So smart to have these criteria Andy! In many ways it helps to take the emotion out of the buying decision. In my case, applying these criteria would certainly help tamper down the instant gratification impulse that I’ve had ever since I started getting my own pocket money as a little kid.
I’ve recently decided that I’m not ready to get into the vinyl game quite yet. But when I purchased my hifi a couple weeks ago they had a deal where they included a matching CD player for free. So now I’ve decided to dip my toes back into the physical media pool, but am starting with CDs.
At this point, I’m keeping my criteria pretty strict and am only looking at CDs where hi-res audio streaming isn’t available. I’ve recently been trialing Qobuz with their hi-res audio and the difference in sound quality vs Spotify is, quite frankly, incredible. Even with music I’ve loved for years I’m hearing so much more on my new system with Qobuz than I’ve ever heard before. Of course, not everything is available in 24-bit 192 kHz but if Qobuz has the album then it’s available at CD quality at a minimum.
Right now I’ve only got about half a dozen CDs on my Discogs wantlist. We’ll see how much longer I’m able to keep things at such a reasonable level! I think the challenge will come if and when I go into a physical store and begin “touching the product”. It’s often hard for me to say no once I’ve had something in my hands (I honestly didn’t mean that to sound so naughty! 😆)
Thank you, Mark! I get what you say about that instant gratification feeling. Did you have it as well whilst collecting antiques?
Shame you don’t want to jump into the vinyl pool yet 😭 May I ask what prompted/motivated that decision?
Cool you are planning to collect CDs again — I also collect some although my vinyl collection is a lot bigger than my CD collection.
I’d be curious to see how Qobuz compares with Apple Music, which also at a minimum provides CD quality (if not 24-bit). I have a feeling the two might be very similar. Don’t even get me started on Spotify — I repel that app like the plague! Probably a remnant from my audiophile days 😂
I’m living for the sass in your last sentence 😂😂🤣🤣 Check you out, cheeky Mark! Seems I’ve got competition 🤣🤣 (only jk ofc). Must be this British air… something in the water, innit? 😉
I did indeed have the instant gratification impulse whilst collecting antiques. We were very active on eBay in the late 90s when you could still find amazing deals (because people didn’t know what they were actually selling). I remember times where we’d be broke with 8-10 days left in the month because I couldn’t say no to something online. “No Tina we can’t buy any flowers for the garden. Oh, by the way, we’re eating rice and beans for the next week”. Not great 😆
As Tina and I both progressed in our careers and had a little more disposable income, the implications of instant gratification weren’t as bad. But we did have times of making poor choices with higher ticket items, particularly when going to auctions (the ultimate in instant gratification). We ended up donating a large chunk of our collection to a local museum and thankfully much of the rest of our collection maintained its value and we were able to sell on to local dealers.
On the vinyl thing, one big piece is that I don’t want to jump into anything too quickly. We haven’t even been in the house two weeks so I’d really like to get our house settled before I think of adding anything new. Also, I’m not sure how much of an active listener I’ll be and to be honest owning vinyl kinda sounds like a lot of work. Now that I’ve started listening to high quality audio (and my new system really takes advantage of that) it’s super easy to lay down on the couch, fire up some music and start reading a book.
Also, I listen to a LOT of music, particularly new music, and so I’m not sure how much sense it makes to have a highly curated selection of vinyl that I only listen to occasionally. According to last.fm I listen to about 1500 hours of music a year, which is a little over four hours a day and the type and quantity of music that I’d want to collect on vinyl would be overwhelmed by the amount of music I’d be streaming (or listening to from my server [3000+ albums] once it arrives). The idea of vinyl then starts to feel like a bit of a luxury item. It’s possible that starting with CDs may change my perception of that. The good thing with the CDs is that I already got the free CD player which makes it’s a very low cost experiment.
While I’m not publicly acclaimed for my sass, it’s certainly there! I’m a Gemini so I tend to have two sides I show to the world. You’ve perhaps only seen the buttoned up side but I can be a bit cheeky too! 😂
Crazy how you guys made so many sacrifices back in the day for your antiques. On the one hand there's the passion and commitment, which is great; on the other hand, the downsides in other areas of life can be brutal.
It's insane how much music, particularly new music, you stream a day 🤣 I totally get that you want to wait a little bit and see what you need, what you want and what, if any, you feel you're missing. CDs are light, generally cheap and uncomplicated so it's a great way to test/rediscover the "physicality" of record collecting in the 21st century.
Love your cheeky side! I've seen a little bit of it, though, especially when you were describing certain character falling down on the trekking path with dumbbells in her backpack 😂
Music tastes change, and purging your collection of those LPs you no longer listen to nor want could be good. And that money you make on selling them can go back into your collection with albums from your want list.
Thank you, Michael, for reading and commenting! Absolutely agree that a purge every now and then is a great idea as our tastes evolve and our needs or requirements change. And yes, your old (unwanted) records can give way to new records from your wantlist, not just in terms of space but also money-wise!
Vinyl Tetris is a great way to frame it! I'd love to say I have a system or rubric that determines whether or not I pick up a record, but that would imply some sort of discipline—something I just don't have when I'm in a record store. The most common question I ask myself is if I'd buy something just to have it. If the answer's yes, then it goes back in the crate.
