Bridge Over Troubled Water

Simon & Garfunkel

Does this album cover look familiar? That’s probably because if you dig through any vinyl section or home collection you will most likely stumble upon a copy or two of this hit record. Not only is this album easy to find, but it’s arguably Simon and Garfunkel at their best– truly the perfect starting record to kick off your music collection and to stand alongside some of the other classics listed below. 

Blue

Joni Mitchell

Happy 50th anniversary to Blue! It’s hard to believe this record came out in 1971, can you? Just goes to show that Blue (and Joni) give the word timeless an extra bit of an edge, which makes Blue a perfect addition to your vinyl record collection that will never go out of style. Not to mention the fact that A Case of You sounds roughly a million times better on vinyl. We’d hedge our bets that this vinyl record is sure to somehow be both the cherry on top and the cornerstone of your collection.

Signed, Sealed & Delivered

Stevie Wonder

We’ve all heard the title track of this record, but the other eleven songs are not to be slept on, especially when it comes to listening to this album on vinyl. Rolling Stone wrote, “Although not all of the songs match the energy of the title track, the album does not have a bad song.” Check Signed, Sealed & Delivered out on vinyl from Magnolia Record Store, and gear up for a mixed, soulful bag that doesn’t miss a beat. 

Highway 61 Revisited

Bob Dylan

Highway 61 is truly an album for everyone. Whether you’ve just gotten into Dylan or you grew up listening to him on your parent’s cassette tapes, chances are this album can still bring a tear to the eye. Though Dylan has always had it, this is where his songwriting truly becomes other-worldly, the kind of lyricism that had more than a little to do with him being awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature for songwriting (yes, that’s possible). And we believe it after listening to this album on vinyl. Each stream of consciousness-packed track glides off the grooves with a trademark Dylan effortlessness that was certainly made for vinyl. The perfect addition to your vinyl record collection.

Explores Your Mind

Al Green

Al Green at his best, and we think best deserves a slot in your vinyl collection. This is an album to dance to. Or at least sway to. Seriously, good luck standing still to this record, which is the perfect mingling of what music historian Robert Gordon calls “the two Als.” There’s the Al before the fame, the Al who grew up singing church hymns with his brothers and there’s Al Green, king of soul who became an overnight success. All of the then and now Al that was spun into the making of this record is delivered with just the right amount of groove when played on vinyl. Better yet, you can get it on a limited edition green vinyl press from Magnolia Record Store.

Tapestry

Carole King

You don’t need to list its track record to be convinced that Carol King’s second studio album, Tapestry, is and will always be a hit. But since we’re on the topic: Tapestry still holds the record for most consecutive weeks at number one by a female solo artist, not to mention that the album went platinum 13 times and is one of the best-selling albums of all time, with 25 million-plus copies sold. Oh, and it also received four Grammy awards, including Album of the Year in 1972. Yes, you’ve most likely heard the record a thousand times, but we firmly believe you haven’t really heard Tapestry until you’ve heard it on vinyl, perhaps with a glass of wine in hand. 

Tous Les Garçons et les Filles

Francoise Hardy

No vinyl record collection could be complete without a touch of French pop, non? And who better to do the honors than the queen of 60s french pop music, herself. This album is responsible for launching Hardy’s career and making her an icon in the French music scene. And in our opinion, her natural allure and mystery come through even clearer on a vinyl album. This record is the culmination of that era: a little psychedelic and little bubble gum pop, wrapped in her smooth vocals and decidedly uncomplicated songwriting that paved the way for a whole new wave of French music. Sidenote: the only thing better than the music video for the title track of this record is listening to it on vinyl. 

Are any of these in your vinyl record collection? If so, make sure you know how to take care of vinyl records so all of your albums are well cared for. And if you’re really wanting to become an expert record collector, learn about some of these rare vinyl records you can try to add to your collection.