50 Vintage Photos of People Listening to Records - A Love Letter to the Turntable

There's a very specific kind of magic that happens when a record starts to play - that soft crackle before the first note, the slight wobble of the needle finding its groove, and the feeling that the world just slows down for a bit.

These 50 vintage photos curated by Imgur user FAUST44 capture that magic perfectly - people sitting cross-legged on shag carpets, stacks of vinyl by their sides, lost somewhere between the hum of the speakers and the rhythm in their hearts. Looking at them feels like flipping through a collective memory.

I grew up sitting on the living room carpet doing exactly that - first with my parents' old records, everything from Simon & Garfunkel to Fleetwood Mac. Later came my collection: punk-rock anthems, noisy grunge, then eventually drum and bass that probably drove the neighbors insane. Then, like everyone else, I traded it all for shiny CDs that promised "perfect sound forever." Spoiler: it wasn't forever.

A few years ago, my wife and I bought a record player again. Now our kids sometimes sit on the living room floor, flipping through vinyl, asking why the songs sound "warmer." I tell them it's not just the sound - it's the ritual. The patience. The pause before the music begins.

01
1924, New York City

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02
Tom Petty at home in Encino, CA, 1977

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03
1955, displaying his favorite albums

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04
1964 - Album collection spread out

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05
Love that unique album rack. 1970s

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06
Frank Sinatra at home with his giant LP record, Toluca Lake, CA, 1945

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07
1973, there are better choices on the floor

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08
I don't think she is actually holding that record

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09
Joanie Labine, the first female DJ at the Whisky a Go-Go, California, 1964

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10
Actress Natalie Wood, late 1950s

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11
Suave French guy and his tiny record player, early 70s

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12
Frenzy at the 10-cent-singles counter at Tower Records, Sacramento, CA, 1962

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13
Girl with Springsteen's 1986 live album

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14
Mohammed Ali using the odd in-car record player, 1959

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15
Stax Records sales meeting, 1969

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16
Rhino Records, 8-tracks and LPs, Westwood, CA, 1977

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17
It's a great image, but sand on the record/turntable is no bueno

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18
Paul McCartney looks at the back of the Stones Aftermath album, 1966

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19
Robert Plant with his albums, circa 1989

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20
The nightclub worker after her shift, 1960s

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21
Family with their gramaphone, 1905

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22
1970s with shag carpeting

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23
The latest LPs arriving at Tower Records, Los Angeles, 1978

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24
Circa 1948

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25
Curlers and 45s, 1966

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26
The setup, 1979

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27
1970s DJ

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28
Disco Gold, 1977

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29
1972, nice platforms!

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30
1953 girls, smoking, reading, and listening

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31
Fill Your Head With Rock, 1970

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32
Specials, circa 1980

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33
Rock Hudson at home in Hollywood, 1952

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34
Gramophone concert on the farm, Sweden, 1922 (photo by John Alinder)

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35
More shag carpet, 1977

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36
This won't end well. 1950s

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37
Record factory, 1969 (photo by Michael Rougier)

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38
Marilyn Monroe reads a script, 1952

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39
Steve McQueen at home in Palm Springs, CA, 1963 (photo by John Dominis)

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40
Opening of Peaches record store in Cleveland, OH - John Travolta as celebrity guest! 1976

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41
The ageless Dick Clark, 1958

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42
Park Jam # 1 - 144th Street and 3rd Avenue, Bronx, NYC, 1982 (photo by Henry Chalfant)

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43
Park Jam # 2 - G-Man and Darryl Knight preparing for the party!

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44
Georgie Fame (English R&B and jazz musician) at home, 1965

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45
8 kids listening to one record player, Early 1970s

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46
Lady and her records,1960s

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47
The Kinks with their first album, 1964

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48
Ted Carroll, co-founder of Ace Records, London, England, 1977

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49
Springsteen fans waiting to buy concert tickets at Tower Records, NYC, 1985

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50
Marlon Brando playing records with his cat, 1955

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