Well said, Chris. I mostly like music from the 1960s, 1970s, and have collected more of the nineteen eighties. Rock, pop, and some R&B. I don't stay there in that time, not going after 1990, only saying that those times are my favourites. As yourself, I buy what mostly interests me, too.
Record store day just pisses me off. At this point it's just a field day for shameless profiteers who have no taste of their own but buy up every copy of those special releases and resell them for 10x more on the internet. It does have everything to do with the fact that most record stores are operated by snotty assholes who collaborate with their buddies to do shit like this. There's a direct correlation I've noticed about this, like at Everyday Music in Portland on Sandy blvd, most of the employees are a bunch of lazy jackoffs who are busy playing grab-ass and can barely drag themselves in any direction to help a customer, even when we're buying stuff, and they have no shame in selling an entire stack of rare releases to one crook.
@@jamescarter3196sorry this is a couple months late but your's is probably the most intelligent and accurate analysis of this whole bogus "record resurgence". Notice how I didn't say vinyl resurgence?? That's another bullshit thing. They're MADE out of vinyl. They're called records, LP'S or albums. Record Store Day....😂😂 such a joke.
The other thing they never tell us about is the issue of storing your vinyl. Where and how to store it all is up to the buyer. My ex used to tell me I have too many records. After we divorced, I had more space in the house for more LPs.
I’m glad you mentioned about taking a break from records I’m at that point right now and was beginning to think it was just me. Strangely I buy and play records more in the winter months. Also what they don’t tell you is not to be influenced into buying certain records . Just stick to what you like ! Great video Frank! 🙏👍
Holy smokes - add me to the list! I was just commenting to the wife that since summer hit, I’ve been outside in every spare waking moment and have just spun the black (or multicolored) circle in the evenings at times before bed a bit. But nowhere near as much as I do in the winter and fall when the outdoors isn’t as accommodating. I am slowing down overall, though, and just cherry-picking a few albums from time to time versus filling out band collections. I’m pretty much done with that at this point. Also, I agree that the social activity of shopping at record stores has made me more friends than I could have imagined! The social aspect is very important. Kind of cool and correlative to playing physical vinyl and going to physical locations to dig for it. It’s only natural to strike up conversations with others and from there, some great friendships have been made!
@@postmodernrecycler Same, for sure. Hell, I abandoned vinyl completely when CDs took over - but kept my bedrock vinyl collections from childhood/teen years thankfully. Glad I did when I circled back to vinyl a few years back!
As someone coming back to collecting records after a couple of digital decades, you really enjoy hearing something you used to love again after all those years, And as you start collecting you think gee records are heavy and they take up space. When you get serious about collecting you start thinking where and how are you going to store lots of records (new and old favorites).
During the work week I will listen to CDs in my car to and from work. I save records for Friday and Saturday night listening. Decent used records in my area are between 15$ and 20$. It's still a great time to jump in. A lot of out of print records are getting rereleased and a lot of cool movie scores are getting released.
I hit the estate sales fist thing in the mornings to find some vinyl treasures. I now ask the homeowner if they have any records for sale. It's like they are surprised that other people listen to records. Music brings people together. 😎👍
I'm getting to where I have the "essentials" all covered for my favorite bands. I'm now starting to look for my second and third string bands/artists that call "change of pace" music. When you get to this level, it's possible to go in a record store and not buy ANYTHING because you either have a version of it or not "odd" enough.
Been collecting vinyl for the past 15 years and have pretty much most of those essentials you talk about. There are some missing, obviously, but I have lost that impatience that made me buy too many records at the same time. Then, other factors have influenced my decision to “slow down”: not living anymore in a big city with many good record stores (which on one side means spending more money on Discogs because of shipping cost, but on the flip side it means to indulge less in purchases dictated on the spur of the moment), long work hours and consequent limited time to dedicate to music, being 40+ and losing a bit of that magic/excitement that music provoked in me, the current cost of vinyl (what until 10 years ago could be found for 3-5€, it costs now 20€, the fact that I have that “essentials” covered and not feeling like spending 20€ for something “not essential”) loss of general interest towards current artists/music trends (yes, there are things that are supercool and some of them I do enjoy, but hear me out…), being an adult with all the responsibilities it implies… I see myself looking at that record collection a lot while listening to an album on Spotify.
Unfortunately I have had a stroke so have gone about 3 months without vinyl as I struggle to get up and down to get to my turntables but my sons have helped by moving my system around to make it easier to get to once I get back on my feet. I make do with Apple Music on my iPhone at present and the very generous people at Fosi Audio have kindly helped me by sending a V3 amp free of charge so I have it set up in my bedroom with a Bluetooth receiver and small bookshelf speakers, I must admit it sounds very good. I am still buying records though through eBay and discogs on line and must have at least 100 that I have bought during this time that need unpacking downstairs. I can’t kick the collecting habit it keeps me alive as does listening to music and watching TH-cam. Can’t wait to get spinning my records once again though. Just bought my son a Project Jukebox to take to university but he won’t be going till September so maybe I could use that as well in my bedroom.
I love that you brought up the social aspect of record collecting! I love the random conversations I fall into at the record shops or conventions, adds another fun aspect of getting out and making the trip to the store.
Moved in 2019 and since then I had a surround sound audio system in boxes in the basement as we got a new sound bar for the living room TV. Got to thinking it would be simple enough to set up a listening area in the basement and pick up a decent turntable to plug into it. Ordered a Sony on Prime Day and have noticed my record collection has been increasing at an alarming rate since. For me, streaming is great but it’s the fast food of music… if fillet mignon were available at Mickey D’s. It lacks… reverence. The storage, the cleaning, even the handling by the label and edges, it’s all part of the ritual. And what a throwback to my youth when I put on newer pressings of albums that my sister and I wore out out Dad’s Zenith Allegro console back in the later 70s and early 80s. Have a ultrasonic cleaner on the way… definitely nobody told me I’d be doing THAT 🤣
One thing I find even with a small collection is that I forget what I have because you cannot easily see the names on the spine. Sometimes I get a real kick from making a rediscovery within my own collection.
Great tips! I think the most important one you brought up was taking a break. To add to that one, it's okay to take your time and to even shrink your collection down every once in awhile. Our wallets aren't always as big as our imagination, so it's important to have that balance AND you might just be buying things that you don't really need or appreciate. I go through my collection maybe once a year or so and get rid of a few items - even if it's just 3-4, it's nice to know that I am appreciative of what's there.
I listen to music most evenings unless I am out. I listen for sround 2 hours or so during the week and around 4 hours on a weekend. I rarely play before 4.00 p.m on a weekend.
Very often it may be 1-2 weeks before I get around to listening to some music and even then it could as easily be CD rather than an LP. It depends on what I'm in the mood for and what format I own it on. But, it is a glorious and fun way to go broke!😊
Pain yes, have over 100 records to clean and catalog! Just sitting here looking at them haven’t played one in a month. Having knee replacement Tuesday so who knows when I’ll get to them!
Right there with ya Frank! Record collecting is a rabbit hole. So first, don’t let FOMO rule your decisions. Ever. Second, curate a list and stick as close to that as possible. Will never listen to everything you grab otherwise. Also, definitely on a break from vinyl right now. I love listening to it but with two 3 and under I don’t have time, and when I do have time I don’t have energy. But, when I can toss on a record and listen to a song or two….it’s pure fire.