Thank you! Discipline can be tough, especially when you see a lot of cool records in very quick succession 😂 I love the question you ask yourself because it's a very efficient way of separating the wheat from the chaff. Interestingly I say something similar in my upcoming video--if I wasn't a one-take, no-edits freak, I'd go back and give you credit! Thanks for reading and commenting 😊
Hi Andres! I get inspired by your discussions of record collecting! The problem is I've generally been trying to get rid of all the excess that my husband and I have built up in the 34 years in our house! Presently, I've been donating and selling old books that have been collecting dust. DVDs I can't part with! My album collection sits just beyond my computer monitor: four crates with about 100 in each. Most are from the days before CDs. I have no intention of getting rid of them! Adding more is a whole other matter. I'll add vinyl that is being sold after a concert, especially when I can get it signed but this is pretty rare. I think getting a new turntable and sound system might motivate me to buy more. However, I'm not sure I need a new one. I've got an old Pioneer PL-990. So, here's my question: If you could buy a reasonably priced turntable, what you buy today??
Thank you, Dan! I love the fact you get inspired. I appreciate it a lot.
I hear what you say about getting rid of excess stuff. At the same time I love that you don’t want to get rid of your records 😊
Sounds like you’ve got a nice collection so I get what you say about being careful with expanding it. I believe that if your turntable still performs well and brings you joy, then that’s all that matters. Perhaps you can look at replacing or upgrading your stylus at some point though, as you’ll notice a significant difference in sound.
In terms of modern (affordable) turntables, I personally think you can’t go wrong with the Audio Technica/Sony/Fluance range.
Always check reviews though, but I’d start there 😉 Hope this helps!
I hear you. Some in the AudioTechnica and Sony range have bluetooth connectivity which means you can connect your turntable directly to speakers via bluetooth if you don’t have a receiver.
I was able to pick up a reasonably priced packaged set: AudioTechnica turntable with decent speakers at my local record store. It was $299. He had a package with better speakers for $399, but I just got the $299 package. OMG the sound when I play vinyl vs streaming is amazing!!! It was worth it! I was just planning on getting better speakers for my cheap suitcase player, but I was also going to have to tape a penny to the needle to get it to not skip as much 😂 and with investing in new vinyl, I didn’t want to risk ruining new records.
This is great, Kristin! AudioTechnica is a great brand, one of my favourites. And sounds like you got a great deal!
You can always upgdade the speakers if you feel the need in a couple of years, but I’m so glad you could get this deal and that you can notice the difference in sound. 100% your records will thank you 😊
Vinyl Tetris! 😂 I don’t have enough at this point to have to experience that as my best music buddy does! (I haven’t counted mine, but I’m guessing less than 200). He has like over 17,000 by now I’m sure. Last year it was 16,800. I helped him catalog new ones and Tetris a couple of his shelves - which took a few hours just for 2! His dad built shelves from ceiling to floor for vinyl storage.
I love your test. This is a lot how I am approaching my purchases these days. I’m poor, so I can’t afford a lot (I had a clean credit card on record store day this year which was a huge mistake because I bought twice as much as I intended). So, it has to be a solid album start to finish. I have made a few exceptions, but not many. If there’s a couple of skips, but a couple of super great songs I will be more inclined to make an exception. I try to listen to the entire album before making a purchase, which I love streaming for! You couldn’t listen to an album in its entirety before purchasing back in the days before streaming! Unless a friend had it. And I’ve pretty much always been poor, so back then, if a friend had an album I wanted, I would give them a blank cassette tape to make a copy for me! Haha!! It wasn’t about collecting for me back then - it was all about having access to the music I loved.
One factor that goes into my purchase decisions now is whether I would play a track from it at my local brewery’s vinyl night. If it’s a “no,” then it has to be heavy on the emotional or cultural connection.
I did purchase 2 non-Record Store Day albums on RSD. One had both great emotional and cultural significance- the 35th anniversary edition of Tracy Chapman’s first album (s/t). I had the cassette when it originally came out and played it for years! It has still been in rotation for me all these years. The other was another emotional purchase-A Flock of Seagulls - I Ran (So Far Away). It has 3 of their singles, which I loved back in the day. My mom had gotten me a compilation cassette of “new age” groups that was my first exposure to what became my favorite genre in the early 80s! And the song Wishing (If I Had a Photograph of You) was on it. So, I guess that counts as culturally significant to me as well!! LOL
Thank you so much, Kristin, for reading, commenting and sharing. I appreciate it a lot.
I agree with you that if one doesn’t feel there is good enough a purpose (in which, in your case, the community aspect seems to play a big role, which I think is awesome), then the emotional pull needs to kinda compensate for that.
I love the fact you indulged in two non-RSD purchases on RSD (you know how much I love a contrarian when I spot one lol 😂 even if it was unintentional).
By mere luck or serendipity I managed to get, not too long ago, an early pressing of Tracy’s debut in pretty good condition. That album is monumental from start to finish. The weight of her voice, geez. It gives me goosebumps.
Hahahaha!! When we went into the second store on RSD, they didn’t have everything in one location, but all over the store and mixed in with non-RSD stuff… my friend ended up spending about $200 and not one RSD title 🤣 but, she didn’t care and didn’t even look at the list. She walked away with albums she wanted.
Tracy Chapman still gives me goosebumps! That first album is definitely within my top 10.
Well done again, Maestro! You got me to thinking! You're a cultural music archivist....as are many in this century. I love your honesty in "not needing" to run out and get new records. That was me 5 and 6 decades ago...as our rock and vinyl history was being built, vinyl brick by vinyl brick!
