Yesterday, we put a Françoise Hardy album on the record player, and turned it up loud while we worked with the kids to clean the family room. As we tidied up, I reflected on the unexpected benefits the record player brought to our house and talked with Ben Blair about how it might be the best teen gift we’ve ever given.
A few years ago, it was originally given to Ralph for Christmas. While he’s been out of the country this past year, the record player has been moving around a bit. First, Olive “adopted” it for awhile, and more recently, it was moved to the family room so we could all enjoy it.
There are 3 main reasons why I think it’s the best teen gift ever and that every teen needs one:
3) It’s one of those gifts that makes future gift giving really easy. Not sure what your teen wants for her birthday? Problem solved: Simply add a new record to her collection. It’s an easy purchase (records are widely available both in-stores and online), records are available at all price ranges, and best of all, records are super cool and she’ll love it!
2) Record collecting, even casually, is a terrific way for teens to spend time. It gets them out of the house and exploring thrift stores, music shops, and garage sales. It’s easy to find bargains on old records (like $3 at Goodwill), which in turn makes it easy to explore new-t0-them music. Your son might pick up a used album based on a cool-looking cover, or maybe the vague name-recognition of the artist. If it turns out he doesn’t like the music? Oh well, it’s a very low risk purchase.
1) Generational bonding. This is my favorite reason, and the #1 reason why a teen should own a record player. And it’s something I didn’t even consider when we first bought one. Records are an amazing way for teens to bond with their grandparents. For me, it was all about cassette tapes through high school, then DVDs starting in college. But for my parents’ generation, it was all about records. In fact, in my house growing up, my parents always had a large collection of records — the first ones no doubt purchased when they were teens themselves. It’s an easy guess that records were a big part of growing up for anyone in the 60+ range.
And now, records are a really good way to connect with grandkids. Grandparents can gift a record from their own collection, or if the collection is long gone, they can track down old favorites online. They can teach grandkids how to use a record player, and bond over the agony of an unintentional scratch. They can send off a record for birthdays or holidays, and they also make a great anytime gift — hey, I just saw this album at my friend’s tag sale and thought of you!
The nice thing is, the date the music was originally made doesn’t seem to matter — kids seem to be open to a wide range of albums, across decades and genres. They’ll give it listen, and if it’s good, they’re into it.
I think it’s fantastic that record players have made a come back. For awhile there, they were hard to find, but these days there are tons of models available, and many start in the $40 range (much more affordable than a new phone!). These new models feel like a perfect blend of digital and analog — they often come with built-in speakers, USB ports and recording options — making it easy for kids to explore their DJ mixing skills.
Here are some of the best looking ones out there:
- JORLAI Belt-Drive 3-Speed Turntable Vintage Style Record Player with Built-in Stereo Speakers, Vinyl-To-MP3 Recording, Aux Input, RCA Output, Natural Wood — $69.99
- Jensen JTA-230 3 Speed Stereo Turntable with Built in Speakers — $41
- 1byone Belt-Drive 3-Speed Stereo Turntable with Built in Speakers, Supports Vinyl to MP3 Recording, USB MP3 Playback, and RCA Output, Natural Wood — $49.99
- Crosley CR6232A-BR Nomad Portable USB Turntable with Software for Ripping & Editing Audio, Brown —$134.99
- Victrola Modern 3-Speed Bluetooth Turntable with 50 Watt Speakers, available in 6 Colors — $83.99
- Pyle PLTTB3U Belt Drive USB Turntable With Recording & Digital Software — $96.41
- JORLAI Rechargeable 3-Speed Bluetooth Turntable with Built-in Stereo Speakers / Supports Vinyl-to-MP3 Recording / Headphone Jack / Aux Input /RCA Output, Turquoise — $67.99
- Sony PSHX500 Hi-Res USB Turntable, Black — $330
- Audio-Technica AT-LP120-USB Direct-Drive Professional Turntable in Silver — $299
- Crosley CR6233U-BK1 Dansette Sterling Portable Turntable with Aux-In, Available in 3 Colors — $164
Do you have a record player at your house? If yes, is it more for you? Or more for your kids? And did your parents have a record collection too? I’d love to hear.
Paige Flamm
October 12, 2017 at 12:06 pmMy brother has always loved record players because the sound is so much better. All of these options are so cute!
Paige
http://thehappyflammily.com
vermontmommy
October 12, 2017 at 1:38 pmMy parents have records but I don’t think they are listed to that much.
We have two crosely record players that we purchased from Amazon.
One is in our living room and was purchased for myself when I was lucky enough to get a few copies of my mom’s Carole King’s records. Our son loved it so much that he was gifted one as well. He loves going to thrift shops and old record stores to find old and new records. Often when traveling we visit record shops. Books and records are our things. :)
I have picked up a few of my favorite albums that I had on CD.
Emily
October 12, 2017 at 1:40 pmI’m totally buying this for my 10 year old for Christmas, along with a few Christmas albums (he’s a Buddy the Elf level Christmas fan). Perfect!
Caitlin
October 12, 2017 at 2:36 pmWith a 15 month-old, I feel like I should fast-forward to saying “Why buying a CD player the best teen gift ever” with all the same rationale! :)
SueB
October 12, 2017 at 3:04 pmForget connecting with grandparents … I had my last child at age 43, so this would be a great way to connect with ME!! :)
LE95125
December 18, 2017 at 6:36 pmOMG that is soooo me! My14 year old wants a record player and I’m flashing back to my first albums from Styx, theCars, Yes. Sigh
Frank
October 12, 2017 at 4:35 pmMy favorite Christmas gift of all time was a Westinghouse phonograph i received in 1963, just seven weeks before the Beatles appeared on the Ed Sullivan Show for the first time.
