BBC Rewind: The fall and rise of vinyl records

In the postwar era, vinyl records – singles or albums – reigned supreme until the rise of rival technologies. But after years of decline, vinyl records are making a comeback, with sales now at their highest for 26 years.

Saturday 16 April is Record Store Day, a movement which started in the US nine years ago as a means of supporting independent retailers and spearheading the vinyl revival.

This year’s event will be the biggest so far, with 230 stores taking part across the UK.

BBC Rewind takes a look back at the fall and rise of the record.

Looking for vinyl? Rarities, imports, reissues, new releases and more at eil.com

Shop for these and other rare vinyl records on RareVinyl.com

Got vinyl records or a Record Collection to sell? Sell to Vinyl-Wanted.com

Google Reviews

eil.com (Esprit Rare Vinyl Records)

4.9

Chris Barlow

15:21 20 Apr 21

Great record just as described. Quick delivery. Excellent customer service.

Tony Armstrong

14:52 29 Mar 21

Ordered in September 2020, Delivered in February 2021. Well, the good news was the second shipment arrived safely.... Also, once contested oil was on it and responsive. I can only conclude the time it took to arrive was due to the British postal service. But, "Hats" off to Eli, they worked with my through it all and I got my shipment in the end. Sometimes it takes adversity to show you the Tre mettle of the company's responsiveness, Eli.com did great.read more

David Prichard

11:43 29 Mar 21

The best place to buy original release year of your favorite albums. All the albums I have purchased are Mint... Condition. I live in the US and it takes about a month to get to me because of customs but worth the wait. This is the only place that I get my albums from.read more

Rob Whitmarsh

11:14 29 Dec 20

Absolutely superb. I couldn't believe just how fast my item arrived. I ordered it during my lunch break at work and it... arrived safely at my home address the very next day. My signed item also came with very good provenance (a pass for a signing session that is well documented to have happened), so I absolutely know that it's 100% genuine. I've used Eil.com (Esprit) before and I will definitely be using them again in the future. A very good experience indeed.read more

Andrew H

11:52 20 Dec 20

Bought factory sealed copy of the Sunhouse album - exactly as described and arrived very quickly. Easy ordering process... and a great price - very pleased, thank you! Would recommend this site and definitely use again. Great place to find stuff you can't find elsewhere!read more

Neil Mallett

09:06 16 Nov 20

No problems with this company. I ordered a 12" Vinyl record which I'd been looking for for many years. It came with... very good packaging & is in as good condition as it would've been if I had bought it on release & it for years and I look after my record collection very well. So, I was very pleased to to add another prime cut to my collection. I'm very happy with my purchase & would heartily recommend this company to anyone interested in adding to their collection.read more

Jeff Louis

21:59 15 Nov 20

Excellent Seller. Highly Recommend. I completed an international transaction with Esprit Vinyl Records and it was a... great experience from start to finish. Their customer service was both courteous and extremely helpful. They provided detailed photographs prior to purchase to confirm record condition of both vinyl and sleeve. After completing the purchase, my record arrived extremely quick and was packaged exceptional well to ensure my record arrived to the US with no damage. The record exceeded my expectations and was in pristine condition as described. I would purchase from them again and recommend to all record collectors who demand exceptional quality. Thanks.read more

Ariell Choy

11:27 02 Nov 20

My vinyl arrived in perfect condition and plays exceptionally well. I would happily buy from Esprit Rare Vinyl Records... again and again! I am very happy with my purchase. The packaging of the vinyl was superb as well. The vinyl arrived quickly and promptly and the seller answered all of my queries in a professional and calm manner! Amazing customer service!read more

Stephen Jury

21:24 24 Oct 20

The best place for all things rare records. I’ve been dealing with eil for more than 20 years and have NEVER had a... bad experience. Items arrive extremely well packed and on time. Their descriptions of products are 100% accurate and are always available to answer questions before purchasing. Highly recommended if you are looking to expand your music collection.read more