No earth-shattering conclusion...but, that delineation, I think, is key to help us clarify A) if we buy, B) what we buy, and C) just how much we buy. I think your listening habits (and others, this century, as well) are driven a bit (if not a lot) by streaming, etc, and that takes care of the new-new that's out there. But, as a vinyl archivist, it's both about your enjoyment of the music, as well as documenting (by owning) the vinyl reproduction of your favorite music!
With Dad's help (for new readers...he was in radio, '60s and '70s, and brought home lots of new promo records), I became obsessed by this regular influx of "this new music," and was likely quite unaware of any historical significance I was amassing in my childhood and teenaged bedroom closet! As I know we've touched on several times before, I wish I could take today's Andy, time-travel him to my 18-year-old self's 1973 bedroom, slide open my closet door, and let you gape at the wonders within (no, not those....THOSE should be in boxes)!
Again, the merging of why we collect(ed): The love of the music and the physical album. When I read all about you and (mostly) fellow music writers, here, it's hard for me to relate, sometimes, to those used-records/bin-diving experiences....while I did that sporadically in the '70s and '80s, it was never an intense drive for me (no value judgment; just different needs and wants)....I had my natural "income"....Dad's promo largesse brought home, and then, for a decade, my personal "gets" while in radio and retail records, myself, thru the early-'80s.
But, I DID find I enjoyed the thrill of discovery, on occasion, when a record or 3 I'd find at a flea market or record convo (the more likely places to find used records back then)....I'd go, "Hey, there's that early-'70s Capitol Rick Springfield album I read about in CREEM!" or "Hey, is THAT what Todd's 'Runt' album looks like! I'd love to hear it, AND feel the joy of determining its rightful place on my beloved shelf of magical sounds!"
Thanks again, Andy! Fun and thought-provoking stuff (even with.....especially with?) a hangover!😁
Thank you so much, Brad! You bring such wisdom and invaluable experience to this, my humble abode. Not just invaluable for me and others my age who, mathematically and biologically, couldn’t have been there, but also, I dare say, people of older generations too who may not have had the exposure and access you had.
You mention, quite rightly, the influx of records your dad brought (and man, don’t I wish I could time-travel with you), but if you allow me I will also add —because you’re too modest to say it yourself— that you then worked really hard, on your own merit, to have access to unique moments in rock history. I mean, no one just happens to land in the Ramones’ hotel room.
Perhaps you will say you didn’t know, at the time, how iconic those bands/sounds/records/periods in music history would later become, but there were, undeniably, a lot of others you could have been chasing/fanboying (is that a verb?)/ waiting for outside of concert venues, etc. It takes a special kind of intuition to know who to chase and what to do especially with the information you had available at the time. And I am the Maestro? 🎩 Chapeau, my friend! And happy Easter!
Your third paragraph....nail on head, bruh! So much of my knowledge and awareness of the artists of the time were fueled by writers on the 'Stack, now....Wayne Robins and Robert Christgau, two among them! Yes, I see you, John Mendelsohn!! https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Mendelsohn_(musician) New to the 'Stack, Andy....John had the best of both worlds: A rock critic, AND a major-label recording artist (his Christopher Milk on United Artists '71, and Reprise/Warner Bros. Records, '72)!
All of them helped me and my records "run alongside" the original intent of the artists, which informed my sense of their eventual place in rock history....as well as "teaching me" the hows and wherefores of this thing called rock criticism/writing!
Which gets us to your spot-on 3rd paragraph....we not only love the music of our faves, but (if they do it right!) we come to love who they are...they're communicating THAT thru their music and lyrics, of course! You don't just love Mariah's music....you love who she has become TO YOU thru her music! We can see it in your pix with her! She obviously felt comfortable with you, as you knew she would, because, thanks to her music, you two were already friends!
She picked up on that as quickly, readily, and securely as The Ramones, Dead Boys, Tom Robinson (he was a passenger in my car?!?😱), Dolls, et al did with me....their music made me feel comfortable to visit them, backstage, and elsewhere, and each quickly realized I wasn't after them for something (well, OK......Dee Dee!😉), and felt encouraged to have me be one of them for a time! But, it all starts with them being their honest selves....their personalities come through in the music...........thankfully.🎵
Thank you so much, Brad, for saying all of that. Your comment is so timely as I’ve just recorded a quick video post, which you will see in a couple of weeks, where I talk about the difference between a true leader and a snob. Everything you are saying now reinforces the point I made in the video about true leaders (hearing others, encouraging them, giving credit, etc.). You know I’m a one-take kinda guy, but I wish I could turn back time and cite this comment as an example of a true leader!
Fear not though, because I’ll find an opportunity in the future… there’s a lot more left in this tank!
Thank you, Brad! I’ve got three in the queue already 😂 I don’t want to stop writing/podcasting, but I must say, I’m really enjoying this video thing, because it takes me just a couple of minutes (6-9 minutes), as I do everything in one take (which is as nerve racking as it is fun). I might do one week text+voice, one week video, so roughly 2 of each per month. It decompresses my writing time and allows me to connect with you all more directly. Watch this space!
