The vinyl, long-playing (LP) record evolved from an original recording method invented by Thomas Alva Edison, who first recorded sound in 1877. Sounds produce vibrations in the air molecules, which conduct waves to the eardrums, where the vibrations are detected and transmitted via nerves to the brain. To record sounds, a device is needed to capture the air vibrations and convert them into a form that can be stored on a master disc, which can then be copied for duplication and mass production.

Peter Carl Goldmark's LP records contained up to 350 V-shaped grooves per inch. The grooves contained tiny hills and valleys that represented the sound waves recorded on the disc. As a sharp diamond or sapphire needle (or stylus) followed the groove around the record, it produced vibrations that were converted into electrical signals. Since the output signals were very weak, an amplifier was needed to magnify the signal to make the recorded sounds audible. Goldmark's LPs were made of soft, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), which was pressed between two hot molds that contained the original master recording to produce the copy. It took about twenty-five seconds to stamp each record.

Records were protected in a thin cardboard case, or album, which usually featured colorful and detailed artwork on the cover. Long after the popularity of LPs declined, vinyl records were still sought by collectors.

By providing thousands of artists with the means to record their songs, Goldmark's long-playing records became a worldwide industry and popular form of entertainment. Compared to early records, his lightweight, vinyl discs reduced shipping and storage costs, resulting in huge savings for consumers, producers, and retailers. By the 1970's, annual sales of LP records in the United States were over a quarter million. LP records had an enormous impact on the economy, creating many jobs and opportunities for people in the entertainment and arts industries.

From the mid-1950's and beyond, record players or stereos were purchased by millions of families and, together with television sets, introduced the electronics revolution to consumers around the world.

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