I like what you said about record collecting being social. I retired from NY to Florida with my wife but I didn't know anyone here when I arrived. A couple of my NY friends will be joining us here in a few years but I retired early. I met the friends I have here at a local record and CD store. We take road trips to visit record stores and meet at the local store in town as always, but we also socialize outside the world of collecting and go fishing, boating etc. Like Frank said though, you have to put yourself out there.
I never get tired of listening to music. It is one of my life's passions. I listen to many hours per day. In the evenings is when I spin my vinyl for full immersive listening. During the day it is streaming or CDs that are ripped to my streamer's SSD. My system has been a big investment and it is quite nice. It never fatiguing. I have had systems in the past that did becoming fatiguing after a couple of hours of listening. Getting past that was worth the investment to me.
I'm very discouraged 😞 I've been improving my gear and it's revealed how bad most of my collection sounds. I've got maybe 3 records that sound completely great Larry Carlton, John Klemmer and a Christmas one by Brett Eldrige. After listening to these can't hardly bare to listen to my others. What to do 🤔
Learn how to clean and lubricate your vinyl and remove static. There are videos about it, and the basics are that you can wash records with actual dish soap and water (take care not to get the labels wet because some of them will become damaged, especially 45s), and after drying and wiping off all the dust, put on a thin layer of WD40 with a microfiber cloth before playback, and sometimes it's frigging revelatory. I recommend buying The Groovinator record cleaning fluid, and using it with distilled water. If your faucet water isn't too loaded with minerals, it can be ok to use that for some of the washing process, but lately I've been using a spray bottle full of distilled water for the final rinse, just to minimize any residue.
@@jamescarter3196 I use filtered water with a very soft micro cloth when I first get them, then dry with micro cloth. Then I use a Record Doctor goat hair brush before each play. There probably is better ways, I'm sure 🤔
I also gets tired from listening music sometimes. But since i bought a great sounding DAC and purscribed to Qobuz, i am listening again some more. But i've had times i didn't listen to music for months. Even my record player gave almost up not being used for years. But luckily after i had listen to some records again, my Revox turntable saw the llight again and it's still spinning round for 43 years now. And i am collecting vinyl again.
Great video Frank, I own 400 albums, I also own over 900 CD's, I also stream / it's all about the music to me, in any format. My wife will tell you that once I put an album on, we can never leave the house until I listen to at least 1 full side / once an album is on in my house - it is on full the length of it. I have gotten tired of the cost of vinyl lately & most of my new buys of physical music is in the CD format.
Frank, great topic of conversation. No one ever mentions the fact that record collecting can be addictive. Also, once you become serious about collecting vinyl, it takes up a lot of real estate.
If your CD's lack "warmth," it might be your player. At this moment in time, it's a great time to collect *music.* Sometimes I'll pickup a CD, occasionally an LP, it may be a download (high rez if available) or maybe a multichannel disc. If you can put a nice, modest playback system together, why limit yourself to a single format? I've been enjoying anniversary editions and remixes of favorites from the '70's & '80's along with new artists I've discovered mostly via internet radio. (Hey, now I even have my own internet radio show!) The 2020's is the decade of choice.
My attitude exactly. Why pretend AV formats have to be 'either/or' when there's so much to choose from and no single format has 'everything that sounds perfect'? CDs have been around for like 40 years now, SACD unfortunately never 'took off' in a way that became affordable or convenient (and deserves reinvestment, imho), and I am sick to death of hearing people talk about how 'digital is perfect' when there is extremely-limited access to high-quality sound sources. The average person is listening to cassette-tape quality digital streaming music, imagining it's 'perfect' when it's full of artifacts and flat sound.
Bro there's been a couple times in my life I took a break either by choice or because that's the way it was..lol back in 1989 I had to take 90 days off music not my choice...lol. But in the early 2000s I did take a break from music choice, we had no home music system whatsoever and I spent a year listening to talk radio, and have that you're my radio went out anyway so it was one year without music. I just got out of radio where I was exposed to music all day long every single day of my. So it's almost like a cleansing break.. I actually really enjoy it man more than I did before. I don't know it's maybe because I'm not in-charge thing the music director having to constantly listen to new stuff... It's nice to just put on what I want to hear
Record collecting is a great way to make some new friends and start conversations. I do this all the time. Goes with the saying 'find people through what you like '
I sometimes take a break from music, but never for very long. At the most I'll avoid listening for three or four days. But my love of music always comes roaring back and when I get back into listening I enjoy it more than if I had been listening nonstop.
I used to do nothing but vinyl records and in the middle 80s I was in the Air Force and went to the UK and pretty much by that time records are out at least in the US but the UK seem to never stop doing vinyl. So I sold most of my vinyl collection and only bought CD When I was in the UK. I had put all my money into CDs and at what time I probably had 1000+ CD’s. Don’t think I don’t regret that decision. So I have been slowly re-collecting things I used to have on vinyl. I don’t find I need a break from Music because Music is a big part of my life but I do understand taking a break from vinyl because there’s so many other formats to listen to music. You put on a good show and I get some great ideas from watching you.
I like your idea of balance, you don't always listen to records, take a break, come back, things are always enjoyed with some level of moderation, Fundamental truth.
Although my current collection has origins around 1990, it wasn't until 2006 that I really started buying more records with a vengeance. I remember buying records so cheap back then. Got several records for $30 to $60 that today would fetch well over $300. And even cheaper in the 90's. Got a Kiss "Smashes Thrashes And Hits" vinyl for $5 at a used record store. Can't do that today, kids. The resurgence has been great for many things but not for my wallet, that is for sure!
Ain’t that the truth! Even the cheap ones are no longer cheap. About 15 years ago I had stopped buying records completely. I just didn’t have time, interest, or a man-cave back then to store them correctly. My older next door neighbor, who I barely knew, passed away unexpectedly and his wife had heard from mine that I liked records. She offered me his whole shebang for $250. I turned it down and someone down the street ended up buying it from her for $200. About 5 years ago me and that guy struck up a friendship and he invited me over to check out some vinyl, as I now have had a fantastic man-cave and was all-in again. His collection was incredible! I asked him how could possibly afford some of these LPs, because he had a what’s what of just about anything usually wants. A good 2000 of his albums came from a sweet deal from the neighbor woman down the street about 10 years before. I know, right?! Insert swear words here….😂
I've collected since the 80s. It's funny you mention 1990 in particular. I cleaned up that year. That was the year all of the Sam Goody / Strawberries / Camelot / record town / turtles corporate chains were ditching their vinyl in sidewalk sales. I got sooooooo many sealed records for a buck. New old stock just wasn't selling and they needed room for CDs.
I just purchased a collection of 30+ records this weekend at a yard sale for what worked out to less than $1 per record with some really good stuff but such opportunities are few and far between in my experience. I remember towards the late 80s and into the 90s how cheap new records were and that CD was the expensive option!
I usually play a record at the end of the day! It makes the music that much more special! Playing music ALL DAY will burn you out on music! On the streaming front I rather go with TIDAL than spotify, the resolution is much closer to a "well made and mastered" record! Actually a hi resolution cut "96/24bit or higher" Actually sounds much better than one cut from "redbook" (CD) because of the "full capture" of vinyl! Once again, depending on the pressing as you said , that too I agree with!