I love that plan....sounds exciting on your end, as well as being a variety for your adoring vinyl horde! Don't forget the possibility of a future "Making of...." video of your writing/V.O. and vid process...more content, plus, we'd love to see all the rooms in The Vinyl Room!💿😎
It's a tough shout on the basis that every track creates a personal memory for it's listener do l purchase x because l really like tack Y but then the rest are quite average ? My purchases are usually based on memories as in those wonderful flashbacks music envokes, l am transported back to that 6 year old listening to Love me do on Red Parlaphone l still have the disc and whenever l handle it memories flood my mind .With marriages, work ,Children and of course musical styles things change but long may the joy of music touch us in so many ways.
Thank you, Graham! You raise an interesting point. Personally, I think it depends on how much of an emotional pull that one track has. Sometimes one track can make a whole album worth owning. Generally, though, at least for me, I would need more than one track to stand out before I decide to bring the record home. I also think nowadays with music being so widely available, the bar is (should be) higher in terms of what we decide to physically own. Ultimately though, I agree with you that it's all a question of the joy music brings us, in whatever form it may be. Thanks a lot for reading and commenting!
I really enjoyed listening to this. As a young man, I had collected over 600 records, albums. Later in life when I was moving around a lot, it became a burden and I got rid of all of them. Especially once streaming kicked-in. I thought, why carry all this around. And then years later I had deep regret for getting rid of all of it. What was I thinking and I sort of wished it all back. You idiot!
But if I really think about it, how many of the 600 were quality or something that I even would still be into. Many were promotional albums or things that I didn’t listen to anymore. It was a lot of shit.
Now, I find myself recollecting, which is interesting because then you’re forcing yourself to really think about is this worth $20-$40 for that one album which is why I love your three question system I’m gonna look at my collection and see how it matches up thank you for sharing.
Thank you so much, Mark, for reading/listening and commenting! Indeed records can become a bit of a liability especially when moving around a lot. But I am glad to hear you are recollecting. Your previous experience is invaluable as it will help you refine your choices and avoid some of the mistakes you feel you may have made in the past. Pleased to know my little test can come in handy! Thanks again!
Most of my comments to YOU went on to MY post. (That's rude, isn't it?)
If you were hungover, I could not tell.
Yes, MOVES. That is the one and only arbiter. No other. Not because a critic likes it, not because your friends like it, not because (insert stupid reason here.) Apart for the vinyl aspect, I roam across the musical landscape as well. In what I've played, what I've performed, in what I listen to.
For example, I never got the punk movement staring circa '74, and I LIVED IN NEW YORK at the time and was playing in clubs. I would go in and listen, and, I'm sorry, it did not MOVE me. (Oh, not sorry.) They might have been breaking all sorts of new ground but I, as a member of the audience (and not on stage as I may have been an hour or so earlier) would think: please, PLEASE, for the love of God, learn how to tune your guitar. Is that too much to ask?
I'm with you on Sam Cooke, Marvin, Aretha, and Mariah. (Common denominator here: killer vocal chops. Which, not surprisingly, move one.)
Thank you, John! You probably managed to edit it because I didn't notice at all! Let's blame it on our (collective) hangover 😂
Thanks a lot for your comment, and I agree 100%. I've always respected the punk movement from a cultural perspective but the truth is the music has never moved me.
Plus I'm unashamedly a singing snob (as you can probably tell based on who I dig the most)🤣 so, yeah, well, there's that 😅
Andres, happy long weekend (here in Canada anyway).
My other issue is with albums I haven’t listened to in ages. So I drew up a sheet of all my albums, just over 200, and have started to note keep/go with them as well as frequency of spins. A few just don’t resonate with me anymore and I’ve pulled half a dozen to play forward or thrift them. Before I tracked them on paper it would be “maybe I’ll listen to it later” and now having that visual tracker makes it easier to make room for new lps.
Have no idea how I’d track collections in the thousands!
Will definitely give your method a go for next purchases.
Thank you so much, Clark, for reading and commenting. Happy long weekend to you too!
I love the fact you tracked frequency of spins, and that you’ve earmarked some to part ways with. Sounds like something I see myself doing from now on from time to time. Thanks a lot, and glad I could help as well!
LPs and streaming are not the only choices. Digita .wav files can be stored on hard drives, taking up almost no physical space. Memory is almost free, so you can store a few copies, and memory cards allow you to play on portable devices and in cars.
I never said they were the only choices, but undoubtedly they are the most common for most people. I see very little difference between wav files and my high-quality audio streaming (16-bit minimum, but 24-bit as a rule). As for sounding “better”, I’m not so sure, but vinyl definitely feels right.
If you're streaming 16-24 bit, 44k, that's CD or better quality, so fine.
When I say better, I mean a more accurate representation of what is on the master recording. LPs have pleasant forms of distortion relating to the impossibility of proper stylus-groove interface, and generally somewhat attenuated high frequencies.
So smart to have these criteria Andy! In many ways it helps to take the emotion out of the buying decision. In my case, applying these criteria would certainly help tamper down the instant gratification impulse that I’ve had ever since I started getting my own pocket money as a little kid.
I’ve recently decided that I’m not ready to get into the vinyl game quite yet. But when I purchased my hifi a couple weeks ago they had a deal where they included a matching CD player for free. So now I’ve decided to dip my toes back into the physical media pool, but am starting with CDs.
