View Full Version : Sorting one's record collection.
Mikeandvan
19-08-2023, 19:59
Having a big clear out of my record collection at the moment, due to space being so ridiculously tight in my current rented flat, and likely no hope of ever moving anywhere bigger. Still I've never wanted a big collection, and know a few who have them, some records never see the light of day. My collection has always been quite small, at the most only ever had around 600 12"s/LPs. Now it's all you can see in this pic, around 300. The second pic are records I've sifted out for getting rid of, selling if its worth it (some will just go straight to trash).
I like to think of my collection as a rotating stock, some of the stuff I listened to when I was 20 I have no interest in now, some I still do, the Kinks for instance, will be with me to the grave. Likewise stuff I was buying 10 years ago, I get into it, play it loads to start with, then less and less as the years pass, and I think, I ain't got the time to listen to these old records I've heard many times when there's so much stuff I haven't heard. So I um and ah over some, whether to keep or not, but I think the best policy is to be brutal, life is short, make room for new stuff. Remember when you die, there'll be some grubby bastard rubbing his hands together over your collection which your relatives will have paid him to take away, either that or he'll just chuck it in his tipper!!
Some may think 'what's the big deal', but my collection really means something to me! Even though I'm chucking half of it. I look forward to new acquisitions, I give most records a shelf life of 5-10 years.
The entirety of my collection, may not look like much, but it feels like there's actually loads in there to listen to, still more culling to come!
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53127918604_032830ae55_z.jpg
To chuck/ebay
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53128189053_ecc68a1682_z.jpg
Any other Tangerine Dream getting the heave, if so I’d be interested in anything like that if you fancied selling on here.
Classic Rock, Prog, Electronic ?
:)
Good for you. I once wrote an article here titled "Can one have too much music?"
In general the response was 'no', the argument being that with stuff you haven't played for ages, there is always the possibility of rediscovery and re-appreciation.
I have about 1,500 LPs and around 2,500 CDs. Like you they need a cull, as l'm running out of storage space; at the moment they are stored in several locations around the house.
Pigmy Pony
19-08-2023, 23:20
Get another identical Kallax and put it on top of your existing one. Then you'll have a load more space for records, including those currently taking up floor space.
Your record player will then be at a more comfortable height :)
vinyl is still appreciating in value I wouldn't be too quick to sell assets.
600 is a manageable amount, about the same as I have. Takes up 2 shelves of a bookcase, sat in an alcove, really not too much space to sacrifice IMO.
I'm not selling them and I don't ever play any of them. I bought all the albums I do play regularly again on CD. The CDs are actually more difficult to manage, storage-wise.
Wakefield Turntables
20-08-2023, 07:20
Get another identical Kallax and put it on top of your existing one. Then you'll have a load more space for records, including those currently taking up floor space.
Your record player will then be at a more comfortable height :)
He will have to re-mount his telly!
Pigmy Pony
20-08-2023, 10:17
He will have to re-mount his telly!
Yeah, probably about six inches. But he's mounted it once, I'm sure it can be done again :)
Mikeandvan
20-08-2023, 10:46
Telly would be too high then, besides I think you've missed the main drift of my post, I treat my collection as a rotating one, a curation of my tastes which changes every few years, that and the house clearance thing, don't leave anything valuable for the bastards!
Pigmy Pony
20-08-2023, 10:50
Telly would be too high then, besides I think you've missed the main drift of my post, I treat my collection as a rotating one, a curation of my tastes which changes every few years, that and the house clearance thing, don't leave anything valuable for the bastards!
Oh well, it looks like you've got some selling to do. What you got?
Mikeandvan
20-08-2023, 10:52
Good for you. I once wrote an article here titled "Can one have too much music?"
In general the response was 'no', the argument being that with stuff you haven't played for ages, there is always the possibility of rediscovery and re-appreciation.
I have about 1,500 LPs and around 2,500 CDs. Like you they need a cull, as l'm running out of storage space; at the moment they are stored in several locations around the house.
