Vinyl Records Are Back but They Never Left this W.Chester Store

When it comes to music albums, Mad Platter on Gay Street in West Chester has the vinyl word.

Sure they sell compact discs, lots and lots of them. But when it comes to the hottest trend in recorded music these days, Mad Platter has been ahead of the curve since opening in 1976.  There was nothing revolutionary about music albums on vinyl back in the year when America was celebrating the Bicentenial. That was how every virtually every album was sold. These days vinyl is roaring back as the format of choice for many music lovers.

Through the years there's also been tape, and of course compact discs.  For a long time almost no popular, current artists were releasing music on vinyl.  Mad Platter Co-Owner Debbie Rich says that doesn't mean there hasn't always been a demand for vinyl.  "We've been selling vinyl since we opened in 1976," she tells Patch. "Compact discs and (mp3 and) downloads are great for convenience," she explains, but the sound is not the same.

What's Hot on Vinyl Now?

According to Rich, almost everything but " 'collectible' vinyl covers everything from 60's rock into the early 70's, straight-ahead jazz and blues." Rock classics like Led Zepplin, Pink Floyd, and the Rolling Stones have always been in demand on vinyl, Rich says. The store stocks all of those as well as countless more favorites from the 50's through current new releases.

Rich says as people who were born in the CD era are growing older they are discovering the wider range in sound captured on pressed vinyl compared with downloaded files and compact discs. She says many of the hottest current bands are tapping into that and releasing albums on vinyl. She says they are also recognizing the convenience and portability of music files so many records now include free downloads of the music with the vinyl records.

What's So Special About Vinyl Records?

In addition to the sound range, Rich says it's the ritual. For nostalgic "children of the 60's and 70's" vinyl "is for at-home listening, it's a ritual." Cleaning the LP's, putting them on the turntable and then having to be where the turntable and speakers are makes listening to vinyl records a much different experience than listening through earbuds on the go or driving in the car.

Can You Even Buy Turntables These Days? 

Mad Platter sells affordable, new turntables (for under $100). Rich says there are also many high-end, more expensive turntables on the market. Mad Platter also sells amplifiers and speakers for playing vinyl records on turntables.

Is There a Market for Your Used LP Collection?

Rich says her store does buy some used albums, but it's not the main part of the business. They are also very picky about what they consider buying, as are many other stores that buy used albums. "Condition is critical," Rich says. An album cover that's in good shape is important. What's on the inside of the cover is even more crucial. "We buy collections sometimes," she says, but they must be in really good condition.

Mad Platter is open seven days a week. Full details are available here on the store's Patch Directory listing.