So I dug out a few of my old vinyl record albums

[Ohiogal]

Hubby connected the old turntable to our living room speakers tonight.

I listened to

The Yes Album

Let It Be album

Allman Bros. Brothers and Sisters

... good stuff...... Sure took me away from all the idiocy and crap in the news for a while.....

(smiling)

[kentuck]

1. The Beatles are always good..

especially the White Album, Sgt Peppers, and Magical Mystery..

[RKP5637]

15. I listened to those so much I just about wore the records out. n/t

[GP6971]

2. We're buying a turntable next week

We only have about 175 albums to listen to dating back to 64.

[Kirk Lover]

4. Are you getting one that you can convert it to cd and or digital?

Or maybe they all come like that?

[GP6971]

9. We have no idea

We're leaving that to our 21 year old grand daughter and 16 year old grandson to make the recommendations.

[thegoose]

11. Oh, no!

The converting tables tend to be cheesily built, and if you convert vinyl to digital, you're eliminating what makes it sound so special in the first place.

I recommend Pro-Ject turntables that can be purchased for as little as $299. They're solidly built and they erase skipping and popping on older discs. I am an avid vinyl collector and all my favorite alternative rock bands release their stuff that way. They usually come with digital download cards, so you can have both.

My system is a Pro-Ject Debut Recordmaster ($299), Onkyo 2-channel analog amp (most important and $250) matched with three-way Onkyo tower speakers (about $100 each).

So for under $1,000, I have wonderfully warm vinyl bliss. The Recordmaster plays an original "Carrie" soundtrack that I bought when I was 16 (and I'm considerably older than that now!) just as well as the Weezer I bought last week.

[Elwood P Dowd]

14. Don't get one of those cheap 'under $200.00' ones that have those features. They are crap.

Decent quality turntables with a decent phono cartridge start at about $300.00.

[Kirk Lover]

3. Music always does that for me too. Love the Allmans, the deplorables...Wasted Words !

[Turbineguy]

17. The Allman brother were big

Carter supporters in the day...

[redstateblues]

5. All classics. At the risk of sounding like a curmudgeon,

With the exception of Bruno Mars, there’s not a lot of music out there now that will be talked about in 40 years. Mars may not have written his “Let it Be” yet, but he is an amazing talent.

[MGKrebs]

8. I agree!

Maybe the only recent talent that has made an impression on me.

[Ohiogal]

6. And I like having an evening without TV once in a while

I've probably got over 100 vinyl records dating from the late 60s up to the early 80s

[dawg]

7. The Yes Album is my favorite album.

I also love Let It Be.

I think both albums tend to be underrated compared to what came before/after.

[Ohiogal]

10. Nothing today compares

IMO. I know everyone likes best what they listened to when they were young adults, but, man, the new stuff out today, nothing at all innovative, with few exceptions, there's just no comparison.

[Demonaut]

27. I agree, we didn't realize then what works of art they are.

[MGKrebs]

12. Good stuff!

I am in the process of converting some vinyl to digital. Southside Johnny, some jazz compilations (String of Swinging Pearls is amazing!), early Tinsley Ellis, early Animals, and some semi-obscure blues- Memphis Swamp Jam (Bukka White 'Sad Day Blues" is incredible).

It definitely takes you to a different place for a while.

[stonecutter357]

13. My wife and I love vinyl ,this is what we listend to tonight .

[Initech]

16. I really want to buy a record player this year.

Been researching them and really want to get one and a few of my favorite albums on vinyl.

[Elwood P Dowd]

19. What models/brands are you considering?

At least stay away from the cheap ones, make sure you get one with a good phono cartridge that's properly installed/aligned, and don't forget the phono stage.

[Initech]

23. I haven't really looked much into it.

I do know that I want a solid turntable and a good set of speakers. But I don't want to spend a ton of money on it.

[Elwood P Dowd]

24. Good turntables start in the $300-400 range. The cheaper ones are junk.

Nice sounding amps with a phono stage about the same. Throw in some speakers, and good starter systems are pushing $1,000. To some people that is considered expensive, and to audiophiles like me that is considered a beer budget starter system. Just depends on how involved in this hobby you want to go.

