The Rolling Stones, The Eagles, Pink Floyd, and Fleetwood Mac were among the prominent artists rising to fame during the 1970s. With vinyl records debuting in the late 1940s, by the ‘70s, vinyls of their songs were everywhere.
(Sophia Stern)
Taite Mcgrady, an employee at Bizarre Bazaar, is well-versed in record care. Boasting 564 CDs and vinyl records in his collection, Mcgrady has been collecting for many years. He enjoys his role at Bizarre Bazaar, where used vinyl is accepted, diligently restored, and resold at a fair value.
This is a sustainable way to keep old records in circulation and help find a home for everything.
When asked what ‘70s music or ‘70s-inspired records kids are buying today, Mcgrady responded “Tame Impala” goes so fast and I think it is very clear that he wears his references on his sleeve and when you look at “Fleetwood Mac Rumours”, we cannot keep that in stock.”
Opening Up Your Record
When opening your record, there are a couple of approaches to take. Some people prefer to remove it from the shrink wrap (layer of plastic wrapping), while others leave it intact.
“I do see that if you leave it in the shrink, the jacket [outer covering of record] looks a little bit better over time… it’s just an extra layer of protection,” Mcgrady said.
Leaving it in aids with ultraviolet (UV) protection. If your records on the wall are exposed to the sun, over time it can start to bleach the record.
Cleaning Your Record
Bizarre Bazaar provides people with a secret formula that they can clean their records with. All you need is:
- A spray bottle
- 80% water
- 20% rubbing alcohol (at 70% concentration)
- A drop of dish soap (About a drop on your fingertip)
The dish soap helps with cleaning off fingerprints and tobacco tar (commonly found on old or used records), but be careful. You don’t want soap residue on your record either.
As for a brush, any standard felt brush will work. There are also kits available online where you can get a felt brush, a carbon fiber brush, and a needle brush.
“Just make sure you take the half second to dry brush your records before you play it,” Mcgrady explains. It goes a long way for care, as dust can collect on the record and the needle of the record player will inject the dust into the grooves of the record.
(Sophia Stern)
How Often Should You Clean
Dry Brush:
- Always dry clean first
- Anytime before putting the record on the player
- Sometimes after, if left on the player for a while
Spray bottle:
- When you get a new record
- Anytime it looks visibly dusty
(Sophia Stern)
Where to Keep Your Records
Records should not be anywhere too close to a heat source, even windows. Over time the heat from the sun could warp the record and that is extremely hard to fix. It is best to keep records in a cooler environment with low humidity. For example, basements are usually the best although some people prefer to keep them out on a wall or sunroom, which just needs to be monitored over time.
