I'd like to create text that wraps around a circle like an old record. Bare with me I'm inexperienced, but am eager to learn if you have tips I'd appreciate an explanation. I probably need simplified a bit, Thanks for your time and help.

Under Text menu there is an option to put text on paths, create the circle and the text and call that option

Check out the links in my sig, lot's of useful stuff to learn from

You might find interesting the minute 15, of Episode 101 of http://screencasters.heathenx.org/. Actually, you might find interesting the whole site, which is a fantastic place to learn Inkscape.