My grandma had a giant stereo. 

It was wooden with a giant speaker on each side. You'd have to open the big compartment in the middle to reveal the turntable, with silver buttons beside it, and a huge analog display with knobs that would move a little red marker inside the display to seek out a radio station. 

My grandma forbade me and my brothers from ever touching the stereo when we were kids. Only time we could ever touch it was when we were cleaning the house or moving to a new place, which we did a lot. Every time we moved, we would always have to find a way to lug that big thing in and out of the moving truck. 

And it had to be near the kitchen.

Why? Because for every barbecue, birthday, or just every other Tuesday, right before cooking, she would open that compartment and place a record on the turntable. The first sound I always heard was the crackling that came from the grooves, like hearing the sound clear itself the way a person would clear their throat. And then, after a little silence, the music shoots out of the speakers and fills our entire home.

I was too young to remember what she would listen to. Only thing I remember is the loud percussion — especially the drums! — and men and women singing. The sound wasn’t as crystal-clear as a typical radio signal or a CD. But it sounded warm. The peaks never broke, yet you could hear every word, every strum, and every horn.

After years of use, the giant stereo had to be retired. But every now and then I would reminisce about my grandma listening to music while cooking whatever she pleased in the kitchen.

As an adult, without realizing it I’d grown a massive love for vinyl records as well. And luckily for me, the awesome library I use (and work for!) got just what I want.

NPL's Vinyl Collection

Nashville Public Library brought Vinyl records to their shelves. And I’ve been listening to a few that come to mind to recommend. 

Taylor Swift has tackled a lot of genres throughout her discography — from country to pop. And even though Taylor Swift made massive strides with her talent, her music never captivated me as much as her storytelling skills: those are the biggest draws for me. 

I’ve listened to the first five songs on Folklore more than I could count. But most favorite and the best songs to listen to, if nothing else, are "The Last Great American Dynasty" and "Exile, featuring Bon Iver." It is those two songs best demonstrate the enhanced listening experience of vinyl. I like to believe that the warm frequencies make the lyrical tones for both songs pop a bit more.

I just like Rhianna. The entire album is a bop and it’s just fun-to-listen-to music that’s all about the vibes. The beats are heavy, but the tempo is light and upbeat. But to be honest, I chose it because it feels like listening to a time capsule. I used to listen to a lot of her music growing up. "Love the Way You Lie, featuring Eminem" holds up spectacularly. 

"It’s All Coming Back to Me Now" was one of the first songs I remembered wanting to listen to again and again and again. This album was made to be played in a vinyl player. The song starts with an orchestral ensemble that sounds cinematic. And when she starts singing, if you know the lyrics, you started singing too. It was a song that finally made me fully understand why my grandma loved listening to old records. And I grew to love listening to them too.

This album became a certified game-changer over its lifetime and will continue to be as it shapes our culture to this very second. But when I was little, it was just an album I used to hear my brother play in his room, and that same album in my late uncle’s old Ford Explorer. I never understood the lyrics, but I understood the tone, the energy, and the intent. I think listening to music, especially the lyrics, is the best way to experience a part of American music history. Also go watch the movie Straight Outta Compton. It's a good flick. 

You must put some respect on Mozart’s name for giving us some of the best symphonies that are still being listened to this day. Just about every musician has been inspired by something that originated from his sound. And it’s the perfect soundtrack for anything remotely elegant. This is what I listen to when I have everything going on and nothing going on. It’s one of the best background music for doing just about anything.

This is some of the music that I would listen to on a vinyl player, but don’t just take my word for it. We have tons more music LPs for you to check out at the library.