I remember as a kid, I had a record player. The only record I can remember from my "collection" at the time was a Mr Men album with a red cover (I think it was "The Mr Men Songs" from 1979, but don't hold me to it). But CD came along before my love of music was confirmed and so the vinyl went.

For my 18th Birthday my friends, knowing I was (and still am) a huge James fan, clubbed together and got me a copy of One Man Clapping. Skipping forward ten and a half years to the present day, I've never actually played it although it has traveled to uni and back with me.

Those who know me will know well that I like things. I like physical objects. For all the digital life I lead, I want my books, my music, my film to have physical form. I like the artwork. I like the case/sleeve notes. I have also found myself (thanks to 6 Music) listening to the sort of band who put out stuff on vinyl. Only vinyl. As such I have been slowly acquiring more and more. At first more through accident than design but increasingly in full knowledge that it is vinyl (as the only option).

So my collection grew to a handful and I started thinking that I maybe ought to consider possibly getting some magic device to play this stuff on. Now I've come to that decision I am actively seeking out the vinyl. And now my collection is *two* handfuls...

...of stuff I still can't actually play.

So, after Christmas, I will, with my new-found wealth, be on the lookout for a record player. I know almost nothing about choosing a record player so any tips would be appreciated. Please bear in mind though, my current set up is my computer or my TV with a speaker or headphones so I'm gonna need anything else... I've seen some integrated units with USB/SD Card recording capacities which might be appropriate but... what do I know?

Maybe next year my collection will have graduated to a shelf...

Alex
x x