Back when I was a kid, vinyl records were the medium used by diehard music fans to listen to their favorite tracks. Eight tracks were going out of style really quickly and the latest thing was the cassette tape. Even with the passing of the eight tracks and the appearance of the cassette tape, a lot of music enthusiasts, like matt nathanson, stuck to the long-established vinyl records for their listening pleasure.

We have come a long way since the hay day of vinyl records. CDs are all the rage today with good reason. The sound quality is really pure and you almost feel as if you are in a sound-proof room when you focus your listening skills on the CD player. You can just sit back with an xs energy drink and take pleasure in the tracks. The clean sounds are a big improvement from the vinyl records that crackled as they played.

Nevertheless, it is that crackling sound that is only presented by the vinyl records that I find so attractive. There is something about that sound that is so fun to listen to especially when I’m in a sentimental mood. Maybe it is because the crackling sound is tied so strongly to the tracks I loved when I was a teen. I just can’t seem to disconnect the two.

I discovered my love for the particular antique sounds of the crackling vinyl records by chance. A close friend of mine offered free disc jockey services for my wedding. Of course I did not reject the kind wedding gift. There was a catch. My friend plays vinyl records, nothing else.

This was not actually a drawback for me. I wanted to forego all of the trendy pop-chart music of today and focus on older dance music and classic tunes available on vinyl records. My friend started playing dinner tunes at the reception. He chose classic Irish music for the wedding meal. It’s not hot new music, but it’s pretty.

The entire reception hall fell still during the prayer. Once the prayer ended, the DJ put the needle on the record and the silent room filled with soft crackling sounds followed by pleasant Irish music. The transition was brilliant and the memory of the moment the crackling sounds overtook the reception hall still gives me chills. You simply could not imitate that with a compact disc.

Technologically, we have come a long way when it comes to music. However, we must not wholly let go of the little gems from our past. The haunting sounds of the crackling vinyl records help us really touch the past even if for just a flash.