Lots of great points, Frank. A couple things that stood out to me is that records don't always sound better than other formats, and the cost of records versus cd's or streaming. Very true that vinyl doesn't always sound better. As you said, too many variables. But, if it was recorded well, mastered well, and is a good pressing it should sound better if played on the right equipment. All those factors have to be present. When it comes to cost, there are a couple of things to think about. Cd's are generally cheaper and streaming can be cheaper, if you figure how much music you can access instantly with a fairly affordable monthly subscription. But here's my challenge on record prices today. If you factor in inflation, a record that cost 8 or 9 dollars in 1980 would cost 29 to 32 dollars today. So really about the same cost. It's just that cd's have gotten way cheaper, and streaming has become an inexpensive alternative.
Your figures are about right, Neil. I took a production & marketing class in 1982 & we asked our teacher, jazz musician Dave Pell, why CDs were so expensive. He said they're priced at "whatever the market will bear." And we see that today with LP pricing.
I agree with everything you said. Speaking as someone who used to scorn vinyl snobs, embarrassingly, I’ve become one. But I don’t eschew other formats either by any means. If anything - at the moment at least - I’m mad crazy about 78s and they bring me great joy in my life.
Hey Frank! The rabbit hole thing - So true. On another topic, may I ask a question. My brother gifted me his vinyl collection. Great, but one problem. He is a heavy smoker and his records stiiiiiink!!! Are you aware of anything that coud, to a degree, alleviate some of the smell? I want to add some of his stuff to my collection, but the stench... I imagine it must but mostly the sleeves.Thanks
I got into collecting vinyl about a year ago because I wanted the soundtrack to season 1 of Penny Dreadful, and I couldn't find it on CD. That lead to me collecting other soundtracks to (mainly) horror movies and TV shows. That's my style of vinyl collecting, and I absolutely love it.
It wasn't until the late 80's , early 90's that most engineers & Producers figured out the key to maximizing the sound of the cd thus all the remastered cds 💿 on the market ..many sound great 👍
Absolutely! I still pick up cds from bargain bins and thrift stores(50 cent to a buck, usually). I’ve been doing A/B comparisons when I get them, comparing the audio quality of the vinyl versions of the same albums I have in my collection. I am frequently surprised to find that the cd sounds as good, if not better, than my vinyl. It has A LOT to do the mastering of both versions, of course, but I must admit that my cd player has an outstanding DAC in it.
Have to disagree with you, if you're talking about brickwalling (brickwalling began in the mid 90's). It doesn't make any record sound better, they just sound louder. All nuances and subtlety is removed.
When I was a young dude, I had music follow me everywhere....which wasn't always easy given the formats available. The only time I wasn't listening to music intensely was if my gear was in storage or if I was on extended hikes. Because of this, tunes were tied to my life, and playing them now opens the floodgates of memories. When I got married and had kids the music died like in the infamous 'American Pie' song. Life has a way of doing that with many folks. It was a long time coming back.....but all the sweeter for it as I never sold/gave away my original records.....nothing to lament there.
my record buying rules.. IF the repress if more expensive then the original vinyl, then I will wait to find the original... If the repress ( looking at you VH) is cheaper then the original, then I will buy the repress .. seems logical... I also buy the cassette of those uber expensive 80s metal albums ( Trixter, Firehouse, I see you) that I know I would LOVE to have but will never pay those high asking prices...
I started collecting 2 years ago, and found out it's just addicting lol. But I've gotten into the habit of buying multiple varients of the same record. So what I would say is they don't tell you how many different varients there may be and you don't have to buy all different kinds
I know what you mean about taking a break. I love my records but sometimes you need a break. So I started collecting 8 tracks, cassettes and cd’s now😂😂
I took a two month break from records, maybe even longer, then I started to play one record, all the way thru each day,Really listened to old records, opened up new records I never opened or records I only played once or twice, i really am started to get excited again. great vid...
Well said, not all vinyl sounds warmer. A lot of people failed to realised a lot of music were recorded digitally in the 80s. Most of my Sony classical have that big writings on the record cover that says digital.
Yes, taking a break for some time is probably the most important point of this video. Don't force yourself to listen to records, simply because you've put a lot money into them. It's a hobby, it should be fun. However, if you have a busy life, you sometimes need to free up some time in order to be able to sit back and enjoy them... if you do that the right way, it WILL be rewarding! It's all about balance.
Hello FRANK 🤗, you are so right about collecting music. It never seems to stop lol. Be records or CDS, dvds , cass. Tapes, how ever you listen to your music or buy your music collecting never stops but it's a great Hobby to get into so spin your records or play your cds or steam your music and have fun.
I’m just getting into collecting. Finally locating my dads record that he wrote in a singing group he was in the same year I was born. Got me excited to hear the record. It has been decades since I’ve heard it. It’s coming in the mail next week. This has sparked an interest in me, to one: get a record player and find good records. By the way, what’s a good record player and speaker to go with it? I’m new to this. I’m cutting room floor new. Thanks for the video!
@vince was spot on about the storage space needed. My collection is approaching 3000 albums, and I’m getting to the point where I have to climb over stacks of records to get into my bed!
Collecting vinyl has its pros and cons. One of the nicest things about dealing with a physical object, is that you can reach out to real people who have similar interests through a virtual platform as it will definitely be an abundant and neverending talking point.
Nice video.... I think a big thing that they don't tell you about record collecting is that there is no essentials or must-have records that every collection should have: your collection should have records that you love... Sometimes see some of these "essentials" on record unboxing videos of especially young folks, who probably only bought the record cause they thought they should... I have bought one album like that and it was the only record I ever regretted buying; these days I just buy albums that I know I'll enjoy listening to!
I used to only collect first pressings of certain record labels, Swirl and Island mainly and the prices got out of hand. At one point for a tee or so I was spending more in my record collection than my mortgage.
I have seen places that are trying to sell records for a lot of money but also in my area places like goodwill are always selling records for a dollar or two.
I just last week managed to piece together my old audio components. They had been stored on garage shelves since the mid 1990's. Was able to get everything working including replacing a cd player with a newer BluRay player. I only have about a hundred lps, about 40 cassettes, and around 60 cds, but I've been going through them one at a time. Funny how I bought some real disasters that I now wonder, what the hell was I thinking, why did I buy that? But then I've found some that knocked me out. Some are awesome! It's great to go down memory lane!
As a rule, records sound better than anything digital; I'm 67 years old and can still hear the difference quite easily. Maybe a stream sounds better than a hammered record, which hardly seems worth mentioning. Record collecting may be a social activity, at least to the extent that a bunch of Asperger-addled weirdos CAN be social. Also agree that it's OK to take a break from collecting and music, as long as it's no longer than a couple of hours, and that collecting is expensive (if you do it right).
Taking a break here and there is nice. I also do the same with games and movies. I usually focus on one thing at a time and enjoy coming back to the other two things refreshed when the time comes. In the summer months, I like to get outside more too.
I mix streaming with CDs, vinyl records and a few cassettes. I just do what feels good and what i have or want to listen to, I love to have and share a physical medium, a connection to my dad to show others what I like and fun to look through second hand boxes and try things out or get a version of a song you like. And i think it's kinda cool to have at university and adds a little something to listening to music edit: on that note , my collection may be smaller, but I feel once I've moved too my new place I want to go through it and find what I listen to more or less and enjoy spinning some records. A plus my new flatmate said it was cool to live with some who has records and I have a way to plug in headphones if I need to.