Jim Bell

08:54 01 Oct 20

Excellent service as always. The vinyl and cover were in great condition just as described and the item was - for me -... actually tremendous value. The record was dispatched and received very swiftly. Good work guys and I’ll keep an eye out for another tempting deal from you.read more

richard crook

09:32 29 Sep 20

First order with eil.com. 10 percent off code worked instantly and the price was excellent compared to Ebay. Rapid... delivery and well packed. More importantly the item was completely as described. Will definitely be going back for more purchases.read more

Bri An

08:02 24 Sep 20

I've been a customer for just over two years and I'm well and truly hooked! I keep coming back because of the great... range of goodies and limited edition/rare vinyl. Reasonable prices and items are always as described. The staff are also friendly and helpful. I highly recommend this site. But beware, its addictive!! Thanks to all The Team.read more

Robert Hamilton

09:30 14 Sep 20

I had been looking for this LP for a while now to complete the CBS collection of Blue Öyster Cult albums. I'm really... happy I came across this site as the record and sleeve are in the condition as described. I definitely be using again.read more

Bo Thomas Sveistrup

06:21 14 Sep 20

Eil is always trustworthy. Used them for almost 20 years, with accurate description of items, and fast and safe... shipping to Norway.read more

North of the Danube

08:03 13 Sep 20

A little pricey but very good condition

Thomas Skarratt

01:02 11 Sep 20

Super 45 and Online Record Store! Thanks.

Jo Plant

22:52 10 Sep 20

Am a great fan of both ladies and EIL always delivers terrific music! Whitney and Janet that I never knew about are... always a pleasure!!!!read more

Mauri Tuomainen

07:12 08 Sep 20

I am very pleased with company eil.com. Vinyl records have been in that condition as promised. Deliveries have been... fast and safe. And finally they have a huge selection in stock.read more

Ani Banerjee

12:58 04 Sep 20

Absolutely incredible selection, product quality and service!!! I have been a customer for many years now and they... have always been the benchmark for rare, mint condition vinyl and so much more!!!read more

Eelco Bakker

06:30 04 Sep 20

Great service and quick postage! I live in The Netherlands and regularly order vinyl from eil.com. Orders are always... received correctly and well packaged!read more

Tony Price

13:30 01 Sep 20

Both vinyl records arrived within the promised delivery time. The covers were as new and unmarked. The records... themselves are in excellent condition. I would be very happy to purchase from this supplier again.read more

Robert DUJMOVIC

07:08 01 Sep 20

Surprising pieces of our memories appear on the list of available items, whatever I happen to thibk I'll never be able... to get, it pops up here. I'm still in love with the 80s music, and slowly but surely mu collection is growing thanks to this company. Even in this times of delayed mailing this system works quite well, I never waited too long for any parcel. Their quality is good, and my happiness, as a customer, is fully taken care of by both availability of items, their quality and price.read more

Phil Wardle

20:57 27 Aug 20

I received my CD album Strung Up by The Sweet within a few days of placing the order.The album was as stated ,unopened... and new.The packaging was first class and the whole experience from placing my original order to receiving it was hassle free and without any problems.Overall I am more than happy with the service and will purchase from them again.read more

Fernando Sánchez

11:25 25 Aug 20

Eil.com always offer good stuff. All records I have bought sounds terrific and the delivery is really fast. The records... arrive always well protected.read more

John Norton

08:14 23 Aug 20

As always eil.com are prompt in delivery and perfect in packaging. Much gratitude, Chris. Norton.

Mick Moore

07:22 23 Aug 20

Excellent service. Used quite a few times. Items well packaged and promptly delivered.

