Travis Fredericks and Lisa Willows always thought there was something special about listening to music on a traditional record player.

“The crackle as the needle hits the vinyl, the beautiful artwork that adorns the sleeves and the physical interaction with the artist’s work is something you just don’t get from a download”, says Travis Fredericks.

Trav’s best friend, Troy Durose had just opened up Dark Alley Coffee with sister Tamara Dobson, and there was a vacant space next door that seemed to be just perfect for a record and vintage shop. The revival of Wauchope’s Dark Alley was in play.

Dark Alley Collectables is an Aladdin's Cave for vinyl lovers.

“You can easily lose an hour trawling through racks of records and chatting about first prints, rarities and new acquired stock,” says Trav who’s a musician, and the kind of guy you want on your team in a music quiz.

Dark Alley Collectables has a vast collection of records in every genre imaginable.

”Opening a record shop in Wauchope has been surprising and fun,” said Lisa Willows.

“We wanted people to feel like they have stepped back in time when they walk through the doors. Not only do we have records for sale and we are always playing them in the shop and we have included in the space vintage clothing from Lost Love Society run by Sylvie Graham as well as a vast array of collectable and vintage items.”

Whichever way you spin it, the response has been great and Travis and Lisa have been meeting other people with the same love of the retro format.

“We get people from all backgrounds and walks of life, but they all have one thing in common, an addiction to improving on their collections and we realise that we are not alone in our love of retro formats, there has definitely been a vinyl revival recently.”

A whopping $18 million worth of vinyl records were sold in Australia last year, and a recent vinyl record fair in Port Macquarie was a big success.