I guess you can figure out what folloeed.
Andy
October 12, 2017 at 5:43 pmI’ve been collecting for 20+ years and of my 4 kids (ages 23, 19, 18 and 10) only my 10 year old loves record player’s and records. She has a record player of her own and a small collection of records. She has most of the beatles collection (doubles I’ve given her) she love buddy holly, the Irish rovers prince (my all time favorite) she absolutely adores both gaurdians of the galaxy soundtracks and (for some reason) loves Jimmy Buffet (to name a few) I’m pretty sure my youngest daughter will be the only one who wants my collection when I die. And if for some reason one of the 3 older kids try to take it I’m sure she’ll fist fight them for it😂😂😂😂
ME
October 12, 2017 at 7:51 pmAs a small child, my mom had this one in the living room: http://www.antiqueradios.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=215792
I’m not sure when my parents listened to music, they had a small record collection but I never remember anyone but us kids playing anything on it. Also, I remember later asking my parents about the Beatles, since that happened when they were in college, and they both kind of gave me blank looks. My dad was tone deaf, my mom was musical but ashamed of her more tenor-than-alto voice, so music wasn’t a thing in our house other than we all took piano lessons.
I had a Fisher-Price version as a kid, it got a lot of use. Sometimes it was just to put stuff on the record player and turn it on, watch it fly off. Sometimes it was to turn the record on the wrong RPM setting. Silly kids! I remember my CD player being the big thing when I got one in high school. I have fond memories of that huge stereo/record player of my parents’ though!
Melissa Yoder
October 12, 2017 at 10:43 pmWe just got one from my brother! I love the oldies, grew up with them (even though I was born in 1981) so I was super excited when the first record he found at a thrift store was from The Beach Boys. ♥♥♥
My ballet teacher used to use a record player for all our music during class. That’s another fond memory.
Grania
October 13, 2017 at 5:11 amYou make me feel old :-)) Grandparents generation – not yet……My best teen present with 14 in 1977 was a record player complete with speakers! And our favorite hangout in town was the record store listening with the ceiling attached headphones to various records. We still use my husband’s record player which he purchased in 1980!
Sandra
October 13, 2017 at 5:11 amNot just for teens! :) Check out my “BYFA” (Bring your favorite album) party for adults. :) Happy Friday!
partyyes.blogspot.com
Beth
October 13, 2017 at 5:19 amI got one for Christmas a couple of years ago (when I was in college), and my parents gave my brother a larger combined one (that also plays CDs and cassettes) when he was in high school. Neither get used a ton but it was really fun for me to go through all the records my grandparents had stored in their basement with one of my uncles who had been very into records growing up. He went through them all with me and helped me pick out the ones that he thought I’d like. My uncle lives far away and I don’t get to see him often, so it was a special moment. And it is cool to see the music my mom, aunt, and two uncles liked as well as my grandparents (who are in their mid-80s).
Amy3
October 13, 2017 at 11:29 amThis post makes me nostalgic for the record collection my husband and I had, which we sold as a single lot to a record store when my husband was in school and we really needed money (not that we got that much). In truth, we wouldn’t have room for them now anyway, but it would be fun to listen to them again.
We had one of those big console stereos when I was growing up. It filled up the whole corner of our living room!
Gretchen Alice
October 13, 2017 at 11:30 amMy parents sold their record player at a yard sale while I was away at college and I was FURIOUS when I found out. I had been planning on stealing it for myself! :)
Heidi
October 13, 2017 at 2:46 pmMusic seems less tangible for little kids these days. We used to play cassette tapes, records, my Dad even had an 8 track player in his car. I am struggling to find ways for my 2 and 4 year old to play and pick music by themselves since most of our music is on I-tunes. Any suggestions on what other folks do are much appreciated.
Beast Fremont
October 13, 2017 at 4:25 pmSome well known inexpensive turntables you forgot to mention are the Numark PT01USB or PT01Scratch.
An additional possibly unknown (to most) trend with inexpensive turntables is the Portablism scene. This takes portable turntables & with the addition of a pocket cross fader & 7″ scratch records (also relatively inexpensive), allows for one to learn/practice scratching DJ style. Advanced users begin modifying their turntables & learning valuable skills about electronics & audio to boot. Definitely cool for a teen and within the scene, the impetus is to get OUTSIDE with the turntable to make scratch videos & whatnot for social media making it an outdoor AND online social experience with a thread of friendly competition to be shared with others.
Karin
October 15, 2017 at 1:34 pmyes! but it applies for tweens and younger too! (Our Free to Be You And Me album is currently getting a ton of play by my 7 year old. So much so that I am on the hunt for a new copy! And oh, the Nutcracker records!) We love this more analog music choice, and the kids love the act of putting them on, starting them up, flipping them over. We have player number 3 on your list, and it’s taken a good beating and kept on going. And we don’t worry much about them using it, because replacing it (and our thrift store records) is painless. The best part, though, was finding a cool old record cabinet and making it the centerpiece of our living room. No one even notices the tv, with that cool teaK MCM record cabinet (which we got practically for free) sitting there in the corner. :)
Awfulknitter
October 16, 2017 at 6:56 amI used to go out for hours on end, scouring shops for second-hand records! I loved it, and I found some great stuff, but I have to say, it also made me realised how much of pop music is discarded and forgotten.
Daniel
October 11, 2018 at 11:49 pmWonderful article, thanks!
Certainly, it is really generational bonding. I haven’t talked to my father for twelve years, and when I’ve inherited his vinyls, I’ve listened to them. He always was a moody person, but he had such a wonderful taste for music, and this helped me to understand him better.