The primary ingredient in the makeup of a vinyl record is petroleum. How many records could have been made from all of the oil in the gulf?

Well, 90.1 million gallons of oil spilled into the gulf as of June 11, according to CNN.

Let’s assume a typical 12″ record is made up primarily of oil and is 120g or approximately 0.26 pounds (there are other filler ingredients in the vinyl, but let’s say that the whole thing is made up of oil).

Crude oil weighs about 307 pounds per barrel. There are 42 gallons per barrel, making crude oil about 7.3 pounds / gallon.

7.3 pounds per gallon of oil / 0.26 pounds of oil per record = 28 records/gallon.

90.1 million gallons of oil (as of June 11) X 28 records per gallon = 2.5 billion records!

Whooaaaa!

If records stacked upon each other are 16 records per inch, that would be a stack 13 million feet high! The Sears Tower is 1707 feet high including the spires, meaning you could make 7,695 stacks of records the height of the Sears Tower! (BTW, I refuse to call the Sears Tower the Willis Tower unless they acknowledge that the Willis that they speak of is Chicago’s very own Wesley Willis! )

2.5 Billion records would make over 7000 stacks the height of the Sears Tower!

Whooooaaa!

The circumference of the earth is 24,901.55 miles. If we placed 2.5 billion 12″ records placed end to end, that would be about 475,000 miles, or enough to circle the earth over 19 times!

One of 19 strings of 12" records spanning the circumference of the earth!

Whoooooaaaa!

I’ve got no estimates on how many double rainbows that those 2.5 billion records could span

Obviously is this totally un-scientific and just for fun, but if anyone has any updated data to make this more accurate, I’m sure that the world would want to know, so let me know!

Check out this fantastically bizarre “Data Too Short” production … Record Store in Space (A True Story). Stick with it. You’ll confusingly like it.

A very special role for Genesis – The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway!

Watched Zappa host SNL in Season 4 last nite. Enjoyed this little clip where the Coneheads enjoy his “Compressed Petroleum Binding Polymers”:

Transcript

Prymaat: [holds a vinyl copy of Zappa's record album, Studio Tan] Connie has many of these discs which are gifts from this human.

Beldar: [takes the album, holds it up, impressed] You? Produce these?

Frank Zappa: Yes, this is a collection – an unauthorized collection – of my latest sound patterns.

Beldar: I, Beldar, approve. Au revoir.

[Arm in arm, Zappa and Connie head for the front door.]

Prymaat: Return at the pre-designated time coordinates!

Connie: Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Frank Zappa: Nice to meet you, Mr. and Mrs. Conehead!

[Zappa and Connie exit. Beldar and Prymaat inspect the album.]

Beldar: Mmmmm. [Beldar rips open the cardboard jacket and removes the vinyl record] What fine compressed petroleum binding polymers!

[Prymaat and Beldar each take a couple of bites out of the record and chew the crunchy vinyl noisily.]

This Thursday, there was a good story on NPR’s All Things Considered about Jack White and his Third Man Records.

Listen here: Jack White’s Record Label: Old Sounds, New Tricks (NPR’s All Things Considers)

Third Man Record’s motto: “Your turntable’s not dead” (adapted from the motto of his old company, Third Man Upholstery, “You couch is not dead”).

Here a cool quote from Jack:

Vinyl is real deal. I’ve always felt that until you buy the vinyl record, you just don’t own the album … It’s not just me, it’s not just a little pet thing, it’s not just some retro romantic thing from the past. It’s still alive.

Another motto of the label: “Digital where necessary. Tangible where possible.”

Third Man Records has a small performance venue and all shows played there are recorded to eight track and pressed on limited edition colored vinyl available only to the audience from the particular show. How cool is that?

Listen to the story: Jack White’s Record Label: Old Sounds, New Tricks (NPR’s All Things Considers)

When I was out and about for Record Store Day two weeks ago, I ran into John Boston of Whiskey Bender Productions and his cameraman at three different record stores. They were taking some final shots for their upcoming 30 minute documentary on Chicago, record stores and the resurgence of vinyl. The trailer has snippets of interviews with record store owners and Sound Opinions‘ Jim Derogatis and Greg Kot.

Check it:

A trailer for “Re-Vinylized”, a 30-minute documentary about independent record stores in Chicago. The film celebrates the culture of independent record stores while examining the effects of downloading and the recent resurgence of vinyl record sales. “Re-Vinylized” was produced by Ryan Howard, shot by Carlos Ginard & Greg Cozzi and directed & edited by John Boston for Whiskey Bender Productions and Flashpoint Academy. Visit www.whiskeybender.com for more info about the film.

My better half and I visited 11 Chicagoland stores for Record Store Day 2010. Here’s a quick video of me outside each store and 3 quick in-store performances:

Friendly worker at Second Hand Tunes in Evanston

The World-Famous Vintage Vinyl

Dealing on the Street Outside Vintage Vinyl

Digging for treasures outside of Vintage Vinyl

Reckless on Broadway

Dave's (Solomente Vinyl!)

