How many LPs is enough?


Right-- the answer is "Just a few more..." However, here is where I am and what I'm thinking: The last three times I was in my local used/thrift shops, I came across a few that I was not quite sure if I already had, or whether I had that pressing. I wondered if I need to carry a Blackberry (anathema to my analog way of life) with my collection downloaded so that I could avoid this kind of dilemma.
I only own about 700 or so titles, spanning classical box sets to recent limited-release albums. I realize that this is nothing compared to most of you, but I donate what I upgrade and I sell what I do not enjoy listening to. I maintain an Excel database of what I have, and enter each upon cleaning and test-listening; I don't just buy 'em and throw 'em in a bin. While it is rather engaging to compare, say, six versions of Bolero or Beethoven's symphonies 1-9 to determine which sounds best, am I really going to listen to the other five once this is determined? Likewise, while I own a stereo and mono version, and often an audiophile reissue, of most of my favorite late '50's through '60's jazz, surf, folk, and psych, it usually turns out that one or the other sounds significantly better. My overriding rationale is that I don't really need more than a one-year supply of one title per day. While building my collection, I have enjoyed making the comparisons or searching out the missing performance when it comes to classical, but nobody who I expose to this stuff is interested in making these comparisons-- they want to hear the vinyl magic, so I always pull the superior recording.
Maybe I only need about 300-400 titles of what I consider best of the best. Even when and if I retire and have more free time, I'm not sure that I would listen to more than one LP per day, and this gives me a year of no-repeats. Of course, my husk can still haunt the local thrifts and resale shops for that fifty-cent, mint six-eye Kind of Blue, so long as I immediately sell my two-eye... Has anyone else come to this conclusion? Am I to be immediately and henceforth banished from the Brotherhood of Crusty Vinyl Seekers after having my stylus bent?
morgenholz

Showing 1 response by hevac1

Many many more as far as I'm concerned.

I started collecting records in the 80's. Mostly current regular releases, MFSL & D-D, R&R and the like. Then the CD revolution started and people I know started giving me there collections and still do today. Most of it is rock & roll or disco. Disco ends up at record stores unless I really like the song, few and far between.

Now here’s the problem. Like I said I am mainly into rock but over the past few years I am finding my tastes are changing. I'm starting to like Jazz, Blues and some classical. I have some but did have a lot of this kind of music. Now that I am older and travel in different circles some of the people I now meet have Jazz & Blues & Classical and they learn I listen to records they offer me their collections. Some want money but most just want the room they get when I take them away. I'm hoping I get some real nice items. I just got a bunch of CTI recording & some Blue Note originals.

After trying to get some of the above mentioned used, I realized it will cost quite a lot of money to secure them from stores etc, 100's if not 1000's of dollars if they can even be found. I start looking at reissues, the prices are more reasonable but still on the high side. I look further into it and realized that even the reissues once out of print can also cost almost as much as the originals.

I have been collecting reissues even if I do not like the music, Jazz etc. just in case I like it later. This is the only way to afford them. I do leave them sealed unless I like the music now or later, as an investment.

I figure when I retire I can sell some off as I get older or my wife can live off them when I am gone. I know she will out live me her mother is 92 and her grandmother lived to 105, my family average is 72. I just hope she doesn't sell them at a yard sale for .50 cent each. My current collection, around 6000 and counting.

Enjoy your music,