Listening and loving vinyl records in 2025
I recently purchased a new Audio-Technica (ATLP120XBT) Bluetooth stereo turntable to replace my old turntable. I needed a new turntable with a built-in pre-amp to connect to my Marshall Stanmore III speaker. I was educated by my work colleague and friend Jason that my old turntable was not playing records through my Marshall speaker at the best quality due to not having a pre-amp and I tried adding a pre-amp to my old turntable, but it still sounded like garbage. The new turntable made a huge difference and I’ve been obsessed with buying some new vinyl records for my new turntable!
I’ve been listening to records with my girlfriend, and she made a comment about how listening to vinyl records is fun because you tend to listen to the entire record end-to-end instead of skipping around and just listening to only your favorite tracks. She is absolutely right. Here are a few albums I recently acquired and listened through entirely that were amazing to listen to on vinyl and on my new turntable:
- Jet – Get Born
- Third Eye Blind – Third Eye Blind
- Oasis – What’s the Story (Morning Glory)?
- Nirvana - Live at the Paramount, Seattle Oct. 31st, 1991
- Incubus – Light Grenades
- Mumford and Sons – Wilder Mind
I recently acquired The Presidents of the United States debut album (just titled “The Presidents of the United States of America”) but have not yet listened to it – this one was hard to find but thankfully a seller on eBay had it at a reasonable price. The band broke up in 2015 and as a result, getting your hands on their vinyl albums is a bit harder now. But this album was a favorite of mine when I was a teen, so I had to have it on vinyl and was worth the purchase.
I’ve also made it a point to collect a lot of the remastered The Beatles albums on vinyl and their “Super Deluxe” editions such as:
- Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band - Remixed (2017) – Super Deluxe Boxed Set
- The White Album - Special Anniversary Releases (2018) – Deluxe 180-gram 4LP vinyl box set (Limited Edition)
- Abbey Road - Remixed (2019) – Deluxe 3LP Vinyl Box Set (Limited Edition)
- Let It Be – Remixed (2021) - Super Deluxe Vinyl (Limited Edition 4LP+12-inch EP + 105-page hardbound book in slipcase)
- Revolver – Remixed (2022) – Super Deluxe Vinyl (Limited Edition 4LP+7-inch EP + 100-page hardbound book in slipcase).
Listening to The Beatles on vinyl and remastered by Giles Martin is a real treat. When The Beatles released their new single “Now and Then” I also quickly ordered that on vinyl and listening to it on vinyl just as a fan of The Beatles would have back in the ‘60’s was amazing.
This last Saturday was Record Store Day. There are typically a couple Record Store Days every year where artists and bands release exclusive and limited-edition vinyl records. I waited in line at my local record store (Silver Platters in Bellevue!) as I had a few records I was hoping to get my hands on. Here is my April 12th Record Store Day haul:
- Jet – Get Born Rarities
- John Lennon and the Plastic Ono Band - Power To The People - Live at the One-To-One Concert, New York City, 1972
- Post Malone - Post Malone's Tribute to Nirvana
- Starship - We Built This City (Picture Disc)
- War - Why Can't We Be Friends 50th Anniversary Collector's Edition
The two albums I couldn’t get my hands on was “Be Here Now” (RSD Song of the Year) from George Harrison / Beck and then George Harrison’s “All Things Must Pass”. If I am honest, I for sure thought that the Post Malone tribute to Nirvana would be the record I wouldn’t get.
There is something magical in listening to music that isn’t digital. It can transport you back in time. I really enjoy it. And I wanted to share this with people. Do you have a favorite vinyl record? You can let me know via social media via the links at the top of my blog. Would love some recommendations!
