This Tecumseh, Ont., man's record collection is drawing attention from some big names in music
An LP spins on a turntable while a man proudly holds up its cover: the 1979 selftitled album by the Whis‐ pers.
"And the beat goes on... Just like my love: Everlasting," the legendary R&B group croons on their hit single.
All of the posts on the In‐ stagram account @vinyl_nights_ follow this for‐ mula: Quick cuts of slow mo‐ tion video showing a man en‐ joying his record collection in a carefully cultivated setting, while a classic track plays.
Mood lighting, incense and a 50-year-old stereo sys‐ tem add to the retro atmos‐ phere.
"I'm trying to go for, like, a seventies vibe," said Sean
Davidson, the 36-year-old Tecumseh, Ont., photograph‐ er and videographer behind the account.
Davidson started the ac‐ count in late March. Since then, his posts have been shared on social media by some of the artists featured, including the Whispers, Kool & The Gang, Billy Ocean and Snoop Dogg.
"They're legends. I cannot wrap my head around it. It's wild to me," Davidson mar‐ vels. "I was not expecting this account to blow up. I was just doing it because I wanted a music room."
Although Davidson is a lifelong music fan, collecting vinyl began about a year ago when he inherited a stack of records from his father-inlaw.
Davidson decided he would outfit his basement like a listening room of yes‐ teryear: His turntables and speakers pre-date him by decades, and even the shelv‐ ing is a second-hand find. A shaggy white rug and a lava lamp were finishing touches.
Davidson estimates his collection is close to 400 records, and counting. His tastes run toward vintage funk, soul and R&B, but he appreciates plenty of other genres.
"I love jazz, rock 'n' roll," Davidson says. "A lot of indie stuff, indie pop. I'm literally all over the place."
Professional image and video editing skills are essen‐ tial to the "cinematic look" of Davidson's posts - and com‐ municating his passion for playing records.
"I always go through the record-cleaning process," Davidson explains. "There's something about that. I enjoy a little bit of work to the whole process."
Liam O'Donnell, longtime owner and operator of down‐ town Windsor record store Dr. Disc Records, agreed there's something ceremoni‐ al about playing music on vinyl, and that's why the for‐ mat has endured.
"You can't beat the art‐ work... And just the ritual of putting a record on," O'Don‐ nell said. "Flipping it over, you know. Making you do the work. You've got to listen to the whole thing."
"It's so easy to scan through everything now. [Records] take a bit of disci‐ pline."
Dr. Disc Records marked international Record Store Day on April 20. O'Donnell took ownership of the busi‐ ness in 2001. More than two decades later, it's still a mustvisit place for local vinyl afi‐ cionados.
"I try not to think too much ahead, but [the record business] is healthy right now," O'Donnell said.
Davidson plans to contin‐ ue to celebrate his record collection via Instagram.
"I would love to have col‐ labs with artists and record labels," he enthuses.
He's already done a col‐ laborative post with Dope Lemon - the "coastal rock" al‐ ter-ego of Australian musici‐ an Angus Stone.
"He's actually one of my favourite artists," Davidson said.
"I'm just kind of rolling, riding the wave right now."