What is a Phonograph Record??

Phonograph records were the primary medium used for commercial music reproduction for most of the 20th. The flat disc record replaced the phonograph cylinder record for the most popular recording medium in the 1900's, and has gone through many changes since. The record has met with few challengers for this top rank from the likes of the reel to reel tape, the unforgettable 8-Track tape and then the cassette tape.

Although vinyl records lost their long reign of popularity by the late 1980's with the introduction of a digital format or compact disc, records continue to be manufactured and sold today, usually in a limited pressing.

New Release Vinyl Records
Available at Fox Music Company

The "phonograph record" has gone through many changes over time and generations and as a result has been referred to by several aliases. The terms "LP" and "EP" are acronyms for "Long Play" and "Extended Play" where "33's, 45's and 78's" these designations refer to the records rotational speeds in revolutions per minute. Along with different rotational speeds records were made in different sizes 7" 10" 12". Typically a 7" record would be a 45 rpm speed, a 10" would be either 33 or 78 rpm and a 12" would be 33 rpm. Of coarse there are exceptions to every rule. "Vinyl records" have been made of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) since about 1949, and as such may be referred to as a "vinyl records" or just simply "vinyl". The term record album originally referred to a set of 10" 78's coupled together and housed in a "photo album" style booklet, usually containing art work on the front side and on the reverse, information about the recordings, the result a nickname the "record album" which has stuck, for decades we just called them "records".... These are the more popular aliases for the "phonograph record", there are certainly hundreds more that hipsters and disc jocks alike have used over the life and time of the "phonograph record".

There is an area about 0.25 in (6 mm) wide at the outer edge of the disk, called the lead-in where the groove is widely spaced and silent. This section allows the stylus to be set at the start of the record groove, without damaging the recorded section of the groove.

Between each track on the recorded section of an LP record, there is usually a short gap of around 0.04 in (1 mm) where the groove is widely spaced. This space is clearly visible, making it easy to find a particular track.

Towards the label center, at the end of the groove, there is another wide-pitched section known as the lead-out (dead wax). At the very end of this section, the groove joins itself to form a complete circle, called the lock groove; when the stylus reaches this point, it circles repeatedly until lifted from the record.

the catalog number and stamper ID is written or stamped in the space between the groove in the lead-out on the master disc, resulting in visible recessed writing on the final version of a record. Sometimes the cutting engineer might add handwritten comments or their signature, if they are particularly pleased with the quality of the cut.

Vinyl record standards for the United States follow the guidelines of the RIAA Recording Industry Association of America.

The inch dimensions are nominal, not precise diameters. The actual dimension of a 12 inch record is 11.89 in. (302 mm), for a 10 inch it is 9.84 in. (250 mm), and for a 7 inch it is 6.89 in. (175 mm).

Records made in other countries are standardized by different organizations, but are very similar in size.

For the most part records are pressed on black vinyl. The coloring material used to blacken the transparent PVC plastic mix is carbon black, which is the generic name for the finely divided carbon particles produced by the incomplete burning of a mineral oil based hydrocarbon. Carbon black increases the strength of the disc and renders it opaque. Polystyrene is often used for 7" records

Some records are pressed on colored vinyl or with paper pictures embedded in them known as "picture discs". These discs can become collectors' items in some cases. Certain 45-rpm RCA, RCA Victor or RCA Red Seal used red translucent vinyl for extra "Red Seal" effect. During the 1980s there was a trend for releasing singles on colored vinyl sometimes with large inserts that could be used as posters. This trend has been revived recently and has succeeded in keeping 7" singles a viable format.

When auto-changing turntables were commonplace, records were typically pressed with a raised or ridged outer edge and label area. This would allow records to be stacked onto each other, gripping each other without the delicate grooves coming in contact with other, thus reducing the risk of damage. Auto changing turntables included a mechanism to support a stack of several records above the turntable itself, dropping them one at a time onto the active turntable to be played in order.

Many longer sound recordings, such as complete operas, were continued across several 10-inch or 12-inch records for use with auto-changing mechanisms, so that the first record of a three record set would carry sides 1 and 6 of the program, while the second record would carry sides 2 and 5, and the third, sides 3 and 4, allowing sides 1, 2, and 3 to be played automatically, then the whole stack reversed to play sides 4, 5, and 6.

Vinyl Record Care and Maintenance
Cleanliness is absolutely mandatory if the optimum sound capability of the vinyl record is to be realized. A clean record will not only sound better, but last longer. It has long been proven that repeated playing of dirty phonograph records can cause permanent damage to the vinyl. Preservation of your valuable or irreplaceable records requires careful cleaning. Not to mention that stylus wear is greatly accelerated by playing dirty records, and with high price of cartridges these days, playing dirty records can lead to significant and unneeded expense.

Visit These Squidoo Lens For More Information on
Vinyl Record Care and Maintenance
The Vinyl Record

Vinyl Record Grading
Standard Goldmine Grading System

Fox Music Company uses the grading system first developed by Goldmine Records. Virtually all methods currently in use for the grading of records, is based in some way, shape, or form, on this system. Rather than offer some variation of the original system first developed by Goldmine, Fox Music Company has created a lens to display the Goldmine record grading method in it's entirety.

Visit this Squidoo Lens For More Information on
Grading Your Vinyl Records.