Ian Bowler

07:37 17 Aug 20

EIL as always deliver as promised. Vinyl as described, reasonably priced, professionally packaged and prompt delivery. ... Happy to recommend to other serious buyers.read more

thomas hemming

08:29 16 Aug 20

Great place to buy vinyl. Fast delivery and easy to use site. Records in great condition as described. Would recommend... this site to buy from.read more

Nigel Mitton

22:15 11 Aug 20

Goods arrived one month after ordering - this delay was expected due to COVID-19, which is impacting on everyone's... lives. Goods from eil are always as advertised, well packaged and well priced. Definitely returning for more :)read more

Abbie king

14:47 11 Aug 20

Really pleased with the record that I purchased. Quick delivery even during coronavirus which was really nice. Good... communication throughout and great prices. Excellent service.read more

nilda dovale

16:56 10 Aug 20

Considering the albums were coming from England, they came in pretty good time. They were in as good if not better... condition as expected, in other words, excellent condition. Thank you!read more

Alan Wright

09:20 05 Aug 20

Highly knowledgeable staff means that you can be sure of buying the precise item you need for your collection. Stock is... always well described, reliably excellent in condition, extremely well packaged and promptly dispatched. Always a pleasure to deal with.read more

Cathy Urquhart

16:08 03 Aug 20

Exactly what I ordered as advertised. Would definitely buy from them again. CD in great shape and I enjoy it almost... every day. Thank you.read more

Ken Dunsmuir

11:29 30 Jul 20

Always first class service. I usually check this site out when looking for vinyl. Good prices and well packaged so... never had any damaged albums.read more

Dan Maxim

11:33 29 Jul 20

This amazing album was at a bargain price so I couldn't resist buying it. It is a Zappa compiled collection of odds and... sods, all of which is interesting to the Zappa fanatic and some of which is musically sublime. As someone who has been a big fan for 30 years I am being regularly amazed at finding previously unheard music from this man.read more

Doyle GIlliam

07:13 27 Jul 20

Have purchased several records from eil.com and have never been disappointed. Everything I have gotten has been quality... merchandise in fantastic shape...will definitely continue to be a customer.read more

Thomas Barclay

10:44 26 Jul 20

Received kiss alive II vinyl. Perfect playback condition and packaged well. Speedy delivery. A1

Alan Morgan

10:29 26 Jul 20

Good arrive every time securely packed. This is a must when ordering vinyl. Have found that the covers are not always... as stated , in excellent condition , small niggle but has to be said.read more

Matthew MacKay

12:31 24 Jul 20

I've ordered many items from EIL. The product is always as described, and the shipping fast and bulletproof. If Canada... Post can't wreck a poster, you know the package is bulletproof! Any interaction has been friendly and positive. A perfect place to find goodies you cannot live without! :-)read more

Lennart Steiner

07:54 24 Jul 20

Fast delivery. Great customer service when I had some questions regarding shipment. Product as described.

Joe Newton

14:02 22 Jul 20

A really good experience, fun hunting through the website and a very comprehensive and diverse stock. My item arrived... early, that’s always good news.read more

Philly Bob Squires

07:40 21 Jul 20

Really cool to deal with! I received my record in great condition as described and with quick shipping as well!... Definitely will buy from them again!read more

Louis M

01:17 21 Jul 20

Great experience. My record was received on time and in pristine condition as it was described on the website. Would... definitely buy from EIL again.read more

Stephen paynter

20:34 20 Jul 20

I have always found EIL’s assessments & gradings validated when the records arrive in the mail, enveloped in their... quality cardboard mailers. I am an EIL repeat customer and will remain so. Many thanks!read more

Stephen Hewitt

13:27 20 Jul 20

I live in the States and ordered a couple of record I had as a teen. Unfortunately, when they arrived they had been... damaged in transit. I contacted EIL immediately with photos and one they replaced immediately and the other issued a full refund. They are so professional and I will definitely order from them again. I was apprehensive at first being in England but those fears are completely gone. Highly recommend them.read more

Don Sveahun

14:54 17 Jul 20

My album arrived very quick, in great condition. I would rank Esprit top notch

Paul Lloyd

17:04 15 Jul 20

Good price and good quality. Fast and efficient service. Thank you.

