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How about you pick up some vinyl records and discover the artwork behind some of the covers?

by Allan Lima

In these times where technology dominates everything and everyone, where the experts' maxim is "Not everything is connected, but everyone is connected," and they seek to understand where this becomes a comfort or a problem, we occasionally encounter classic moments that remind us of nostalgic times: owning – and listening to – vinyl records is one of them.

After all, who, rock fan or not, young or old, upon finding that large cardboard square with a black LP inside, wondered "what is this?" or "my goodness, I had this here and didn't even remember" or "whose is this, my uncle's, my father's?" and so on. The discovery of this phonographic piece truly deserves a celebration, because when it comes to music, this is how the great classics were recorded.

Many years ago, everything was recorded on vinyl, and with the advent of cassette tapes, that's how recordings were divided. Piracy in the rock scene was incipient, limited to a few groups who didn't have access to vinyl records themselves, many of which were imported from other countries, and depended on them to access their idols' work; however, at the first opportunity, they would buy the vinyl and proudly carry it under their arm, eager to call their friends and listen, something quite common, especially in places with limited access to information and technological advancement. This is very different from today's downloads.

Finally, this pride, nostalgia, or a mix of both, has returned with great force. New equipment has been released, and new vinyl records, including LPs (Long Players) from major bands, as well as vinyl versions of new releases, in addition to CDs and MP3s… in other words, it has become another option, although the vinyl version is more expensive and clearly aimed at collectors, becoming a force in used record stores, on the internet itself, and attracting new fans – check out, for example, the Discos Vinil , recommended here on Wikimetal. Some say it's still the best way to preserve a phonographic work.

Specifically, in Manaus, Amazonas, there's a party, a kind of "revival," that started with three friends meeting in one of their bars, grew to great proportions, and is now part of the city's cultural events – it's called Vinil Rock Live (search for this name on Facebook):

Usually occurring every two months, it has become a meeting point for new and old lovers of good music. Attendees bring their vinyl records, which are cataloged in order of arrival, with tracks being chosen democratically. The experience is about reminiscing about the band's era and all the cultural and nostalgic weight that comes with the history of a particular LP's release, or simply appreciating the crackle of the needle, enjoying a full-bodied and rich music, just like a fine wine.

So, my dear WikiBrother, how about you go and browse through some vinyl records and discover the artwork developed on some covers? The Iron Maiden Somewhere in Time LP, for example, which makes it much cooler to see the "subliminal messages" on the vinyl cover, and especially the great rock and heavy metal classics in a different way, more organic and even more cohesive.

Gather your friends, dust off your vinyl records and equipment, or even buy a new record player (available on the market) and take this trip down memory lane, and celebrate. If you're interested, mark the date: April 20th, National Vinyl Day. Because just as Rock and Metal should be taken seriously, the world goes beyond MP3s.

*This text was written by a Wikimate and does not necessarily represent the opinions of the site's authors.

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