Music Moments

How to Start, Build & Preserve a Vinyl Collection

Your record collection provides the soundtrack to your life, and if you take good care, it will last forever. If you have some vinyl already, maybe you want to expand on it to complete a discography for some of your favorite artists.

Vinyl record collection in front of Wrensilva record console.

If you’re ready to get serious about building your vinyl collection, use these core tenets to guide you: your music taste and preferences, must-haves, and diversity. Of course your collection will speak to what you like. A well rounded collection will also weave in those classic records that stand the test of time. Albums like The Beach Boys Pet Sounds and Fleetwood Mac's Rumours are record collection tent poles, alongside more contemporary, but just as influential, Radiohead's Kid A and Public Enemy’s It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back.

  • The crackle of vinyl has the power to elevate even the simplest of moments—morning coffee, a slow evening by the fire, or the gentle rhythm of snowfall outside your window. With this in mind, we’ve handpicked a collection of albums designed to complement the season, each offering a distinct kind of coziness when played through a Wrensilva.

  • Miles Davis – In a Silent Way (1969)

    Envelops listeners in a warm, hypnotic blend of ambient jazz fusion.

  • FKJ - Just Piano (2021)

    A minimalist masterpiece of gentle, improvised piano compositions that flows calmly. Ideal backdrop for slow evenings spent curled up indoors.

  • Junip - Fields (2010)

    Earthy folk melodies with dreamy, synth-infused textures, carried by José González's serene vocals.

  • Arthur Verocai – Arthur Verocai (1972)

    Lazy morning jazz out of Brazil. A legendary album that deeply influenced hip-hop sampling.

  • Bon Iver – Bon Iver (2011)

    A sonic tapestry, layered with intricate harmonies and lush instrumentation, that is both intimate and expansive, evoking a sense of longing and nostalgia.

  • Weyes Blood - And In The Darkness, Hearts Aglow (2022)

    Creates an atmosphere of wonder with its blended genres and soothing vocals.

  • Each of these selections was chosen for its ability to transport, soothe, and enrich your winter rituals. Sit back, relax, and enjoy the luxury of slowing down.

Joan Jett Bad Reputation album cover.

Identify Your Music Preferences

Your music preference doesn’t have to be just one lane. In fact, it’s more fun when it spans a music highway that has as many lanes as there are genres. If you’re drawn to riot grrrl bands like Bikini Kill, learn about their influences like Joan Jett, The Slits, and Kim Deal, and add those records into your vinyl collection mix.Music cues in a TV show or film might spark an interest in a genre you hadn’t considered. Eddie Munson shredding to Metallica’s “Master of Puppets” in the Upside Down on Stranger Things brought out the metalhead in unsuspecting viewers.If your desert island disc list starts and ends with Prince, think about his Mick Jagger swagger, James Brown dance moves, Sly Stone funk and Todd Rundgren pop versatility. It’s all in the music. Let your favorite records take you on a journey of discovery.

Tom waits rain dogs cover

Must-Have Albums

Rolling Stone’s 500 Greatest Albums of All Time is a great list to reference for must-haves. It’s nearly impossible to narrow down to just a handful, but we tried and included a couple that Rolling Stone forgot. Here are 10 that the team at Wrensilva always has in the deck pocket: Aretha Franklin, Lady Soula, David Bowie, Hunky Dory, Willie Nelson, Red Headed Stranger, John Coltrane, A Love Supreme, Beastie Boys, Paul’s Boutique.

Joni Mitchell, Blue De La Soul, Three Feet High, and Rising Robert Johnson, King of the Delta Blues Singers, Pixies, Surfer Rosa*, Tom Waits, Rain Dogs.

Black Flag Damaged cover

Building a Diverse CollectionYour music sweet spot might be hip-hop, metal or electronic, but don’t short change your collection by leaving out some of the greats from other genres. Check out classic 50s crooners, outlaw country, jazz, and South Bay punk. The artists that you follow very likely have these in their own collections.Frank SintraThe Wee Small HoursWillie NelsonRed Headed StrangerJohn ColtraneGiant StepsBlack FlagDamaged

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