Collecting vinyl records is an extremely personal and subjective hobby. Everyone has their own preferences and taste, and what is a must-have in your prized collection may not be for another individual. However, regardless of your preferences as an audiophile, there are some records that belong in every vinyl record collection. Keep reading to find out which vinyls you should consider adding to your collection this year.
Types of vinyls
Vinyl records come in various sizes, shapes and colours, and what you choose varies depending on your preference and taste. When it comes to sizing, there are four core types:
- 12 Inch LP, which is black
- 7-inch singles: Only have one song on each side
- 12-inch singles: These are more durable and have an A and B side
- 10-inch records
Other than these four, you can find vinyls in unusual shapes, sizes and colours. For example, picture vinyl records are quite common, but they tend to have a lower quality sound. Vinyl collectors can have shelf after shelf of vinyl records that are in a variety of shapes, sizes and colours.
Four great types of vinyls to consider
- Rare vinyls
Rare vinyls are records that are uncommon or hard to find in today’s music industry. They’re also called original pressings, and most were created decades ago. A good example is The Beatles’ ‘Till There Was You’ and ‘Hello Little Girl’, released in 1963. Since these records are rare, they’re highly valuable, with some being sold for tens and hundreds of thousands of pounds, making them a good investment. Even if you own just one rare vinyl that you want to preserve, you might want to look into some useful vinyl record storage tips to learn more about how you can best protect them.
Adding a rare vinyl to your record collection ensures you have something unique and of value. This way, if you decide to sell in the future, you can easily auction it off. It’s essential to note that while most rare vinyls may not be in the best condition due to wear and tear over the years, you can find some in good shape with the sleeves intact.
- Christmas-themed vinyls
Christmas comes around every year and adding a Christmas-themed vinyl to your collection is an excellent way to celebrate this holiday season. A Christmas vinyl adds variety to your vinyl record collection, ensuring you have music for every occasion. It also ensures you get value for your money as you’re guaranteed to use it at least once a year. If you’re worried about spending money on a vinyl record you’ll never get around to using, consider buying a Christmas-themed vinyl.
On the other hand, even if you’re only buying vinyl records as a collectible to complete your prized collection, you can’t go wrong with a Christmas-themed vinyl record. You can go for classic Christmas vinyls such as Bing Crosby’s ‘White Christmas’ or Mariah Carey’s ‘All I Want for Christmas is You’.
- Movie soundtracks
In the past, people didn’t consider movie soundtracks musically legitimate. However, today, they’re prized items, with many individuals buying them separately from their picture-bound companions. The good news is that you can now purchase your favourite movie soundtrack on vinyl to add to your vast record collection. Musical greats like Hans Zimmer, and Danny Elfman are celebrated for their creative and memorable soundtracks. Incredible films like The Lion King and The Nightmare Before Christmas are popular children’s films that make great vinyl record soundtracks to add to anyone’s collection.
Whether it’s a recent movie or an old TV show, it’s easy to find movie and TV soundtracks on vinyl today. Some popular movie soundtracks that are available to buy on vinyl include Top Gun, The Way We Were, and The Amazing Spider-Man.
- Guilty pleasures
A guilty pleasure vinyl is any vinyl that is supposedly so bad that when you listen to it you feel ‘embarrassed’. But, if you enjoy listening to a vinyl record, don’t let anyone shame or stop you. You can get your guilty pleasure music on vinyl and enjoy listening to it in the comfort of your own home. Some classic guilty pleasure songs that a lot of people still listen to include ‘MMMBop’ by Hanson, ‘Party In The USA’ by Miley Cyrus, and ‘Barbie Girl’ by Aqua.
Whether you’re into power ballads or the latest Harry Styles track, there are many different types of music that vinyl collectors can add to their collection. Usually, guilty pleasures stick out in a very obvious way to the rest of their collection. Collectors might have one or two random guilty pleasure vinyls or could even have an entire shelf dedicated to them if they wish!