For Christmas I received a book called  Old Records Never Die: One Man’s Quest for His Vinyl and His Past by New York Post journalist Eric Spitznagel.

I read and enjoyed it very quickly as I identified with a lot of its content and sentiment.

Eric sold all his vinyl records when CDs entered our lives, a decision he lived to regret. 

He missed the memories and tactile joy that they used to provide.

Consequently he set off on a quest to not only re-purchase his favourites, but to try to find and acquire the actual records that he used to own!

The book’s concept struck a chord with me as, whilst I don’t want to find the actual records I’ve bought and lost over the years, I am finding myself seeking out nice copies of those self same records.

Why am I doing this? I’ve already bought most of them on CD and of course I can stream them whenever I want to.

The answer to this question would take up several episodes of In the Psychiatrist’s Chair, but suffice to say that I concur with Eric’s love for vinyl and the key role it has played in my identity throughout my life.

He cites several key records that he has tried to reclaim, from Elvis to Kiss to Costello.

Collecting records is a bit of a curse, like supporting your local football team through thick and thin. Most of my friends have no understanding of my obsession but humour my continued love for a ‘childish’ hobby.

Below are a few of the ones I’ve either re-bought or am still hunting for in the racks, not necessarily because I want to play them or listen to them ever again-but because they were a part of me that’s been missing:

Pere Ubu-The Modern Dance

Robert Fripp Exposure

Steve Winwood- Steve Winwood

Steel Pulse-Handsworth Revolution

Elton John-Honky Chateau

Heaven is whenever, we can get together,

Sit down on the floor and listen to our records” The Hold Steady