Vinyl records are something that was once popular, then began to lose popularity thanks to the invention of the compact disc, and are now starting to become popular again with some people. This is partly due to the fact that they have a warm, rich sound and partly due to the nostalgia factor.

The 45 record is especially popular among “vinyl enthusiasts,” because its limited nature makes them attractive to collectors. And the value of some of the rarest 45s has grown exponentially in the past years. As has the popularity of a holiday that celebrates 45 records known as 45 Day. This day falls on May 4th annually and is celebrated by vinyl enthusiasts the world over.

The History Of 45 Day

In 1949, the 45 record was introduced by RCA Victor, a record label that has been in operation since 1945. It quickly became a new music industry format. But RCA Victor wasn’t the company that originally created the 45 record, also known as the single. Singles were actually invented in 1948 by a Columbia Records engineer, Peter Goldmark.

The purpose of this format was to provide the consumer with a more affordable, smaller, and more durable alternative to the 78 RPM records that were in use at that time. 45 RPM records were made out of vinyl, while 78 RPM records were made out of shellac. That made 45s cheaper to produce and also made them more resistant to scratches.

The unique characteristics of 45s allowed for their popularity to skyrocket. People could more easily carry them around, and jukeboxes could hold more of them than 78s, which allowed the jukeboxes to carry a greater number of songs. During the 50s and 60s, the 45 record was the format for the release of most popular music.

This format was used to release singles, with the A-side being used for the popular singles and the B-side used for tracks that were considered to be weaker than the A-side songs. This format also allowed for picture discs and other novelty vinyl discs. Unfortunately, the popularity of the 45 began to wane during the 1970s.

This was mainly due to the popularity of other popular music media such as cassettes and 8-tracks. With the rise of the CD during the 1980s, the popularity of the 45 continued to decline. Although 45s aren’t widely used by the music industry nowadays, they remain popular among vinyl enthusiasts. In 2020, Christos Christou created 45 Day.

He created it so that there would be a day on the calendar when people could celebrate this 7-inch disc. Although this holiday started out modestly, it really began to gain in popularity during the COVID-19 pandemic. It’s been celebrated ever since by vinyl enthusiasts worldwide.

Observing 45 Day

Anyone and everyone wishing to observe 45 Day can do so by placing the 45 RPM record at the core of their celebrations. This can be done by listening to 45 records, hosting a 45 record listening party, gathering together other vinyl collectors and trading these records, and throwing a 45 RPM-themed party.

Of course, some people may just want to buy new 45s for their collection. No matter how a person spends this holiday, they should take the time to spread the word about it using the hashtag #45Day on social media.