It is true that sometimes you dig an LP out you haven't played in ages and it sounds great, but at 52 now I don't think I'll be jumping around to any techno 12"s any longer. There's some music you just never never want to hear again, for some reason Portishead makes my teeth itch these days. My tastes now lean towards 70s jazz, I can never seem to get enough of the ECM label. But seeing as most of us are on this planet for about 8 decades, I find a shelf life of 10 years for records not even enough to appreciate all the music on offer.
Mikeandvan
20-08-2023, 10:53
Oh well, it looks like you've got some selling to do. What you got?
Nothing too rare or valuable, I'll do a list on here, before I try ebay.
Mikeandvan
20-08-2023, 10:53
Any other Tangerine Dream getting the heave, if so I’d be interested in anything like that if you fancied selling on here.
Classic Rock, Prog, Electronic ?
:)
No, one was enough for me! I'll list on here b4 I ebay them.
Mikeandvan
20-08-2023, 11:26
vinyl is still appreciating in value I wouldn't be too quick to sell assets.
600 is a manageable amount, about the same as I have. Takes up 2 shelves of a bookcase, sat in an alcove, really not too much space to sacrifice IMO.
I'm not selling them and I don't ever play any of them. I bought all the albums I do play regularly again on CD. The CDs are actually more difficult to manage, storage-wise.
I don't get how cds are harder to store!
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53128384358_c734b8c42a_z.jpg
Mikeandvan
20-08-2023, 11:28
Talking about LPs one hasn't played in an age, I just dug out Taxi Driver soundtrack by Bernard Herman and its blindingly good on my current system.
It is true that sometimes you dig an LP out you haven't played in ages and it sounds great, but at 52 now I don't think I'll be jumping around to any techno 12"s any longer. There's some music you just never never want to hear again, for some reason Portishead makes my teeth itch these days. My tastes now lean towards 70s jazz, I can never seem to get enough of the ECM label. But seeing as most of us are on this planet for about 8 decades, I find a shelf life of 10 years for records not even enough to appreciate all the music on offer.
The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labour and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away
Not bothered what happens to my stuff that's someone else's problem (or goldmine). If that's the tat man then so be it.
Like you I don't see the practical purpose in a huge collection, where is the time to enjoy it all? Same with this streaming thing 'You have access to millions of recordings' oh yeah and access to millions of years to listen to them all? Nope.
My tastes have not changed still play the music I liked as a teenager, but they have expanded a bit over the years.
Patrick Dixon
20-08-2023, 16:31
No, one was enough for me!
Yeah, the one I bought about 40 years ago, I have never manged to play all the way through. I try, but life's just too short.
Wakefield Turntables
20-08-2023, 19:21
It is true that sometimes you dig an LP out you haven't played in ages and it sounds great, but at 52 now I don't think I'll be jumping around to any techno 12"s any longer. There's some music you just never never want to hear again, for some reason Portishead makes my teeth itch these days. My tastes now lean towards 70s jazz, I can never seem to get enough of the ECM label. But seeing as most of us are on this planet for about 8 decades, I find a shelf life of 10 years for records not even enough to appreciate all the music on offer.
oH BUGGER, is this something that happens when you hit 50, you start listening to Jazz? I'm afraid I've fallen into this catagory, still like Portishead however!
Mikeandvan
20-08-2023, 21:31
oH BUGGER, is this something that happens when you hit 50, you start listening to Jazz? I'm afraid I've fallen into this catagory, still like Portishead however!
Only jazz that doesn't raise the blood pressure, (Albert Ayler for instance!).
oH BUGGER, is this something that happens when you hit 50, you start listening to Jazz? I'm afraid I've fallen into this catagory, still like Portishead however!
I’m 65 and have (thankfully) no jazz records - life is good :)
Mikeandvan
22-08-2023, 19:58
I'm now entertaining the extremely radical thought of selling every single record over a year old, and buying loads of new ones, life is short!
I’m 65 and have (thankfully) no jazz records - life is good :)
I'm over 65 and have (thankfully) over a 100 jazz records. As you say life is good. :)
I'm over 65 and have (thankfully) over a 100 jazz records. As you say life is good. :)
:cool:
ive a good few but dont play them much... have to be in mood, and blues takes preference over jazz.
rmcin626
23-08-2023, 12:42
I have about a dozen or so Jazz records plus quite a few jazz funk records.
