I have never been much of a hobbyist, however earlier this year, I got the vinyl bug! My dad and I were talking about vinyl records and music and when I told him my passion he immediately said, can you find a few records for me?” His list ranged from Ultimate Spinach to Black Sabbath. Soon after he went to the hospital for heart surgery and we discussed how when he got out, I would bring the finds and a record player to him, 3 months later he never left the hospital.
This new hobby has taken on a life all in itself. I have listened to every vinyl by Ultimate Spinach and discovered the guitarist “Skunk” played with them, Steely Dan and the Doobie Brothers (I am catching a whiff of a theme). The beauty of vinyl is you are “forced” to listen to all the music and discover so any good songs you never realized existed!
My key finds include; a mint condition, 1st pressing of Pink Floyd’s Dark Side of the Moon and The Wall, a Jimi Hendrix, Are You Experienced and many other 1st pressings! My collection has grown to 270 vinyls and counting! I share this passion with one of my twins, Kati! She will inherit my collection and the one requirement will be to listed to certain ones (maybe all) and she may find some hidden treasure maps in them (like Christmas or Easter when I created maps and clues for them to find “the big gift.”
I have become a “vinyl snob”, seeking only pre-owned and 1st press or early press. I have always held an eclectic musical palette, and my go to on repeat vinyls include; Pink Floyd, Grateful Dead, Steely Dan, Styx, Rush, Norah Jones, Eagles and Fleetwood Mac to name a few with my all time favorite albums on repeat being Dark Side of the Moon, Nirvana Unplugged and Steely Dan’s Aja.
Vinyl has brought a level of joy to my life, when I listen it reminds me of my dad. I wish the opportunity to listen with him was in the cards, alas, that was not to be. I love the fact that it will be passed on and enjoyed by decades of Putman kiddos! Take a look at my collection on Discogs.
Alex Putman 