Edit to add: When I retired a few years ago, I had to seriously downgrade audio purchases. It's a hobby that can get grossly expensive. One of my best friends has almost $50,000 invested in his system.

[Initech]

25. $50K? Damn!!!!

I had a feeling that the ones I've been seeing for less than $300 are cheap junk. I'm going to try checking the swap meets and record stores in my area and see what I can find.

[Elwood P Dowd]

28. Pro-Ject and Audio Technica both make a decent quality starter turntable for $299.00.

I would, at the bare minimum, start with one of those if you're on a budget, and then shop around for a used amp/receiver with a phono stage. Pioneer and Infinity made some surprisingly good sounding inexpensive speakers that I've seen some places like Best Buy sell for under $200.00 a pair.

[Initech]

29. Yeah that sounds good - $500 is about the minimum I would spend.

I'll definitely check those out!

[aeromanKC]

18. Moody Blues Days of Future Passed

Going to their 50th anniversary concert in Vegas this weekend!!

[arthritisR_US]

35. You have my ❤️

[mr_lebowski]

38. Man, despite being a huge fan of music of that era including lots of prog ...

I never really could quite properly get into Moody Blues. Didn't dislike them but they didn't inspire me like, say Yes, ELP, Gentle Giant, and (some stuff from) King Crimson and Jethro Tull. Dunno why. I came kinda late though as I got into these bands in the late 70's early 80's as a young teen, didn't really 'live through' these bands heydays. I was alive, but ... too young.

Glad you get to go to a show you're so stoked for though! Have an awesome time!

[chwaliszewski]

20. The first LP I ever owned was...

[mr_lebowski]

30. That was one of my very first as well ... well, I stole it from my folks cause they were not 'fans'

Played the everloving hell out of it on my crappy little turntable, usually listening with my pop's circa 1966 Koss cans. It's almost a cardboard texture album jacket, one of only ones I've ever seen/owned that's like that.

Still have it actually ... the record sleeve has little pics of like 60 other Atlantic records album covers. And interestingly, on mine, Led Zeppelin 4 (which is from 1972 iirc) is one of them ... guess they didn't buy (or I think it was a gift) Zep II around the time it came out later but I'm guessing my copy is actually from circa 1973.

I think I had earlier inherited a copy of Sgt Peppers though. First album I actually bought like w/my own money was Kiss - Love Gun. Saw 'em on that tour, too, my first-ever concert. Went with my Stepmom ... Dad was s'posed to take me but 'had to work' or something. Cheap Trick opened for 'em. It was sweet!

[chwaliszewski]

33. I actually won my copy.

I was living down in SE Texas back in the late '70s and called in to a radio station contest for some concert tickets (I don't remember who was playing). I won and had to go pick them up. My mom drove me out to this little transmitter shack out in the sticks. The guy that was working asked who I was; I told him and he asked how old I was. I was only 14 at the time so he said I was too young to get the tickets but I could pick out an album of my choice instead. There was a good sized wall completely filled with albums and I saw Led Zep II sitting there. I picked it and showed the DJ. He said "Good choice. Enjoy." Ah, memories.

[mr_lebowski]

36. Great Story!!!

Here's mine ... I remember one time I was like 11 and listening to LZII on headphones and I'd been singing along to "Whole Lotta Love" at the top of my lungs ... and then the trippy ass part in the middle came on and I was like trying to 'sing along' to Robert Plant's guttural noises during that part and next thing I know my moms grabbing me by the shoulders and like shaking me (my eyes were closed cause I'z into it) and I looked up to see her all alarmed ... I took off the headphones and I'm like 'what?' and she's all 'Are you okay? Why are you making all these ... chicken noises?'

Good times, good times ...

[chwaliszewski]

42. LOL

[orangecrush]

21. Yes!!!

[mr_lebowski]

31. The song is the STRAIGHT SHIZZ ... can't tell ya how many times I dropped and tripped on Yes ...

Back in the early 1980's. That particular song is one of my favorites. The live version on Yessongs is incredible, the jazz intro is badass.

