Building a Family Record Library

The most fun part of getting a record player is decide which records would be prioritized. Music that was meant to be played on vinyl.

In this journey I realized that not all vinyl is created equally. There are lower quality pressings and higher quality pressings and then there are also specific albums that are collector items. Some that were specifically produced for vinyl.

And while I want listening copies, not vinyls that stay in their wrapping for years I have prioritized high quality ones that will stand up over time (hopefully) when we pass them on to the kids. Plus a few modern ones that will build out the collection with what the kids listened to when they were young too.

I’ll link the exact copies that we have purchased (if I can find them) some we got from a local record shop. Rule of thumb: we try local first, Amazon second. I‘ve been pleasantly surprised with Amazon. It’s certainly come in clutch with some of the harder to find albums like Lord Huron, Hazlett, a good Frank Sinatra & Etta James. However some of their vinyls are a bit pricier than hitting up a local shop.

Here are the ones I think are amazing so far and some on my hunt list.

The Classics

1. The Beatles - Abbey Road (This copy)
2. Fleetwood Mac - Rumours (Similar)
3. The Rolling Stones - Let It Bleed (This copy)
4. Eagles - Hotel California (Similar)
5. Queen - A Night at the Opera (Similar)
6. Supertramp - Breakfast in America (This copy)
7. Journey - Escape (Similar)

Slow Sunday

1. Norah Jones - Come Away With Me (This copy)
2. Van Morrison - Moondance (This copy)
3. Bon Iver - For Emma, Forever Ago (This copy)
4. Gregory Alan Isakov - Evening Machines (This copy)
5. Hazlett - last night you said you missed me (This copy)

Millennial Era

1. Adele - 21 (This copy)
2. Florence + the Machine - Lungs (This copy)
3. Lord Huron - Strange Trails (This copy)
4. Coldplay - A Rush of Blood to the Head
5. Mumford & Sons - Sigh No More
6. The Black Keys - Brothers

The Greats

1. Miles Davis - Kind of Blue (This copy)
2. Frank Sinatra - In the Wee Small Hours
3. Etta James - At Last!

Happy Hunting!

-HHH

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