LPs, albums, records, stacks of wax – whatever it’s called, vinyl is making a comeback with music lovers in a big way. Popular from the 1950s-1980s, vinyl essentially died out, replaced by the more portable CD.

But today’s generation has rediscovered the medium, and the nostalgia enjoyed by older generations is also helping to spur a resurgence in album sales and vinyl production.

Many have started building (or re-building) vinyl collections by acquiring albums from family members or friends, attending annual “Record Store Days,” and hitting up yard sales and antique stores.

Others have taken a gamble and purchased album collections on auction sites like eBay.

The term “vinyl junkie” has been used to describe serious collectors. One in particular is Nick Orlando, a Yakima area resident who has been collecting vinyl for years, and has amassed a collection of over 1,600 albums.

“I support a craft that would otherwise be considered obsolete in this ever-evolving music industry,” Orlando said. “Vinyl is one medium, unlike 8-tracks, cassettes, CDs, or even digital downloads that has withstood the test of time.”

While many students get their music through digital services like iTunes, vinyl has become a big draw amongst the younger generation.

“The beauty of purchasing vinyl nowadays is having the ability to obtain a digital download or compact disc included within the vinyl copy,” Orlando said. “Buying vinyl is a win-win for me. Being able to retain the past while still being up to date with digital downloads.”

Tyler Bartlett, founder of Vinyl Me, Please as well as being another vinyl junkie, agrees and points out that vinyl makes for a great thing to do with friends.

“Vinyl is also a great social experience. You can have your friends over for a beer or a cocktail and can spin a new album. You don’t get that experience with streaming or CD,” Barlett said. “I listen to streaming music when I’m in my car. I don’t own a CD player, so if someone gives me a CD I have no way of playing it.”

Bartlett started Vinyl Me, Please a monthly subscription service based out of Chicago.

The service sends out a new album each month based on a particular genre of their choosing.

Bartlett points out Vinyl Me, Please is a great way to start a collection. He also stresses the importance of supporting your local record store.

“Vinyl Me, Please is also a great way to start out your collection but we also highly suggest going to your local record store to buy albums as local stores are becoming rare and most don’t survive.”

With websites like Amazon and Discogs offering bargains on vinyl, many local record stores are having a hard time staying in business.

Rodeo Records, a former fixture in downtown Ellensburg and owned by Mark Pickerel of the alt-rock group Screaming Trees, closed in 2005.

“Discogs and Amazon are nice while looking for bargains. But, those sites are not a good source for someone who’s looking for the right record, as they can’t make those suggestions,” Bartlett said.

Barlett also thinks local record stores are great because employees can assist people on their music search

“If you’re not up on music and you walk into a record store to buy albums, the experience can be overwhelming,” Barlett said. “So it helps to ask someone at the store who may know.”

In fact, the annual “Record Store Day” event was established in 2008 to celebrate local record stores, and bring fans and artists together. But not everyone agrees that the event is the best way to promote vinyl. Orlando and Bartlett have different views.

Orlando believes Record Store Day is a gimmick.

“I don’t typically celebrate that day because they usually re-press popular albums for commercial profit because of the holiday,” Orlando said.

Barlett, however thinks Record Store Day is a fun way to find rare records.

“The experience alone of waiting in line at 5 a.m. to pick up a limited edition album by The Strokes, or listening to live bands ̵ it’s considered a major holiday for vinyl junkies,” Barlett said.

The best entry point for any vinyl collector is to buy the music they enjoy. Bartlett suggests buying classic albums, such as classic rock from the ‘60s and ‘70s, and then expanding from there.

“I would suggest listening to them and then buying them on vinyl. Or, choose from your favorite artist and buy the albums from that band you love,” Bartlett said.