THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
WEDNESDAY, JULY 22, 2009
NEWS
7
MUSIC
Students,locals bring a 'novelty' back to life
BY DAVID UGARTE dugarte@kansan.com
Warren Gassaway found his first record player in the closet of his high school library at the end of his senior year. He said he liked vinyl records because they were a cheap way to listen to old music, "plus they are kind of cool to look at."
Gassaway, Neodesha junior, is not the only one who thinks so.
According to two articles published by Rollingstone.com in June of 2008 and January of 2009, Nielsen SoundScan reports showed that vinyl record sales increased 85.8 percent between 2006 and 2007 and 89 percent between 2007 and 2008. According to the Sydney Morning Herald, figures released in the U.S. in early 2009 showed that sales of vinyl records nearly doubled in 2008, with 1.88 million sold — up from 1 million in 2007.
Gassaway said he had between 300 and 400 records of classic rock,
obscure bluegrass, country and progressive rock.
"Most people I know have a little stash of records from their parents," Gassaway said. "I feel like a lot of people view it as a cool novelty. It's not necessary, but it's a cool item and it's cheap, which is good for people like me without a lot of money."
Patrick Crough has worked at Half Price Books, 1519 W. 23rd Street, for two years. He said vinyl records were more popular now than when he started working there.
Crough said vinyl sales were still below CD sales at Half Price Books, but said it could be related to selection.
"It's definitely changing." Crouch said.
Crough started listening to records about 10 years ago when he was given his parents' old vinyl collection. He also has between 300 and 400 records. He said he liked to listen to '60s and
Warren Gassoway, Nedosha junior, poses against a wall of decorative vinyl in his apartment. Gassoway has been collecting records since his senior year of high school, and during that time he comes across such rarities as a British print of the Beatles "Revolver" and a copy of The Rolling Stones "Sticky Fingers" with a zipper cover designed by artist Andy Warhol.
Chance Dibben/KANSAN
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