Favorite music genres: Soul, Gospel, Reggae, Afrobeats, Neo-Soul, and Jazz
Favorite musicians: Cleo Sol, Michael Jackson, Stevie Wonder, Dennis Brown, D’Angelo, Sarah Vaughan, Curtis Mayfield, SAULT, Solange, Lauryn Hill, Donny Hathaway (clearly, I can’t choose a favorite because I love them all!)
About me: I’m a children’s book author, non-profit founder, and soon-to-be pediatrician!
Q&A:
When did you start collecting and why? Also, what was the first record ever in your vinyl collection?
I started collecting vinyl when I was about 11 years old (circa 2008)! I was that curious kid who loved digging through my grandparents’ old stored-away items in the basement. When I came across their boxes of records, I felt like I discovered a box of treasure! I think it was the unique album covers that intrigued me first and then knowing that each one was an intentionally pressed disc of music was an added bonus.
I’ve always been an old soul in every sense of the word. I started collecting because there’s always been something special and intentional to me about the fact that music is pressed in the grooves of each record. Getting the opportunity to listen to and appreciate music in its most raw form, uninterrupted by digital distractions is such a simple rarity in the world we live in. I collect for nostalgia and appreciation of music, but I also collect for the statement that each artist makes with the art they put out; the music and the intention behind the album covers.
I can’t remember my first record in my collection because my first records were ones that I found in my grandparents’ and parents’ collections, but I do remember the handful of records that were special to me in those early years. They were: Michael Jackson’s Thriller and Off the Wall, Stevie Wonder’s The Secret Life of Plants, A Taste of Honey’s self-titled album, and Sade’s Diamond Life album.
What are some of your favorite records that were passed down to you from family?
My Bob Marley records are really special to me because I have double copies of a few Bob Marley records that belonged in both my mom and dad’s collections. I always love thinking about the fact that at some point in their lives, before ever knowing each other, my mom and dad shared a common love for particular music and had the same albums in their respective collections. I think it’s beautiful that the two came together and were able to pass that music on to me. Love brought them together and a love for similar music can kind of be seen as a soundtrack for their relationship.
I can look at my mom’s copy of Natty Dread and then look at my dad’s and see the visible difference in how worn the cover of his copy is. It tells me how much that album meant to him and how, at one point, he kept that record on repeat. Likewise, my mom’s copy of Babylon by Bus is a bit more worn than my dad’s copy. And that tells me how much that record may have meant to her. I also love that I have almost every Earth, Wind, and Fire album and that each one came from my mom’s collection. In contrast, every BeeGees record that I own came from my dad’s collection. The unique tastes in music are like tracing genes in a family tree to understand what shaped your own musical taste.
For me, it’s the stories behind the records in my collection that hold the most value. The rarity of a record is cool for any collector, but the story? The story behind each one holds way more value to me. I can usually remember who or where each record came from and that’s what makes it so special.
What vinyl record contains one of your most fondest memories?
Michael Jackson’s Off the Wall holds my fondest memories from my childhood. I was a HUGE Michael Jackson fan as a kid (and still am). I think there must have been a point in my childhood where MJ was practically all I listened to. I would watch every music video, every behind the scenes, every interview, performance, concert, and just really take in the fullness of his artistry. But even beyond that, I really got to understand a sense of who Michael Jackson was as a human. I feel like he was such a rare gem with such a beautiful heart.
Off the Wall represents a pivotal time in both MJ’s life and in my own. It was Michael’s sixth solo project that would set off the domino effect of his musical trifecta: Off the Wall, Thriller, and Bad. It was the album where he was finally coming into his own, exploring, and defining himself and his voice. At the time that I was listening to Off the Wall, I was experiencing a lot of bullying at school. It’s hard to explain, but Off the Wall was an album that brought me so much joy during that time.
What have you been spinning lately?
I’ve been spinning a lot of Solange, Stevie Wonder, and Earth, Wind, and Fire lately.
Favorite places to crate dig and buy vinyl records?
Peoples Records in Detroit is my absolute favorite record shop in the entire world. I’ve been to many record shops, but no one beats the record shop in my hometown. The curation, the intentional photos and artifacts on the walls, the people . . . it’s the best place ever with such a great vibe. It’s one of my happy and sacred places, so if I’ve ever taken someone there, it really means something. I don’t do too much record shopping online, but when I do, I really love Discogs.