I started out just collecting because it was cheaper than CDs . Cost of records has been something I have struggled with so much so that I've played the flipper game, but only to acquire something I've had on my want list. I can honestly say the funk is real. I've been out of the hard core collecting since around the time my Mom passed back in January and have switched gears to collecting '80's G.I. Joe toys as a kind of therapy. Here's hoping that as the holidays come around I'll find myself embracing the hobby again as I LOVE to break out the records at that time of year and go down memory lane. As a suggestion, if you haven't incorporated The Ventures Christmas Album into your holiday repertoire, I couldn't give it a higher recommendation. Its an absolute must have ❤ As always, thank you for your perspective, Frank!
They also don't tell you that you don't need to upgrade to a $239,999 turntable (just came across one) because more than likely you have an exact copy of an album that would be played on it. The vinyl groove has a finite amount information and you can't get any more from it, no matter your equipment. If your system gives you what you want, enjoy. Great topic Frank, thank you, Peace ☮
"you can't get any more from it...."---- hang on, you're making statements that will confuse novices here. Any physical format has 'limits' to what it can ever sound like, but there's a huge amount of variance in the sound quality of turntables, so it's absolutely true that for example my Technics SLD-20 with Pickering cartridge sounds better than the Victorolas they sell at Target with ceramic needles. Not even CD players all sound the same, let alone turntables. Better machines give you better sound, and it's not a 'hoity-toity' thing, it's a fact.
I think I agree with all of what you said. In my case (only wanting 1st pressings with the correct LP number etched on the vinyl, all the inserts and no cut corners and all American pressings...Ahhhh!) It can be a pain, although mine is "self induced" The other is price; which I expect will jump again once this band does find "The End of the Road"! But, oh well, we all must get some sort of satisfaction out of it or we wouldn't bother doing it! \m/
Thanks in part to this video, I've decided to take August to break from buying, writing, and listening to music. I've been rabidly consuming music since I was ten and writing about it since I was sixteen. After more than thirty five years. I feel overwhelmed. Thanks for the video Frank.
1. A lot of old record labels were known for having pressings that sounded lifeless and flat. I couldn't wait to see if the CD release improved things. Too often, you'd find out that it was the master was lifeless and flat. Sometimes you'd be delighted by how much better the CD was. 2. The social aspect of collecting is what I miss the most. 3. The record cleaning ritual is one of the things that often has me reaching for my CD copy. 4. Time off from music is fine, but I'm coming off a couple year break from listening and I feel like my ears have gotten "out of practice" for hifi listening. It's distressing that I can't seem to get a good sound from my speakers. I had to check to see if they were in phase. They were and I'm trying to figure out where that's left me now that I want to get back into them again. It's like my ability to hear music well is "use it or lose it". Pretty sure Steve Guttenberg has talked about that when he's done videos about aging ears. 5. Record collecting was great in the early days of used record stores and variety stores with cut-out bins. You could pick up 3-4 great albums for $10 or less. It's become too expensive to take chances on new releases and I find I'm mostly blowing my record money on special releases that I really want, like the upcoming Who's Next 4-LP box set (with a SF live show from 69). I can only do that once or twice a year.
Yes and no... you can find bargain bin vinyl at both brick and mortar stores, as well as online. I've bought collections of artists for $20 for 4 records, like Angel, Montrose or Genisis.
@@Jhon-Rocks I have worn out a few Genesis LPs in the past. A lot of brick and mortar stores will give discounts if owner knows you. I hate it when postage is more than the LP.
#6: Vinyl collecting is as addictive as heroin and about as expensive. I've been collecting books my whole life. My library goes back decades. Collecting vinyl was, without exaggeration, more pleasurable and more compulsive than my worst book buying binges. I'm in utter shock at how much vinyl I've compiled.
@@edwardevans652 What got me to kick finally was the 1) SEVERE loss of money, 2) the rising price of vinyl both old and new and 3) amassing a pretty choice collection of good shit before all this happened. I pass by lots of vinyl and go "OOOH-wait...already got it. Oh, and this is a repress."
Who is because of your Channel that I discovered record collecting to begin with is it going back to 2016/2017, unfortunately due the prices of retro video game collecting I had to drop vinyl collecting in 2019. A decision that was financially smart, yet as you mentioned I do kind of miss the social aspect of it.
Hey Frank - Great Video, as always. One thing that "they" don't tell you about record collecting is that "they" can be snarky, self-important jackass know-it-alls when it comes to taste in both record choices and gear. I learned a long time ago that there's no point in arguing aesthetics - people typically like what they like. Lot of folks love Sansui, Marantz, Pioneer. I gravitate more towards Onkyo, Technics, and Realistic. It's what I like. Some folks even dig the sound from a Crosley (I don't, but if YOU do, fine). Lots of folks like the popular genres of music (so do I) but once you cross "age borders," then somehow you become weird or wrong. It's okay for a 60 year old to like Led Zeppelin, The Who, The Beatles, and The Steve Miller Band - but when you say you also like OneDirection, then you're pigeon-holed as a weirdo. Frank Zappa said it best - "The Ultimate Rule ought to be: 'If it sounds GOOD to you, it's bitchin'; if it sounds BAD to YOU, it's shitty. The more your musical experience, the easier it is to define for yourself what you like and what you don't like." Lots of "they" can't wrap their heads around such a statement. To your own tastes be true. Don't be afraid to seek out new (to you) music, but don't make yourself endure music you don't like just because "they" told you to do so. Cheers.
I am 99% into digital, however often I prefer the mastering done for vinyl, no (or less) loudness wars, or the engineer pushing the envelope because 24bit digital can handle it with no regard to what is suitable for the average house. Digitising vinyl (and tape) is also a fun exercise, trying out different rigs/cartridges etc, then trying to figure out what worked the best. Then there is de-clicking software, some are good, but many are truly horrible. As one odd side, I often prefer digitising an LP as a single file, including the needle drop and the arm dropping into it's stand/holder after the auto stop. the only bit I cut out is the side A to B turnover.
If I listened to records constantly I wouldnt have time to catch up on your videos 👌👌👌 Ive realized I go through ups and downs with record listening. I restore old TurnTables as well. Sometimes Im hot and heavy into spinning records and restoring tables. Other times I’m outside turning wrenches on my cars. Everything has its season and its time. This is definitely a rabbit hole and an over time investment…. Keep on spinning my friend…..
When a song is mastered it sounds different if it was mastered for digital or if it was mastered with vinyl in mind. I've read a lot of times that mastering is an art and there are variables for what medium its for.
Great video Frank! I took a looooooong break from vinyl while raising my kids. And now that they've flown the nest i got back into it a few years ago. But, like a few of your viewers, I don't often have either the time or the energy to listen to my Lps unfortunately. Keep on spinning Frank 👍
Record collectimg is a pain... I lifted up a large tote box of records last week... The next morning I leaned down and heard a crack in my lower back... Ive been in pain for a week now.
