Ever since his childhood with a small allowance, Chris Johnson has embarked on a remarkable journey of collecting records. By his own estimation, his basement now houses more than a thousand of these musical treasures. But this doesn't stop him from constantly seeking to add a few more to his diverse collection, which includes soundtracks, folk, jazz, and music from Africa.

Vinyl Records: A Timeless Appeal

Chris Johnson is just one of the many vinyl fans who gathered at the recent Orland Park Record Collectors show at Georgios Banquets. The event was a haven for music enthusiasts, with 40 dealer tables filled with hundreds of records spanning various music genres such as rock, blues, jazz, country, pop, and heavy metal. Alongside records, there were also cassettes, CDs, and music memorabilia available for purchase.For Johnson, collecting records is about filling in the gaps in his collection. After all, having a wide range of music to choose from is a true delight. "I put on something based on the mood I'm in," he explains, adding that his taste in music is quite eclectic.The popularity of vinyl records has remained consistent over the years, giving rise to popular events like Record Store Day and its Black Friday variant. On these days, a number of exclusive records are released, attracting an increasingly diverse audience to the turntable tunes.At the recent show in Orland Park, it was challenging to pin down everyone's taste. Many shoppers were on the lookout for something different from their existing collections. In some cases, their musical preferences had evolved over the years, leading them to explore new genres.Karen Rogan and her son John Anderer were also present at the show. John Anderer, an avid vinyl collector, had more than 100 records of various genres at home. "I just love records, so I decided to stop by and see what's new," he said. He was already holding albums by Danish metal band Mercyful Fate and Japanese metal band Loudness and was still on the hunt for more vinyl.Larry O'Connell, the show organizer, is a hardcore record lover who has been organizing such events since the golden age of albums. His first show was in 1985 at a tavern and banquet hall on the south side of Chicago. Over time, he started hosting six shows a year, but now it has been reduced to three annual shows at different locations like Alsip, Homewood, Harvey, and Tinley Park.Growing up on the South Side near 67th and Wood streets, O'Connell initially had only a few records. But after meeting a friend who was a passionate collector, he too became hooked. One of his early records was an album by Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass. "My mother bought these records when I was a teenager. We went to their concert in 1966, and it was an unforgettable experience. The music was so exciting, especially with the Brazilian influences," he recalls.As he grew older, O'Connell started attending symphonies whenever possible. Today, his taste in music is diverse, but he still enjoys playing records by The Doors and Led Zeppelin. Much of the music he sells at his shows harks back to his formative years.This is especially evident during the holiday season. At the Orland Park show, O'Connell was selling 30 cassettes featuring Christmas music, including albums by the Beach Boys and Ramsey Lewis. "My mom used to play Ray Conniff every Christmas," he says, adding that he continues the tradition. "There's a certain nostalgia attached to these traditional records that every family seems to have."Besides the opportunity to sell albums, vendors at the show also enjoy the chance to interact with buyers. They get to hear what people are looking for and share in the memories evoked by the music and album covers."It's always a pleasure to talk to people and understand their musical interests," says Larry Cappos, who was selling records from his Vinyl Revival store in Morris. "Everyone has their own unique taste."Cappos has a particular affinity for bands and musicians from the 1970s and 80s like Fleetwood Mac, Queen, Bob Seger, and Bruce Springsteen. For his store and vending, his daughter helps him select more modern music.Tim Brand, who helped Cappos start Vinyl Revival and works with him, says the store has 10,000 to 15,000 records available for browsing, with many more in the back. The conversion of the space into a store has been a huge success, as vinyl has made a comeback, just like at the record shows."It's been an amazing journey," says Brand.Janice Neumann is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.