What’s on your wishlist for 2025?
I have so many oldies but I think I’m lacking in the newer and more contemporary artists. I’ve been dreaming of adding D’Angelo’s Brown Sugar (I know, I ought to have this one already), Nas’ Illmatic, Kendrick Lamar’s To Pimp a Butterfly, and Cleo Sol’s Mother.
Favorite album art of all time?
That’s such a tricky one! I think it changes for me all the time. Right now, I really love the album art of Diana Ross’ Ross album. For me, it screams Black excellence, beauty, simplicity, and grace. I also really love the intention behind Bob Marley’s Survival album. Neville Garrick was the artist and designer behind most of Bob’s album covers and the Survival album is a powerful depiction that makes a statement about Pan-Africanism, unification across the diaspora, liberation, revolution, the global struggles of Black people, and our triumph in the face of it all. On it, you’ll see various flags of African countries with the title Survival printed over the image of a schematic of the stowage compartment of a typical transatlantic slave ship. It’s an album cover that has remained powerful even 46 years later. The cover is as defiant, revolutionary, and powerful as the music.
How do you decorate your space as a vinyl collector? Any favorite ways to display or store your records?
Back in the day (lol) when I first started collecting as an 11-year-old, I used to have most of my records hanging up, corner-to-corner, on my bedroom wall. They were everywhere. As an adult, I’ve moved away from displaying my records on the wall and instead keep a single album displayed on my shelf at a time. I keep the record on display rotating depending on my mood, the album art, or what I’m listening to.
My records are all stored in an 8-cube storage shelf and are currently organized by genre. My overall set-up is bright, colorful, and full of items that represent me: a vintage 1970s Polaroid camera that once belonged to my dad, magnets and a Billie Holiday postcard from one of my best friends who visited Berlin, Germany, vinyl cut-out art that was gifted to me from my sister’s boyfriend who visited a vinyl artist in South Africa, my lego Jazz quartet, disco ball ornaments, postcards featuring colorful Black art, and, of course, my House of Marley turntable and speaker.
Any tips, hacks, or advice for fellow record collectors?
If you’re interested in starting a record collection, go for it. If you’re a new collector, never worry about the numbers. Ever. I’ve been collecting records for 17 years and still don’t have as many records as others who maybe started collecting a few years ago. And that’s okay. Collecting isn’t a competition, it’s a journey and should be a community. There are so many factors that go into your own collection: access to family collections, personal funds (I’ve been in school for forever as a training doctor, so having funds hasn’t always been my portion lol), proximity to record shops, etc.
Take your time, curate your own vibe, be proud of the pieces you have, and cherish the stories behind each one. I promise you, being able to cherish the stories and be intentional about what is in your collection versus how many records you have in your collection will take you far. And when you think about the legacy of your collection and who you may pass it on to, those stories are the ones that will be most special and powerful. The beauty of collecting is that it’s completely personal. There is no wrong or right way to collect records. This is for you and by you. Own that.
Random hack: don’t sleep on 45s! Don’t sleep! You can find some gems in those boxes of sleeveless 45s.
What does music and record collecting mean to you?
Music is healing. I genuinely thank God for the gift of music and His allowing it to speak to the very soul of who we are as humans. Whether it be the soul-moving sounds of a choir at church or the groove of a classic soul tune, music is transformative for me. I’m a follower of Christ, and I always say that one of the ways I feel that He speaks to me is through music. It’s definitely an intimate love language.
For me, collecting records is an art. Every stage of the process is art: from the crate digging, to the storage in your space, to playing the music itself. It’s collecting and preserving music in its most raw and tangible form. It’s also collecting family stories, bonds, and tapping into the multifaceted aspects of my culture. It’s exploring new worlds through sound. It’s also a community, which is something that I’ve enjoyed growing in over the past year.
***Wow! Collectors like future Dr. Lyndsay keep the culture alive and exciting! Her unique way of blending family history with vinyl creates a perfect mix of nostalgia, passion, and knowledge in every post. Follow her amazing collection and journey on IG @lynds.jpeg. Want to be featured next? Follow us on Instagram and stay tuned!
