Every Record Collection Has An Origin Story

Prologue to the first 'First Pressing' / Issue #000

Like many record collectors, my love for vinyl records started by inheriting my father and mother’s collection. Having emigrated from El Salvador and Cuba to America in the 60s & 70s respectively, my parents’ music collection was a beautiful hodgepodge of Latin music from their cultural roots and pop/rock/soul from their current home in America. From Willie Colón y Rubén Blades to Led Zeppelin, Diana Ross, and Marvin Gaye, their collection was a vast sonic spectrum stored in three blue crates. Unfortunately, my parents’ record player broke before I was born, and as CDs had become all the rage, they tucked their records away in the garage, where they stayed for the next 25 years.

mayra y sal, my parents

Despite the absence of vinyl, we were very much a musical household. With their stand-up floor speakers, Yamaha Receiver, and state-of-the-art (for the 80s) CD player, my parents shared the world through music. Mornings before middle school were an education into the 95.5 KLOS classic rock bands of their past and the 106.7 KROQ alternative rock bands of my present. Weekends were reserved exclusively for KXLU’s 88.9 show Alma del Barrio featuring the very best in Latin music. Any party we hosted or attended was soundtracked by similar salsa music, which would inevitably inspire a jam session among the adults since my dad owned an array of instruments. My parents, who met each other at their place of work - Los Angeles jewelry district business Latin Gold - also seemingly moonlighted as teachers at the self-established Ranero-Alvarenga School of Music.

I learned a lot.

the party never got started until the conga came out

When my father Sal suddenly passed away 10 years ago, I felt like the ground was taken out from under me, like a magician trying to perform that trick where they pull the tablecloth out from under a table setting, except all the plates and candelabras and everything else just comes crashing down. I miss conversations with my father, especially about music. He was a walking encyclopedia that kept absorbing knowledge. He had an insatiable desire to learn. A forever student and a great teacher.

my favorite photo of my father and me

I had a hard time trying to find the perfect song to play at his service. “How can I select only one song to encapsulate his entire life?” Looking for inspiration, I dug through his CD collection and was quickly reminded how obsessive compulsive he was when it came to his music. On pieces of paper taped to the CD cases, he had written his favorite songs from each album.

There were hundreds of these CDs.

It felt like he was curating his own soundtrack, communicating through these songs. After reviewing each CD and listening to the songs that compiled “Sal’s Greatest Hits,” I landed on three songs:

• “That’s The Way of the World” by Earth Wind and Fire

• “Europa” by Gato Barbieri

• “In My Life” by Jose Feliciano

After all, how could I select just one song to encapsulate his whole life? He had lived an entire music library’s worth.

Months later, as I was packing boxes to embark on the next chapter of my life and live on my own, I ventured into the family garage in search of mementos and heirlooms, which led to the discovery of my parent’s very dusty record collection. It was like finding treasure. Typical Sal, he had written, on pieces of paper stuffed inside the record sleeves, his favorite tracks. My mother had labeled her albums, too, with her elegant cursive signature. So many artists, songs, and albums that I had never heard of. I’ll remember this moment as not only the first time I truly connected with vinyl records but also an unforgettable moment of connecting with my parents. My first pressing. Now, my father and I had the chance to keep our conversations going through his music. Ten years and thousands of records later, we’re still talking.

Kadrian, what’s a first pressing?

A first pressing is the initial run of printed copies of a vinyl record. First pressings are often considered more valuable and collectible among vinyl enthusiasts for several reasons. Firstly, they may have unique features, such as different cover artwork, label designs, or even variations in the vinyl color. Secondly, the sound quality of a first pressing is often highly regarded by collectors, as it is pressed directly from the original master tapes, resulting in potentially better audio fidelity compared to later pressings made from copies of the original. On the flip side, they can also have the worst sound quality as it is pressed from archaic technology and subsequent reissues have better sound quality. All subsequent pressings are modeled after the first press. Wondering if your vinyl is a first pressing? Here’s how to know.

So, Kadrian, what’s First Pressing?

Similarly, the first time I listen to a record also holds the most value for me. The discovery of music and its impact on us is a strange and wonderful thing. It’s this “first pressing” of music in which I’m keenly interested, and what makes the vinyl listening and record collecting experience so memorable. The moment I rediscovered my parents’ record collection sparked a new life force for me. Through vinyl records, record collecting has become a way for me to discover, to play, to explore, to experiment, to be creative, and to connect with musicians, communities, and individuals. Records can take me back to specific moments of my life, create new ones, and launch me forward.

I know that many others out there share the same sentiment, excitement, and passion for record collecting, so I was inspired to create this Substack - First Pressing - a newsletter exploring music through record collecting. You don’t have to be a record collector to enjoy this newsletter. While my chosen medium of listening is through the vinyl record, you can listen however you want.

Here’s what you can expect from First Pressing (subject to change of course):

• A (bi)weekly Sunday newsletter that will highlight one album to listen to (preferably on a record player) and some words on why

• Recommendations across a vast array of other mediums (film, art, events, books, podcasts, etc.) connected to the album

• Vinyl 101 a.k.a. things related to the record listening experience for beginners, newbies, or those in need of a refresh

• One featured record store

• A playlist for your next seven days

• And more!

Oh, and for the time being, it’s going to be FREE to all subscribers.

Stick Around

I hope you’ve enjoyed the pilot test for First Pressing. In the next post, I’m diving deep into an album that sparked a rabbit hole down into Latin music along with a healthy dose of recommendations. So stick around, hit that subscribe button below, and tell a friend.

Until next time, happy spinning :)

Kadrian

P.S. This also isn’t going to be just me talking. It goes both ways. I want to hear from you! Got recommendations? Have something we should listen to on this fine Sunday? Or maybe let’s start with today’s question:

What’s the origin story of your record collection?