Every music lover’s dream – a mecca library of vinyls.

Graeme Howie is a true music lover, amassing an enviable collection of more than 3000 vinyl records over the past 15 years. The act of collecting vinyls can be incredibly personal. For Graeme, he loves collecting boxes of records and treating it like a ‘lucky dip’ and exploring the different genres of music. “When I first started collecting, I used to go to garage sales and pick up boxes of about 100 vinyls for 20 bucks,” said Graeme, who recently bought a brand-new home at Seachange Coomera Riverside with his wife, Sue. “I like everything, but I love the 70’s and 80’s.”

Recently, Graeme played lawn bowls with a friend who gifted him 200 records that were sitting in her garage. “I scored Skyhook’s Living in the ’70s & Ego Is Not a Dirty Word. I have wanted those records for ages,” said Graeme, chuffed. “I bought her a bottle of wine, of course, to say thank you.” It wouldn’t be a classic collection without some of the greats such as Abbey Road by the Beatles, Rumours by Fleetwood Mac, and even some Boney M.

“One of my favourite vinyls is a misprint of AC/DC,” said Graeme. “A misprint has the same songs on both sides; it’s pretty cool.” Graeme is still setting up his collection after moving to Coomera Riverside to be closer to their family. “I want every vinyl to be in alphabetical order. It could take me days. It’s a task that will require a lot of care and attention,” said Graeme.

Listening to vinyls on a turntable is a truly timeless experience as it offers a different appreciation for melodies and sounds. “Nothing quite compares; I just love the sound of records,” said Graeme. “I actually have a record player with a USB port, and I can download the vinyls onto that and listen to them in the car, that’s how much I love the sound.”

The novelty of owning a record player and throwing on some classics transcends through generations. “I set my niece up with a turntable and a few vinyls, and she thought it was the best thing ever,” said Graeme. “She now has her friends over all the time, and they just listen to the vinyls while drinking wine.” Vinyls don’t go out of style as they have a collectible and nostalgic quality to them, which nowadays is a rarity and something of which Graeme is most proud.

If you are fortunate enough to run into Graeme, it’s definitely worth asking to see his incredible collection and getting lost in music history.