Vinyl Record Clubs - The new Clubs?

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Rafferty, Gerry - Baker Street - 1978
Photo by Affendaddy

Unofficial Vinyl clubs have existed since the early days of gramophone records. People used to gather with family and neighbors to listen to their latest record purchases. In fact, this was often the only way to hear new albums. If you couldn’t afford to buy every album you wanted (which is understandable!), the only option was to meet up with friends and listen to their copies. While the radio served as a teaser by playing a few key tracks, the only way to listen to an entire LP was to buy it or be social.

Vinyl clubs provide a means of socializing with people who share a common interest in music and the art of vinyl record sleeves. When an artist creates an album, they put a lot of effort into crafting the story of the album as a whole. One perfect example of this is The Streets’ “A Grand Don’t Come for Free.” Each individual track tells a story about a night out, a romantic relationship, or a misunderstanding, but when listened to as a whole, the album becomes a narrative with references across tracks and a beginning, middle, and end. Personally, I don’t enjoy listening to just one track as it feels like picking up a book and only reading a section.

Choosing a playlist for the vinyl club is usually a collaborative process. The lineup for the upcoming months is decided collectively through discussions or by each individual selecting a record to add to the playlist. Without being morbid, recently deceased artists often receive a lot of airtime at these clubs. Gerry Rafferty, for example, was a favorite on the UK scene at the time of writing.

As for the location, the traditional choice for many book club meetings has always been the living room, and the same applies to vinyl clubs. However, you shouldn’t feel obligated to host a meeting if you don’t want to. Two things to consider when meeting in a living room are the limited space for attendees and the noise levels. An average UK living room can only accommodate a maximum of 8-10 people. However, for effective discussions, the ideal group size is 8-12 members, so a larger space may not be necessary. It also depends on the type of gathering you envision for your group. If you prefer something small, intimate, and cozy, then the living room is the perfect meeting place. Noise can be more of a concern. Unlike a typical book club, the playing of the LP requires a no-noise rule to prevent people from talking over the music. Once the last track finishes playing, the conversation can begin.

Surprisingly, even with the rowdiest of friends, they will usually follow this rule. After all, if you’re talking over the music, what’s the point? This is the essence of Vinyl Record Clubs, for those who want to counter the current trend of endlessly streamed music as mere background noise. These clubs are for people who truly want to engage with the music and the artist. A vinyl club member shared with the BBC that it was a revelation: “Listening to an album like this shows me something new, it’s always an emotional experience.” I couldn’t agree more.

Manuel Marino

Manuel Marino is a seasoned Senior Producer, Music Composer, and Artist with over a decade of experience. He specializes in branded entertainment across various mediums, including video games, films, and advertising campaigns. With 20+ years as a game music composer, Manuel has worked on numerous platforms, creating diverse orchestral soundtracks. HIRE ME