Local vinyl records collector Melinda Murphy started buying a few records in 2013, but said her hobby went into “high gear” when husband Phillip Murphy presented her with a turntable for Valentines Day in 2018.
“My passion for record collecting is a mix of loving music, and loving the sound of vinyl,” Murphy said.
For Murphy, the memories and nostalgia music brings are the most important.
“My mom had a radio playing in our house all the time and I love hearing a song that takes me back to my wonderful childhood,” she said.
Her collection has grown to over 1,000 record albums, as well as several 45’s, the smaller single size record, containing only one song on each side. Although she is preparing a vintage jukebox for playing the 45’s, Murphy says she likes the 12” albums best. About 10 percent of those are the Beatles, according to Murphy.
“My favorites are the Beatles, the Zombies, Van Halen, Paul McCartney and Wings,“ she said, adding that the oldest record in her collection is a Miles Davis record from 1954.
Murphy said collecting is strictly a hobby and has never sold any records out of her collection. Her hobby comes at a time when vinyl is seeing a resurgence.
“Vinyl has a warm and beautiful sound that digital sources do not have,” she said. “With vinyl, you have a source of music that you can hold in your hands and visually enjoy. The artwork is unique to each album, and it is something I enjoy as much today as I did when I was a little girl.”
Her passion for vinyl led Murphy to record her own channel on YouTube, which has garnered nearly 3,000 subscribers.
“My vinyl record channel gives me the ability to discuss records in my collection, or new records I find while out shopping,” she said. “And on my channel, I love to talk about why I love a particular record. I love to share memories that are connected to the songs.”
She recently made a video featuring mistakes she had made in vinyl collecting, in hopes she could spare other collectors from making the same errors. Another video showing the surprisingly valuable records in her collection has been viewed over 4,000 times.
“People who watch my channel are encouraged to leave comments,” Murphy said. “The most rewarding comments are the ones who say I reminded them of something they loved from their childhood. I try to reply to each and every one of them.”
According to Murphy, the best places to find vinyl records are local stores such as Hard Copies and TD’s Tuff Decisions, but flea markets and antique stores are also good options. Travel to bigger cities such as Louisville or Nashville may also be required if someone is in search of a good find.
“My best advice for those just starting out is to buy the music you love,” she said.
Always check the condition of the record, and don’t overspend are also tips Murphy has for beginners. For a record to play well, it needs to be free of scratches, cracks and warps. She cautions that overspending could turn a fun hobby into an unwanted source of stress.
To subscribe to Murphy’s channel on YouTube, click here.
