What's Better? Listening To Music On Vinyl or Digital?

I grew up in a world of vinyl records. My parents primarily purchases the old country and western records like Roy Acuff, Tex Ritter, Johnny Cash, Johnny Horton, Glenn Campbell and Waylon Jennings to name a few.

There was an odd one in that collection of vinyl - 'Whipped Cream & Other Delights' by Herb Alpert & The Tijuana Brass. I'm guessing my dad bought that record for the cover featuring a girl covered in nothing but whipped cream. I didn't ask.

Over the years, my own vinyl record collection grew larger and larger with a mix of albums and 45s, especially after I began my radio career. I spun 45 records as a Top 40 DJ in the late 70s and early 80s. Then came album rock and we played all our songs from an LP. Now, everything is all digital, and to be honest, I don't miss vinyl handling records.

I was having a conversation earlier this week with someone from out of the area, asking what I did for a living. I told him I work in radio, and he asked if we play our music from vinyl. It struck me a a question I never thought I'd hear again. He mentioned that he loves listening to music on vinyl with his home turntable and asked if I do the same.

I sold my professional turntables 20 years ago and what vinyl I have left, is buried in my basement collecting dust. I can't remember the last time I even looked over my vinyl collection. While there are many people who still love the sound of a needle on a record, for me, it's more of a been there, done that kind of thing.

I like the instant satisfaction of typing in the title of a song I want to hear on my computer and having it pop up instantly as a wave or MP3 file. Plus, as a part-time mobile DJ, it's much easier to take a portable hard drive with thousands of songs to a gig than it is to cart several heavy cases of vinyl records. Like I said, 'been there, done that', and I have the records to prove it.