Here’s my five 1 The outer tracks has a longer length of groove per second, so as the stylus travels to the end of the side, the quality is reduced as the track length is shorter. Groups now get over this by having two LP’s where the last third of the vinyl is not used. 2 Records are cut 20Hz to 20kHz as the stylus cannot coup with the transits, as they are too fast for tracking, hence softer sound as the dynamics are reduced. 3 Early records where not always virgin vinyl, but recycled vinyl, which had defects. 4 LP’s are damaged with every play unless you have a good quality, and looked after stylus. 5 pressing quality although on 180g vinyl is now as bad as the 80’s with very poor pressing and damage post production. Bonus 6 Vinyl roar, noise from the groove pressing,so gentle quiet parts are ruined by background noise. Of course distal can have this from analog recordings from the original tape hiss. So as you rightly say, not LP’s sound great, depends on recording, mastering and manufacturing quality. As an example, the mastering between an Oasis and Dire Straits recording, just listen to the two processes, one is deliberately raw and the other is very high detail.
My two cents, space requirements for collections. I have a two bedroom home and one of the bedrooms is designated as my music room. 2 chairs, book cases of CD's and the two large closets are where I keep my records. Stereo system along the other wall. Forget about using the room to sleep in. By the way, I stopped buying vinyl when the price got to $7.98 a record.
I have been collecting records for 45 years with 8,000 albums (so far), and one thing I have found and you usually don't hear mentioned much is that, if you care about your records and their preservation and best playing state, you have to almost constantly find and monitor them for a relatively cool and dry environment for optimal condition. This is not always easy with varying climates and regions of different areas and countries. Direct sunlight, too much heat, malfunctioning thermostats, high humidity, and so on are the enemies of vinyl. Vinyl record albums are somewhat of a paradox because in general they are a tough, hardy medium that can last you a lifetime but at the same time have many vulnerabilities and vagaries that can render them somewhat sensitive. It's good just to be reminded of this and know it going in. Record collecting is still an awesome hobby and endeavor whose rewards far outweigh any minor inconveniences.
In your case, there’s a zero percent chance you could listen to all of those records, and a similar percent chance that they’re in good shape. Don’t take this the wrong way, but you’re a hoarder at that point.
@@mikechivy No, they're all mint to near mint. You must be a youngster because when you get up into your late fifties and have been collecting records your entire life you may find that you have that many of something if you are a music lover. I have heard most of them or I wouldn't have bought them. Are music stores "hoarders"? I'm sorry, but you're clueless.
All great points that if "collectors" haven't been living by, should. Like any hobby, you have to let it be fun, because just like any hobby it can become a "chore" and feel like a job at times, and that's not what a hobby is all about. And I'm so glad you mentioned that recordings starting around the 90's were digital, I don't think enough people stop and understand that, they get caught up in the hype behind "Audiophile", I really hate that word at times, lol. That said, and to add to your comment, the problem isn't a digital recording, it's in the mastering, because even records pressed in the 70's can sound like crap if they were mastered poorly. Also, and I know you're in the same camp, it's ok to have a CD player in your rig, if for no other reason, you can enjoy some of your "Grails" while you wait for the price to come down, if ever, on it's vinyl counterpart ;)
Well, one thing they don't tell you and that people don't realize is that the longer you actively collect records the more space you are going to need. Myself, after collecting records for over 60 years, I now have 4 Ikea Kallax 4 x 4 shelving units(each with 16 cubicles). The bottom 2 rows hold my file boxes of R2R tapes and 78 rpm records(and they are full). Luckily, I have 8 foot walls in my entertainments room which allows me to stack one unit on top of the other(which means I have to use a ladder). Then, there are the boxed sets I have to contend with. I had to add 4 more, but 4 X 1 Kallax Units, again stacked with one pair on each side of my main Kallax units. They are placed symmetrically to balance the room. Then as I fell in love with the Compact Disc when they were introduced to the U.S., in the center and between the 8 Kallax units, I have 2 stacked maybe 5 foot wide CD shelving units. Running out of room there, I removed all the Classical, Christmas and Christian CD's(hmm, 3 C's, I just realized that), putting them in the large bottom drawer of the record supply cabinet which my VPI RCM is sitting on top of. Oh, then there is my 7" record collection easily numbering 9-10K. These include boxed sets. They are all in my computer room in 2 double-wide 6' 6" teakwood veneer shelving units with 2 more single but wide 6' shelving units. Normal sealings here, so all I can stack are dedicated 7" record boxes on top of the cabinets. Then there is the expense of the records themselves, besides of the expenses of shelving units. Starting back so far, records were alot cheaper back then, with the newly released records being on sale for maybe $3. U.S. or a little less in the early 1970's. If I had more money back then I would have bought more records. My financial position only allowed me to buy some of the latest LP's(to get the stereo hit versions and especially if they had more than one hit on the albums) and many 45's. Another thing they don't tell you is that physical record quality is not what it used to be. To me, it's like they put more effort into the album covers and package than they do producing a quality pressing. We have to realize that most of these record pressing companies are using equipment and presses over 50 years old. No matter how good you fix them up, they are new only once. Then there are the people operating the equipment who during their lives so far, many didn't even know what a record was before they started pressing them. It's no wonder that they have trouble centering records in record presses. Then there are the older people who might have previous experience in the record manufacturing field. Many of them look like drunks or druggies. Here's and example of the newer records not being as good as the older records. Recently, I found an album which I had been trying to find a good copy of for years in an antique store. It was even in the $5. U.S. bins. It looked like new! I bought it and brought it home, expecting it to have an edge-warp(like so many of the new records today), but it was absolutely flat! I cleaned it on my RCM and when I played it, the record surface was alot quieter than many audiophile records today. The record pressing was even centered correctly! Pressing companies like QRP seem to have trouble centering the stampers when they press records. A recent re-issue I just bought was the Rolling Stones "Metamorphosis" album. From personal experience, I have learned to be wary of anything Abkco puts out. This one was no exception. The vinyl was so noisy between tracks that I had to digitize it and run it through sound processing programs before I could stand to listen to it. The Amazon mp3 version doesn't have the surface noise, but the mixes themselves are poor. Today, if I didn't have a physical media collection, I would be happy to stream and download digital versions. So, I can't really look down on those who follow the digital route instead of investing a fortune and continuing to spend even more money on physical media. A couple of things I've decided is if a recording had previously been available in true stereo, I'm not going to blow my money on a new so-called "audiophile" mono version. Both my ears still kinda work so I prefer stereo(or even quadraphonic) sound. Then there are the new so-called "audiophile" vinyl re-issues of records I got when they were just released, I am going to think hard before I blow more money. I've already gone through that with CD's, getting better versions of record albums I already had. That was often worth it. Then there are the newer compilation albums. What's the point in keeping issuing new version with maybe a song or two different and in a different order. I equate it to a porno film. Maybe there might be different people involved, but the action is the S.O.S. Many of these new "audiophile" issues of previously released recordings issued on vinyl, maybe for the first time, are prohibitively expensive. At the same time, if they issue it on CD or SACD, I'm going to buy that type of format, usually at a fraction of the cost for records!
