The sound of a needle hitting the groove of a vinyl record has been an important part of Peter Dul’s life for decades. In fact, that was about all he had.

“What I had was a couch, a bookshelf and my stereo,” Dul said.

“I said to myself, ‘I’m just going to buy a handful of records, my favorite records, and that’s going to be what I own and then it just grew from there.’

The business grew so big that in 2019 he decided to get into the vinyl record business, selling albums out of a pop-up space at Thirsty’s Flea Market on Ellice Ave.

Since then, Dul hasn’t looked back; instead, he’s always looking for more vinyl to buy and sell.

“I can’t wait to find that dream collection that someone would want to sell me, that I could put in the right place and pass it on to the right people,” Dul said.

“From southern Ontario to Alberta, I took road trips. I went into sheds and barns and traveled, crawled over used motorcycle parts just to get that crate of records.

Nowadays, there are more people than ever interested in this medium.

“In 2022, sales of vinyl records will surpass those of CDs in the United States for the first time since 1987,” said Canadian music promoter and podcaster Eric Alper.

“There are certain memories attached to vinyl records that no other format, including music streaming services, has to offer”

Alper said that since 2007, North America has seen a huge increase in demand for vinyl records. He said there is a multi-generational appeal for those who want to own physical media.

“There are certain memories attached to vinyl records that no other format, including music streaming services, has to offer,” Alper said.

“Many of us remember saving our money, taking public transportation, going to a record store, crossing our fingers and hoping we’d get a copy of what we wanted, because the choices were limited.

Keri Latimer and her husband Devin, of Manitoba folk band Leaf Rapids, said there is something special about owning and owning a vinyl record.

“I think it feels a lot more special and tangible, like it’s a thing that you have,” Latimer said.

Leaf Rapids have released their last three albums on vinyl, including their April 2024 record Velvet Paintings. Latimer’s group is not the only group to adopt this format.

“Actually, we couldn’t even find time at the manufacturers because everyone was starting to put their (records) out; all the major labels, we were putting all the records back on vinyl,” Latimer said.

“Devin and I have always loved vinyl, so the first chance we had to do it, we jumped on it.”

“Putting out Queen and singing it up and down, from the beginning, it’s just the music lover in me.”

She said there was a feeling of gratitude in giving her fans the opportunity to purchase and enjoy a vinyl record like the ones she listened to in her parents’ collection growing up.

“Putting out Queen and singing it up and down, from the beginning, it’s just the music lover in me,” she said.

“It’s just the grooves in this plastic that make it, you know, scientifically, it’s just beautiful.”

With a booming business, Dul recently opened Duly Records, his own store on Portage Ave.

He said he’s riding the wave of vinyl sales coming from this multi-generational level of interest, from the older generation looking to add to their collection to customers in their 20s getting their first taste of building records. a new catalog of melodies.

“The whole ritual of buying physical media, reading the liner notes, the ritual of getting up to turn the record over, it’s all exciting and new to a whole generation of people,” Dul said.

“Locating my store downtown is another thing that people of my generation remember getting off the bus, and they had six or seven record stores downtown to choose from. »

After 11 months of renovations, the former Sound Exchange building now broadcasts the sounds of Canadian rock classic Dolly Parton and the New Wave bands Dul grew up listening to.

“What I thought all along was if I could just have a nice, fun place to drink coffee and listen to music and socialize, then I did it,” Dul said.

“I’m overwhelmed. I feel so full of gratitude right now.