Working in a record store was absolutely the funnest job (most expensive)I ever had. A third of my pay check went back into the store. Pure joy, lots of hacky sack, promos, and turning someone on to something they never suspected. I was there for the transition.
Yeah same thing happened to me when I worked at Burger King at 13. Half my pay went toward food and it didn’t help being a fat kid manning the milk shake machines.
Great points from this sixty-five year old who also bought my first lp in 1973 in So Cal! Licorice Pizza, Warehouse Records, Tower Records, Music Market, Music Plus, bought lps everywhere! Albums are cheaper now with what people make today! Thanks for setting the record straight on this, my friend! Now I won't second guess my five hundred a month for vinyl and cd's! Lived in Auburn/Kent for seven years, miss the great folks up there! Thanks again!
i got into records last year as I was building out a new sound system and figured I give the format a try. Vinyl made me more appreciative CDs and DACs. Less hassle, less expensive, and quality sound always guaranteed.
Thank you for your insight. Very informative! Thank you for sharing your experiences and unbiased thoughts! I appreciate you taking the time to share!!!
Thanks for this interesting take on the state of record collecting. As always I relate to nearly everything you describe. You are appreciated by this 73 yr old music lover. Keep up the great TH-cam work you do.
I just found your channel and love this video! I had similar experience when CD's came out and practically gave away my vinyl and cassette collection!! then a couple of years ago I walked into a Bed n Bath store an saw this cute suitcase record player reminded me of the first one I had when I was teenager so I took it home set it up but then I forgot to get a record lol... so I stopped by my sons (he does music beats and has a nice record collection) I borrowed a couple of his and that night was so amazing listening to vinyl music again but it didn't last me long the darn thing broke down ugg... so my son for Christmas set me up with a new turntable, speakers, amps everything! because he felt bad for me listening to music in that all-in-one thing... ha... now Im recollecting all my records back some used some new some at record stores and some at amazon... but having a lot of fun! And may I say you are a cutie ✌😊💚💚
Mazzy I really enjoyed this video - keep making videos like this which are introspective and retrospective at the same time - Northern New Jersey loves you :)
Hi Mazzy, great video. Wow, a lot of history and info. Thank you so much I really enjoy your videos. Thank you so much! Happy new year Have a great day and a awesome week Shavua Tov
Quality post with actionable info. Lucky that we have in Austin some good record stores with engaging staff and yes I have had some issues with buying from these stores on line, but in these days one must preserve ones nerve endings for stuff that is truly important and give folks a break. Being a techno-ludite, I have not signed up for a instagram account but will do so now, just to get a jump on the new releases, hadn't thought of that before. Thank you for the added value to my youtube experience Mazzy. Cheers
Hi Mazzy. We’re about the same age and I stated buying records at the age of 14 beginning with The White Album. I also amassed a huge collection and somewhere in the early ‘90’s I sold about a third of my collection to make room for my CDs, DVDs and laserdiscs. That’s one of my biggest regrets ever. About 5-6 years ago I started getting back into vinyl and now rarely buy anything on CD unless it’s something really special. There’s 5 or 6 record stores here in the Houston area that I visit monthly for used records and I’ll usually spend a around a hundred bucks with each visit. Most of the new ones I get from Amazon or eBay stores. But there’s really nothing better than spending a Saturday morning thumbing though used record bins and finding an early pressing of an old favorite album that’s in really good shape, bringing it home, cleaning it up, placing the disc in a nice new inner sleeve, placing the jacket in a shiny clean, clear 4mil polypropylene outer sleeve, and placing the record on my vintage turntable for a trip down memory lane. And then I’ll post it on Facebook and all my college buddies respond like it was just yesterday…
I can relate to many of the topics covered and you hit the nail on the head. During the lock-down due to covid got myself a record cleaner, new sleeves, and went to work on my old vinyl collection. After years of buying cd's, 8-tracks, cassette tapes it was nice to listen to my old records, many purchased when vinyl was the only option. I didn't take of them like I should have but many still sound great. Perhaps the biggest differences I have discovered is my respect for vinyl and the sheer fact that I listen to the entire album without skipping to my fav track. In a way I'm hearing say "Physical Graffiti" for the first time. You mentioned BandCamp, I have purchased several albums from them, without problem and if you have not heard of "Big Something" they are really good.
Just found you and loved the educated rant! Truly a kindred spirit. My music collecting and appreciation is so similar to your story, only on a much smaller scale. I shop local, online and my current favorite, thrifting. Cost is a relative thing; if I think something is too expensive I don’t buy, but when Mofi releases a new $60 Iron Butterfly, I couldn’t get my credit card out quick enough! I love music and the experience of finding it, wherever that may be. Enjoy it all!
Love your videos! I’m also a child of the 60’s who played in a band, was majorly influenced by psych and garage bands of the era. Keep up the good work!
Aloha Mazzy, Thank you for a great video and topic. Very interesting take on your perspective . I to was blessed to work in a record Shop & record department from 1976 through 1980's. I also sold my record collection during the 1980's "83 - 87" on Consignment in a record shop I was hanging out at. I buy most of my new records through Amazon, In grove, deep discount, spin me round, etc. I also buy from Discogs, . At this time on Oahu their are only 2 mom & pops record shops their new records are bout $5.00 above Walmart prices, I do buy local, but used records. Thanks for a great video. Mahalo Ed
How things have changed record buying ain’t what it used to be, new records are much higher but it’s relative to wages and costs to produce them. Now used records can be expensive because of collectibility, rarity and competition. It’s become a trend/trendy hobby. How I miss when I/you could find great records for cheap but I deal with it. For the last 40-50 yrs I’ve been a great customer to record stores because I’ve bought many, many records and cds, I will continue until who knows when. Yes collecting and buying records is not the same anymore but I’m hooked and love records and cds. So in a sense that hasn’t changed.(Mazzy when you sold those records in the 90’s makes me cringe but that is not unusual I too sold some records for cheap to buy cds so many collectors are guilty of that) Great video I enjoyed it…John Loves Ya….☮️✌️☮️
Great perspective and video Mazzy. Like you and many others, I've been doing the AMZN pre-order thing and then reevaluating about a week before release date. This was especially beneficial during the last year with the release dates being pushed back and delays. Here in Canada, it's changed even more dramatically. Until recently, if you grabbed an AMZN pre-order early, that WAS the best price full stop. While I've always bought titles from my local shop as well, since the last months of 2021 and so far in 2022, I'm buying local even more often. Example: I had pre-ordered the Mankunku Quartet - Yakhal Inkomo repress from AMZN at just over 36 CDN, then found it online locally for 30.99. With the plethora of audiophile and regular releases, I found myself having to me more selective than ever. I've also been noticing a trend where a lot of the BN Classics are available for less than the AMZN pre-order price in the months that follow release, so while I probably won't sleep on some of the more desirable Verve titles (ex: Coltrane), I will definitely be exacting more patience and scrutiny on the BN classics as well as 'some' of the Tone Poet releases; because budget.
Great information! I was talking to a family member that has been collecting for over 60 years. I'm starting to collect again after 40 years and couldn't swallow the large prices. He also referenced the prices I paid back then vs the wages I earned and it did make sense. I was just beginning to collect jazz and couldn't afford $6 a record not knowing if I might like the artist. I learned fast by buying cutouts which might at times cost 1.99 to 2.99 for 3 records. They were packaged together so the middle album might be a mystery. It got to be a competition to see if you could be the first to go through the bins. Now my dilemma is trying to decide if the mastering and mixing is an improvement or a detriment. I'm learning as I go by following you and a few others. Thanks for your love of the music!
The records I've bought this year so far include Donovan, Junior Wells, and Coltrane. I was pleased with the pricing and the quality on Amazon. Very pleased with my purchases. I enjoyed this video very much and look forward to more Mazzy content. Happy New Year Norm!
This was a great video. I learned so much. Thank you for your expertise. Just got into vinyl when the pandemic started. Expensive habit, but man… addicted. Got lots of great ideas here today.
Edit: great to hear from someone from the old school who lived through the wax drought with me..i remember the first CD I saw in person was a copy of Purple Rain my friend's Mom bought..😂 was it more fun for you before everyone and their hipster brother started buying records? When was the first time you heard someone say vinyls? For me, about 1999/2000 and I thought maybe the poor girl was confused..😁
Extremely interesting perspective from someone who has been there through it all from the unparalleled vinyl heyday to the cool niche vinyl present. While I listened, I was cleaning my flea market CD finds. My fave is Getz Au Go Go (made in West Germany). Stan with Astrud sounded perfect on a rainy Sunshine State morning. Jazz and Classical on CD are sure hard to beat. Rock on, Mazzy! - Heather
A very nice video. Quite informational, with my kind of math (I think that way). Most of the channels I follow are frim VC members in the Midwest or the Northeast. Many of them have referenced you and I was delighted to find that you are in the Northwest (where I reside). It's taken a while for me to checkout one of your videos (for no good reason). I stumbled upon this one tonight and thought I'd check it out. I was pleased with what I saw and heard.