At this point, I’m keeping my criteria pretty strict and am only looking at CDs where hi-res audio streaming isn’t available. I’ve recently been trialing Qobuz with their hi-res audio and the difference in sound quality vs Spotify is, quite frankly, incredible. Even with music I’ve loved for years I’m hearing so much more on my new system with Qobuz than I’ve ever heard before. Of course, not everything is available in 24-bit 192 kHz but if Qobuz has the album then it’s available at CD quality at a minimum.
Right now I’ve only got about half a dozen CDs on my Discogs wantlist. We’ll see how much longer I’m able to keep things at such a reasonable level! I think the challenge will come if and when I go into a physical store and begin “touching the product”. It’s often hard for me to say no once I’ve had something in my hands (I honestly didn’t mean that to sound so naughty! 😆)
Thank you, Mark! I get what you say about that instant gratification feeling. Did you have it as well whilst collecting antiques?
Shame you don’t want to jump into the vinyl pool yet 😭 May I ask what prompted/motivated that decision?
Cool you are planning to collect CDs again — I also collect some although my vinyl collection is a lot bigger than my CD collection.
I’d be curious to see how Qobuz compares with Apple Music, which also at a minimum provides CD quality (if not 24-bit). I have a feeling the two might be very similar. Don’t even get me started on Spotify — I repel that app like the plague! Probably a remnant from my audiophile days 😂
I’m living for the sass in your last sentence 😂😂🤣🤣 Check you out, cheeky Mark! Seems I’ve got competition 🤣🤣 (only jk ofc). Must be this British air… something in the water, innit? 😉
Thanks again!!
I did indeed have the instant gratification impulse whilst collecting antiques. We were very active on eBay in the late 90s when you could still find amazing deals (because people didn’t know what they were actually selling). I remember times where we’d be broke with 8-10 days left in the month because I couldn’t say no to something online. “No Tina we can’t buy any flowers for the garden. Oh, by the way, we’re eating rice and beans for the next week”. Not great 😆
As Tina and I both progressed in our careers and had a little more disposable income, the implications of instant gratification weren’t as bad. But we did have times of making poor choices with higher ticket items, particularly when going to auctions (the ultimate in instant gratification). We ended up donating a large chunk of our collection to a local museum and thankfully much of the rest of our collection maintained its value and we were able to sell on to local dealers.
On the vinyl thing, one big piece is that I don’t want to jump into anything too quickly. We haven’t even been in the house two weeks so I’d really like to get our house settled before I think of adding anything new. Also, I’m not sure how much of an active listener I’ll be and to be honest owning vinyl kinda sounds like a lot of work. Now that I’ve started listening to high quality audio (and my new system really takes advantage of that) it’s super easy to lay down on the couch, fire up some music and start reading a book.
Also, I listen to a LOT of music, particularly new music, and so I’m not sure how much sense it makes to have a highly curated selection of vinyl that I only listen to occasionally. According to last.fm I listen to about 1500 hours of music a year, which is a little over four hours a day and the type and quantity of music that I’d want to collect on vinyl would be overwhelmed by the amount of music I’d be streaming (or listening to from my server [3000+ albums] once it arrives). The idea of vinyl then starts to feel like a bit of a luxury item. It’s possible that starting with CDs may change my perception of that. The good thing with the CDs is that I already got the free CD player which makes it’s a very low cost experiment.
While I’m not publicly acclaimed for my sass, it’s certainly there! I’m a Gemini so I tend to have two sides I show to the world. You’ve perhaps only seen the buttoned up side but I can be a bit cheeky too! 😂
Crazy how you guys made so many sacrifices back in the day for your antiques. On the one hand there's the passion and commitment, which is great; on the other hand, the downsides in other areas of life can be brutal.
It's insane how much music, particularly new music, you stream a day 🤣 I totally get that you want to wait a little bit and see what you need, what you want and what, if any, you feel you're missing. CDs are light, generally cheap and uncomplicated so it's a great way to test/rediscover the "physicality" of record collecting in the 21st century.
Love your cheeky side! I've seen a little bit of it, though, especially when you were describing certain character falling down on the trekking path with dumbbells in her backpack 😂
It’s so hard when you are physically touching the product to not walk away with it!! Hahahaha!
It most definitely is 😂😂😂
Music tastes change, and purging your collection of those LPs you no longer listen to nor want could be good. And that money you make on selling them can go back into your collection with albums from your want list.
Thank you, Michael, for reading and commenting! Absolutely agree that a purge every now and then is a great idea as our tastes evolve and our needs or requirements change. And yes, your old (unwanted) records can give way to new records from your wantlist, not just in terms of space but also money-wise!
Thanks again!
If the first category scores a 3, that’s it, no questions asked 😄
The funny part, though? Later on, I sometimes can’t even explain what exactly swept me up in the moment!
Thank you, Pe! Yes, I agree: the first category should be the one that matters the most.
And as you very well say, sometimes we can't explain why 😉
Thanks a lot for reading and commenting!
Vinyl Tetris is a great way to frame it! I'd love to say I have a system or rubric that determines whether or not I pick up a record, but that would imply some sort of discipline—something I just don't have when I'm in a record store. The most common question I ask myself is if I'd buy something just to have it. If the answer's yes, then it goes back in the crate.