It’s definitely full of rabbit holes. And depending on your interests, you can go in hundreds of different directions. My collection, as shown on an episode of “Vinyl Dens” is mostly Beatles. But even collecting one artist/band has hundreds of rabbit holes. Which brings me to one thing that was not mentioned. As with any collection, if you do go down these rabbit holes, do it because it’s what you enjoy doing. Because if you enjoy it, you will want to come back to it after you take a break.
hey, frank. great video. Agree with you on all points. I have been collecting LP's since 1969, stopped collecting for about 10years from 2008 until 2018 due to having to take care of my mother who had dementia. Since she passed, I have been back into it again. My last partner commented a few years ago that maybe I should get rid of some of the records that I have because there is not enough in room in my house to put her stuff into unless I make some room. I pointed to the front door and told her to close it as she leaves. Not heard from her since. In recent times i have actually thought that she might have been right, 12,000+ LP's probably is too many. Ah well i think I prefer Miss Rotty's company anyway because she does not complain about anything...........Take Care, Enjoy the music.......
I spent $350 for a turntable and $350 for a cd player to connect to a surround sound system. My 1000+ records and CDs sound amazing. I am hearing sounds never heard before from records and CDs that I've had for decades. Regarding vinyl pricing, when inflation is accounted for, they cost about the same. In1976 it was common to purchase a new record for $3.99. In today's dollar, that is $31.72.
Thanks! Good question - I planned to do one back in June, but other things kept coming up. I would love to say this month, but it will likely be early September.
Collecting is very addicting, especially if you are into the Beatles. There is always one more record "I need to own". And after you get the record, "Did I really need that"? And you need a very understanding spouse. (I wish). Ok back to Discogs!
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I buy what I want, when I want. I don't go for the record store day promotions. Just find what you want , when you want. There are no rules.
Same except Rocktober. My local has smokin dollar bin stuff that month
Well said, Chris. I mostly like music from the 1960s, 1970s, and have collected more of the nineteen eighties. Rock, pop, and some R&B. I don't stay there in that time, not going after 1990, only saying that those times are my favourites. As yourself, I buy what mostly interests me, too.
Record store day just pisses me off. At this point it's just a field day for shameless profiteers who have no taste of their own but buy up every copy of those special releases and resell them for 10x more on the internet. It does have everything to do with the fact that most record stores are operated by snotty assholes who collaborate with their buddies to do shit like this. There's a direct correlation I've noticed about this, like at Everyday Music in Portland on Sandy blvd, most of the employees are a bunch of lazy jackoffs who are busy playing grab-ass and can barely drag themselves in any direction to help a customer, even when we're buying stuff, and they have no shame in selling an entire stack of rare releases to one crook.
@@jamescarter3196sorry this is a couple months late but your's is probably the most intelligent and accurate analysis of this whole bogus "record resurgence". Notice how I didn't say vinyl resurgence?? That's another bullshit thing. They're MADE out of vinyl. They're called records, LP'S or albums. Record Store Day....😂😂 such a joke.
No. Sell what you have, and I’ll give you a list of records I want. You buy what I want, and that IS a rule
The other thing they never tell us about is the issue of storing your vinyl. Where and how to store it all is up to the buyer.
My ex used to tell me I have too many records. After we divorced, I had more space in the house for more LPs.
@Vince_Tasciotti 😆😂🤣😭
😂😂😂
I’m glad you mentioned about taking a break from records I’m at that point right now and was beginning to think it was just me. Strangely I buy and play records more in the winter months. Also what they don’t tell you is not to be influenced into buying certain records . Just stick to what you like ! Great video Frank! 🙏👍
same here
Holy smokes - add me to the list! I was just commenting to the wife that since summer hit, I’ve been outside in every spare waking moment and have just spun the black (or multicolored) circle in the evenings at times before bed a bit. But nowhere near as much as I do in the winter and fall when the outdoors isn’t as accommodating. I am slowing down overall, though, and just cherry-picking a few albums from time to time versus filling out band collections. I’m pretty much done with that at this point.
Also, I agree that the social activity of shopping at record stores has made me more friends than I could have imagined! The social aspect is very important. Kind of cool and correlative to playing physical vinyl and going to physical locations to dig for it. It’s only natural to strike up conversations with others and from there, some great friendships have been made!
I've lived long enough to have gone through several eras of vinyl and no-vinyl (and no music). It's a river that will ebb and swell but never dry up.
@@postmodernrecycler Same, for sure. Hell, I abandoned vinyl completely when CDs took over - but kept my bedrock vinyl collections from childhood/teen years thankfully. Glad I did when I circled back to vinyl a few years back!
My words completely. Peace
So true about the need to take a break from music. Sometimes it's really necessary. I have experienced burnout from music overdose in the past.
As someone coming back to collecting records after a couple of digital decades, you really enjoy hearing something you used to love again after all those years, And as you start collecting you think gee records are heavy and they take up space. When you get serious about collecting you start thinking where and how are you going to store lots of records (new and old favorites).
The reason I like vinyl is I get more steps in walking everyday and at 67 yrs old I need every step I can get everyday 😀
Right? And then with the 45 rpms you gotta get up and flip it every 10 mins lol
During the work week I will listen to CDs in my car to and from work. I save records for Friday and Saturday night listening. Decent used records in my area are between 15$ and 20$. It's still a great time to jump in. A lot of out of print records are getting rereleased and a lot of cool movie scores are getting released.
I hit the estate sales fist thing in the mornings to find some vinyl treasures. I now ask the homeowner if they have any records for sale. It's like they are surprised that other people listen to records.
Music brings people together. 😎👍
For me it’s important to have an app to catalog records. More than once I’ve bought an album and when I got home discovered I got it already
i Agree with all of that Frank....but I have to admit, when I dont listen to vinyl for a week or more, I do feel guilty !
I'm getting to where I have the "essentials" all covered for my favorite bands. I'm now starting to look for my second and third string bands/artists that call "change of pace" music. When you get to this level, it's possible to go in a record store and not buy ANYTHING because you either have a version of it or not "odd" enough.
Been collecting vinyl for the past 15 years and have pretty much most of those essentials you talk about. There are some missing, obviously, but I have lost that impatience that made me buy too many records at the same time. Then, other factors have influenced my decision to “slow down”: not living anymore in a big city with many good record stores (which on one side means spending more money on Discogs because of shipping cost, but on the flip side it means to indulge less in purchases dictated on the spur of the moment), long work hours and consequent limited time to dedicate to music, being 40+ and losing a bit of that magic/excitement that music provoked in me, the current cost of vinyl (what until 10 years ago could be found for 3-5€, it costs now 20€, the fact that I have that “essentials” covered and not feeling like spending 20€ for something “not essential”) loss of general interest towards current artists/music trends (yes, there are things that are supercool and some of them I do enjoy, but hear me out…), being an adult with all the responsibilities it implies…
I see myself looking at that record collection a lot while listening to an album on Spotify.
Yeah... but that Ted Nugent is only $7 and in minty condition.
Unfortunately I have had a stroke so have gone about 3 months without vinyl as I struggle to get up and down to get to my turntables but my sons have helped by moving my system around to make it easier to get to once I get back on my feet. I make do with Apple Music on my iPhone at present and the very generous people at Fosi Audio have kindly helped me by sending a V3 amp free of charge so I have it set up in my bedroom with a Bluetooth receiver and small bookshelf speakers, I must admit it sounds very good.
I am still buying records though through eBay and discogs on line and must have at least 100 that I have bought during this time that need unpacking downstairs. I can’t kick the collecting habit it keeps me alive as does listening to music and watching TH-cam. Can’t wait to get spinning my records once again though. Just bought my son a Project Jukebox to take to university but he won’t be going till September so maybe I could use that as well in my bedroom.
