Singles [No Longer] Going Steady?
Recently, I read that Mercury Records announced that they will stop selling music singles as we know them in their physical form, and only produce one-off or special edition discs.
Now, for those of you who buy all their tracks from iTunes, this is not such a disaster. In fact, you're probably wondering why this even matters.
But the thing is, there is something magnificently satisfying about holding a record. I don't know how many people reading this own a record player, but I do. And that scratched vinyl means more to me than a corrupted mp3 file if I'm honest.
A scratch is a devastating thing. When that solid, liquidy blackness is ruined, you can't re-download it because it's an original copy of The Beatles' Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band and that's it, it's ruined. Forever. And it isn't just old music - I have a couple of Arctic Monkeys LPs that mean the world to me.
A record is a beautiful thing. You can hold it and almost feel the soul of the music embedded in the album sleeve. And the fact that it needs to be treated with absolute care makes it a thousand times more precious than a stupid mp3 track.
Saturday 16 April was officially Record Store Day, but how many of our generation ever go into Spillers Records and buy a 7" Buzzcocks single?
Many of you might think of records as being easily scratched, awkward slabs of black plastic that our grandparents and parents bought with their pocket money. But the thing is, records are controversial - they're special. Take the Sex Pistols' single, God Save The Queen. That song signified change, a voice to the ones who recognised the corrupted government of the time.
And the artwork? One of the best pieces of modern art around. The album itself was banned in almost every shop in Britain and wasn't permitted to be played on the radio. Record sales alone made it #2 in the charts at the time. A song like that would never have survived with this new-fangled idea of dropping physical releases.
And the sad thing is that God Save The Queen now only exists as a track in shuffle mode. It's no longer something physical to protect from scratches and the skiffles of disapproving parents. It's just another song. Just another file.
Although it hasn't been reported that other record companies will follow Mercury's suit, I believe it's only a matter of time before they catch on. It's cheaper for one thing and then I guess the eco-warriors will defend the trees, and claim that it's a waste of paper to release all those album inlays that nobody buys.
It's all about downloading these days. We don't even have a UK Top 40 Chart for the release of CDs anymore, so what's the point?
Without record stores like HMV, Rough Trade and Spillers, reasonably unknown Indie bands wouldn't stand a chance - they rely so heavily on physical form to spread the word, that they'd be doomed.
Indie bands like The Smiths and The Cribs each have some pretty amazing B-Sides, but with no way of releasing them, we risk losing some of the best tracks ever heard.
This Charming Man by The Smiths was only a B-side. I can't imagine my music collection without it now. Another (minor, but valid) point a friend of mine made was that she has signed Snow Patrol LPs. What will artists sign in the future?
But the thing that really, really frightens me is that music from the past will be lost, when eventually, inevitably, all record companies see the benefits of releasing in digital formats only. People will buy the only copies left in the shops, and they won't be replaced. They'll only be available in MP3 form.
There'll be fewer teenagers discovering music from the past as it was meant to be heard, without digital abuse penetrating its chords.
To many, I realise that this doesn't matter at all. Most young people nowadays just click and download, but I really feel that we're losing a part of our heritage when we get rid of physical records and CDs.
If anything, I'm terrified that the musical dark ages will gobble the freedom and pleasure and nostalgia that came with those album sleeves and seven-inches, and replace it with error Windows and the corrupted iPods of the new generation.
Images: Strollers & fensterbme
4 Comments – Post a comment
Beckie Sub Editor
Commented 13 months ago - 18th April 2011 - 15:28pm
Brilliant article! I have to agree, there's nothing better than holding some vinyl or a CD, reading through the lyrics etc. My dad has the biggest vinyl collection I've ever seen! It's a physical testament to his years devoted to music! :)
steampunk13
Commented 12 months ago - 4th May 2011 - 17:54pm
I love this article. I am also a record collector, I am constantly in Spillers and Cardiff Market browsing the vinyls looking to add to my ever growing collection. The last one I bought was Suzanna Vega's Marlena on the Wall. My most treasured vinyl though is my Billy Joels greatest hits.
I have two record players - an old fashioned phillips one from the 80's and a newer one that I got last year for christmas. I use both of them all the time and hardly ever buy any cd's or mp3s from itunes. If I do have to buy a mp3 I always make sure its on vinyl somewhere first.
I am gutted that the music industry has started to dismiss those who still listen to 7"s. It would be like Converse were just going to make crocs from now on.
Stormer007
Commented 12 months ago - 5th May 2011 - 13:38pm
This was really nice to read - a heartfelt and enjoyable article.
I've never owned a record. I probably never will. My Walkman is my life. I wouldn't be able to leave the house without it. But I can understand the appreciation you have for something like this, and I can also understand the pain you must be feeling about music companies not producing them anymore.
Bill
Commented 12 months ago - 5th May 2011 - 20:49pm
I agree! We shouldn't get rid of vinyl records!!!! :'( My nan has a brilliant collection of records, and a record player, and they love listening to the old hits