The album represents a watershed moment in both music and pop culture.  Its cover photo with four half-shaded faces is iconic, and its songs are classics:  "I Want To Hold Your Hand," "All My Loving," "I Saw Her Standing There."  This particular copy of "Meet The Beatles" is now a prized artifact at Ragged Records in downtown Davenport.

     "I purchased this from a guy who had the record sealed and before he came here, he thought he should open it to make sure the correct record was in it," store owner Bob Herington explains.  "It had actually been sealed a few minutes before I purchased it."

     The unsuspecting owner reduced the value of the record, but opening it for inspection is now a treat for others.  The inner sleeve, rather than being solid white, promotes other British musical acts from the early 60's.  The record itself sparkles, clearly in mint condition.  Instead of being opened by an excited teenager in 1964, it is only now seeing the light of day in 2010. 

     Today, this record, and countless more like it are finding an entirely new market that's being met by Ragged Records.  Owner Bob Herington has collected hundreds of thousands of LP's and 45's.  Music you haven't heard in years in a format that went extinct a quarter century ago.  Almost.

     Call it a tech backlash, nostalgia, or both.  Herington says young and old fans alike are buying vinyl for its sound and feel.  "Just to hold something in your hands," Herington says, "not just a digital download. It's nice to have something to look at, read liner notes, look at the artwork."

     Herington says demand is also growing for old stereo systems, which he's begun to collect, repair, resell.  Even in a down economy, his record business is a big hit.  "Maybe this is just a short run for vinyl. Who knows," Herington says.  "Everything seems to come back around again, at least once."

     Hopefully next time, we'll remember not to open the original wrapping.