Thanks for that Mazzy. As someone who went through the stages you mentioned I’ve stopped buying physical copies of music. But I still get more pleasure out of listening to my vinyl and CDs than I do from the streaming services. So this video was both interesting and useful to me. Thanks again
I lived through the CD era much like you, Mazzy. For me, the upside was all the releases of vintage jazz on Riverside and Bluenote, etc. I was gobbling them up. Also all that great Stax stuff which was out of print for years. I’m back to vinyl but I’m still hanging onto those CDs.
My worst Amazon shipping experience was The Who Sell Out. The record was “protected” in shrinkwrap with the shipping label affixed - no box! You can imagine the state of the record by the time it got to the interior of BC. One of the Kate Bush box sets also arrived without any outer packaging. As the Kate boxes were produced at Optimal I know they should have sturdy outer boxes, which makes me think it was a return, and I didn’t buy it from the warehouse deals either. I learned the hard way and now I always select “gift order” and get records shipped double boxed. I will say Amazon does have a good return policy.
Great video Mazzy, I remember on the back of Columbia/Epic cd's, It read "The sound of the original recording has been preserved as closely as possible, however due to its high resolution, the compact disc can reveal limitations of the source tape" What bunk, I totally bought this hype.
I started high school in 1980, and it was SO EXCITING to buy a new record. Record stores were fun, exciting places to be. Buying an item that big (vis-a-vis a small cassette or CD) was exciting. You'd go home, put the record on, and lay back in your beanbag chair, and stare at the album cover, or the sleeve or inserts while you listened. What a great time.
As always enjoyed this video. I bought records at department stores and a grocery store. When I could afford them. I follow you on Instagram. Well done.
I recently started following you. I am from South Africa and I too (regretably) sold off all my vinyl when CD first came out. Fortunately my son recorded the 'gems' from these to Minidisc so I still listen to these on my old player. I am a bit older than you (72) but love all of the rock music (all categories including psychedelia) and I note that we have very similar taste, my top three bands are identical to yours. I was wondering whether you could do something on your channel about how people are buying music nowadays besides online (which you have already done more or less), viz. Apple or iTunes etc. and how artists incomes have been affected by this and indeed what is the biggest source of artist's income is these days. Love your channel btw.
Hi Mazzy I remember in the 70s ,80s and early 90s I cound buy records between $5- 20.00! I would see the price of CD and thought I will never be able to afford them. Who would have thought the price of CDs would drop and the price of records would skyrocket! Thumbs up! Trish
In the UK , when retired , some record prices today can be prohibitive but on the positive side ,look after your records and they will give you decades of enjoyment. Not too many things you can say that about these days.
Interesting episode Mazzy. When I think back to my vinyl collecting experiences in the late 70s and 80s (mainly 45 singles back then with LPs to a lesser degree) it was just much harder in UK. You had Woolworths or HMV and a few indie one-off small stores but there was no internet. This meant everything had to be bought in the wild which cost money (petrol) and time. I went to record fairs and bought from DJs at soul functions. Half the time you had no idea what you were buying unless a mate had it, or a DJ had played it. It is so much easier today. You can listen to artists and even potential purchases on a streaming service, or listen to a sample of the track listing on an online store. You can track down a lot of rare records in seconds and purchase them in moments (budget permitting). Forty plus years ago you could spend forever and still not track down certain elusive vinyl records. Therefore, when you weigh up the choice you have and how easy it is nowadays to build a valuable collection from your mobile phone, I would say vinyl today is cheaper, more accessible and better quality than yesteryear.
Bradley's Barn cd on your shelf Mazzy ? Cool !. Great video, Mazzy. After 60 + years of buying, I'm still collecting . I'll buy recordings just about everywhere, except Amazon. I refuse to patronize them for anything. Philosophical reasons. Got a couple good local used stores that get some new stuff as well. Try to get my stuff there as much as possible. Thanks again for another great video.
Came across your video and I was a fellow Wherehouse employee in the early 70s. Worked in Lakewood and opened the Downey store then moved up north and worked in the main San Mateo store. Best time of my life!
Such an awesome episode, loved hearing how the prices have evolved, lots of history there. You explained it really well! The solution is to go back in time 😂
Well Done When I do use Amazon I also find it useful to add LPs to my Wish List. Amazon as well as third party retailers see this and many times will drop the price on your items over the coarse of a few days. Amazon will also radically drop the price at times when inventory is getting low then jack up the price when there is one or two left. Living in Toronto fortunately there are many stores I shop at.
Great video thanks! I noticed your impressive wall of vinyl, very cool but it also makes my neck feel sore when I think of the many hours I used to look at all my records vertically and having to look just after you edges and for some vintage albums the edges are all worn off so I can’t find that record. I’m curious, if you had enough space would you switch to having record bins like they have at most vinyl stores? I really prefer those because I can divide them with divider cards by artist or genre as well I can see the front of the album cover as I flip through them. It just makes so much sense I don’t understand why so many people settle for vertical Add viewing of the record collection, any comments?
I do have a selection of new releases and a few series in smaller flip bins I do like them but wouldn’t want them for the entire collection. You learn from the spines too ✌🏼
The only problem I have with following my only local record store is that I end up running down there and buying more records when they show the "new" used records they are putting out for the current week
Great video! I worked at a record store when in high school in the late 70's and early 80's. We got loads of returns for defects, the majority of which were severe warps. My very limited experience buying records (I'm mostly buying CD's) in recent years is that they seem to have more pops and surface noise than I recall from the old days but who knows? I may be giving too much credit to the good old days.
Pops and clicks are less of a problem here in Europe. Around 10 years ago, you would often get noisy pressings from MPO in France and GZ in the Czech Republic. That’s changed now, and they do a great job. German record plants like Optimal, Pallas and the few smaller ones always did a good job.
@@vinylarchaeologist I have some family in Ireland who said very much the same thing you did about German pressing plants. The last time I was frequently buying records back in 2019 I was pretty shocked at how many were noisy. I even cleaned a couple of brand new records and found a fair amount of dirt on them.
@@melprophet1936 Exact same experience here. I recently went in hard on vinyl. I always was interested in Vinyl(im a cd era baby). After doing a ton of research about the subject, ton of reading and even more youtube watching. I bought me a fluance rt82, DJIII preamp, SMSL AD18 amp/dac and a pair of Emotiva B1+ speakers. I ordered a dozen or so of my favorite albums brand new sealed from ebay and amazon. I also bought another dozen or so used on ebay all rated VG+ or NM. I also ordered vinyl solution inserts and sleeves to protect. I was so let down right out of the gate man. A few of the records sounded amazing and clear while most had so much popping and cracking and just noise all the way through or at least a few songs that made it entirely not enjoyable at all for me. Lets not even mention the few sealed ones that were warped pretty bad. Most of the used ones i received were no where near what they were graded at, safe to say at this point im just done. Sold the fluance rt82 and most of the records at this point, rest in the process ,bought me a Cambridge CXC CD transport and could not be happier. Back to CD collecting for this guy and Im so much happier.
I really do miss the days of going to (insert record store here) and buying a bunch of records. I remember buying my first album which was Meddle and just staring at the cover while I sat on the bus home. When I was a teenager I used to buy my records used at a place called Cheap Thrills. You could pick up records for a dollar. I had quite a few records! Nowadays all my music is digital. I would love to have walls of records but alas I live in a one bedroom apartment and there is no way I would be able to have thousands of records not to mention the turntable to play them on. I have over 5000 albums on an external hard drive. A good many of those files are Hi Res and lossless files. I run my Mac into a decent amp with an excellent DAC and then into quality speakers. I also have hi-end headphones for critical listening. As far as album art goes I’m stuck with album cover on my Mac. Not ideal but better than a poke in the eye with a sharp stick. I’m used to and actually pretty happy with my setup. The sound of my system rivals vinyl if not surpasses it. But like I like to say: Nostalgia ain’t what it used to be. Would I like having the actual album to ogle and fondle? Of course I would but I have to be realistic and live within my means.
Wow! Love this video Mazzy! Glad you mentioned Mike at InGroove, I look forward to watching his new release video every Thursday, and you’re right, more shops should do this. I tried telling my local shop here in Utah, and they never heard of him! I was like, What? You’re in this business, you should be doing this. That being said, for some reason my shop cannot get mobile fidelity or analog productions in, so I buy from InGroove or Acoustic Sounds. They do get in Blue Note, which Is a great label you could have mentioned. Great pricing for a well sounding record. One last thing. We all know the quality of mobile fidelity, analog productions, Sam records, Impex, Craft and Speakers Corner, but what about those others, that are selling records cheap and are digitally sourced. I’m thinking Waxtime, etc. I would love you to do a video about all these different record companies, and who is putting out what. That would be a great video to watch and a big help to the vinyl community. Just recently I saw Elvis Costello first album by Back and Black, but I heard bad things, so I’m reluctant to buy. Also Singles Going Steady by the Buzzcocks just came out again, but I’ve never heard of the label. These are great records that should be done right. So, that’s my long winded response. Once again, great video! Appreciate your insight.
