This 43 minute documentary by producer and director Pip Piper delves into the reasons behind the renaissance of vinyl album purchases. Inspired by Graham Jones book Last Shop Standing, the visual love paean takes you to a series of shops, interviewing record store owners, customers and local musicians both young and old as to the motivation as to eschewing digital downloading and returning to record lps, which were supposed to have died a death of loneliness in the 1990s.
In perfect English quirkiness, Graham Jones and Phil Baton of Sister Ray Records (and ambassador for “Record Store Day”)take you on a journey that is both cultural and musical. The younger crowd discusses the importance of holding an actual physical piece of music while listening to it, creating a tactile connection to the artist, while the older crowd reflect on the visceral peace of putting the vinyl on the turntable and then reading the liner notes while taking the music in. One Blue Note music fan shares how the background liner notes, as well as the iconic album covers, made him feel like he actually knew these musicians. Even Pink Floyd drummer Nick Mason chimes in, summarizing the attitude by quipping “The vinyl record is the equivalent of whether you have the tea bad or the Japanese tea ceremony; the tea ceremony is the right way to approach music.”
You can’t help but regret selling of your lp collection after watching this celebration. Just who does have my discarded Art Blakey albums?