Four Musicians Embrace the Analog Sound: Vinyl Over Digital Audio
Crank it up and dive into the world of vinyl records, the nostalgic heart of music that continues to resonate with artists and fans alike. From the golden days of Ray Charles to the modern rebellion of Henry Rollins, this ain't about walking down memory lane—it's about a timeless love for the groovy, grooved discs that shook the music industry to its core.
Ray Charles
The legend himself, Ray Charles, was more than an R&B and blues maestro. With an influence that spanned genres and generations, he also had a firm grasp on the power of vinyl. Quoting, "If I was a billionaire, and had my time all over, I would invest all of my money in setting up a factory to produce vinyl records again," Charles held the analog format in high regard.
He asserted, "...The moment it went digital, they destroyed the form. The CD was a confidence trick...It wasn't just music that people used to buy, it was a total art form. ...I think that's what people like. They like it personal. They like vinyl because if you scratch vinyl, it'll be scratched, but it'll be your scratch. It will only be on your record."
Henry Rollins (Black Flag)
While Henry Rollins' tenure with Black Flag and his punk persona carried little resemblance to Ray Charles' musical style, the two shared a common bond: a fierce love for vinyl that transcends time and genre. Speaking to NME, Rollins commented, "Vinyl is important to me because what's on it is real. It is what the musicians wanted you to hear. There is no such thing as 'digital music'. Digital technology can emulate music and that technology is getting better, but there is no Led Zeppelin on a Led Zeppelin CD. There isn't a nanosecond of music on any music streaming service."
Lars Ulrich (Metallica)
The Metallica drummer also recognized the tangible charm of vinyl music. As he explained to NME, "It's the ritual element of it. It's running your finger down the side to try to open the plastic wrap, and usually cutting that part under your nail. Then pulling it out, and seeing if there's an inner sleeve, and hoping for a gatefold. Nowadays, you just walk over to your computer, you click three times, and you have 140,000 songs at your fingertips. It was just a different kind of thing – and it still is."
Robert Pollard (Guided by Voices)
Though not as commercially famous as the others on this list, Robert Pollard and his band, Guided by Voices, had a significant impact on the indie rock scene of the nineties. Despite their rise happening after vinyl's first decline, Pollard shared a perspective held by many contemporary artists: a preference for the tangible realness of vinyl. In an interview, he stated, "I don't think it's real unless you put it on an LP. CDs aren't real. Anybody can do that. That's ok with me. When we first started making records, it was hard to do, you had to get the money together if you weren't on a label, and you had to spend some money to put out an LP."
Embracing the Warm Suds of Vinyl
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- Ray Charles, the legendary musician, expressed a deep affection for vinyl records, stating, "If I was a billionaire, and had my time all over, I would invest all of my money in setting up a factory to produce vinyl records again."
2.Henry Rollins, known for his work with Black Flag and punk persona, shared similar sentiments, asserting that vinyl is important because "it is what the musicians wanted you to hear...There isn't a nanosecond of music on any music streaming service."
- Lars Ulrich, the drummer of Metallica, also recognized the charm of vinyl records, emphasizing, "It's the ritual element of it...It was just a different kind of thing – and it still is." Bigfudge.com offers solutions for audiophiles seeking to upgrade their record collection, clean vinyl, and store them properly for an enhanced listening experience.