I’m not sure I have any of the Back to Black reissues but I assume they are on a case by case basis regarding good or bad 🤷🏻♂️ It seems difficult for most stores to get new Mofis these days. One of my local shops gets them occasionally
@@mazzysmusic yep, I’m wondering why that is. Thanks for your response. It would be great to figure out these labels, so you know if. It’s digitally sourced or from the original tapes!
Wow this takes me back. So many good record stores - Eucalyptus in Vallejo when I was a kid. Then there was Tower Records, The Wherehouse, Rainbow Records. I spent a lot of time in Berkeley at Rasputin, Leopolds and Amoeba. Then frequented the Virgin megastore in SF when I worked downtown. Most of them gone now...ahh memories!
So awesome of you to shout out Hi Voltage. One of my favorite shops that I frequent. Their store is so impressively catalouged. And their staff is pretty rad to boot. I also don't tend to agree with you, records are not as overpriced as people make it out to be.
I used to work at The Wherehouse in the late 80s-early 90s. I remember the albums & CD's were around $10-$15 in price, we also still carried cassette tapes. The List Price on records were always on the top corner of the record spine. The record clubs were the one's who would charge the list price [Columbia House, BMG] that's why you were always getting the 12 LPs, CD's or Cassettes for a penny, so you would have to buy 5 more at regular list price [$4.98, $5.98 & higher for box sets & double LPs, etc.] That was the catch. The Wherehouse would sell an album at $8.99 when the Retail Price was $9.99. I also worked at Music Plus in 1984-1985 & that was fun because we had a big selection of 12" singles @ $3.99 each and I was also a part time D.J. at that time & I'd get all the new 12" releases there.
Since the late 1970s, wages for the bottom 70 percent of earners have been essentially stagnant and so today the cost of a record seems disproportionately high compared to 45 years ago.
Great video Mazzy! Just curious, what are your thoughts on buying off e-Bay? I find that I'm able to purchase rare, out of print vinyl from sellers on that site at decent prices. However, it's the rating and condition of the vinyl record that I'm taking a chance at. A seller might say "Mint to Excellent" condition, yet when I receive the album, it's far below that description......
In the seventies I made copies of my vinyl albums on cassette so I could play them in my car. I also made cassettes to play in my house. The vinyl was rarely played because I wanted to keep them pristine. When cd’s came along, I boxed my vinyl and kept it in a large closet under my stairs for 25 years. I gradually bought cd’s of the vinyl under my stairs. I consider myself lucky for having both. My kids can’t believe how pristine my 70’s vinyl is today.
My situation is a little similar, I collected records in the 70’s and I was anal with them. I recorded some on cassette(custom mix tapes) and always handled them carefully, hold them by the edge, put them in their sleeves with a plastic cover. When cds emerged I stored the records in the garage in a safe place. They survived in great condition. I look at my records now, from back in the day and am so happy that I still own super clean original copies and that I kept at least 90% of them…..😁😁😁
I just picked up 11 used records for a buck a piece and in good shape from the local record shop. I also just ordered The Byrds Columbia box for $40 off Amazon. I scored a new used More Blood More Tracks cd for $6 from the local record shop. And picked up 6 used NM used cds for $10, 3 for $5, a Sonny Boy Williamson and a Little Milton and three Morrisey. Like I always say, Go Big or Go Home. Meanwhile, I am still waiting for my Nilsson box cd set from Amazon ordered from overseas in November 2021.
I just bought from Acoustic Sounds for the first time and agree Chad and his team need to upgrade their e-commerce - good conversation an perspective, Mazzy!
I remember during my record-buying heyday in the mid-late 80's while I was in college, most new records cost 7.99-8.99 for domestic releases and 11.99 for imports, like all the 4AD bands. Great vid, Mazzy.
I'm old, in the 70's you could get an "import" meaning the British release of the album for $5.99 in the States. I found a great copy of the original English releases of "Are You Experienced, and Electric Ladyland" for what is now a song. And it wasn't all that expensive then. And yes the 60's-80's were better times despite Reagan and Thatcher.
Great video Mazzy. My experience mirrored yours. The upside of everyone moving to vinyl and streaming is there are so many cheap cds available on the used market now - often $1 or less! One thing I'd add to the issue list with Acoustic Sounds is their return policy - it sucks! You have to purchase another item to get a replacement disc for a faulty pressing and then they'll send the replacement along with your new item but only if you provide proof that you've destroyed the first copy and of course you're not guaranteed that the replacement will be better than the first.. For those of us outside the USA that gets pricey. Got bit with 2 poorly pressed UHQRs - never again will I purchase one of their "superior vinyl formula" expensive boxes. I'm forced to purchase most of my lps online as local outlets stock little of the genres I'm interested in. Lately I've discovered a couple of b&m stores with decent online selections here in Canada so I don't have to always support the evil empire of A'zon! Up until a year ago they were unbeatable for price but have changed their pricing scheme in Canada - very few great preorder deals so if I'm paying retail I'm buying from a b&m store.
I sold all my vinyl for CDs initially because I was lured by the both the bonus track & portability. I will say that I did find the sound quality to be more powerful & crisp as well. During the 1990's this was important to me because I was married and spent most of my time at work, and music was my helpmate (not my wife). The last 3-4 years I've been revisiting music I've loved on vinyl, and it's been a wonderful experience to have something tangible again. I do find that the Grateful Dead is more affordable on CD than vinyl, and after purchasing my 7th RSD Box Set of theirs this summer (add the colossal LYCEUM Box-Set this upcoming Friday) ) I am going back to collecting them exclusively in that format. BTW Great exposition! It does make sense.
Hi Mazzy, superb video, thanks. I would like to give a shout out to my favourite record shop in the UK, it's called Pie & Vinyl and it's in Portsmouth on the south coast. Their website is soooo good, not only for ease of buying/viewing/scrolling or whatever but it's actually one of my primary sources of info on new releases these days. I've been buying from them online regularly now for about 3 years and, moving swiftly onto another topic, for example, the new Stones box set out in January was actually a few quid cheaper than Amazon. I live in Mexico though and so havent even seen any of those UK bought titles yet (that's nuts i know) but I've been exploring the US just over the border a bit these years and it's such a pleasure to know places like Ameoba in Hollywood, Folk Arts Rare Records and Beatbox Records in San Diego, and Record City in Las Vegas, all super shops in their own way. I dont have a record shop in the city where I live now and thats tough! So I buy from Discogs too, mainly for those quirky Mexican pressings, no complaints at all, I think Discogs is great, but of course when I do get up to the US I really see first hand how overpriced it is. Anyway, those are just a few thoughts to share on my own record buying habits, and as if it were ever in doubt, at the end of the day, the song remains the same: nothing beats a dusty day going through the bins in an independent! Ps oh yes, Pie & Vinyl really do make their own pies!! Cheers
NYC record shopping is a sad thing..high prices, used bins stripped out by pros etc. The really special store near NYC is in Princeton NJ...Princeton Record Exchange. This was a great video Mazzy Thank you!
Since I was a kid, I always enjoy going to Record Stores as long as the people working there know what they are talking about and weren't jerks. I will pay up to 20 percent more because the time i spend and the knowledge I get i worth it. I go every Monday to Infinity Records on Long Island and spend a hour. They know me and let me know what is coming in. Great Video
I appreciated the information and "rants". I would like to offer up another record label worth buying from, and that is Run-Out Groove, where you get to vote on the next release.
Another point. Any advice regarding Collecting original Year limited Pressed THE SMITHS vinyl Albums. I'm currently upto 70/80% of their previous back catalogue. But obviously so many related As Sold and Mis~Dated Issues out there. Its always tricky to find and Collect something stated as Original Press, over the Repressed from Original copy. Its a complete and utter mind field currently.
Great video Mazzy, and very fair. As you hint at the beginning, I do think it's different in the UK. I'm from Swindon (home of XTC). It seems that every price you quote in dollars as average is at least the same number in pounds, so about 25% more or worse. I've gone back to buying CDs in the main cos they're so much cheaper and now reserve my vinyl buying to "special" albums.
I remember those 1970's days in college and going to record stores once in awhile. Great times to live through. I rented a room for $80 a month in San Diego and rode my bike to college, so I didn't pay for parking or gas. College was way cheaper back then, except for the books. Most of the music I like these days come from singers like Megan Nicole, who are not available on vinyl, only digital downloads. That's why I save all my vinyl records from the past.
