Vinyl Collecting: A Beginner’s Guide

I honestly can’t remember a time when I wasn’t surrounded by vinyl records. As soon as I had enough money to hit a proper record store, I was there, standing on a box in order to reach the back of the used record bin. Almost a quarter century later, it’s still an obsession of mine. Since record collecting is not an exact science, there are no concrete rules. But there are some things to consider before you jump into it. … read more

Welcome to the Vinyl Cult: Buying a Half-Decent Record Player

After spending an afternoon in the back room of Randy’s Records, a family run establishment that exists because, as founding owner Randy Stinson charitably says, “It’s fun to get vinyl into the hands of people who like it,” I learned just how bad my turntable was. Father and son team Randy and Tom Stinson took one look at my setup and chuckled. I knew my system wasn’t anything special, but a chuckle from these two means bad news. … read more

Graywhale: The 25-Year-Old Local Music Mammal

Graywhale is one of the most successful music stores to ever open in Utah—with seven locations ranging from Ogden to Orem. Currently headed by Jon Tueller, Dustin Hansen and Daryl Shieving, the company has been selling new and used CDs and records since 1986. They, like other small music stores, continue to invest in the media that most big-box chains like Walmart and Best Buy are phasing out. … read more