In a decidedly non-mobile spin, shipments of vinyl records increased more than 36 percent from 2006 to 2007, according to the RIAA. A new Associated Press report looks at the recent surge in interest in the hobby, and how even top-tier retailers such as Best Buy and Amazon.com are experimenting with vinyl record sales.

To a small but devout group, vinyl records are the perfect way to enjoy music. The “warmer sound” thing is subjective, since it’s the distortions vinyl adds that make it sound pleasing, not any inherent superiority to CDs (though compressed digital MP3s can sound awful in comparison to both).

But it’s an interesting trend, a kind of backlash against all of the digital options—vinyl records include large album artwork and today are available in many limited, collectible pressings from R.E.M., Madonna, the Beatles, and other major artists.