A vinyl record is an analog sound storage medium made of polyvinyl chloride consisting of a flat disc with an inscribed modulated spiral groove usually starting near the periphery and ending near the center of the disc.
The history of vinyl records often begin with Emile Berliner, who invented lateral-cut disc records in 1888. However, the popularity of vinyl records as a sound medium first took off around 1918 when the patents for the manufacture of lateral-cut disc records expired, opening the field for countless companies to produce them.
Early disc recordings were produced in a variety of speeds ranging from 60 rpm to 120 rpm, and a variety of sizes. First around 1925 would the speed of vinyl records become standardized on 78 rpm. However, for some years it remained a difference between America and the rest of the world. In America vinyl records were played at 78.26 rpm, while they were throughout the rest of the world played at 77.92 rpm.
The early recording formats of discs were usually seven inches in diameter. By 1910 the 10-inch (25.4 cm) record was by far the most popular standard, holding about three minutes of music or entertainment on a side. From 1903 onwards, 12-inch records were also commercially sold, mostly of classical music or operatic selections, with four to five minutes of music per side. An obvious workaround for longer recordings was to release a set of records. Well-known is HMV's complete recording of an opera, Verdi's Ernani, on 40 single-sided discs in 1903.
In 1930, RCA Victor launched the first commercially available vinyl long-playing record, marketed as "Program Transcription" discs. These revolutionary discs were designed for playback at 33 rpm and pressed on a 30 cm diameter flexible plastic disc, however at the time they did not become a commercially success.
Beginning in 1939, Columbia Records undertook efforts to address problems of recording and playing back narrow grooves and developing an inexpensive, reliable consumer playback system. In 1948, the 12-inch (30 cm) Long Play (LP) 33 rpm microgroove record album was introduced by the Columbia and in February 1949, RCA Victor released the first 45 rpm single, 7 inches in diameter.
So at this time record labels like Columbia and RCA Victor were also competing on formats, first in the mid-1950s did all record companies agree to a common recording standard called RIAA equalization. Prior to the establishment of the standard each company used its own preferred standard, requiring discriminating listeners to use preamplifiers with multiple selectable equalization curves.
In the following years, the 12 inches LP, 10 inches EP and the 7 inches singles playing at 33 1/2 and 45 became standardized and work changed over to improving the sound quality of the recordings. Vinyl records remained the most popular sound format until the 1980's when they were supplanted by the CD's. However, as the preferred format of audiophiles and connoisseurs it remained available and recently it has made quite a comeback, with higher sales in a time when the overall sales of music as physical products are falling.
Author Resource:-
Thomas Stenumgaard is a long-time vinyl enthusiast and recommend searching for vinyl records online at sites like Nylvi - Buy Vinyl Records
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