Thank you! Discipline can be tough, especially when you see a lot of cool records in very quick succession 😂 I love the question you ask yourself because it's a very efficient way of separating the wheat from the chaff. Interestingly I say something similar in my upcoming video--if I wasn't a one-take, no-edits freak, I'd go back and give you credit! Thanks for reading and commenting 😊
Hi Andres! I get inspired by your discussions of record collecting! The problem is I've generally been trying to get rid of all the excess that my husband and I have built up in the 34 years in our house! Presently, I've been donating and selling old books that have been collecting dust. DVDs I can't part with! My album collection sits just beyond my computer monitor: four crates with about 100 in each. Most are from the days before CDs. I have no intention of getting rid of them! Adding more is a whole other matter. I'll add vinyl that is being sold after a concert, especially when I can get it signed but this is pretty rare. I think getting a new turntable and sound system might motivate me to buy more. However, I'm not sure I need a new one. I've got an old Pioneer PL-990. So, here's my question: If you could buy a reasonably priced turntable, what you buy today??
Thank you, Dan! I love the fact you get inspired. I appreciate it a lot.
I hear what you say about getting rid of excess stuff. At the same time I love that you don’t want to get rid of your records 😊
Sounds like you’ve got a nice collection so I get what you say about being careful with expanding it. I believe that if your turntable still performs well and brings you joy, then that’s all that matters. Perhaps you can look at replacing or upgrading your stylus at some point though, as you’ll notice a significant difference in sound.
In terms of modern (affordable) turntables, I personally think you can’t go wrong with the Audio Technica/Sony/Fluance range.
Always check reviews though, but I’d start there 😉 Hope this helps!
Yes! Thanks. I need to hook it up to better speakers though. Right now I've only got it connected to my Mac so the sound isn't that great.
I hear you. Some in the AudioTechnica and Sony range have bluetooth connectivity which means you can connect your turntable directly to speakers via bluetooth if you don’t have a receiver.
I was able to pick up a reasonably priced packaged set: AudioTechnica turntable with decent speakers at my local record store. It was $299. He had a package with better speakers for $399, but I just got the $299 package. OMG the sound when I play vinyl vs streaming is amazing!!! It was worth it! I was just planning on getting better speakers for my cheap suitcase player, but I was also going to have to tape a penny to the needle to get it to not skip as much 😂 and with investing in new vinyl, I didn’t want to risk ruining new records.
This is great, Kristin! AudioTechnica is a great brand, one of my favourites. And sounds like you got a great deal!
You can always upgdade the speakers if you feel the need in a couple of years, but I’m so glad you could get this deal and that you can notice the difference in sound. 100% your records will thank you 😊
I will check that out. Thanks!
Vinyl Tetris! 😂 I don’t have enough at this point to have to experience that as my best music buddy does! (I haven’t counted mine, but I’m guessing less than 200). He has like over 17,000 by now I’m sure. Last year it was 16,800. I helped him catalog new ones and Tetris a couple of his shelves - which took a few hours just for 2! His dad built shelves from ceiling to floor for vinyl storage.
I love your test. This is a lot how I am approaching my purchases these days. I’m poor, so I can’t afford a lot (I had a clean credit card on record store day this year which was a huge mistake because I bought twice as much as I intended). So, it has to be a solid album start to finish. I have made a few exceptions, but not many. If there’s a couple of skips, but a couple of super great songs I will be more inclined to make an exception. I try to listen to the entire album before making a purchase, which I love streaming for! You couldn’t listen to an album in its entirety before purchasing back in the days before streaming! Unless a friend had it. And I’ve pretty much always been poor, so back then, if a friend had an album I wanted, I would give them a blank cassette tape to make a copy for me! Haha!! It wasn’t about collecting for me back then - it was all about having access to the music I loved.
One factor that goes into my purchase decisions now is whether I would play a track from it at my local brewery’s vinyl night. If it’s a “no,” then it has to be heavy on the emotional or cultural connection.
I did purchase 2 non-Record Store Day albums on RSD. One had both great emotional and cultural significance- the 35th anniversary edition of Tracy Chapman’s first album (s/t). I had the cassette when it originally came out and played it for years! It has still been in rotation for me all these years. The other was another emotional purchase-A Flock of Seagulls - I Ran (So Far Away). It has 3 of their singles, which I loved back in the day. My mom had gotten me a compilation cassette of “new age” groups that was my first exposure to what became my favorite genre in the early 80s! And the song Wishing (If I Had a Photograph of You) was on it. So, I guess that counts as culturally significant to me as well!! LOL
Thank you so much, Kristin, for reading, commenting and sharing. I appreciate it a lot.
I agree with you that if one doesn’t feel there is good enough a purpose (in which, in your case, the community aspect seems to play a big role, which I think is awesome), then the emotional pull needs to kinda compensate for that.
I love the fact you indulged in two non-RSD purchases on RSD (you know how much I love a contrarian when I spot one lol 😂 even if it was unintentional).
By mere luck or serendipity I managed to get, not too long ago, an early pressing of Tracy’s debut in pretty good condition. That album is monumental from start to finish. The weight of her voice, geez. It gives me goosebumps.
Thanks a lot once again for being here 😊
Hahahaha!! When we went into the second store on RSD, they didn’t have everything in one location, but all over the store and mixed in with non-RSD stuff… my friend ended up spending about $200 and not one RSD title 🤣 but, she didn’t care and didn’t even look at the list. She walked away with albums she wanted.
Tracy Chapman still gives me goosebumps! That first album is definitely within my top 10.
I love that. Also very brave to shop on that day. I tend to shop the week before or after 🤣
Yes, Tracy’s first album is indeed very special.
