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I never owned) and cassettes, which I once had by the dozen. I can remember none of them fondly-oh, the music, yes, but the format was ugly, the liner notes hard to read, and much of the background stories of the artists and the music, a staple on record albums, disappeared with the newer formats.

For me, CD's have never lived up to the promise of near indestructibility that was promised, and though I enjoy the clear sound, I actually wax nostalgic for the crackle and hiss that was part of my music-listening experience. I am frustrated to have spent nearly $20.00 for a CD that skips or refuses to play if I'm not perfectly gentle with it. With my records a light scratch means only that I have to tape an extra penny or two on top of the needle arm.

I don't know why they haven't created a computer reader for my record albums. Imagine a "needle" composed of a small, cool laser that doesn't physically wear the album away with play. Imagine the sturdiness and the rich sound of vinyl with the reliability of computer reader. Imagine now a computer reader that doesn't choke up and quit with a bit of dust.

Who is keeping vinyl alive? I guess it's folks like me, who are not always impressed by the latest and greatest, who don't want to simply download the song I want from the Internet, but want to experience an album, put together the old-fashioned way, thoughtfully, carefully, with an eye for alternating mood, speed and emotion to tell a story or to display an artists range. Or perhaps it is part nostalgia, part music snobbery or even musical fetish. I have heard people with a better ear than mine state emphatically that with a good record player, the sound is far richer and truer than with a mediocre CD player. A really good record player is far cheaper than a really good CD player, according to these folks, but these things change so quickly I don't know if that is still true.

My question isn't really who, because I think it's clear it is collectors, nostalgia buffs and some who simply believe vinyl is best. My question is more why? Because my preference is largely nostalgic with a dose of practicality, I'm more interested in the stories of folks who prefer vinyl. I wonder what your preference is and why.

Learn more about this author, Kim Bentz.
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