Aside from arguably The Dead and Floyd ... early Yes is THE BEST acid music. Though 'how much I like' various songs varies WILDLY. There's some stuff I can't stand (like, most of Tales From Topographic Oceans & Tormato ... Going For The One and pseudo-Yes Drama are damn spotty too) but the run of Yes Album, Fragile, and Close to the Edge ... and the Gates of Delirium side on Relayer) are almost entirely brilliant.

I did see 'em twice on 90125 and once on Big Generator tours, and on Reunion tour. Great shows. Esp. the 1984 Greek Theater in Berkeley ... Senior Year ... scored a dose of Purple Pyramid down at People's Park ... it kicked in JUST as the sun set, and Yes took the stage in front of it ... it was friggin' HEAVEN ON EARTH for 2 hours for this kid ...

[orangecrush]

40. be careful

the mountains might fall out of the sky, and stand there..

[mr_lebowski]

41. Whoa ... I've SEEN THAT, man! Was like I could taste it, even ... (nt)

[orangecrush]

43. ...

[BigmanPigman]

22. My albums are my best friends.

I have two turntables, speakers, etc all hooked up by myself in both rooms of my apt.... always have and always will. My little collection is valuable but money is meaningless. That is the problem I have about dying and who to leave them to. I have decided to leave them to a cousin (she doesn't know it)who needs the money so she will sell them individually (not a whole collection in bulk) on ebay so someone who is willing to spend decent money for the shear joy of having a wonderful experience looking at the covers, the labels, the printed lyrics, the artwork, as well as knowing the songs in a particular order, the crackle and his of the needle on the vinyl, the names and dates of who put the album together, etc. and appreciate them as much as I do will share the joy. That is priceless as far as I am concerned.
I have all of The Beatles, The Doors, Pink Floyd, T. Rex, and almost all of The Stones, The Who, Led Zep, The Animals, Bowie, Cheap Trick, Velvet Underground, etc and a ton of rare stuff, special editions, ...

[Demonaut]

26. nice, any Neil Young?

[Elwood P Dowd]

32. Remember when this one came out?

Back in my younger days (1971-72) when I lived in Washington, DC this was one of my favorites to put on the Dual turntable.

[arthritisR_US]

34. I so share your taste in music 😘

[mr_lebowski]

37. Let It Be is kinda under-rated in The Beatles catalog ... a testament to how great all the rest ...

Of their work really is, I suppose one might say. It esp. pales in comparison to their swansong Abbey Road, released very close in time to Let It Be (Road was actually recorded later, but released earlier than LIB, IIRC)... but then again ... so does damn near anything else every created, so ...

Most bands would be pretty pleased to have put out 1 record as great as even Let It Be in their career ... or they should be at least.

[Demsrule86]

39. A good use of time...I read a Barbara Michaels ghost story e-book on my tablet.

Overdrive has a new app called Libby...love it! I have about a dozen or so e-library cards...keeps the fines down. I am nortrious for forgetting to bring back library books. Also, I watched Lethal Weapon (love the show) and a Brit mystery. I didn't listen to the news at all. I needed a break. I was in the mood to listen to Styx...Grand Illusion. One of the best albums of all times in my opinion before falling asleep.

[ProfessorGAC]

44. I Just Turned 17 Again

Although, at 17 i would have been listening to Yessongs instead of the Yes album. I very much preferred that live album to their studio works with the same songs on them. And, Wakeman's "overture" of the Henry VIII album was just fantastic.

Brothers and Sisters and Beginnings: i played those until the vinyl wasn't shiny anymore. And i had a good tonearm and cartridge.

For the Beatles, i probably would have grabbed Rubber Soul or Abbey Road to avoid the "spectorizing" of the Beatles sound.

I don't have a turntable anymore and most of my vinyl is long gone. (Still have a few. Cream "Wheels of Fire" which is the 1st album i ever bought with my own money, an album i actually played on on Decca records, a couple Bowie albums, Sladest, Abraxas, A Love Supreme, and a couple Mott The Hoople albums are about all i have left.)