View Full Version : Why is vinyl called vinyl?
May seem a stupid question and yes I know they are made of vinyl, but I was just wondering what peoples 'individual' take on this is?
I am of an age when I used to buy LP's in the 70's and in those days they were referred to as either LP's, albums or records. I still call them records in truth and the artists and broadcasters I listen to still seem to call them records or making a recording, with any differentiation between formats referred to as either a record, CD or download. So where does the current trend to refer to LP records as vinyl come from - any ideas?
StanleyB
19-03-2013, 11:23
They were not always made from vinyl. But when the manufacturers did switch to the more robust vinyl material the term stuck. Just like you know what a hoover is, some terms or brand names became the product identity for any subsequent product of a similar nature or design.
The Grand Wazoo
19-03-2013, 11:24
Good question!
I was always confused when record shops stopped selling records but still kept calling themselves record shops!
The word 'album' always denoted 'record' as opposed to 'tape' in my mind.
Lately, I've not been able to come to terms with the trend of pluralising vinyl to vinyls - it has always had an irregular plural to me (ie like sheep or fish).
The Grand Wazoo
19-03-2013, 11:32
We used to sometime refer to 'vinyl records' so maybe the increased use of 'vinyl' is a contraction of that term. Perhaps the reason is that the generation who have suddenly discovered 12" records didn't grow up with the lexicography that we did & latched onto the 'vinyl' part of that term?
Mr Kipling
19-03-2013, 12:21
Come on lads! You should all know this! It's a derivative of pvc: poly vinyl chloride.
MFFQOtHWbNw
:lol: nice one
I don't know why I migrated from calling them LPs (but never LP's :eyebrows: ) to vinyl. I use the names pretty interchangeably and am not precious about it.
JazzBones
19-03-2013, 12:54
They were not always made from vinyl. But when the manufacturers did switch to the more robust vinyl material the term stuck. Just like you know what a hoover is, some terms or brand names became the product identity for any subsequent product of a similar nature or design.
.... Like the public address system is referred to as 'Tannoy'. I still refer to vinyl as records or LPs, sometimes albums, why not :)
Gmanuk101
19-03-2013, 12:56
StanB has this nailed down... or "various lengths of alloy, metal or compounds typically used in the connection of two softer materials" ahem ;)
Audio Al
19-03-2013, 13:55
Come on lads! You should all know this! It's a derivative of pvc: poly vinyl chloride.
It must be a double album :lol:
Audioman
19-03-2013, 15:42
The propar term mi Bruvvers is:
MFFQOtHWbNw
Funny Edit from Clockwork orange
04bPhT2AjAk
Canetoad
19-03-2013, 18:23
I was feeling nauseous just listening to it! :lol:
Mr Kipling
19-03-2013, 18:49
The term is commonly used now, but there was a time when it wasn't and record/lp/album were used. Vinyl sounds more trendy I suppose.
The Grand Wazoo
19-03-2013, 18:51
It's a derivative of pvc: poly vinyl chloride.
I think I'm going to start calling records PVCs.
The term is commonly used now, but there was a time when it wasn't and record/lp/album were used.
Especially when LPs were made from shellac ;)
Marco.
tim_bissell
19-03-2013, 21:08
Were any LPs made of shellac? I thought the term Long Player came with advent of vinyl microgroove 33 rpm records, all three of which in combination gave a heady 20+ minutes a side?
-- Tim
Mr Kipling
19-03-2013, 23:29
There was 12" even 16" shellac records but I don't think they could be described as "L.P.s". The lp dates from the end of the '40s and vinyl from the '30s.
Let's just call them 'records' then, Stephen, but shellac they were definitely made from! ;)
I own a few of them myself.
Marco.
Mr Kipling
20-03-2013, 00:04
Can't say you're wrong Marco. Apparently, some 78s were made from vinyl! Wasn't aware vinyl dated from the '30s. Thought it was later.
chris@panteg
20-03-2013, 07:41
Columbia records introduced the vinyl LP in 1948 , mono until 1957 I think ?
Edit 1958 .
The term record dates back to pre-1900 (so I'm told, I'm not that old!). The Edision Phonograph recorded onto tinfoil cylinders. This produced a "record" of the performance. So "record" isn't synonymous LP, though an LP will always be a record. On this basis CDs and MP3s are also records.
As for vinyl, I don't mind LPs being called vinyl, it's minor annoyance but when people say, "you've got a lot of vinyls" it just doesn't sound right to me.
Audioman
20-03-2013, 10:00
The term record dates back to pre-1900 (so I'm told, I'm not that old!). The Edision Phonograph recorded onto tinfoil cylinders. This produced a "record" of the performance. So "record" isn't synonymous LP, though an LP will always be a record. On this basis CDs and MP3s are also records.
As for vinyl, I don't mind LPs being called vinyl, it's minor annoyance but when people say, "you've got a lot of vinyls" it just doesn't sound right to me.
I think the term LP became confusing as a 'long player' could be applied to CD as well as the vinyl lp record. Thence vinyl lp got condensed down to vinyl - though this didn't take on until the 90s at least. The plural of vinyl is vinyl so it's correct to use 'you've got a lot of vinyl lps' but not 'got a lot of vinyls'. Incorrect use of English like this is annoying.
I blame the yanks! ;)
Marco.
I am to old for new-fangled terms like vinyl to describe something I have been buying for over 50 years.
I have tapes, cassettes (not many), LPs, CDs, SACDs and DATs.
I curmudgeonly-ly avoid using the term "vinyl". It irritates me, for some reason.
;-)
Vinyl means vinyl.
LP, EP and single refer to the length or at least expected length and tracks numbers and can be CD, cassette, vinyl, reel to reel etc.
Album I suppose can mean the new LP work of an artist/band but also includes those put together as compilations or best-ofs whereas I wouldn't use LP for a best-of or compilation. It's format neutral.
Record for me has connotations of being vinyl but not strictly. I call my vinyl "records" when people know that they're likely to be vinyl. If not, I specify that it's vinyl I'm talking about..
Of course, back when there was only one real format, vinyl, you didn't need to specify.
Of course, back when there was only one real format, vinyl, you didn't need to specify.
The highest sound quality available "back then" was FM radio IME, noticeably superior to LPs. Reel-to-reel recordings of live radio 3 concerts were also better than LPs IME.
Nowadays live broadcasts are rare rather than at 7.30 every evening :-(
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