Into the Groove: The Story of Sound From Tin Foil to Vinyl

'By mixing lo-fi charm into hi-fi science Into the Groove captures all the wonder and absurdity of its subject, jumping and skipping with real analogue delight.' - Sunday Times

The story of recorded sound – encompassing the technological developments, the individuals behind them, and their profound societal impact – is meticulously told, from the earliest inventions and the phonograph to LPs, EPs, and the recent resurgence of vinyl. While Thomas Edison's phonograph, the pioneering device capable of both recording and reproducing sound, marked a significant turning point, it was merely the culmination of decades of prior invention, tinkering, and experimentation.

Into the Groove chronicles the birth of recorded sound, from the initial serious attempts in the 1850s right up to the contemporary vinyl revival. This book celebrates the sheer ingenuity, the rivalries, and the underlying science of the modulated groove. Jonathan Scott, a dedicated vinyl collector and music enthusiast, expertly dissects a truly mind-blowing feat we now take for granted: the domestication of sound. He delves into the very first attempts to record and reproduce sounds, the origins of the phonograph, and the subsequent development of commercial shellac discs. The narrative then progresses through the fascinating story of the LP record, from the ascendancy of electric recording to the decline of 7-inch vinyl, detailing the competing speed and format wars, concluding with an epilogue that brings the story right up to the present-day return of vinyl to vogue. Into the Groove is, at its core, the comprehensive story of the science of sound – the technological leaps, the human endeavours that drove them, and their lasting impact on society.