def getPrevRecord(records, index):
  """
  Attempts to get the chronologically previous record
  :param records: <list[recorder.Record|(str)]> list of records (type doesn't matter)
  :param index: <int> index value of starting record (index - 1 should be the previous record)
  :return: <recorder.Record|(str) or None> previous record from list (returns whatever the list element type is)
  """
  try:
    # if the previous index is a valid index
    if index - 1 >= 0:
      # return the previous record
      return records[index - 1]
  
  except IndexError:
    pass
  
  # if returning the prev record was unsuccessful, return None
  return None