António A Mota

16:46 13 Jul 20

Excellent service, records exactly as described; very satisfied. I recommend. Maybe the best Vinyl Records Store in the... world.read more

Spiros Demas

11:14 10 Jul 20

Everything is as it should be when I order from eil.com. The description of the items is accurate and the packaging is... always right. I;m looking foeward to place more orders in the near future.read more

Roy Ferguson

06:55 07 Jul 20

Always a pleasure to deal with the people at eil.com. A great place to find vinyl and rarities you are looking for.... Fantastic service, and if there is ever a problem - they sort the issues out swiftly.read more

Tracey Greco

16:49 06 Jul 20

Perfect condition as promised. Considering we're in a covid19 situation I was pleasantly surprised to receive my... records the next day and very safely wrapped. I would use eil again.read more

Philip Mcloughlin

13:33 06 Jul 20

Never been disappointed with a purchase from Esprit & have picked up some rare vinyl to add to my collection. Always in... great condition with a quick response & speedy delivery. Fully recommend.read more

Rodrigo Roros

07:23 03 Jul 20

The product came as described and postage was extremely fast! Will buy with them again for sure! A+++

TDK

06:56 26 Jun 20

Website is a bit dated and prices are a little steep however it doesn't matter as these guys have all the juicy... rarities in superb quality! Highly trustworthy, will definitely be using them again for any rare vinyl purchases! Thanks fellas.read more

Hans Müller

15:52 23 Jun 20

eil.com is a very serious site on net and 100% of all orders have been very successful. Very fast delivery, well packed... and the info about the records is absolutly correct. Have never been disappointed! Top score!!!read more

John Fradley

14:14 21 Jun 20

I have purchased Vinyl and CD from eil for many years and I can honestly say that their quality of product and customer... service is first class. All items have been excellent or above and I have never had any problems with the company. They do what it says on the tin.read more

Andy Campbell

12:07 21 Jun 20

I have now started my record collection thanks to EIL. The quality of the records is excellent and as described. The... service is quick and each record is packed in its own sleeve. All very professional.read more

Phil Tennant

06:32 18 Jun 20

A superb site for vinyl enthusiasts like me. All the LP's come property packaged within a couple of days from initial... purchase. The quality of these records is so good that there is hardly any interference when played. The big sleeves that we all remember are all neat and tidy with hardly a blemish. Nice one eil. I'll keep ordering.read more

Rhys Wilson

09:41 16 Jun 20

Excellent service and delivery. Considering it’s age this album was in fabulous condition. Realistically it needed a... couple of deep cleaning runs on the Nitty Gritty machine to clear out some ‘crud’ but now it is silent and flawless. Excellent purchase.read more

Mr Taylor

08:29 06 Jun 20

Been buying of eil for a few years and cannot fault them. They are super responsive and great to deal with. I buy from... Australia and package always arrive on time and well wrapped, never had an issue. Would 100% recommend this company for all your record needs. They are the best!read more

Richard Cockerton

14:26 04 Jun 20

Always excellent service, whether you are buying (true ratings, fair pricing, well packaged and prompt dispatch) or... selling (fair price and free collection). Highly recommended.read more

Steve Bateman

10:36 04 Jun 20

Another superb Manic Street Preachers collectible. Thank You so much for your continued excellent service! A+

Duncan Bunce

10:58 31 May 20

Excellent service. I highly recommend eil.com to others. I received my CD very quickly, expertly packaged and I was... very happy with it! A+++++read more

Vincent Staplehurst

09:28 31 May 20

A great Service, from a company I have used and been very satisfied with before. The disc was sent out quickly and... in my hands in a couple of days. This was a Japanese Import and disc came sealed and in a new conditon with all the relevant bits and pieces. Awesome pieces of Music by two superb Musicians. What more can I say ... Excellentread more