Well done again, Maestro! You got me to thinking! You're a cultural music archivist....as are many in this century. I love your honesty in "not needing" to run out and get new records. That was me 5 and 6 decades ago...as our rock and vinyl history was being built, vinyl brick by vinyl brick!
No earth-shattering conclusion...but, that delineation, I think, is key to help us clarify A) if we buy, B) what we buy, and C) just how much we buy. I think your listening habits (and others, this century, as well) are driven a bit (if not a lot) by streaming, etc, and that takes care of the new-new that's out there. But, as a vinyl archivist, it's both about your enjoyment of the music, as well as documenting (by owning) the vinyl reproduction of your favorite music!
With Dad's help (for new readers...he was in radio, '60s and '70s, and brought home lots of new promo records), I became obsessed by this regular influx of "this new music," and was likely quite unaware of any historical significance I was amassing in my childhood and teenaged bedroom closet! As I know we've touched on several times before, I wish I could take today's Andy, time-travel him to my 18-year-old self's 1973 bedroom, slide open my closet door, and let you gape at the wonders within (no, not those....THOSE should be in boxes)!
Again, the merging of why we collect(ed): The love of the music and the physical album. When I read all about you and (mostly) fellow music writers, here, it's hard for me to relate, sometimes, to those used-records/bin-diving experiences....while I did that sporadically in the '70s and '80s, it was never an intense drive for me (no value judgment; just different needs and wants)....I had my natural "income"....Dad's promo largesse brought home, and then, for a decade, my personal "gets" while in radio and retail records, myself, thru the early-'80s.
But, I DID find I enjoyed the thrill of discovery, on occasion, when a record or 3 I'd find at a flea market or record convo (the more likely places to find used records back then)....I'd go, "Hey, there's that early-'70s Capitol Rick Springfield album I read about in CREEM!" or "Hey, is THAT what Todd's 'Runt' album looks like! I'd love to hear it, AND feel the joy of determining its rightful place on my beloved shelf of magical sounds!"
Thanks again, Andy! Fun and thought-provoking stuff (even with.....especially with?) a hangover!😁
Thank you so much, Brad! You bring such wisdom and invaluable experience to this, my humble abode. Not just invaluable for me and others my age who, mathematically and biologically, couldn’t have been there, but also, I dare say, people of older generations too who may not have had the exposure and access you had.
You mention, quite rightly, the influx of records your dad brought (and man, don’t I wish I could time-travel with you), but if you allow me I will also add —because you’re too modest to say it yourself— that you then worked really hard, on your own merit, to have access to unique moments in rock history. I mean, no one just happens to land in the Ramones’ hotel room.
Perhaps you will say you didn’t know, at the time, how iconic those bands/sounds/records/periods in music history would later become, but there were, undeniably, a lot of others you could have been chasing/fanboying (is that a verb?)/ waiting for outside of concert venues, etc. It takes a special kind of intuition to know who to chase and what to do especially with the information you had available at the time. And I am the Maestro? 🎩 Chapeau, my friend! And happy Easter!
Your third paragraph....nail on head, bruh! So much of my knowledge and awareness of the artists of the time were fueled by writers on the 'Stack, now....Wayne Robins and Robert Christgau, two among them! Yes, I see you, John Mendelsohn!! https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Mendelsohn_(musician) New to the 'Stack, Andy....John had the best of both worlds: A rock critic, AND a major-label recording artist (his Christopher Milk on United Artists '71, and Reprise/Warner Bros. Records, '72)!
https://www.discogs.com/artist/2238721-Christopher-Milk
All of them helped me and my records "run alongside" the original intent of the artists, which informed my sense of their eventual place in rock history....as well as "teaching me" the hows and wherefores of this thing called rock criticism/writing!
Which gets us to your spot-on 3rd paragraph....we not only love the music of our faves, but (if they do it right!) we come to love who they are...they're communicating THAT thru their music and lyrics, of course! You don't just love Mariah's music....you love who she has become TO YOU thru her music! We can see it in your pix with her! She obviously felt comfortable with you, as you knew she would, because, thanks to her music, you two were already friends!
She picked up on that as quickly, readily, and securely as The Ramones, Dead Boys, Tom Robinson (he was a passenger in my car?!?😱), Dolls, et al did with me....their music made me feel comfortable to visit them, backstage, and elsewhere, and each quickly realized I wasn't after them for something (well, OK......Dee Dee!😉), and felt encouraged to have me be one of them for a time! But, it all starts with them being their honest selves....their personalities come through in the music...........thankfully.🎵
Thank you so much, Brad, for saying all of that. Your comment is so timely as I’ve just recorded a quick video post, which you will see in a couple of weeks, where I talk about the difference between a true leader and a snob. Everything you are saying now reinforces the point I made in the video about true leaders (hearing others, encouraging them, giving credit, etc.). You know I’m a one-take kinda guy, but I wish I could turn back time and cite this comment as an example of a true leader!
Fear not though, because I’ll find an opportunity in the future… there’s a lot more left in this tank!
Thanks again, above all, for being so gracious.
Great minds think alike....and, apparently, concurrently! Good to hear about your new video; looking forward to seeing it! Thanks again, Andy!🌟
Thank you, Brad! I’ve got three in the queue already 😂 I don’t want to stop writing/podcasting, but I must say, I’m really enjoying this video thing, because it takes me just a couple of minutes (6-9 minutes), as I do everything in one take (which is as nerve racking as it is fun). I might do one week text+voice, one week video, so roughly 2 of each per month. It decompresses my writing time and allows me to connect with you all more directly. Watch this space!