I took my very first LP back to the record store cos it had a glich, it jumped on 'Rocket Man.' It was Elton John's Greatest Hits back when there wasn't volumes of Elton John's greatest hits, just the one LP, sat at piano in his white suit. So the record dealer played it in the shop there and then. RIGHT THERE! I said. And the record dealer played it back: "She packed my bags last night...." The record dealer explained: "He's singing 'pre-flight' - - it's 'She packed my bags last night pre-flight'." I felt like ten types of twat there in the record store, in my flared jeans and long hair and blurred vision without glasses - - thinking there was some word missing in the 'jump' between 'pre' and 'flight'. What the hell did I think was inbetween? 'She packed my bags last night, prepared to take me back after the flight'? It couldn't have been more obvious that I hadn't been fking anywhere in the world except round the corner on a bus. Pre-flight? Y'mean, like on an aeroplane? No, on a rocket. He's a Rocket Man. He's not taking the fking bus, and she's not packing his bags to throw him out.
@@johnryan3913 Now it all makes sense. So she IS throwing him out! That's why he misses his wife and kid on the come-down out in space. I sure wish I could get back on that bus and tip the word to the record dealer. I had a history of misconstruing lyrics, ever since 'Satisfaction' first came out and I heard, clear as day over the transistor radio, Mick Jagger calling, "I said PEDRO!" And ever since I thought Penny Lane was a woman (- - with her thighs round Paul's ears....Now it all makes sense! And so on).
Interesting Mazzy, many of us fell into the CD trap - I lost a lot of my records living in S. Florida to heat and humidity and I thought well, who cares I'll replace them with CD's - now I am trying to replace all those lost records by shopping on Discogs and buying old vinyl at inflated prices, compared to what I originally paid for them. For jazz, I wait for Blue Note to have their 20% discount and free shipping - it's worth it 😊.
I remember much bigger discounts in the late 70s. Cutler's in New Haven would go as low as $3.79 on $6.98 list, but the market was very competitive. When the major labels tried to discontinue vinyl at the end of the 80s, you could buy everything as a cutout for less than $1. I bought a huge pile of records at the Tower Annex for 10 or 25 cents each - i took a six copies of each title. If you bought used in that era, you could pay $10 or $20 per 100 pieces. Those were the days!
there was an all cd store in waynesville NC up until the pandemic. it was so weird. I walked in expecting vinyl and it was like I went back in time to 1995 when I stepped in the store. and no one was in there unsurprisingly lol
I was a purchaser for Pacific Coast One Stop in the early 90s. Yea, I remember… Most of us snatched up CDs (which I still have). When I think back to how much access I had to vinyl. - a lot of it practically free - WHAT WAS I THINKING??!! Ugh - all these years later I’m still rebuilding my vinyl collection. 😢
There’s a record store here in the UK that really does mail order right. They allow you to pre-order with no payment, and they will notify you when it comes in and even put it aside for you. You can also reserve in-stock records if you’re not ready to place your order just yet. Like the In Groove, they’ve figured out how to make a one location, independently-owned brick & mortar shop a big and successful online enterprise.
You hinted at an interesting question….when to buy music as purely digital(never, as I have to own a physical item) as CD, or vinyl. I just not sure of what and when. Somewhere around 2005, I just kind of gave up. Been buying great memories, my favorite albums and some of these jazz reissues the past few years. I miss going into the store, regardless.
Goodnight. I just discovered your channel and would like to talk a little about what life has been like for someone who buys vinyl in Brazil. I started buying vinyl in late 1978, The Man-Machine was my first album. Until approximately 1985, Brazilian pressings were very bad. Discs cost eight dollars, double albums always cost twice as much. Here there was never a market for eps and singles, because store owners always wanted to charge full price like they were long play. Often the double covers became single covers, without inserts and even with black and white photos. Imported records started at twenty-four dollars.
Despite this, Brazil became the fifth largest phonographic market in the world, behind the USA, Japan, United Kingdom and West Germany. Even small towns had record stores. When cds gained strength, many kids, young people and adults got rid of their Brazilian vinyls to buy cds because the difference was stark. I got rid of about a hundred vinyls myself, which I regret. During the nineties the traditional vinyl stores started to go bankrupt. From about twenty years ago, the stores of ardent music fans gained strength, but only in the big cities. Imported vinyls in Brazil cost at least 50 dollars, the average price oscillates between 60-70 dollars for vinyls that cost 20 dollars in the US. I went twenty-three years without buying a single vinyl (1995-2018) due to their prohibitive cost in my country. Nowadays I buy it when I go to Europe, especially at FNAC or very recently on the Danish website imusic. Even jazz vinyls that are already in the public domain don't cost me less than thirty dollars. Vinyls in Brazil are very exclusive, which is a shame because Brazilian people are very musical.
I tried,stupidly with hindsight, to sell my LP collection back in 95 ,here in the uk, and was told they where ALL worthless! How times change eh? I understand the inflation argument but as a retiree I now find I can only afford new LPs on the same basis a I did as a kid back in the seventies! ie. NOT often. No matter CDs are dirt cheap these days and lets face it . It's the music that matters not the format. Rock on Mazzy ✌
Great stuff Mr Maslov. One thing I will say, over here in England it costs around £25 if you want/need to buy a reissue of an album that cost 3 or 4 quid maximum back in the 70's and often sold a gazillion copies back then.And that's for a standard copy, not re-mastered/re-mixed or whatever. Far better I think to go to a local secondhand shop and buy an original for less than a fiver or tenner. Thing is all these represses seem to be what's holding up all the new bands and artists releases. I'm more than happy to pay £25 to help support new artists, but they are usually at the back of the pressing queue when it comes to getting their material out there. The price, literally, of the music business, I guess, which is more than happy to supply old farts with their must have nostalgia, bah humbug and peace and love to you (smiley face thing) !
@@johnryan3913 Exactly so John. My eldest daughter, who has picked up the record buying bug from me, is always saying, " £25, and it's possibly a poor quality reissue, I'll stick to looking for a good secondhand original down at our local record store". Surely It can't cost a massive amount putting out these standard reissues, with no recording studios needed, or producers etc, the music is already there. So apart from the cost of the pressing and album sleeve, transport etc, couldn't the big three labels put these old albums, (that originally often sold in large or huge numbers), out at a lower price, say £15 ?. I'm sure they would sell a great many more, especially to younger people who are possibly new to record buying.
Being ripped off again I think ...... in the UK we were royally ripped of over the price of CDs when they came out ..... ive read the jewel cases were actually more expensive to produce than the CDs themselves and we were forking out about £15 per CD in the 80s !
Acoustic Sounds is definitely not an audiophile version of a website. 😁 As for minimum wage, the only state where it is $15 is Cali. Over half the US states have minimum wages below $10. I can see how that makes sense when the cost of living in an area is far less than on the west coast. Your point about collectibles is excellent; when I see a new release come out in a Baskin-Robbins level of flavors, I almost never buy because I figure the music isn't good enough to drive the sale of it, so the collectibility angle needs to be the driver. Good stuff. Cheers, Tom
A small footnote: For $53.00, I picked up the Cream 1968 Farewell Tour on a 4 CD set about 5 months ago... Nice book came with it. But the CD's were jammed tight in their slipcase...
![THE TOYS x NONT TANONT - ดอกไม้ที่รอฝน (spring) [Official MV]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/pPa1d5cC8M4/mqdefault.jpg)
Working in a record store was absolutely the funnest job (most expensive)I ever had. A third of my pay check went back into the store. Pure joy, lots of hacky sack, promos, and turning someone on to something they never suspected. I was there for the transition.
Yeah same thing happened to me when I worked at Burger King at 13. Half my pay went toward food and it didn’t help being a fat kid manning the milk shake machines.
Not as lucky as you two guys. Working as a hairdresser, bald. My workplace has nothing to offer.
@@rabarebra 😂😂🤣🤣👍👍
@@pez7031 🤣🤣😂😂👍👍
@@pez7031 No employee discount? I worked for SEARS and hit their record department EVERY PAYDAY and had a 15% discount. Nice days those were.
Great points from this sixty-five year old who also bought my first lp in 1973 in So Cal! Licorice Pizza, Warehouse Records, Tower Records, Music Market, Music Plus, bought lps everywhere! Albums are cheaper now with what people make today! Thanks for setting the record straight on this, my friend! Now I won't second guess my five hundred a month for vinyl and cd's! Lived in Auburn/Kent for seven years, miss the great folks up there! Thanks again!
i got into records last year as I was building out a new sound system and figured I give the format a try. Vinyl made me more appreciative CDs and DACs. Less hassle, less expensive, and quality sound always guaranteed.
Thank you for your insight. Very informative! Thank you for sharing your experiences and unbiased thoughts! I appreciate you taking the time to share!!!
Thanks for this interesting take on the state of record collecting. As always I relate to nearly everything you describe. You are appreciated by this 73 yr old music lover. Keep up the great TH-cam work you do.
I just found your channel and love this video! I had similar experience when CD's came out and practically gave away my vinyl and cassette collection!! then a couple of years ago I walked into a Bed n Bath store an saw this cute suitcase record player reminded me of the first one I had when I was teenager so I took it home set it up but then I forgot to get a record lol... so I stopped by my sons (he does music beats and has a nice record collection) I borrowed a couple of his and that night was so amazing listening to vinyl music again but it didn't last me long the darn thing broke down ugg... so my son for Christmas set me up with a new turntable, speakers, amps everything! because he felt bad for me listening to music in that all-in-one thing... ha... now Im recollecting all my records back some used some new some at record stores and some at amazon... but having a lot of fun! And may I say you are a cutie ✌😊💚💚
Lovely video ! Good viewpoint all around about records and buying records.Thanks Mazzy.