Art Breyfogle

06:59 29 May 20

Yep, what I ordered showed up in a very reasonable amount of time considering it had to travel the Atlantic and the US... to reach me on the West Coast...Quality of the LP was excellent and the price more than fair...Pleased? Yeppers!read more

Joel McClure

04:41 24 May 20

I've made many purchases from EIL. Always find something, great selection, more every day. Very glad to have EIL as a... go to source for hard to find and quality vinyl priced competitively plus service is always excellent. Delivery to US is quick and reliable, can't wait for my next purchase !read more

James T

10:11 19 May 20

Order arrived promptly and just as described. Reasonable price for the condition of the LP too! A great first buying... experience. Thanks!read more

Saeah Brophy

11:46 12 May 20

Beautiful condition and plays superbly. The album was well packed and it arrived quickly. I have placed a number of... orders recently and have had a positive experience every time.read more

Mark Leadbeater

11:53 11 May 20

A really great service. Delivery was really quick especially during lock down. The LP was in great condition as per... the description. Would thoroughly recommendread more

Lee Asbury

13:51 10 May 20

Excellent service. Great condition as described.

Craig Larson

21:38 07 May 20

Always reliable, fast shipping, superb customer service. I have purchased a lot of records and have never been... disappointed. Highly recommended, without hesitation. As always, a very happy vinyl collector.read more

Perry Gould

13:17 05 May 20

Excellent seller of vinyl. Vinyl was as described and shipping was fast. Very good communication by seller. Would... definitely buy from again.read more

Michael Serna

17:17 01 May 20

Amazing records at fair prices. Super quick/safe shipping to the US. I'm going to throw way too much money at them!

gripsfingers .

08:23 28 Apr 20

Always been great to deal with. My records and other merchandise are always well packaged and soon delivered, and... description of records great. Happy customer.read more

Pam Bellis

11:01 23 Apr 20

I was very pleased with my recent order. The condition of my record was exactly as stated and arrived in good time. ... Thank youread more

Alastair Barrow

09:14 20 Apr 20

I recently had to replace my original 1974 pressing of T. Rex Zinc Alloy album that I bought on release day. ... Unfortunately over time it had become unplayable. I was looking for a really good copy of this 46 year old album and that is exactly what I got. The vinyl and cover exceeded my expectations and fully warranted the sales description. What's more having ordered it on a Sunday it arrived well packed on Tuesday. Based on this experience I fully recommend eil.read more

Jeffrey Phillips

20:32 13 Apr 20

These folks are among the most professional and responsive vendors I have worked with. Consistently strong... follow-through with an expansive inventory that is as enviable and it is diverse. Simply great people.read more

chuckie E

08:32 13 Apr 20

Easy to order, packaged well, item arrived in great shape. I was kept up to date on the status of my order and prices... were excellent.read more

Trev Faull

06:49 12 Apr 20

Very professional company pleased with the service provided and would use again

Peter Carter

11:16 11 Apr 20

Great dealer with polite, efficient and fast service.

Alan Wilbourn

11:16 11 Apr 20

Fantastic service (despite the virus lockdown). Record exactly as described. You’ve made an old man very happy! Thank... you 😊read more

Jonathan Wheatley

09:34 11 Apr 20

Quick service as always. Record arrived well packed and in better condition than expected. Top marks

Clint Miller

12:49 10 Apr 20

Fair price! Shipped quickly. Great communication

Lazar Markovic

11:06 15 Jan 20

Grosses Angebot an gebrauchten Vinyl Alben. Für Sammler ein Eldorado.

Ian Culley

15:29 12 Jul 19

Highly recommended. Excellent service. Very friendly and helpful staff. Regular customer and always delighted. Record... collectors are lucky to have such a good resource.read more

Keren Lerner

18:27 05 Jul 19

Great place to buy rare vinyl and always turns up quickly! And always as described!

Darren Mercer

08:03 26 Jun 19

Love this site - bought a few products, happy with them all!

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