I love that plan....sounds exciting on your end, as well as being a variety for your adoring vinyl horde! Don't forget the possibility of a future "Making of...." video of your writing/V.O. and vid process...more content, plus, we'd love to see all the rooms in The Vinyl Room!💿😎
It's a tough shout on the basis that every track creates a personal memory for it's listener do l purchase x because l really like tack Y but then the rest are quite average ? My purchases are usually based on memories as in those wonderful flashbacks music envokes, l am transported back to that 6 year old listening to Love me do on Red Parlaphone l still have the disc and whenever l handle it memories flood my mind .With marriages, work ,Children and of course musical styles things change but long may the joy of music touch us in so many ways.
Thank you, Graham! You raise an interesting point. Personally, I think it depends on how much of an emotional pull that one track has. Sometimes one track can make a whole album worth owning. Generally, though, at least for me, I would need more than one track to stand out before I decide to bring the record home. I also think nowadays with music being so widely available, the bar is (should be) higher in terms of what we decide to physically own. Ultimately though, I agree with you that it's all a question of the joy music brings us, in whatever form it may be. Thanks a lot for reading and commenting!
Long may it continue .
I really enjoyed listening to this. As a young man, I had collected over 600 records, albums. Later in life when I was moving around a lot, it became a burden and I got rid of all of them. Especially once streaming kicked-in. I thought, why carry all this around. And then years later I had deep regret for getting rid of all of it. What was I thinking and I sort of wished it all back. You idiot!
But if I really think about it, how many of the 600 were quality or something that I even would still be into. Many were promotional albums or things that I didn’t listen to anymore. It was a lot of shit.
Now, I find myself recollecting, which is interesting because then you’re forcing yourself to really think about is this worth $20-$40 for that one album which is why I love your three question system I’m gonna look at my collection and see how it matches up thank you for sharing.
Thank you so much, Mark, for reading/listening and commenting! Indeed records can become a bit of a liability especially when moving around a lot. But I am glad to hear you are recollecting. Your previous experience is invaluable as it will help you refine your choices and avoid some of the mistakes you feel you may have made in the past. Pleased to know my little test can come in handy! Thanks again!
Most of my comments to YOU went on to MY post. (That's rude, isn't it?)
If you were hungover, I could not tell.
Yes, MOVES. That is the one and only arbiter. No other. Not because a critic likes it, not because your friends like it, not because (insert stupid reason here.) Apart for the vinyl aspect, I roam across the musical landscape as well. In what I've played, what I've performed, in what I listen to.
For example, I never got the punk movement staring circa '74, and I LIVED IN NEW YORK at the time and was playing in clubs. I would go in and listen, and, I'm sorry, it did not MOVE me. (Oh, not sorry.) They might have been breaking all sorts of new ground but I, as a member of the audience (and not on stage as I may have been an hour or so earlier) would think: please, PLEASE, for the love of God, learn how to tune your guitar. Is that too much to ask?
I'm with you on Sam Cooke, Marvin, Aretha, and Mariah. (Common denominator here: killer vocal chops. Which, not surprisingly, move one.)
Thank you, John! You probably managed to edit it because I didn't notice at all! Let's blame it on our (collective) hangover 😂
Thanks a lot for your comment, and I agree 100%. I've always respected the punk movement from a cultural perspective but the truth is the music has never moved me.
Plus I'm unashamedly a singing snob (as you can probably tell based on who I dig the most)🤣 so, yeah, well, there's that 😅
Thanks again!
Andres, happy long weekend (here in Canada anyway).
My other issue is with albums I haven’t listened to in ages. So I drew up a sheet of all my albums, just over 200, and have started to note keep/go with them as well as frequency of spins. A few just don’t resonate with me anymore and I’ve pulled half a dozen to play forward or thrift them. Before I tracked them on paper it would be “maybe I’ll listen to it later” and now having that visual tracker makes it easier to make room for new lps.
Have no idea how I’d track collections in the thousands!
Will definitely give your method a go for next purchases.
Thank you so much, Clark, for reading and commenting. Happy long weekend to you too!
I love the fact you tracked frequency of spins, and that you’ve earmarked some to part ways with. Sounds like something I see myself doing from now on from time to time. Thanks a lot, and glad I could help as well!
Egads. You just like distortion in big nice looking packages.
And it sounds like you must be a lot of fun at parties
LPs and streaming are not the only choices. Digita .wav files can be stored on hard drives, taking up almost no physical space. Memory is almost free, so you can store a few copies, and memory cards allow you to play on portable devices and in cars.
And they sound better than LPs.
I never said they were the only choices, but undoubtedly they are the most common for most people. I see very little difference between wav files and my high-quality audio streaming (16-bit minimum, but 24-bit as a rule). As for sounding “better”, I’m not so sure, but vinyl definitely feels right.
If you're streaming 16-24 bit, 44k, that's CD or better quality, so fine.
When I say better, I mean a more accurate representation of what is on the master recording. LPs have pleasant forms of distortion relating to the impossibility of proper stylus-groove interface, and generally somewhat attenuated high frequencies.
What makes you think I didn’t know that? Or did you just want to say it?