Throughout the 20th century, the record player and the discs it spun signified more than just a machine and its components. These were permanent fixtures in family homes, a catalyst for teenage rebellion, a centrepiece for creative expression, and, eventually, a symbol of identity. 

For the average music enthusiast, the format of the contemporary LP isn’t likely to be a subject given much thought once the needle touches
down on a spinning record.  Let's take a look at why we spin at 331/3. 

Before the digital age, when playlists, streaming, and the idea of downloadable music were but a distant fantasy, music was a physical thing, etched into surfaces, spun into life, and played through polished horns...