Gramophone record is a term used to describe vinyl records, a type of music storage medium that was popular between the 1950s and 1990s. The spelling of this word is notable for the combination of the silent letter "h" in "gramophone" and the unique spelling of "record." The IPA phonetic transcription for "gramophone record" is /ˈɡræməfəʊn ˈrɛkɔːd/ where the stress is on the first syllable of both words. The spelling of the word remains a reflection of the history and evolution of the music industry.
A gramophone record, often referred to simply as a record, is an analog sound storage medium that was widely used for playback of music, speech, and other audio recordings during the 20th century. Developed in the late 19th century, this iconic audio format became popular worldwide, leading to the establishment of the music industry as we know it today.
Gramophone records consist of a flat, circular disc made of durable and grooved materials, such as vinyl or shellac. These discs, commonly known as vinyl records, were imprinted with spiral grooves that carried recorded sounds. In order to reproduce the audio, a mechanical pickup called a stylus is guided along these grooves, converting the physical grooves into electrical signals that can be amplified and heard through speakers.
Typically played on a gramophone or record player, the gramophone record revolutionized the way music and audio were experienced. With the advent of the LP (long-playing) format, records could store more audio and produce higher fidelity sound. They could be played repeatedly and even collected as cherished items.
Although gramophone records have largely been replaced by digital audio formats such as CDs and streaming services, they remain highly regarded by audiophiles and collectors for their unique sound quality and nostalgic appeal. Today, gramophone records maintain a niche market and are still produced, particularly for genres like hip hop and alternative music.
The word "gramophone" is derived from two Greek words: "gramma", meaning "letter" or "writing", and "phone", meaning "sound" or "voice". It was coined by the inventor of the gramophone, Emile Berliner, in the late 19th century. The term "record" comes from the Latin word "recordari", which means "to remember, recall, or mention". These two words combined to form "gramophone record", referring to a device that reproduces and remembers sound through a disc or record.