Reckless on Milwaukee

Me!

Luck of Eden Hall at Vintage Vinyl

Digging at Laurie's Planet of Sound

Visitors from Memphis outside of Groovin' High

Two couples feeling the love on Record Store Day!

I picked up the Superchunk signed picture disc as well as a couple cheap used LPs and an “I Buy Vinyl” T-Shirt.

Overall, it seemed like the busiest Record Store Day yet. Most places were packed (to the point that it was hard to look for records!), especially stores with bands playing. Good times! I had at least five more places to visit on my list, but I got wore out and had to hang it up for the day. Next year I’ll have to do some pre-RSD conditioning to improve my endurance!

Check out some more Chicago RSD: Gapers Block RSD Coverage and at the wax.fm Facebook page

Now go out there and let’s make every day Record Store Day!

I don’t know how I missed this one, but tipped off by Future of Vinyl, I saw this intro video by Paolo Campana who is making a documentary about vinyl. This guy is very serious about his music and records!

The Vinylmania Film website describes the film:

Vinylmania is a journey about life through the grooves of music, an investigation of the filmmaker about vinyl as a symbol that represents – in the past, the present and the future – a passion shared by different generations in the age of the internet. The film is a 75 minute documentary about the search for an identity, one cry against the “fast-food” music.

Walking down the staircase into the dingiest, dustiest and most hidden-away record shops, we travel through the fascination of the qualities that make vinyl a legendary object. Dancing in the clubs where the groove of vinyl beats out its rhythm with djs, we discover contemporary artists that make music with vinyl or still release their music on it, and interact with people via a dedicated blog and social networks.

Exploring the five senses of vinyl, the movie approaches with an ironical and anthropological eye one of the most amazing collective researches, together with archive film footage that looks at vinyl as a cultural phenomenon.

With a chorus of musicians, artists, djs, collectors, experts and simple music lovers and teenagers, we discover an object that today represents a huge part of human heritage.

They’ve already got a ton of great footage and photos on the website from his visits to Prague, Berlin, Turin, London, New York, Los Angeles and San Francisco (I wish I would’ve caught up with him while he was in the U.S.!).

Follow him around the world on Twitter and Facebook.

The following series is from Justin Cohen, a DJ from Northampton, MA. Cohen has DJed regularly at public and private functions since 2004 and held a weekly radio show on Valley Free Radio WXOJ from 2005-2007. Filmmaker: Christian Munoz-Donoso

Why Clean Vinyl Records? -
A clean record provides the best sound quality.

Which Vinyl Records Need Cleaning? -
Older records need to be cleaned more often.

How to Hold Vinyl Record While Cleaning -
Do not touch the label when applying cleaner to vinyl.

Cleaning Medium for Vinyl Records -
A cloth diaper works well to clean your records.

Professional Cleaner for Vinyl Records –
The best option for cleaning records is a professional cleaner.

Applying Cleaner to Vinyl Records -
Spray cleaner directly onto the record.

Cleaning Vinyl Records -
Only use corner of cloth when cleaning your records.

Drying Vinyl Records -
Do not store vinyl records when they are damp.

Placing Vinyl Record Into Sleeve -
Be careful not to scratch vinyl when placing it into the album sleeve.

Storage Tips for Vinyl Records -
Keep vinyl records in a dry place.

How to Store Vinyl Records -
Stack vinyl records vertically rather than horizontally

A new documentary by Jony Lyle for Goosepimple Productions is coming soon. The 8 minute preview has lots of good stuff in it including interviews Chuck D, Questlove, Danny Krivit, Bruce ‘Bluenote’ Ludval and others set among each of their massive record collections. Check it out:

To Have & To Hold – Taster Tape from Jony Lyle on Vimeo.

Check out ‘To Have and To Hold’ on Facebook

I was wandering YouTube when I stumbled upon this video from a little over a year ago where 2TurntablesAndAGuy received 20 or more crates (for FREE!) of records from a guy who was moving and couldn’t bring them with him. It reminded me of going through the giant motherload of two pallets of crates that I picked up a few years ago. I love that feeling you get before you go through them … not knowing what you’ve got.

Anyway, it’s nice to know that there’s still some kindness and good folks in the world. Here’s the video:

Also check out 2TurntablesAndAGuy ‘s other videos including crate digging and DJ tutoring.

I saw the following quote in this post attributed to KT Tunstall:

“Independent record stores are like a casino where you put down your money and you always win. How amazing to discover gems you didn’t know about, to meet someone more passionate than you are, and to feel at home in a place you may never have been to before. I’m convinced they will never lose their place – Long may they rule”

Love that.

I Googled a bit and found a ton more great quotes from artists about record stores on the Record Store Day site: Record Store Day Artist Quotes.

I love this nuggest sandwiched in Jack White‘s quote:

“I trust no one who hasn’t time for music.”

Amen!

Don’t forget to mark your calendar, Record Store Day is Saturday April 17th this year!

