Pop

Pop on vinyl: The eternal spark of popular music

From jukeboxes to concept albums: A short history of pop on wax

Pop owes a huge part of its identity to the vinyl record. In the 1950s and 60s, the 7-inch single became the ultimate vehicle for hit songs: Elvis Presley, The Beatles, The Supremes, and The Beach Boys soundtracked the world on 45 rpm. Then came the album era: The Beach Boys' 'Pet Sounds' (1966) and The Beatles' 'Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band' (1967) transformed the LP into a work of art, where every groove told a story. From the Britpop wave of the 1990s with Oasis and Blur to the alternative pop of the 2000s driven by artists like Amy Winehouse, vinyl has never stopped being the go-to format for melodies that define generations.

Reference pressings, legendary labels, and collector's gems

For the collector, it's all about the pressing. An original UK copy of Bowie's 'The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust' (RCA Victor, 1972), a Japanese pressing of Michael Jackson's 'Thriller', or a first edition of Fleetwood Mac's 'Rumours' on Warner Bros. can elevate a listening session to a whole new level. Labels like Motown, Stiff, Chrysalis, and 4AD shaped the sound of Pop through often remarkable pressings. Recent reissues from Mobile Fidelity and Analogue Productions also offer a high-quality alternative for those chasing sonic perfection without breaking the bank on a first press. Vinyles.com, a price comparison engine dedicated to vinyl, helps you track down these editions at the best prices across a wide range of record stores and online retailers, you are then free to choose the seller that best meets your expectations.