It's unbelievable that we've already enjoyed a year of music through LDL's vinyl collection in the Brooks Media Center. Originally made possible through generous donations from Burton H. and Stella T. Brooks, the BMC has now expanded from 500 to over 1000 cataloged records. Additional records were added to the collection through budget buying and community donations.
We've also expanded our outreach with the collection, spinning records, and enriching lives through music at local assisted living centers every week. To celebrate, we're sharing some fun insights about the collection.
Popular in Circulation
The #1 most circulated album in the collection is Home by Billy Strings, a popular local West MI musician. Home won a Grammy Award in 2021 for Best Bluegrass Album.
The most circulated Jazz album in the collection is Kind of Blue by Miles Davis. Closely following it is Bitches Brew by Miles Davis and Blue Train by John Coltrane.
Our most circulated Classical album is Piano Concerto No. 27 in B Flat, K. 595; Overtures by Mozart. Our version is a Funk & Wagnalls production featuring Alfred Brendel on piano, Paul Angerer conducting, and the Vienna Volksoper Orchestra.
Genre Insights
We have a wide variety of musical tastes in our community! Americana is the most popular, but is followed closely by Hip-Hop, Jazz, Heavy Metal, and 80s Hair Bands.
Interested in our Jazz collection? Click here to peruse what we have to offer. Some of our favorites are Black Byrd by Donald Byrd, Mosaic by Art Blakey, and Not Tight by Domi & JD Beck! Wanting a deeper cut? Our collection also features a unique live album by Louis Armstrong called Jazz is Back in Grand Rapids. This pressing comes from a live concert at the Civic Auditorium in Grand Rapids on March 26, 1956.
If Jazz isn't your thing, try something from our Classical album collection.
Local Albums
Our collection includes albums from some amazing West MI artists! In addition to the previously mentioned Billy Strings album, we have another of his called Me / and / Dad, which is a project created with his father, Terry Barber.
Another unique local record we have is a live pressing from local Grand Haven record store Off the Record by Jesse Ray and the Carolina Catfish. Not only was it recorded right here in Grand Haven, it was produced here as well at Third Coast Recording!
Other local albums we love include Beyond Beyond Beyond by The Crane Wives (a GVSU favorite!), Reverie by Roosevelt Diggs, and Cambium by Full Cord.
If you're a local band and would like to donate an album to our collection, please contact our Adult Services desk at (616)850-6914.
Feedback
There are a number of people who have commented on our listening stations as a place to relax and get away from the world for a moment, and we couldn't be happier that our space is bringing people comfort and joy!
One person was having a very stressful day when they saw Pet Sounds by the Beach Boys and asked to listen to it at our listening station. Afterward, they wrote us a kind note about how sitting down with that album made their entire day!
We haven't just been keeping these albums to ourselves. Some of your favorite LDL staff have been playing records and sharing the love of music at assisted living centers across Grand Haven.
"I've been spinning records at some local assisted living centers and the most impactful feedback I hear is how music is a such a strong tool for triggering memories. Playing music people heard when they were growing up brings back (hopefully) happy memories. I just recently heard from someone while we were listening to a Sam Cooke album that this person had served in the army with Lou Rawls (Lou and Sam Cooke were childhood friends) as a paratrooper. Bing Crosby and Mitch Miller have been popular as well, connecting people with holiday memories or just their parents musical taste in general."
—Jake (Adult Services)
If you'd like us to host a Vinyl Session at your living center or place of business, reach out to us at (616)850-6914! If you'd like to help us grow our vinyl record collection, bring donations to the Adult Information Desk or email [email protected] for more information.
Celebrate this anniversary by checking out an album from the collection today! From the 1910s to new releases, there's something for every listener.