Mazzy I really enjoyed this video - keep making videos like this which are introspective and retrospective at the same time - Northern New Jersey loves you :)
Hi Mazzy, great video. Wow, a lot of history and info. Thank you so much
I really enjoy your videos.
Thank you so much! Happy new year
Have a great day and a awesome week
Shavua Tov
Quality post with actionable info. Lucky that we have in Austin some good record stores with engaging staff and yes I have had some issues with buying from these stores on line, but in these days one must preserve ones nerve endings for stuff that is truly important and give folks a break. Being a techno-ludite, I have not signed up for a instagram account but will do so now, just to get a jump on the new releases, hadn't thought of that before. Thank you for the added value to my youtube experience Mazzy. Cheers
Thanks. Such a great video. Agree about the antediluvian online interfaces of so many indie street stores and labels
Hi Mazzy. We’re about the same age and I stated buying records at the age of 14 beginning with The White Album. I also amassed a huge collection and somewhere in the early ‘90’s I sold about a third of my collection to make room for my CDs, DVDs and laserdiscs. That’s one of my biggest regrets ever. About 5-6 years ago I started getting back into vinyl and now rarely buy anything on CD unless it’s something really special. There’s 5 or 6 record stores here in the Houston area that I visit monthly for used records and I’ll usually spend a around a hundred bucks with each visit. Most of the new ones I get from Amazon or eBay stores. But there’s really nothing better than spending a Saturday morning thumbing though used record bins and finding an early pressing of an old favorite album that’s in really good shape, bringing it home, cleaning it up, placing the disc in a nice new inner sleeve, placing the jacket in a shiny clean, clear 4mil polypropylene outer sleeve, and placing the record on my vintage turntable for a trip down memory lane. And then I’ll post it on Facebook and all my college buddies respond like it was just yesterday…
I can relate to many of the topics covered and you hit the nail on the head. During the lock-down due to covid got myself a record cleaner, new sleeves, and went to work on my old vinyl collection. After years of buying cd's, 8-tracks, cassette tapes it was nice to listen to my old records, many purchased when vinyl was the only option. I didn't take of them like I should have but many still sound great. Perhaps the biggest differences I have discovered is my respect for vinyl and the sheer fact that I listen to the entire album without skipping to my fav track. In a way I'm hearing say "Physical Graffiti" for the first time. You mentioned BandCamp, I have purchased several albums from them, without problem and if you have not heard of "Big Something" they are really good.
Thank you, Mazzy, for this very informative video full of insight and knowlege that only someone with a background in retail could provide 👏 👍 😀
Great video Mazzy! Thanks for sharing!
I totally remember buying records at pharmacies!
You could do your Christmas shopping in “drug stores” back in the day!
A fucking fantastic video!!! The 42 minutes went by in a flash. What a blast this was!!!
Just found you and loved the educated rant! Truly a kindred spirit. My music collecting and appreciation is so similar to your story, only on a much smaller scale. I shop local, online and my current favorite, thrifting. Cost is a relative thing; if I think something is too expensive I don’t buy, but when Mofi releases a new $60 Iron Butterfly, I couldn’t get my credit card out quick enough! I love music and the experience of finding it, wherever that may be. Enjoy it all!
Thank you. 😎
The Wherehouse, Tower, Licorice Pizza, Woolworth....wow. you brought back a lot of memories. Great video.
The best video you have posted so far IMO. I can totally relate and agree with what you've said and also,
we are of the same era.
Love your videos! I’m also a child of the 60’s who played in a band, was majorly influenced by psych and garage bands of the era. Keep up the good work!
Aloha Mazzy,
Thank you for a great video and topic. Very interesting take on your perspective .
I to was blessed to work in a record Shop & record department from 1976 through 1980's. I also sold my record collection during the 1980's "83 - 87" on Consignment in a record shop I was hanging out at.
I buy most of my new records through Amazon, In grove, deep discount, spin me round, etc. I also buy from Discogs, . At this time on Oahu their are only 2 mom & pops record shops their new records are bout $5.00 above Walmart prices, I do buy local, but used records.
Thanks for a great video. Mahalo Ed
How things have changed record buying ain’t what it used to be, new records are much higher but it’s relative to wages and costs to produce them. Now used records can be expensive because of collectibility, rarity and competition. It’s become a trend/trendy hobby. How I miss when I/you could find great records for cheap but I deal with it. For the last 40-50 yrs I’ve been a great customer to record stores because I’ve bought many, many records and cds, I will continue until who knows when. Yes collecting and buying records is not the same anymore but I’m hooked and love records and cds. So in a sense that hasn’t changed.(Mazzy when you sold those records in the 90’s makes me cringe but that is not unusual I too sold some records for cheap to buy cds so many collectors are guilty of that) Great video I enjoyed it…John Loves Ya….☮️✌️☮️
Great perspective and video Mazzy.
Like you and many others, I've been doing the AMZN pre-order thing and then reevaluating about a week before release date. This was especially beneficial during the last year with the release dates being pushed back and delays.
Here in Canada, it's changed even more dramatically. Until recently, if you grabbed an AMZN pre-order early, that WAS the best price full stop. While I've always bought titles from my local shop as well, since the last months of 2021 and so far in 2022, I'm buying local even more often. Example: I had pre-ordered the Mankunku Quartet - Yakhal Inkomo repress from AMZN at just over 36 CDN, then found it online locally for 30.99.
With the plethora of audiophile and regular releases, I found myself having to me more selective than ever. I've also been noticing a trend where a lot of the BN Classics are available for less than the AMZN pre-order price in the months that follow release, so while I probably won't sleep on some of the more desirable Verve titles (ex: Coltrane), I will definitely be exacting more patience and scrutiny on the BN classics as well as 'some' of the Tone Poet releases; because budget.
Great information! I was talking to a family member that has been collecting for over 60 years. I'm starting to collect again after 40 years and couldn't swallow the large prices. He also referenced the prices I paid back then vs the wages I earned and it did make sense. I was just beginning to collect jazz and couldn't afford $6 a record not knowing if I might like the artist. I learned fast by buying cutouts which might at times cost 1.99 to 2.99 for 3 records. They were packaged together so the middle album might be a mystery. It got to be a competition to see if you could be the first to go through the bins. Now my dilemma is trying to decide if the mastering and mixing is an improvement or a detriment. I'm learning as I go by following you and a few others. Thanks for your love of the music!
The records I've bought this year so far include Donovan, Junior Wells, and Coltrane. I was pleased with the pricing and the quality on Amazon. Very pleased with my purchases. I enjoyed this video very much and look forward to more Mazzy content. Happy New Year Norm!
This was a great video. I learned so much. Thank you for your expertise. Just got into vinyl when the pandemic started. Expensive habit, but man… addicted. Got lots of great ideas here today.
Thank you for watching. It’s a fun hobby. Go for the music you love first and then maybe experiment a bit ✌🏼🎶
Very impressive/lovely collection..enjoyable video.thanks man!
Edit: great to hear from someone from the old school who lived through the wax drought with me..i remember the first CD I saw in person was a copy of Purple Rain my friend's Mom bought..😂 was it more fun for you before everyone and their hipster brother started buying records? When was the first time you heard someone say vinyls? For me, about 1999/2000 and I thought maybe the poor girl was confused..😁
Extremely interesting perspective from someone who has been there through it all from the unparalleled vinyl heyday to the cool niche vinyl present. While I listened, I was cleaning my flea market CD finds. My fave is Getz Au Go Go (made in West Germany). Stan with Astrud sounded perfect on a rainy Sunshine State morning. Jazz and Classical on CD are sure hard to beat. Rock on, Mazzy! - Heather
A very nice video. Quite informational, with my kind of math (I think that way). Most of the channels I follow are frim VC members in the Midwest or the Northeast. Many of them have referenced you and I was delighted to find that you are in the Northwest (where I reside). It's taken a while for me to checkout one of your videos (for no good reason). I stumbled upon this one tonight and thought I'd check it out. I was pleased with what I saw and heard.
Thank you. Hope you enjoy a few more ✌🏼
Thanks for that Mazzy. As someone who went through the stages you mentioned I’ve stopped buying physical copies of music. But I still get more pleasure out of listening to my vinyl and CDs than I do from the streaming services. So this video was both interesting and useful to me. Thanks again
I lived through the CD era much like you, Mazzy. For me, the upside was all the releases of vintage jazz on Riverside and Bluenote, etc. I was gobbling them up. Also all that great Stax stuff which was out of print for years. I’m back to vinyl but I’m still hanging onto those CDs.