It ought to be pointed out that "jazz" is a broad genre. So when I say I like jazz, that excludes 'swing' or 'big band' jazz. I'm also ambivalent about jazz-funk and the use of jazz guitar.
It would probably be easier to say my tastes in jazz are almost exactly opposite those of Mike, with the records I think he wants to sell.
I have a couple of big band albums I don't count them as jazz but as you say it's a broad church.
Quite a few Pat Metheney albums but I don't think he is jazz either even though he's on ECM. Or was might be on Geffen now.
i have a couple of big band albums i don't count them as jazz but as you say it's a broad church.
Quite a few pat metheney albums but i don't think he is jazz either even though he's on ecm. Or was might be on geffen now.
love big band stuff takes me to the 30's and 40's
love big band stuff takes me to the 30's and 40's
yes indeed - it's like some sort of time-warp effect :)
rmcin626
23-08-2023, 18:32
I have a couple of big band albums I don't count them as jazz but as you say it's a broad church.
Quite a few Pat Metheney albums but I don't think he is jazz either even though he's on ECM. Or was might be on Geffen now.
No big band stuff
I have a couple of big band albums I don't count them as jazz but as you say it's a broad church.
Quite a few Pat Metheney albums but I don't think he is jazz either even though he's on ECM. Or was might be on Geffen now.
I don't regard Pat Matheny as jazz; but then I'm not that keen on him, despite his obvious talent.
I don't regard Pat Matheny as jazz; but then I'm not that keen on him, despite his obvious talent.
he's done a pretty wide variety, some of his stuff I really like and some I really don't. A bit like Zappa in that respect.
Wakefield Turntables
23-08-2023, 19:58
Probably have 200-300 hundred jazz albums, mostly charity/car boot finds. Some amazing MONO pressings, it's just ONE genre that I listen to with Prog being another, heavy metal another, and classical yet another!!
Mikeandvan
23-08-2023, 21:01
It ought to be pointed out that "jazz" is a broad genre. So when I say I like jazz, that excludes 'swing' or 'big band' jazz. I'm also ambivalent about jazz-funk and the use of jazz guitar.
It would probably be easier to say my tastes in jazz are almost exactly opposite those of Mike, with the records I think he wants to sell.
I dunno, I like Modern, 50s onwards, 70s jazz is my fave at the minute though, upto the mid 70s it was still a very vibrant genre. I'll be selling a few jazz vinyls I have on cd.
Mikeandvan
23-08-2023, 21:02
I have a couple of big band albums I don't count them as jazz but as you say it's a broad church.
Quite a few Pat Metheney albums but I don't think he is jazz either even though he's on ECM. Or was might be on Geffen now.
Indeed, I always struggle to describe the ECM sound, it seems like Blue Note, quite an incestuous scene, I don't mean they all slept with their children, you know what i mean.
Pete The Cat
28-08-2023, 08:03
Constraint can be a good discipline. I use a wall that can take up to 1,000 albums/12"s and at that number I know what I've got and I still have some sort of connection with them, like I can remember where I bought them, where I first heard them and that kind of thing.
I've known a couple of folks with more than 15,000 records and although browsing is interesting (I'd love an invitation to John Peel's house someday) I wouldn't like that many records myself since I'd lose sight of each one. Partly for the same reason streaming doesn't thrill me as a main source, I think there's a difference between a collection - meaning a reflection of yourself - and a library, which is a lot of "stuff".
Pete
Constraint can be a good discipline. I use a wall that can take up to 1,000 albums/12"s and at that number I know what I've got and I still have some sort of connection with them, like I can remember where I bought them, where I first heard them and that kind of thing.
I've known a couple of folks with more than 15,000 records and although browsing is interesting (I'd love an invitation to John Peel's house someday) I wouldn't like that many records myself since I'd lose sight of each one. Partly for the same reason streaming doesn't thrill me as a main source, I think there's a difference between a collection - meaning a reflection of yourself - and a library, which is a lot of "stuff".
Pete
yes, very good. Added to the fact that I don't think there are 15000 records that I like. That's why I see streaming services as useless to me, there is no point having access to millions of songs I have no interest in.
