and length to present different waves and frequencies. When You release the stylus or needle. It plays into the grooves, and its movement mimics the song’s vibrations, making a sound. Depending on the length of the album discography, there are usually 1-2 vinyl discs per package.
Dusty Groove
Founded in 1996, this record store, founded by Rick Wojcik and JP Schauer, sells CDs and vinyl records. They buy them from individual sellers and record companies locally and nationwide. The store also has a downstairs bargain section with 99-cent deals on records and CDs. They sell all genres of music, from hip-hop to jazz to Latin music. They specialize in Brazilian music, soul, Latin, and jazz genres. It is hard to choose favorites when so much music exists, but Rick explains, “People like Roy Ayers or Leroy Hudson or Caetano Veloso…were kind of [their] guideposts” for starting the store. Because of its online store, Dusty Groove has grown to include customers of all ages.
Recently, April 12th was National Record Day. Across the country, record stores, including Dusty Groove, were hosting customers on this special day. According to their Facebook page, many people were lined up early for the record day’s events which included free coffee, spinning the wheel for prizes, free goodies with purchases, and special record-day deals and releases. They had their section for record day releases on a record store day. This was such a big event that I wondered about other ones they hosted. Rick responded, “We used to do more things before Record Store Day, but we don’t do shows in the store like that, or DJ sets the way that some people do it. We’re really just about selling records, at the end of the day.”
Rock has done various interviews, as mentioned earlier. Still, he is also featured in a documentary and his very own movie, Dusty Groove, which is based on the store. The website states the film aims to show the “longer, deeper relationship that records play in people’s lives — especially from the Chicago perspective.”
Vinyl Collection
My collection includes contemporary records, from Harry Styles’s Harry’s House to Laufey’s Everything I Know About Love. Record collecting is more than just streaming an artist; it directly supports the artist and is a physical keepsake display of music appreciation.
April 12th is National Record Store Day, and record stores everywhere were booming, especially in the Wicker Park area. I visited Dusty Groove, ShugaRecords, and Reckless Records. Walking around on a breezy day, I looked through hundreds of vinyl in these shops. Despite its small space, Dusty Groove had many customers exploring its shelves with complimentary coffee. That day, after many selections in mind, I walked out with the La La Land soundtrack under my arm.
When I played my new vinyl for the first time, it awoke memories of the movie. The reason for vinyl and physical media is their nostalgia and fascination factors. Older people collect records for sentimental and personal value, and younger people do the same. Owning physical media is becoming popular even in modern times, in which digital streaming services have become normalized because of their multi-platform convenience. Music has remained a treasured commodity through the switch from vinyl to CDs, boomboxes, radios, MP3s, and streaming services. It used to be that CDs were all the rage, but vinyl sales have risen once again due to what Rick refers to as a self-fulfilling prophecy: “record companies have actively stopped making CDs because they can charge a lot more for vinyl”.
Tips for Collecting Records
Muse Magazine advises vinyl collectors to keep their records in a cool place and hold them by the edges or center. The record usually comes with an inner sleeve but protecting the outside with a sleeve also protects the artwork. Taking care of the record player is also vital to make sure it doesn’t get damaged with dust. There are Bluetooth vinyl records that make it even more useful to double as a Bluetooth player. Lastly, buy records that you want—there will be judgement of purchasing reissues or modern vinyl either way. Happy collecting music fans!