I love that you brought up the social aspect of record collecting! I love the random conversations I fall into at the record shops or conventions, adds another fun aspect of getting out and making the trip to the store.
best thing to do as a record collector only buy albums that you absolutely love
They don't tell you how HEAVY they are to move!!!!!
Very true.
Moved in 2019 and since then I had a surround sound audio system in boxes in the basement as we got a new sound bar for the living room TV. Got to thinking it would be simple enough to set up a listening area in the basement and pick up a decent turntable to plug into it. Ordered a Sony on Prime Day and have noticed my record collection has been increasing at an alarming rate since. For me, streaming is great but it’s the fast food of music… if fillet mignon were available at Mickey D’s. It lacks… reverence. The storage, the cleaning, even the handling by the label and edges, it’s all part of the ritual. And what a throwback to my youth when I put on newer pressings of albums that my sister and I wore out out Dad’s Zenith Allegro console back in the later 70s and early 80s. Have a ultrasonic cleaner on the way… definitely nobody told me I’d be doing THAT 🤣
I usually take a short break from records and when I come back I love my collection even more!! I think that makes It healthier for my brain 😂
One thing I find even with a small collection is that I forget what I have because you cannot easily see the names on the spine. Sometimes I get a real kick from making a rediscovery within my own collection.
I have a collection of about 60 records. It’s a surprisingly eclectic collection.
Great tips! I think the most important one you brought up was taking a break. To add to that one, it's okay to take your time and to even shrink your collection down every once in awhile. Our wallets aren't always as big as our imagination, so it's important to have that balance AND you might just be buying things that you don't really need or appreciate. I go through my collection maybe once a year or so and get rid of a few items - even if it's just 3-4, it's nice to know that I am appreciative of what's there.
I listen to music most evenings unless I am out. I listen for sround 2 hours or so during the week and around 4 hours on a weekend. I rarely play before 4.00 p.m on a weekend.
Very often it may be 1-2 weeks before I get around to listening to some music and even then it could as easily be CD rather than an LP. It depends on what I'm in the mood for and what format I own it on. But, it is a glorious and fun way to go broke!😊
Pain yes, have over 100 records to clean and catalog! Just sitting here looking at them haven’t played one in a month. Having knee replacement Tuesday so who knows when I’ll get to them!
Right there with ya Frank! Record collecting is a rabbit hole. So first, don’t let FOMO rule your decisions. Ever. Second, curate a list and stick as close to that as possible. Will never listen to everything you grab otherwise. Also, definitely on a break from vinyl right now. I love listening to it but with two 3 and under I don’t have time, and when I do have time I don’t have energy. But, when I can toss on a record and listen to a song or two….it’s pure fire.
I like what you said about record collecting being social. I retired from NY to Florida with my wife but I didn't know anyone here when I arrived. A couple of my NY friends will be joining us here in a few years but I retired early. I met the friends I have here at a local record and CD store. We take road trips to visit record stores and meet at the local store in town as always, but we also socialize outside the world of collecting and go fishing, boating etc. Like Frank said though, you have to put yourself out there.
I never get tired of listening to music. It is one of my life's passions. I listen to many hours per day. In the evenings is when I spin my vinyl for full immersive listening. During the day it is streaming or CDs that are ripped to my streamer's SSD. My system has been a big investment and it is quite nice. It never fatiguing. I have had systems in the past that did becoming fatiguing after a couple of hours of listening. Getting past that was worth the investment to me.
I'm very discouraged 😞 I've been improving my gear and it's revealed how bad most of my collection sounds. I've got maybe 3 records that sound completely great Larry Carlton, John Klemmer and a Christmas one by Brett Eldrige. After listening to these can't hardly bare to listen to my others. What to do 🤔
Learn how to clean and lubricate your vinyl and remove static. There are videos about it, and the basics are that you can wash records with actual dish soap and water (take care not to get the labels wet because some of them will become damaged, especially 45s), and after drying and wiping off all the dust, put on a thin layer of WD40 with a microfiber cloth before playback, and sometimes it's frigging revelatory. I recommend buying The Groovinator record cleaning fluid, and using it with distilled water. If your faucet water isn't too loaded with minerals, it can be ok to use that for some of the washing process, but lately I've been using a spray bottle full of distilled water for the final rinse, just to minimize any residue.
@@jamescarter3196 I use filtered water with a very soft micro cloth when I first get them, then dry with micro cloth. Then I use a Record Doctor goat hair brush before each play. There probably is better ways, I'm sure 🤔
I also gets tired from listening music sometimes. But since i bought a great sounding DAC and purscribed to Qobuz, i am listening again some more. But i've had times i didn't listen to music for months. Even my record player gave almost up not being used for years. But luckily after i had listen to some records again, my Revox turntable saw the llight again and it's still spinning round for 43 years now. And i am collecting vinyl again.
Great video Frank, I own 400 albums, I also own over 900 CD's, I also stream / it's all about the music to me, in any format. My wife will tell you that once I put an album on, we can never leave the house until I listen to at least 1 full side / once an album is on in my house - it is on full the length of it. I have gotten tired of the cost of vinyl lately & most of my new buys of physical music is in the CD format.
Frank, great topic of conversation.
No one ever mentions the fact that record collecting can be addictive.
Also, once you become serious about collecting vinyl, it takes up a lot of real estate.
If your CD's lack "warmth," it might be your player. At this moment in time, it's a great time to collect *music.* Sometimes I'll pickup a CD, occasionally an LP, it may be a download (high rez if available) or maybe a multichannel disc. If you can put a nice, modest playback system together, why limit yourself to a single format? I've been enjoying anniversary editions and remixes of favorites from the '70's & '80's along with new artists I've discovered mostly via internet radio. (Hey, now I even have my own internet radio show!) The 2020's is the decade of choice.
My attitude exactly. Why pretend AV formats have to be 'either/or' when there's so much to choose from and no single format has 'everything that sounds perfect'? CDs have been around for like 40 years now, SACD unfortunately never 'took off' in a way that became affordable or convenient (and deserves reinvestment, imho), and I am sick to death of hearing people talk about how 'digital is perfect' when there is extremely-limited access to high-quality sound sources. The average person is listening to cassette-tape quality digital streaming music, imagining it's 'perfect' when it's full of artifacts and flat sound.
Bro there's been a couple times in my life I took a break either by choice or because that's the way it was..lol back in 1989 I had to take 90 days off music not my choice...lol. But in the early 2000s I did take a break from music choice, we had no home music system whatsoever and I spent a year listening to talk radio, and have that you're my radio went out anyway so it was one year without music. I just got out of radio where I was exposed to music all day long every single day of my. So it's almost like a cleansing break.. I actually really enjoy it man more than I did before. I don't know it's maybe because I'm not in-charge thing the music director having to constantly listen to new stuff... It's nice to just put on what I want to hear
Records are high maintenance to keep them sounding their best. But oddly for me I enjoy it and it’s part of the hobby.
Record collecting is a great way to make some new friends and start conversations. I do this all the time. Goes with the saying 'find people through what you like '
I sometimes take a break from music, but never for very long. At the most I'll avoid listening for three or four days. But my love of music always comes roaring back and when I get back into listening I enjoy it more than if I had been listening nonstop.
