Back when I was a teenager, vinyl records were the tool used by diehard music enthusiasts to listen to their favorite songs. Eight tracks were going out of style really swiftly and the latest fad was the cassette tape. Even with the passing of the eight tracks and the surfacing of the cassette tape, lots of music enthusiasts, such as matt nathanson, stuck to the traditional vinyl records for their listening pleasure.

We have come a long way since the hay day of vinyl records. Compact discs are all the rage now with good reason. The audio quality is truly pure and you nearly feel as if you are in a sound-proof room when you focus your listening skills on the CD player. You can just sit back with an xs energy drink and enjoy the tracks. The clean sounds are a major improvement from the vinyl records that cracked as they played.

However, it is that crackling sound that is only offered by the vinyl records that I find so charming. There is something about that sound that is so neat to listen to particularly when I’m in a nostalgic mood. Maybe it is because the crackling sound is tied so closely to the tunes I loved when I was a child. I just can’t seem to split the two.

I discovered my love for the distinct antique sounds of the crackling vinyl records unintentionally. A close friend of mine offered free disc jockey services for my wedding. Of course I did not refuse the thoughtful wedding gift. There was a catch. My friend plays vinyl records, nothing else.

This was not really a hitch for me. I wanted to pass over all of the stylish pop-chart music of today and focus on older dance music and classic songs available on vinyl records. My friend started playing dinner songs at the reception. He chose classic Irish music for the wedding meal. It’s not hot new music, but it’s pretty.

The entire reception hall fell still during the prayer. Once the prayer ended, the DJ put the needle on the record and the silent room filled with soft crackling sounds followed by pretty Irish music. The transition was superb and the memory of the moment the crackling sounds overtook the reception hall still gives me chills. You simply could not duplicate that with a compact disc.

Technologically, we have come a long way when it comes to music. However, we should not wholly let go of the little gems from our past. The haunting sounds of the crackling vinyl records help us truly touch the past even if for just a flash.