Home décor store purchase sparks new passion

This may sound odd, but I found my new hobby at Bed Bath & Beyond.

My girlfriend and I recently bought a house. Naturally, I have been dragged through every furniture store and any retailer that sells home décor. One such visit was to Bed Bath and Beyond.

I was forced to look at comforters, towels and shower curtains when something caught my eye. It was a record player and I just bought it on a whim.

I consider myself a music fiend and I’m embarrassed it took me 23 years to start a record collection, but at least I’m finally getting it started now.

Over the past month I’ve been a scavenger, hunting for vinyl. I’ve been to antique stores in Indianapolis, Edinburgh, Southport and even here in Franklin. I’ve spent my time filing through hundreds of records looking for that musical gem to add to my collection, which is at almost 40 records right now.

One of the best things about starting this collection is that it’s relatively cheap. I’ve been able to get most of my albums for less than $5. The only album I’ve spent substantial money on was The Beatles “Revolver,” which set me back $20. On the other hand, I’ve been able to buy some of my records for 50 cents.

I don’t think there is anything quite as magical as putting a needle on a big, black disc and hearing the classic music come out of it. It sparks an instant connection with the music. The needle scratching on the spaces between sounds is quickly becoming one of my favorite sounds.

It’s really amazing to hold these pieces of history in your hands and contemplate who owned them before. Most of my albums are from the 60s and 70s and the artwork on them is captivating. These albums were the main source of money for these people and they really put a lot of effort into creating the album covers.

My record collection will continue to grow. In this age of technical advances, I like having access to a simpler era of music. I’m a bigger fan of the time when computers didn’t aid the singer or the musician. In that era, talent, not publicity or good looks, reigned supreme.
I never thought I’d be a collector until that fateful day at Bed Bath & Beyond.