The Vinyl Crackle

Our little Dansette record player is the pride & joy of our living room.

My brother-in-law bought it for us as a wedding gift and it fits perfectly into our 50s, Scandinavian inspired home decor.

I absolutely love the gentle crackle of a record playing. It can't be beaten and you just can't recreate it. There is something wonderfully whimsical about the sound which conjures up an image in my mind of a rose tinted, 70s scene with The Carpenters melodiously flowing from the speakers. It was almost as if it was made for an Instagram shot.

We are slowly adding to our modest collection of records, with a rule that we do not buy modern music as that can be listened to anywhere. Some music just needs a record player. The process is slow but precise. I thought I'd give you a little look at where we've got to so far.

Our first record, bought shortly after the arrival of the Dansette......mainly to ensure it worked. James loves this record. I think he thinks he's a CIA agent unwinding with a glass of wine when listening to this, akin to scenes from Homeland.

Bob Dylan Greatest Hits. This man just sounds all the better for being played through a needle. You can't go wrong with Bob.

Fairport Convention. This has great sentimental value and I was delighted when I found it hiding in the stacks of records at the shop we were scouring. My parents brought me up on FC and they will always have a place in my heart. I think folk music gets a bad wrap, but it's not all long hair and old men playing music you can't understand. I am working on converting James. (NB. If you fancy seeing whether fold music is for you, try listening to Kate Rusby for an easy introduction)

Johnny Cash. We bought this because we fancied a bit of Cash. What we got was some classic tunes, interspersed with stories and tales of the road from Johnny Cash. It's a corker. Perfect for a lazy afternoon when the sun is streaming through the blinds and, with your eyes closed and a good imagination, you could pretend you were in Tennessee. (You may spy Johnny appearing in a future 'Sunday's Guilty Pleasure'...!)

Elvis' Christmas Album. I mentioned this beauty in my previous post. We can't wait to get this on the decks and enjoy a festive tipple by the light of the Christmas tree. Hurry up December!