My worst Amazon shipping experience was The Who Sell Out. The record was “protected” in shrinkwrap with the shipping label affixed - no box! You can imagine the state of the record by the time it got to the interior of BC. One of the Kate Bush box sets also arrived without any outer packaging. As the Kate boxes were produced at Optimal I know they should have sturdy outer boxes, which makes me think it was a return, and I didn’t buy it from the warehouse deals either. I learned the hard way and now I always select “gift order” and get records shipped double boxed. I will say Amazon does have a good return policy.
clear as water! great video! greetings from Argentina..
I wish I could work in a record store in the 70's.. thanks for the usual fantastic video Mazzy
Great video Mazzy, I remember on the back of Columbia/Epic cd's, It read "The sound of the original recording has been preserved as closely as possible, however due to its high resolution, the compact disc can reveal limitations of the source tape" What bunk, I totally bought this hype.
Great video Mazzy! Happy New Year. Stay healthy 😃
I started high school in 1980, and it was SO EXCITING to buy a new record. Record stores were fun, exciting places to be. Buying an item that big (vis-a-vis a small cassette or CD) was exciting. You'd go home, put the record on, and lay back in your beanbag chair, and stare at the album cover, or the sleeve or inserts while you listened. What a great time.
As always enjoyed this video. I bought records at department stores and a grocery store. When I could afford them. I follow you on Instagram. Well done.
I recently started following you. I am from South Africa and I too (regretably) sold off all my vinyl when CD first came out. Fortunately my son recorded the 'gems' from these to Minidisc so I still listen to these on my old player. I am a bit older than you (72) but love all of the rock music (all categories including psychedelia) and I note that we have very similar taste, my top three bands are identical to yours. I was wondering whether you could do something on your channel about how people are buying music nowadays besides online (which you have already done more or less), viz. Apple or iTunes etc. and how artists incomes have been affected by this and indeed what is the biggest source of artist's income is these days. Love your channel btw.
Hi Mazzy
I remember in the 70s ,80s and early 90s I cound buy records between $5- 20.00! I would see the price of CD and thought I will never be able to afford them. Who would have thought the price of CDs would drop and the price of records would skyrocket! Thumbs up! Trish
absolutely brilliant video.
Great reflections, Massy.
Surprising to learn that you discarded/sold all your vinyls... 😯
I luckily kept mine when CD's arrived.
I only sold a third of them. Still unfortunate✌🏽
In the UK , when retired , some record prices today can be prohibitive but on the positive side ,look after your records and they will give you decades of enjoyment. Not too many things you can say that about these days.
Interesting episode Mazzy. When I think back to my vinyl collecting experiences in the late 70s and 80s (mainly 45 singles back then with LPs to a lesser degree) it was just much harder in UK. You had Woolworths or HMV and a few indie one-off small stores but there was no internet. This meant everything had to be bought in the wild which cost money (petrol) and time. I went to record fairs and bought from DJs at soul functions. Half the time you had no idea what you were buying unless a mate had it, or a DJ had played it.
It is so much easier today. You can listen to artists and even potential purchases on a streaming service, or listen to a sample of the track listing on an online store. You can track down a lot of rare records in seconds and purchase them in moments (budget permitting). Forty plus years ago you could spend forever and still not track down certain elusive vinyl records. Therefore, when you weigh up the choice you have and how easy it is nowadays to build a valuable collection from your mobile phone, I would say vinyl today is cheaper, more accessible and better quality than yesteryear.
Bradley's Barn cd on your shelf Mazzy ? Cool !. Great video, Mazzy. After 60 + years of buying, I'm still collecting . I'll buy recordings just about everywhere, except Amazon. I refuse to patronize them for anything. Philosophical reasons. Got a couple good local used stores that get some new stuff as well. Try to get my stuff there as much as possible. Thanks again for another great video.
A real eye opener. Thanks...
Came across your video and I was a fellow Wherehouse employee in the early 70s. Worked in Lakewood and opened the Downey store then moved up north and worked in the main San Mateo store. Best time of my life!
Fun days ✌🏽
Such an awesome episode, loved hearing how the prices have evolved, lots of history there. You explained it really well! The solution is to go back in time 😂
From what I hear, Cher tried to turn back time, but couldn't.
Well Done
When I do use Amazon I also find it useful to add LPs to my Wish List. Amazon as well as third party retailers see this and many times will drop the price on your items over the coarse of a few days. Amazon will also radically drop the price at times when inventory is getting low then jack up the price when there is one or two left.
Living in Toronto fortunately there are many stores I shop at.
Great video thanks! I noticed your impressive wall of vinyl, very cool but it also makes my neck feel sore when I think of the many hours I used to look at all my records vertically and having to look just after you edges and for some vintage albums the edges are all worn off so I can’t find that record. I’m curious, if you had enough space would you switch to having record bins like they have at most vinyl stores? I really prefer those because I can divide them with divider cards by artist or genre as well I can see the front of the album cover as I flip through them. It just makes so much sense I don’t understand why so many people settle for vertical Add viewing of the record collection, any comments?
I do have a selection of new releases and a few series in smaller flip bins I do like them but wouldn’t want them for the entire collection. You learn from the spines too ✌🏼
SoCal 60+ guy here. Similar collection histories. Love the retail shoutouts…memories.
The only problem I have with following my only local record store is that I end up running down there and buying more records when they show the "new" used records they are putting out for the current week
Great video! I worked at a record store when in high school in the late 70's and early 80's. We got loads of returns for defects, the majority of which were severe warps. My very limited experience buying records (I'm mostly buying CD's) in recent years is that they seem to have more pops and surface noise than I recall from the old days but who knows? I may be giving too much credit to the good old days.
Pops and clicks are less of a problem here in Europe. Around 10 years ago, you would often get noisy pressings from MPO in France and GZ in the Czech Republic. That’s changed now, and they do a great job. German record plants like Optimal, Pallas and the few smaller ones always did a good job.
@@vinylarchaeologist I have some family in Ireland who said very much the same thing you did about German pressing plants. The last time I was frequently buying records back in 2019 I was pretty shocked at how many were noisy. I even cleaned a couple of brand new records and found a fair amount of dirt on them.
Agree, too much surface noise...
@@melprophet1936 Exact same experience here. I recently went in hard on vinyl. I always was interested in Vinyl(im a cd era baby). After doing a ton of research about the subject, ton of reading and even more youtube watching. I bought me a fluance rt82, DJIII preamp, SMSL AD18 amp/dac and a pair of Emotiva B1+ speakers. I ordered a dozen or so of my favorite albums brand new sealed from ebay and amazon. I also bought another dozen or so used on ebay all rated VG+ or NM. I also ordered vinyl solution inserts and sleeves to protect. I was so let down right out of the gate man. A few of the records sounded amazing and clear while most had so much popping and cracking and just noise all the way through or at least a few songs that made it entirely not enjoyable at all for me. Lets not even mention the few sealed ones that were warped pretty bad. Most of the used ones i received were no where near what they were graded at, safe to say at this point im just done. Sold the fluance rt82 and most of the records at this point, rest in the process ,bought me a Cambridge CXC CD transport and could not be happier. Back to CD collecting for this guy and Im so much happier.
Mazzy great job on this brither
I really do miss the days of going to (insert record store here) and buying a bunch of records. I remember buying my first album which was Meddle and just staring at the cover while I sat on the bus home. When I was a teenager I used to buy my records used at a place called Cheap Thrills. You could pick up records for a dollar. I had quite a few records! Nowadays all my music is digital. I would love to have walls of records but alas I live in a one bedroom apartment and there is no way I would be able to have thousands of records not to mention the turntable to play them on. I have over 5000 albums on an external hard drive. A good many of those files are Hi Res and lossless files. I run my Mac into a decent amp with an excellent DAC and then into quality speakers. I also have hi-end headphones for critical listening. As far as album art goes I’m stuck with album cover on my Mac. Not ideal but better than a poke in the eye with a sharp stick. I’m used to and actually pretty happy with my setup. The sound of my system rivals vinyl if not surpasses it. But like I like to say: Nostalgia ain’t what it used to be. Would I like having the actual album to ogle and fondle? Of course I would but I have to be realistic and live within my means.
Mazzy, I absolutely love your channel.
Well thank you Michelle. Appreciate the comment. ❣️
Very informative & useful video. Cheers.
Wow! Love this video Mazzy! Glad you mentioned Mike at InGroove, I look forward to watching his new release video every Thursday, and you’re right, more shops should do this. I tried telling my local shop here in Utah, and they never heard of him! I was like, What? You’re in this business, you should be doing this. That being said, for some reason my shop cannot get mobile fidelity or analog productions in, so I buy from InGroove or Acoustic Sounds. They do get in Blue Note, which Is a great label you could have mentioned. Great pricing for a well sounding record.
One last thing. We all know the quality of mobile fidelity, analog productions, Sam records, Impex, Craft and Speakers Corner, but what about those others, that are selling records cheap and are digitally sourced. I’m thinking Waxtime, etc. I would love you to do a video about all these different record companies, and who is putting out what. That would be a great video to watch and a big help to the vinyl community.
