A record, also known as a vinyl or LP (long play), is a physical medium for storing and playing music. It is a circular disc made of vinyl plastic that rotates at a constant speed, allowing a stylus or needle to read the grooves and produce sound. Records were the primary medium for listening to music from the 1950s to the 1980s, and despite the rise of digital music, they continue to have a dedicated following among audiophiles and music lovers.
A song, on the other hand, is a piece of music that consists of lyrics and melody. A song can be recorded and released on various mediums, including records, CDs, tapes, and digital formats. A song can be performed live, recorded in a studio, or produced using digital audio software. A song can be written and recorded by a single artist or by a group of musicians, and it can be any length, from a few minutes to several hours.
The difference between a record and a song is that a record is a physical medium for playing music, while a song is a piece of music. A record can contain one or more songs, and a song can be recorded and released on multiple records. To put it simply, a record is the format, and a song is the content.
In conclusion, while records and songs are often used interchangeably, they refer to different aspects of music. Records are the physical medium for playing music, while songs are the pieces of music that are recorded and played on those mediums.