Veteran DJ Tony Blackburn recently did a “Digital Detour” to recreate the early days of his radio shows in the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s with a vinyl-only edition of his Pick Of The Pops programme on Radio 2.

The vinyl only Pick Of The Pops was part of Radio 2’s celebration of the 65th anniversary of the 45rpm vinyl single this month, at a time when vinyl sales are once again rising like the proverbial phoenix from the flames of the digital / internet era. Recent figures from music industry body BPI have shown that sales of vinyl singles rose 34% in 2013, while for vinyl albums they increased 50%.

On his Pick Of The Pops show on Saturday, 22nd March, Tony Blackburn played original vinyl singles from the charts in the corresponding weeks in March 1967 and 1978 with hits from The Supremes, Val Doonican, Tom Jones, The Hollies, Nick Lowe, Hot Chocolate and Abba. Tony Blackburn commented: “Many people think the music from vinyl is a much warmer sound so it should be a really great show and I’m looking forward to hearing the reaction from the listeners.” The vinyl singles all emanated from the “Vinyl Vault” Pick Of The Pops producer Phil “the collector” Swern, who has a library of 250,000 vinyl records.

The BBC commented: “Those familiar with the songs the first time round will have been able to appreciate the difference in sound from the digital recordings of these tracks and how they can’t quite compete with the original sound from the pressings released in their day.”

Radio 2 also celebrated the 65th anniversary of the vinyl single with a two-part documentary series, “The 45 @ 65”, presented by David Quantick in the last two weeks with contributions from the likes of Sir Tom Jones, Bob Stanley from Saint Etienne, Buzzcocks lead vocalist Pete Shelley, record producer Pete Waterman and Radio 2 presenters Bob Harris and Johnnie Walker.

Simon Sterland from online framed vinyl gift retailer MyFirstRecord.co.uk, reflected: “It is hard to conceive a world without the vinyl single and album and its glorious status and place in the lives of all those of us in the 35 plus age group”.

The MyFirstRecord.co.uk proprietor added: “ A world devoid of the vinyl single would also mean a world minus all the interesting contraptions that assisted the playing of them. We would be poorer for not having all those spectacular Wurlitzer, Seeburg, Rock Ola and AMI jukeboxes that lived in pubs and coffee bars. Not to mention the portable dansette record player that lived in our living rooms and bedrooms”.

Celebrate your love of the vinyl single or vinyl album in your home or office, by ordering your favourite vinyl single, album or album cover; framed and mounted as a picture disc souvenir. You can also personalise it with an inscribed / engraved plaque……  ORDER NOW…….. www.myfirstrecord.co.uk/

Framed vinyl records, framed CDs and framed DVDs with a personalised plaque, make unique presents or original gifts for a special celebration  / special occasion ie a Wedding ( Wedding First Dance Song ), an Engagement Party ( Our Song ), a House Warming Party ( New Home ), a 21st, 30th, 40th, 50th, 60th Birthday ( How about the No1 song on the day of birth? ), a Silver, Ruby or Golden Wedding Anniversary, Father’s or Mother’s Day or Valentine’s Day!!  THE PERFECT PERSONALISED PRESENT!!