Just recently I saw Elvis Costello first album by Back and Black, but I heard bad things, so I’m reluctant to buy. Also Singles Going Steady by the Buzzcocks just came out again, but I’ve never heard of the label. These are great records that should be done right.
So, that’s my long winded response. Once again, great video! Appreciate your insight.
I’m not sure I have any of the Back to Black reissues but I assume they are on a case by case basis regarding good or bad 🤷🏻♂️
It seems difficult for most stores to get new Mofis these days. One of my local shops gets them occasionally
@@mazzysmusic yep, I’m wondering why that is. Thanks for your response. It would be great to figure out these labels, so you know if. It’s digitally sourced or from the original tapes!
That Buzzcocks lp is great. 🎸!
Wow this takes me back. So many good record stores - Eucalyptus in Vallejo when I was a kid. Then there was Tower Records, The Wherehouse, Rainbow Records. I spent a lot of time in Berkeley at Rasputin, Leopolds and Amoeba. Then frequented the Virgin megastore in SF when I worked downtown. Most of them gone now...ahh memories!
So awesome of you to shout out Hi Voltage. One of my favorite shops that I frequent. Their store is so impressively catalouged. And their staff is pretty rad to boot. I also don't tend to agree with you, records are not as overpriced as people make it out to be.
I used to work at The Wherehouse in the late 80s-early 90s. I remember the albums & CD's were around $10-$15 in price,
we also still carried cassette tapes. The List Price on records were always on the top corner of the record spine.
The record clubs were the one's who would charge the list price [Columbia House, BMG] that's why you were always
getting the 12 LPs, CD's or Cassettes for a penny, so you would have to buy 5 more at regular list price [$4.98, $5.98
& higher for box sets & double LPs, etc.] That was the catch. The Wherehouse would sell an album at $8.99 when the
Retail Price was $9.99. I also worked at Music Plus in 1984-1985 & that was fun because we had a big selection of
12" singles @ $3.99 each and I was also a part time D.J. at that time & I'd get all the new 12" releases there.
Since the late 1970s, wages for the bottom 70 percent of earners have been essentially stagnant and so today the cost of a record seems disproportionately high compared to 45 years ago.
Yes and I am in the bottom 10 percent. I agree, I used to buy records every week and I was poor then too.
Great video Mazzy! Just curious, what are your thoughts on buying off e-Bay? I find that I'm able to purchase rare, out of print vinyl from sellers on that site at decent prices. However, it's the rating and condition of the vinyl record that I'm taking a chance at. A seller might say "Mint to Excellent" condition, yet when I receive the album, it's far below that description......
In the seventies I made copies of my vinyl albums on cassette so I could play them in my car. I also made cassettes to play in my house. The vinyl was rarely played because I wanted to keep them pristine. When cd’s came along, I boxed my vinyl and kept it in a large closet under my stairs for 25 years. I gradually bought cd’s of the vinyl under my stairs. I consider myself lucky for having both. My kids can’t believe how pristine my 70’s vinyl is today.
My situation is a little similar, I collected records in the 70’s and I was anal with them. I recorded some on cassette(custom mix tapes) and always handled them carefully, hold them by the edge, put them in their sleeves with a plastic cover. When cds emerged I stored the records in the garage in a safe place. They survived in great condition. I look at my records now, from back in the day and am so happy that I still own super clean original copies and that I kept at least 90% of them…..😁😁😁
I don't get it. The records SOUND better. What is the point of buying records you never play?
@@johnryan3913 I feel fortunate that my ears aren’t that discerning. The original intent was cassettes for the car.
@@captaincopter2387 Sorry that sounds judgemental. I agree cassettes are great for driving!
Also dig the Randy California handle...
This is a great topic and reminder of buying 45’s that had been in jukeboxes and resold at at discount (usually 49 cents) at a local “dime” store
I just picked up 11 used records for a buck a piece and in good shape from the local record shop. I also just ordered The Byrds Columbia box for $40 off Amazon. I scored a new used More Blood More Tracks cd for $6 from the local record shop. And picked up 6 used NM used cds for $10, 3 for $5, a Sonny Boy Williamson and a Little Milton and three Morrisey. Like I always say, Go Big or Go Home. Meanwhile, I am still waiting for my Nilsson box cd set from Amazon ordered from overseas in November 2021.
I just bought from Acoustic Sounds for the first time and agree Chad and his team need to upgrade their e-commerce - good conversation an perspective, Mazzy!
love your videos
Thank you ✌🏼✌🏼✌🏼
I remember during my record-buying heyday in the mid-late 80's while I was in college, most new records cost 7.99-8.99 for domestic releases and 11.99 for imports, like all the 4AD bands. Great vid, Mazzy.
I'm old, in the 70's you could get an "import" meaning the British release of the album for $5.99 in the States. I found a great copy of the original English releases of "Are You Experienced, and Electric Ladyland" for what is now a song. And it wasn't all that expensive then. And yes the 60's-80's were better times despite Reagan and Thatcher.
Great video Mazzy. My experience mirrored yours. The upside of everyone moving to vinyl and streaming is there are so many cheap cds available on the used market now - often $1 or less! One thing I'd add to the issue list with Acoustic Sounds is their return policy - it sucks! You have to purchase another item to get a replacement disc for a faulty pressing and then they'll send the replacement along with your new item but only if you provide proof that you've destroyed the first copy and of course you're not guaranteed that the replacement will be better than the first.. For those of us outside the USA that gets pricey. Got bit with 2 poorly pressed UHQRs - never again will I purchase one of their "superior vinyl formula" expensive boxes. I'm forced to purchase most of my lps online as local outlets stock little of the genres I'm interested in. Lately I've discovered a couple of b&m stores with decent online selections here in Canada so I don't have to always support the evil empire of A'zon! Up until a year ago they were unbeatable for price but have changed their pricing scheme in Canada - very few great preorder deals so if I'm paying retail I'm buying from a b&m store.
I sold all my vinyl for CDs initially because I was lured by the both the bonus track & portability. I will say that I did find the sound quality to be more powerful & crisp as well. During the 1990's this was important to me because I was married and spent most of my time at work, and music was my helpmate (not my wife). The last 3-4 years I've been revisiting music I've loved on vinyl, and it's been a wonderful experience to have something tangible again. I do find that the Grateful Dead is more affordable on CD than vinyl, and after purchasing my 7th RSD Box Set of theirs this summer (add the colossal LYCEUM Box-Set this upcoming Friday) ) I am going back to collecting them exclusively in that format. BTW Great exposition! It does make sense.
Hi Mazzy, superb video, thanks. I would like to give a shout out to my favourite record shop in the UK, it's called Pie & Vinyl and it's in Portsmouth on the south coast. Their website is soooo good, not only for ease of buying/viewing/scrolling or whatever but it's actually one of my primary sources of info on new releases these days. I've been buying from them online regularly now for about 3 years and, moving swiftly onto another topic, for example, the new Stones box set out in January was actually a few quid cheaper than Amazon. I live in Mexico though and so havent even seen any of those UK bought titles yet (that's nuts i know) but I've been exploring the US just over the border a bit these years and it's such a pleasure to know places like Ameoba in Hollywood, Folk Arts Rare Records and Beatbox Records in San Diego, and Record City in Las Vegas, all super shops in their own way. I dont have a record shop in the city where I live now and thats tough! So I buy from Discogs too, mainly for those quirky Mexican pressings, no complaints at all, I think Discogs is great, but of course when I do get up to the US I really see first hand how overpriced it is. Anyway, those are just a few thoughts to share on my own record buying habits, and as if it were ever in doubt, at the end of the day, the song remains the same: nothing beats a dusty day going through the bins in an independent! Ps oh yes, Pie & Vinyl really do make their own pies!! Cheers
NYC record shopping is a sad thing..high prices, used bins stripped out by pros etc. The really special store near NYC is in Princeton NJ...Princeton Record Exchange. This was a great video Mazzy Thank you!
Yeah. Up until two years ago I’d go to New York at least once a year. The record landscape has changed dramatically there ✌🏽
Since I was a kid, I always enjoy going to Record Stores as long as the people working there know what they are talking about and weren't jerks. I will pay up to 20 percent more because the time i spend and the knowledge I get i worth it. I go every Monday to Infinity Records on Long Island and spend a hour. They know me and let me know what is coming in. Great Video
No substitute for that ✌🏼
I appreciated the information and "rants". I would like to offer up another record label worth buying from, and that is Run-Out Groove, where you get to vote on the next release.
I have a handful of their releases. Totally forgot to mention them ✌🏽
Another point. Any advice regarding Collecting original Year limited Pressed THE SMITHS vinyl Albums. I'm currently upto 70/80% of their previous back catalogue. But obviously so many related As Sold and Mis~Dated Issues out there. Its always tricky to find and Collect something stated as Original Press, over the Repressed from Original copy. Its a complete and utter mind field currently.
Great video Mazzy, and very fair. As you hint at the beginning, I do think it's different in the UK. I'm from Swindon (home of XTC).
