In 1948 Columbia Records first introduced the LP or long-playing microgroove record as it was also known. The same format continues to be used today with the minor addition of stereophonic sound capability.
When LPs first came on to the market they were made with very large grooves which meant the playing time for each side of the vinyl album was limited to 5 minutes. This clearly wouldn’t do, this is why they refined the product and created a new fine-grooved vinyl disk which meant you could enjoy around 20 minutes of your favorite album before you would have to turn it over.