Goldmine Record Album Price Guide has the detailed descriptions and current prices you need to determine what your vinyl is worth. From Abba to ZZ Top, you'll find your favorite vinyl LPs and their variations. This massive reference also features the industry-standard Goldmine condition grading guide, valuable tips on buying and selling records, and a detailed guide listing record company labels, numbering systems, and production years. The Goldmine Record Album Price Guide features 70,000 vinyl LPs from 1948 to 2007 with detailed listings along with up-to-date values and 400 photos. Also included is essential information on grading, buying and selling records

To Purchase This Reference Book "Goldmine Record Album Price Guide" or
Too See Other Books Available About Record Collecting, Please Visit Our Amazon Book Store
"Collectors Showcase" Your Source for Special Interest Books & Collectors Guides

Collectors of jazz on vinyl know how difficult it can be to find pristine copies of original classic jazz recordings, and ever-changing market values can make pricing those albums even more difficult. With this fantastic, updated 2nd edition, collectors will be able to accurately price records using the most current market values. This all-encompassing reference features all types of jazz issued on 33 1/3 rpm long-playing records, including Dixieland, bebop, big band, swing, West Coast, fusion, modern and many others. It includes over 40,000 albums released between 1948 and today, valued in three grades of condition, as well as a thoroughly illustrated label guide for easy distinction between first editions and later pressings. Collectors will discover thousands of records not listed in any other price guide! The Goldmine Jazz Price Guide Contains listings for over 40,000 records in all types of Jazz, updated prices reflect today's market values an illustrated label guide aids in identifying original editions.

To Purchase This Reference Book "Goldmine Record Jazz Price Guide" or
Too See Other Books Available About Record Collecting, Please Visit Our Amazon Book Store
"Collectors Showcase" Your Source for Special Interest Books & Collectors Guides

Whether you're an avid collector searching for a hidden treasure at a flea market, garage sale or thrift shop, or you want to dispose of a trunk full of dusty records, you need this authoritative and comprehensive guide for accurate identification and current pricing of 45s. Don't get stung. Have Goldmine Price Guide to 45 RPM Records on hand!

Need Accurate Prices Fast? Find Them in This Easy-to-Use Book! The Goldmine 45 rpm price guide features 80,000 prices and descriptions for 45s, EPs and accompanying picture sleeves (7-inch singles only)with 400 photos. This value guide also includes essential information on grading and selling your records

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Too See Other Books Available About Record Collecting, Please Visit Our Amazon Book Store
Collectors Showcase Your Source for Special Interest Books & Collectors Guides

Vinyl Record Care and Maintenance
Cleanliness is absolutely mandatory to achieve the best sound quality of your vinyl records. A clean vinyl record will not only sound better, but last longer. It has long been proven that the playing of dirty records will result in a rapid deterioration of quality and degradation of the original recorded sound, or simply can cause permanent damage to your vinyl records.
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Grading Your Vinyl Records
The following is the grading system first developed by Goldmine Records. Virtually all methods currently in use for the grading of records, is based in some way, shape, or form, on this system. Rather than offer some variation of the original system first developed by Goldmine, Fox Music Company will display the Goldmine record grading method in it's entirety.
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Vinyl Records.., What Are Vinyl Records..??
Vinyl records were introduced and marketed as the unbreakable record, unlike its shellac counterpart of days gone by, that would break at the drop of a hat and becomes more brittle over time.
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David Stone Martin and the Art of Jazz
In the world of jazz there is one artist collected the world over who has never played an instrument not even a note of music but has left his mark on the jazz culture. Illustrator David Stone Martin was one of the most prolific and influential graphic designers of the postwar era, with his signature hand sketched graphics with two or three primary colors, perfectly capturing the energy and spontaneity of the jazz idiom.
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What Type of Records Do You Collect??
Vinyl Record Collectors come in as many shapes as sizes and generations as the vinyl records they collect. Why do people collect records??
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What Is A Phonograph Record??
A phonograph record is an analog sound medium that consists of a flat disc record with an inscribed modulated spiral groove usually starting near the outside edge (lead-in) and ending near the center of the record (lead-out).The audio content of the record is contained within the spiral groove which extends for more than a half mile. The groove itself is actually narrower than the thickness of a human hair yet
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Lenny Bruce the Charlie Parker of Comedy
When once asked to describe jazz, trumpet legend Miles Davis sarcastically but saliently replied, "You can sweat it down to four words: Louis Armstrong and Charlie Parker." Now trying to apply that same old-school, new-school trailblazer to comedy is somewhat more a problem.
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Static Electricity and Your Vinyl Records
Because static electricity plays such a major role in the problem of vinyl record cleaning and that we have repeatedly referred to the malice effects of static electricity, we feel an explanation of this phenomenon is in order.
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Audio Rarities
Fox Music is a Indie Record Store Located in the Heart of Watertown Wisconsin in the Downtown Historic District on the corner of First and Main Street. Our online location Fox Music Company - webpages where you can find and search by Artist, Album or Song - Read Reviews, Bios or Listen to Audio Clips of new release and back catalog tiles and a whole lot more......
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Don't Forget To Take The Fox Music Company
Indie Record Store Picture Tour
Hosted on flickr (yahoo images)...and of coarse you must stop and visit with
Tyson and Boogie
the Record Store Mascots or... is it "Mas-Cats"