Buying Records

UPDATE on record prices between 1970 to 2025 in real value.

The typical £2 record price l quoted in 1970 would today retail for £39.54

This represents an averaged inflation rate of 5.58% per year in that time period.

CONCLUSION… Records produced today (in real terms) do not significantly have any price difference with those sold in 1970

I recently discovered two things about Music Direct whom I have used for many years dating back to my time in Chicago.  Although, they are quite good about exchanging defective products they do not offer a money back policy; rather just a credit.  Also they only permit two returns of an item.  I recently bought an album that the first two versions were defective.  I await the last exchange.  Also, they seemed to be "out of stock" on a large swath of their offerings.  Just raise these points so all are aware.  I have also used Experience Vinyl out of Doylestown PA and Acoustic Sounds; they  are both quite reliable.

I recently gave all my vinyl to a friend and sold all of my phono gear. 70 years old and lazy. CD's and streaming is where I am now.  I still have a Nitty Gritty 2.5 record cleaner back with a new fresh factory refurb and tune up. All cleaning parts and cleaner solution pump replaced. Only ran 2 albums to check all was working as new, which it is. Reach out if you have any questions or interest.

When I get asked whats the difference between vinyl and a good CD player with top quality DAC's I tell them a good CD set up is like ice cream and vinyl is like frozen custard. Nice and smooth. 

For NYC dwellers Academy Records on 18th St. is an amazing place.  I believe they now have an annex, specializing in LPs, in Brooklyn.

I have bought hundreds of LPs from them, very fairly priced.  All do need a thorough clean, and a few of the $1 ones had to go in the trash.

I just checked Eleusive Disc, which I hadn't heard of before and they, and if it's possible, their prices are even higher than other sources - $40 min and most are $60 a record. Am I the only one shouting "Holy crap, this is insane" ? Seriously folks, come on, one record that costs as much as a few months of streaming- and probably in the end won't sound as good. That's why I stopped buying vinyl.