As we move into the 13th year of the 21st century, one of the greatest and most cherished inventions of the 20th century is still holding it’s own – namely the vinyl record. Sales of vinyl LPs / albums have grown for the fifth successive year, according to the British Phonographic Industry (BPI). A total of 389,000 LPs were sold in 2012 – an increase of 15.3% compared with 2011.

BPI chief executive Geoff Taylor points out: “With more than 60 years of loyal service, the vinyl LP is by some margin the most enduring album format of all time. Although sales overall are small compared to CD and digital albums, vinyl’s collectability and appeal to audiophiles is drawing in new fans, in particular through initiatives like the popular annual Record Store Day. Increasingly LPs also include codes that can be redeemed online for digital albums – giving fans the best of both worlds”.

“Coexist”, the second album by The xx, was the best-selling vinyl album of 2012, with the 2012 re-release of David Bowie’s “The Rise And Fall Of Ziggy Stardust And The Spiders From Mars” coming in in second place. Originally released in June 1972, Ziggy Stardust was remastered and reissued on vinyl to commemorate the album’s 40th anniversary. Besides the greater depth of sound with vinyl, not to mention it’s wonderful tactileness, the other plus is the great pop art provided by vinyl album covers. And there is no better example of pop art than David Bowie’s “Ziggy Stardust” album cover!!

Infact only last Sunday Johnnie Walker ran a feature on his Radio 2 show “Sounds of the Seventies”, with Aubrey Powell glorifying and eulogising the era of vinyl album cover artwork in the 1970s. Aubrey Powell co-founded the album cover design company Hipgnosis. Hipgnosis created some of the most innovative and surreal record cover art of the 1960s, 70s and 80s for many of the big name rock bands of the era including Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, Paul McCartney, Yes, Genesis, 10cc, Peter Gabriel, Bad Company, Emerson, Lake & Palmer, Scorpions, Styx, Syd Barrett and Black Sabbath. Aubrey Powell has recently collated the best vinyl album images in a book – “Classic Album Covers of The 1970s”

OFFICIAL VINYL ALBUM CHART 2012

1. Coexist – The xx

2. The Rise And Fall Of Ziggy Stardust- David Bowie

3. Blunderbuss – Jack White

4. 21 – Adele

5. Lonerism – Tame Impala

6. Tempest – Bob Dylan

7. Bloom – Beach House

8. An Awesome Wave – Alt-J

9. Go-Go Boots – Drive-By Truckers

10. The Wall – Pink Floyd

Source: Official Charts Company

The Invisible Band by Travis remains the top-selling vinyl LP of the 21st Century, with 28,700 copies sold since its release in 2001.

The second biggest seller of the millennium is The King Of Limbs – issued by Radiohead initially as a download then in May 2011 as a special “newspaper edition” that included two 10-inch vinyl records.

Celebrate your favourite vinyl record in your home or office, by ordering your favourite vinyl record; 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/

Also available – the DVD of your favourite film or TV programme framed with a personalised 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  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!!