It seems that every price you quote in dollars as average is at least the same number in pounds, so about 25% more or worse. I've gone back to buying CDs in the main cos they're so much cheaper and now reserve my vinyl buying to "special" albums.
So much good information in one video!
The love the end of your video
Great stuff
W o r d!
I love you Mazzy
I remember those 1970's days in college and going to record stores once in awhile. Great times to live through. I rented a room for $80 a month in San Diego and rode my bike to college, so I didn't pay for parking or gas. College was way cheaper back then, except for the books. Most of the music I like these days come from singers like Megan Nicole, who are not available on vinyl, only digital downloads. That's why I save all my vinyl records from the past.
I took my very first LP back to the record store cos it had a glich, it jumped on 'Rocket Man.' It was Elton John's Greatest Hits back when there wasn't volumes of Elton John's greatest hits, just the one LP, sat at piano in his white suit. So the record dealer played it in the shop there and then. RIGHT THERE! I said. And the record dealer played it back: "She packed my bags last night...." The record dealer explained: "He's singing 'pre-flight' - - it's 'She packed my bags last night pre-flight'." I felt like ten types of twat there in the record store, in my flared jeans and long hair and blurred vision without glasses - - thinking there was some word missing in the 'jump' between 'pre' and 'flight'. What the hell did I think was inbetween? 'She packed my bags last night, prepared to take me back after the flight'? It couldn't have been more obvious that I hadn't been fking anywhere in the world except round the corner on a bus. Pre-flight? Y'mean, like on an aeroplane? No, on a rocket. He's a Rocket Man. He's not taking the fking bus, and she's not packing his bags to throw him out.
Bernie was always an awkward wordsmith!🚀
Isn't the song about drug addiction? 🚀🛻🛶🚀
Hey flared jeans were cool in 1974!
@@johnryan3913 Now it all makes sense. So she IS throwing him out! That's why he misses his wife and kid on the come-down out in space. I sure wish I could get back on that bus and tip the word to the record dealer. I had a history of misconstruing lyrics, ever since 'Satisfaction' first came out and I heard, clear as day over the transistor radio, Mick Jagger calling, "I said PEDRO!" And ever since I thought Penny Lane was a woman (- - with her thighs round Paul's ears....Now it all makes sense! And so on).
Don't feel bad. I used to think ELO's song Strange Magic had the lyric "I've gotta strain my dick". Listen to the song, you'll never unhear it.
Are they worth more if sealed? I have some Beatles records never been played and still sealed.
So, which of the Major Labels gobbled up the better Classical & Acoustic Music labels? (& Sources beyond Used Record Stores?). I
Interesting Mazzy, many of us fell into the CD trap - I lost a lot of my records living in S. Florida to heat and humidity and I thought well, who cares I'll replace them with CD's - now I am trying to replace all those lost records by shopping on Discogs and buying old vinyl at inflated prices, compared to what I originally paid for them. For jazz, I wait for Blue Note to have their 20% discount and free shipping - it's worth it 😊.
3:02 - I WANT THAT - That's the most beautiful, the cleanest copy of that album I've ever seen. I love Apostrophe.
I remember much bigger discounts in the late 70s. Cutler's in New Haven would go as low as $3.79 on $6.98 list, but the market was very competitive.
When the major labels tried to discontinue vinyl at the end of the 80s, you could buy everything as a cutout for less than $1. I bought a huge pile of records at the Tower Annex for 10 or 25 cents each - i took a six copies of each title. If you bought used in that era, you could pay $10 or $20 per 100 pieces. Those were the days!
Always enjoy your take on things. And I'm not even a vinyl guy . . .
Same Here.
there was an all cd store in waynesville NC up until the pandemic. it was so weird. I walked in expecting vinyl and it was like I went back in time to 1995 when I stepped in the store. and no one was in there unsurprisingly lol
I was a purchaser for Pacific Coast One Stop in the early 90s. Yea, I remember… Most of us snatched up CDs (which I still have). When I think back to how much access I had to vinyl. - a lot of it practically free - WHAT WAS I THINKING??!! Ugh - all these years later I’m still rebuilding my vinyl collection. 😢
There’s a record store here in the UK that really does mail order right. They allow you to pre-order with no payment, and they will notify you when it comes in and even put it aside for you. You can also reserve in-stock records if you’re not ready to place your order just yet. Like the In Groove, they’ve figured out how to make a one location, independently-owned brick & mortar shop a big and successful online enterprise.
Which store is this?
The Big Lebowski doesn't like The Eagles, man.
In fact he hates the F’n Eagles man! Creedence tapes
Great video
You hinted at an interesting question….when to buy music as purely digital(never, as I have to own a physical item) as CD, or vinyl. I just not sure of what and when.
Somewhere around 2005, I just kind of gave up. Been buying great memories, my favorite albums and some of these jazz reissues the past few years.
I miss going into the store, regardless.
Goodnight. I just discovered your channel and would like to talk a little about what life has been like for someone who buys vinyl in Brazil. I started buying vinyl in late 1978, The Man-Machine was my first album. Until approximately 1985, Brazilian pressings were very bad. Discs cost eight dollars, double albums always cost twice as much. Here there was never a market for eps and singles, because store owners always wanted to charge full price like they were long play. Often the double covers became single covers, without inserts and even with black and white photos. Imported records started at twenty-four dollars.
Despite this, Brazil became the fifth largest phonographic market in the world, behind the USA, Japan, United Kingdom and West Germany. Even small towns had record stores. When cds gained strength, many kids, young people and adults got rid of their Brazilian vinyls to buy cds because the difference was stark. I got rid of about a hundred vinyls myself, which I regret. During the nineties the traditional vinyl stores started to go bankrupt.
From about twenty years ago, the stores of ardent music fans gained strength, but only in the big cities. Imported vinyls in Brazil cost at least 50 dollars, the average price oscillates between 60-70 dollars for vinyls that cost 20 dollars in the US.
I went twenty-three years without buying a single vinyl (1995-2018) due to their prohibitive cost in my country.
Nowadays I buy it when I go to Europe, especially at FNAC or very recently on the Danish website imusic. Even jazz vinyls that are already in the public domain don't cost me less than thirty dollars.
Vinyls in Brazil are very exclusive, which is a shame because Brazilian people are very musical.
I tried,stupidly with hindsight, to sell my LP collection back in 95 ,here in the uk, and was told they where ALL worthless! How times change eh? I understand the inflation argument but as a retiree I now find I can only afford new LPs on the same basis a I did as a kid back in the seventies! ie. NOT often. No matter CDs are dirt cheap these days and lets face it . It's the music that matters not the format. Rock on Mazzy ✌
Great stuff Mr Maslov. One thing I will say, over here in England it costs around £25 if you want/need to buy a reissue of an album that cost 3 or 4 quid maximum back in the 70's and often sold a gazillion copies back then.And that's for a standard copy, not re-mastered/re-mixed or whatever. Far better I think to go to a local secondhand shop and buy an original for less than a fiver or tenner. Thing is all these represses seem to be what's holding up all the new bands and artists releases. I'm more than happy to pay £25 to help support new artists, but they are usually at the back of the pressing queue when it comes to getting their material out there. The price, literally, of the music business, I guess, which is more than happy to supply old farts with their must have nostalgia, bah humbug and peace and love to you (smiley face thing) !
Also the reissued editions are often inferior to a good copy of an early pressing from back when tapes were fresh.
@@johnryan3913 Exactly so John. My eldest daughter, who has picked up the record buying bug from me, is always saying, " £25, and it's possibly a poor quality reissue, I'll stick to looking for a good secondhand original down at our local record store". Surely It can't cost a massive amount putting out these standard reissues, with no recording studios needed, or producers etc, the music is already there. So apart from the cost of the pressing and album sleeve, transport etc, couldn't the big three labels put these old albums, (that originally often sold in large or huge numbers), out at a lower price, say £15 ?. I'm sure they would sell a great many more, especially to younger people who are possibly new to record buying.
Being ripped off again I think ...... in the UK we were royally ripped of over the price of CDs when they came out ..... ive read the jewel cases were actually more expensive to produce than the CDs themselves and we were forking out about £15 per CD in the 80s !
Acoustic Sounds is definitely not an audiophile version of a website. 😁 As for minimum wage, the only state where it is $15 is Cali. Over half the US states have minimum wages below $10. I can see how that makes sense when the cost of living in an area is far less than on the west coast. Your point about collectibles is excellent; when I see a new release come out in a Baskin-Robbins level of flavors, I almost never buy because I figure the music isn't good enough to drive the sale of it, so the collectibility angle needs to be the driver. Good stuff.
Cheers, Tom
I am learning a lot from you. Some of what you have, I have or have heard of. Some I have not...
A small footnote: For $53.00, I picked up the Cream 1968 Farewell Tour on a 4 CD set about 5 months ago... Nice book came with it. But the CD's were jammed tight in their slipcase...
Totally agree on the release process. Steely Dan is available, and I’m still awaiting m pre-order from Acoustic Sounds.