Taking vinyl for a spin

RECOVERY | THRIFT STORE FINDS

Over the past 10 years, vinyl records and record players have made their way back into homes in a big way. Vinyl sales jumped from 27.5 million albums in 2020 to 41.7 million in 2021. Even as music streaming services continue to attract paid subscribers, a new generation of music fans, both casual and hardcore, are buying new and classic music on 12” records, making vinyl the music industry’s most popular and most profitable physical format. Some consumers say that they prefer vinyl’s rich analog sound over digital music files, which lose sound quality when modified to play on cell phones or streaming services. Others say that owning vinyl recordings is better than having it stream, where a song may be only available as long as the streaming service is operational.

As the music industry works to keep up with the demands of new and old vinyl enthusiasts, garage sales and Salvation Army thrift stores have become prime locations for rare album finds.

Alan Porchetti remembers the first record he ever owned: “Alive!,” the first live album from the rock band KISS.

“I think vinyl has become popular again because having a record to hold in your hands is a unique feeling,” says Alan, a Salvation Army pastor in Trenton, N.J. “When I was young, it was almost like a ritual to open my album for the first time. Even before I played the music, I was examining the cover, taking in the smell of the vinyl, and looking to see if the artist had included anything extra inside, such as a signed poster or a photo.”

Now a collector with hundreds of rock and heavy metal albums, Alan says that thrifting for vinyl is where he finds the sought–after, original versions of classic albums, rather than the modern re–releases that have come with vinyl’s new popularity.

“It’s great to have a streaming music service that will play any song I want for a few dollars a month. But when I stream on my phone or computer, I’m not getting the album credits, the lyric notes, or the artwork that comes with my record. All those things create a deeper connection with the artist.

“There’s nothing like putting on a record on a Saturday afternoon while relaxing or doing my chores, especially in the cold fall and winter months,” says Alan.

Salvation Army pastor Sahory Montilla, from Bridgeton, N.J., never listened to a music album from beginning to end until she started buying vinyl records three years ago.

“I can better appreciate the album and the work the artist has put into creating it when I own the music. I can hear every instrument and how it comes together better with a vinyl,” says Sahory, who collects jazz and funk albums from the ‘50s, ‘60s, and ‘70s.

The vintage albums she enjoys are frequently found in thrift stores. “In the vinyl collectors’ community, thrifting is the way to go,” says Sahory. “I can run into a gem I’ve been searching for months, or I can find a record that I know can be sold online to others; collectors are always looking for the 1 st or 2 nd press of their favorite album.

“Thrift stores are a great place to start and add to your vinyl hobby.”

by HUGO BRAVO

WHAT WILL YOU FIND?

There’s always a variety of records of every genre at the Salvation Army’s thrift stores. Here are some well–known vinyl we picked up on our last trip, all priced from $.99 to $1.99. You never know what you’ll find!

Go to sastores.org to locate a Salvation Army thrift store near you.

Every purchase you make at a Salvation Army Thrift Store helps fund local Adult Rehabilitation Centers (ARCs), where people who struggle with drugs and alcohol find help and hope. Visit SArehab.org to learn more.