The term "long-playing record" is synonymous with a few different terms and phrases in the music world. Some of these include LP record, vinyl record, 33 1/3 record, record album, and analog record. These descriptions all refer to the same type of music format. Long-playing records were first introduced in the late 1940s and became the primary way of listening to music until the 1970s when cassette tapes became more popular. Although they lost popularity for a time, vinyl records have made a comeback in recent years and are still highly valued by collectors and music enthusiasts alike.