Sometime around 1990, I walked into the now-departed Tower Records on Sunset, circled the interior and then — unnerved — asked a clerk where the records — as in Tower Records — were. “We stopped selling 'em,” he said. “Customers don't buy 'em — only cassettes and CDs.” Bullshit, I thought, me and most of my friends still bought vinyl. I suspected, and still do, that planned obsolescence by evil capitalists was at fault, and yet 20-plus years later, people blessed with that other obsolescence — good taste — still buy vinyl. In 2011, U.S. sales topped 3.6 million units, 37 percent more than the year before. Record collector Jeff Gold's new book, 101 Essential Rock Records: The Golden Age of Vinyl From The Beatles to The Sex Pistols, is a lovely tribute to both that era and the format. Tonight, Gold hosts a multimedia presentation and panel discussion about the vinyl revival; he'll be joined by Elektra founder Jac Holzman, music-racket vet Jeff Ayeroff and historian of vinyl collecting Eilon Paz to discuss, in Gold's words, “the format that just won't die.” Grammy Museum, 800 W. Olympic Blvd., dwntwn.; Wed., Jan. 9, 7:30 p.m.; free, sold out. For waiting list, call (213) 765-6800 or email programs@grammymuseum.org.

Wed., Jan. 9, 7:30 p.m., 2013

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