I don’t know about you, but I’d rather have the records that I am looking through to be organized. If something’s blatantly out of place, I try to help out the store & fellow record scavengers. I put it where it belongs. Here’s me putting a Prince record in the right place:

So be a pal to your fellow record buyers and store owners and keep the stacks in order when hunting for vinyl.

Cool short video on how vinyl records are made at a new vinyl pressing plant in Cleveland Ohio, Gotta Groove Records. Gotta Groove was started recently by Vince Slusarz, who after his previous position was eliminated, took his manufacturing background, bought some equipment from one of four vinyl pressing plants in the U.S. and launched Gotta Groove.

Hats off to Nick Cavalier and crew for making this cool video.

Magic Hat Brewing is releasing a new spring seasonal, VINYL. The beer will be sold in 22 oz. bombers. Magic Hat says it’s a “malt-based lager” with artwork by Jim Pollock (of Phish poster fame).

Check out their whacky cool video:

Official Magic Hat VINYL Page

WAX.FM was launched a year ago this month, so happy birthday to us!

We quietly launched an updated look and feel a week ago, hope you like it.

The site’s been running like a champ for a year (with the exception of a 5-day outage in August when the domain registrar mistakenly pulled the DNS records )

A few stats from the first year:

Top Vinyl Artists for the First Year

1. The Beatles
2. Michael Jackson
3. Bob Dylan
4. Pink Floyd
5. The Rolling Stones
6. David Bowie
7. Jimi Hendrix Experience
8. Bob Marley
9. Led Zeppelin
10. John Lennon
11. Miles Davis
12. U2
13. The Doors
14. James Brown
15. John Coltrane
16. Bruce Springsteen
17. Nirvana
18. The Who
19. Kraftwerk
20. Beach Boys

Top Vinyl Titles for the First Year

1. Michael Jackson – Thriller
2. Pink Floyd – Dark Side of the Moon
3. The Beatles – Abbey Road
4. The Beatles – Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band
5. Beatles (White Album)
6. Velvet Underground (self titled)
7. Miles Davis – Kind of Blue
8. Beach Boys – Pet Sounds
9. The Beatles – Revolver
10. Led Zeppelin I
11. The Clash – London Calling
12. The Beatles – Rubber Soul
13. Rolling Stones – Let It Bleed
14. Nirvana – Nevermind
15. Bob Dylan – Blonde on Blonde
16. The Doors (self titled)
17. Bob Dylan – Highway 61 Revisited
18. Jimi Hendrix – Are You Experienced
19. David Bowie – Ziggy Stardust
20. Rolling Stone – Exile on Main Street

Still have a lot we want to roll out on the site. Subscribe to the RSS and follow us on Twitter to stay in the loop! Thanks!

Here are the top 20 albums from Paste Magazine’s Best 50 Albums of the Year. Nineteen of twenty of them are available on vinyl:

1. She & Him – Volume One
2. Sigur Ros – Med sud i eyrum vid spilum endalaust
3. Vampire Weekend – Vampire Weekend
4. Bon Iver – For Emma, Forever Ago
5. Okkervil River – The Stand Ins
6. Fleet Foxes – Fleet Foxes
7. Girl Talk – Feed the Animals
   No vinyl that I am aware of, but you can choose your own price to download it from here
8. Sun Kil Moon – April
9. Lucinda Williams – Little Honey
10. Deerhunter – Microcastle
11. The Hold Steady – Stay Positive
12. Of Montreal – Skeletal Lamping
13. Ida Maria – Fortress Round My Heart
14. Langhorne Slim – Langhorne Slim
15. Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds – Dig!!! Lazarus Dig!!!
16. My Morning Jacket – Evil Urges
17. Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy – Lie Down In The Light
18. Death Cab for Cutie – Narrow Stairs
19. Gentleman Jesse and His Men – Introducing Gentleman Jesse and His Men
20. Hot Chip – Made In The Dark

Check out the videos below: Bon Iver’s “The Wolves” and She & Him’s “Why Do You Let Me Stay Here?” Happy Holidays!

Re-post of WAX.FM Holiday Greeting 2008 …

* Great Place to Find Classics from 60’s, 70’s, 80’s … usually $3 (the same records can be $6-$10 at trendy record stores)
* Bargain bin records are 50 cents (usually on the floor below the $3 records) … mostly junk, but can find a few overlooked decent records
* Sign up for mailing list to receive periodic good coupons
* They have some collectibles … varies by store. Personally I’ve found that they have tons at Highland Park store in Illinois, but the collectibles are not usually heavily discounted

Currently HPB has locations in the U.S in:

* Arizona
* California
* Illinois
* Indiana
* Iowa
* Kansas
* Kentucky
* Minnesota
* Missouri
* Nebraska
* Ohio
* Pennsylvania
* Texas
* Washington
* Wisconsin

Look for a store near you: http://www.halfpricebooks.com/find_a_store.html and don’t forget to sign up for their mailing list to receive coupons.

Here’s a re-post of a video from when I first launched WAX.FM