The rise and rise of the 7" single

I have about 30 of them now all realised this year, I first noticed my local record shop started stocking them (Kingbee) and then HMV starting selling them and now even the CD only Music Zone is selling them!

Music Zone were selling loads of 7" singles with their CDs.

You can get a lot of them for 99p but the better known stuff is £1.99 but you often get things like free posters with them.

I find it quite ironic that we live in era of download charts but 7" singles have returned to the record shops and sales are apparantly increasing fast.

Its mainly indie but this genre seems to cover most the music charts that isn't dominated by pop acts but I have also seen an increasing amount of pop making onto vinyl.

The odd thing is while the general public are getting more into vinyl, DJs who were once thought to be the only reason vinyl is still made are switching to CDJs as they can be easier to use.

 

It seems this is not just my imagine sales have increased 87% in the last year!

http://www.cdfreaks.com/news2.php?ID=12097

 

It's good to see isn't it. I've got 100s of them, but don't play them that often. Sometimes I just grab a handful of twee indie or space rock and have a 45rpm wig-out.

That's just reminded me of one of my all time favourite tracks by a band called Khaya. I'm off to play Summer/Winter Song right now. 7" only.

 

ohh, not 7" only anymore, here's a download for ya you lucky peeps
http://www.slrecords.net/khayadownl.htm

 

Argh! mp3, no longer on the server. This always happens! Bollocks!

 

Its strange that so many people of my generation are into the black stuff where as my parents can't see the sonic advantages of vinyl and prefer the sound of CDs.

I have nothing against CD but I find there is somthing so magical and romantic about the 7" single.

 

I reckon it's a ploy by record companies to increase sales.

 

It is and it seems to be working Its a clever cult trick as people who are into indie/alternative are often really into music and are likely to have a turntable, where as the more mainstream stuff people are probably just using a ghetoblaster.

I have seen some very unusual designs as well, a lot of them tend to picture discs which is a pain when DJ'ing with them becuase its hard to see the exact groove marking so you have to cue it.

All we need now is 12" indie sings that don't cost the earth.

 

I have a few 7" and 10" singles , however i always think it is a little scary seeing all that felt mat between the edge of the record and my needle/Arm rest.

 

Perhaps you need to see a professional regarding this phobia?

FWIW I'm not surprised at all to see the vinyl popularity rising again. What people own is often a way to show others who you are – cars, clothes etc. – and for that reason alone people will keep buying music as physical objects. CD has with the arrival of cheap cd-burners turned into the new cassette – cheap and throwaway – so people will turn elsewhere and as you don't have to spend a fortune anymore to get a decent sounding record player...
Then of course it's the perceived collectors value of the little discs which have become a lot easier flog with the rise of ebay.

 

Yeah me too. They're difficult to get off the platter as well