I can check recommendations out on Youtube in seconds and for nothing. Success rate for that is about one in twenty, i.e for every twenty artist recommendations I check out, there's one I will be interested in listening to more than once. For those I will buy the CD.
MarginWalker
05-09-2023, 15:21
Sounds from this that a vinyl swapshop is needed. I somehow have a load of YES records which I am more likely to use as dinner plates than listen to!
rigger67
06-09-2023, 11:42
Sounds from this that a vinyl swapshop is needed. I somehow have a load of YES records which I am more likely to use as dinner plates than listen to!
Perfectly acceptable behaviour, so long as you're eating curry from the foil boxes whilst wearing a lamé cape .. and I say that as a huge Yes fan :yay:
Mikeandvan
07-09-2023, 18:43
I've realised most records only have a shelf life of a few years before they become just objects.
Lawrence001
07-09-2023, 21:11
Familiarity can breed contempt. There are a few records that remind me of the first time I heard them every time I play them but they're few and far between.
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Mikeandvan
08-09-2023, 21:40
I'm really coming around to this idea of a 'rotating' record collection, its so much more 'real'. It's like when you first got into music.
Well, tastes can change with time - you can grow out of things.
I'm in the process of rehousing my music collection, and have been surprised to find LPs I had forgotten about as well as duplication of others (!).
So your idea of a 'rotating' collection makes sense and is attractive.
Mikeandvan
08-09-2023, 22:28
Nothing is permanent.
Lawrence001
09-09-2023, 09:44
I'm really coming around to this idea of a 'rotating' record collection, its so much more 'real'. It's like when you first got into music.I'm with you to some extent but I couldn't bear to get rid of hundreds of them and risk not having them when I wanted to hear them.
If you can put most of your records somewhere not easily accessible and be disciplined about not getting one out if you fancy listening to it , you can keep your records and have the benefits of a rotation.
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Not got a massive LP collection (few hundred - and I'm keeping em!) so cant really contribute much,
but what I'd add is that theres a cool way to use those Doublers, or boxed for the Charity Shop ones you just know wont be played.
Falls under "Sorting your collection out" anyways..
Use them as storage dividers!
Unloved LP?
Bit of Dymo tape, job done.
https://i.imgur.com/XzmDu3D.jpg
Saw this on an Audio bloggers YouTube video in the background and thought, I'm gonna nick that. :)
Mikeandvan
09-09-2023, 16:36
Not got a massive LP collection (few hundred - and I'm keeping em!) so cant really contribute much,
but what I'd add is that theres a cool way to use those Doublers, or boxed for the Charity Shop ones you just know wont be played.
Falls under "Sorting your collection out" anyways..
Use them as storage dividers!
Unloved LP?
Bit of Dymo tape, job done.
https://i.imgur.com/XzmDu3D.jpg
Saw this on an Audio bloggers YouTube video in the background and thought, I'm gonna nick that. :)
I organise my collection by genre,which can get messy.
Mikeandvan
09-09-2023, 16:44
I'm with you to some extent but I couldn't bear to get rid of hundreds of them and risk not having them when I wanted to hear them.
If you can put most of your records somewhere not easily accessible and be disciplined about not getting one out if you fancy listening to it , you can keep your records and have the benefits of a rotation.
Sent from my PCT-L29 using Tapatalk
I dunno, I'm really coming around to the idea of hard-core decluttering, I'm realising that it makes one's collection much more vibrant. I think after 20, 30 odd plays a record loses a lot. Hearing new lps for the first time is great. At the same time streaming doesn't appeal to me, although I will set up that chrome thingy I bought years ago to blast out some records now and then, perhaps after a few glasses.
I organise my collection by genre,which can get messy.
So do I, though it can get tricky with 'cross-over' artist(e)s such as John Martyn.
Just use Metadata?
Oh, hang on...
So do I, though it can get tricky with 'cross-over' artist(e)s such as John Martyn.John Martyns easy - goes under bin [emoji23]
I've got no John Martyn. Did use to have 'Solid Air' on tape years ago.
Mikeandvan
11-09-2023, 12:25
I find J Martyn very listenable, got 3 of his LPs.
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