I used to do nothing but vinyl records and in the middle 80s I was in the Air Force and went to the UK and pretty much by that time records are out at least in the US but the UK seem to never stop doing vinyl. So I sold most of my vinyl collection and only bought CD When I was in the UK. I had put all my money into CDs and at what time I probably had 1000+ CD’s. Don’t think I don’t regret that decision. So I have been slowly re-collecting things I used to have on vinyl. I don’t find I need a break from Music because Music is a big part of my life but I do understand taking a break from vinyl because there’s so many other formats to listen to music. You put on a good show and I get some great ideas from watching you.
I like your idea of balance, you don't always listen to records, take a break, come back, things are always enjoyed with some level of moderation, Fundamental truth.
Although my current collection has origins around 1990, it wasn't until 2006 that I really started buying more records with a vengeance. I remember buying records so cheap back then. Got several records for $30 to $60 that today would fetch well over $300. And even cheaper in the 90's. Got a Kiss "Smashes Thrashes And Hits" vinyl for $5 at a used record store. Can't do that today, kids. The resurgence has been great for many things but not for my wallet, that is for sure!
Ain’t that the truth! Even the cheap ones are no longer cheap. About 15 years ago I had stopped buying records completely. I just didn’t have time, interest, or a man-cave back then to store them correctly. My older next door neighbor, who I barely knew, passed away unexpectedly and his wife had heard from mine that I liked records. She offered me his whole shebang for $250. I turned it down and someone down the street ended up buying it from her for $200. About 5 years ago me and that guy struck up a friendship and he invited me over to check out some vinyl, as I now have had a fantastic man-cave and was all-in again. His collection was incredible! I asked him how could possibly afford some of these LPs, because he had a what’s what of just about anything usually wants. A good 2000 of his albums came from a sweet deal from the neighbor woman down the street about 10 years before. I know, right?! Insert swear words here….😂
Just bought a copy of Smashes, Thrashes & Hits for 25 dollars lol
@@philsavory4728 That's really good...online they seem to be at least $50 if not much more than that.
I've collected since the 80s. It's funny you mention 1990 in particular. I cleaned up that year. That was the year all of the Sam Goody / Strawberries / Camelot / record town / turtles corporate chains were ditching their vinyl in sidewalk sales. I got sooooooo many sealed records for a buck. New old stock just wasn't selling and they needed room for CDs.
I just purchased a collection of 30+ records this weekend at a yard sale for what worked out to less than $1 per record with some really good stuff but such opportunities are few and far between in my experience. I remember towards the late 80s and into the 90s how cheap new records were and that CD was the expensive option!
I usually play a record at the end of the day! It makes the music that much more special! Playing music ALL DAY will burn you out on music! On the streaming front I rather go with TIDAL than spotify, the resolution is much closer to a "well made and mastered" record! Actually a hi resolution cut "96/24bit or higher" Actually sounds much better than one cut from "redbook" (CD) because of the "full capture" of vinyl! Once again, depending on the pressing as you said , that too I agree with!
Lots of great points, Frank. A couple things that stood out to me is that records don't always sound better than other formats, and the cost of records versus cd's or streaming. Very true that vinyl doesn't always sound better. As you said, too many variables. But, if it was recorded well, mastered well, and is a good pressing it should sound better if played on the right equipment. All those factors have to be present. When it comes to cost, there are a couple of things to think about. Cd's are generally cheaper and streaming can be cheaper, if you figure how much music you can access instantly with a fairly affordable monthly subscription. But here's my challenge on record prices today. If you factor in inflation, a record that cost 8 or 9 dollars in 1980 would cost 29 to 32 dollars today. So really about the same cost. It's just that cd's have gotten way cheaper, and streaming has become an inexpensive alternative.
Your figures are about right, Neil. I took a production & marketing class in 1982 & we asked our teacher, jazz musician Dave Pell, why CDs were so expensive. He said they're priced at "whatever the market will bear." And we see that today with LP pricing.
I love going into a record shop and just looking. It's very relaxing ❤
I love going also but I spend $50.00 to 100.00 bucks
I agree with everything you said. Speaking as someone who used to scorn vinyl snobs, embarrassingly, I’ve become one. But I don’t eschew other formats either by any means. If anything - at the moment at least - I’m mad crazy about 78s and they bring me great joy in my life.
Hey Frank! The rabbit hole thing - So true. On another topic, may I ask a question. My brother gifted me his vinyl collection. Great, but one problem. He is a heavy smoker and his records stiiiiiink!!! Are you aware of anything that coud, to a degree, alleviate some of the smell? I want to add some of his stuff to my collection, but the stench... I imagine it must but mostly the sleeves.Thanks
I got into collecting vinyl about a year ago because I wanted the soundtrack to season 1 of Penny Dreadful, and I couldn't find it on CD. That lead to me collecting other soundtracks to (mainly) horror movies and TV shows. That's my style of vinyl collecting, and I absolutely love it.
Great list. I was taking a break from my records and felt guilty about it.. glad to hear you mention it and says it’s normal and okay 😊
Absolutely ok!
It wasn't until the late 80's , early 90's that most engineers & Producers figured out the key to maximizing the sound of the cd thus all the remastered cds 💿 on the market ..many sound great 👍
Absolutely! I still pick up cds from bargain bins and thrift stores(50 cent to a buck, usually). I’ve been doing A/B comparisons when I get them, comparing the audio quality of the vinyl versions of the same albums I have in my collection. I am frequently surprised to find that the cd sounds as good, if not better, than my vinyl. It has A LOT to do the mastering of both versions, of course, but I must admit that my cd player has an outstanding DAC in it.
Have to disagree with you, if you're talking about brickwalling (brickwalling began in the mid 90's). It doesn't make any record sound better, they just sound louder. All nuances and subtlety is removed.
When I was a young dude, I had music follow me everywhere....which wasn't always easy given the formats available. The only time I wasn't listening to music intensely was if my gear was in storage or if I was on extended hikes. Because of this, tunes were tied to my life, and playing them now opens the floodgates of memories. When I got married and had kids the music died like in the infamous 'American Pie' song. Life has a way of doing that with many folks. It was a long time coming back.....but all the sweeter for it as I never sold/gave away my original records.....nothing to lament there.
Thats really refreshing. Say as it is. Totally agree and I am contemplating venturing into analog 😊
my record buying rules.. IF the repress if more expensive then the original vinyl, then I will wait to find the original... If the repress ( looking at you VH) is cheaper then the original, then I will buy the repress .. seems logical... I also buy the cassette of those uber expensive 80s metal albums ( Trixter, Firehouse, I see you) that I know I would LOVE to have but will never pay those high asking prices...
I started collecting 2 years ago, and found out it's just addicting lol. But I've gotten into the habit of buying multiple varients of the same record. So what I would say is they don't tell you how many different varients there may be and you don't have to buy all different kinds
For my collecting strategy and for what my ears like, I try to collect strictly acoustic music. Sounds the best for me and puts me in my happy place.
I know what you mean about taking a break. I love my records but sometimes you need a break. So I started collecting 8 tracks, cassettes and cd’s now😂😂
I took a two month break from records, maybe even longer, then I started to play one record, all the way thru each day,Really listened to old records, opened up new records I never opened or records I only played once or twice, i really am started to get excited again. great vid...
I take a break during the summer months to enjoy the weather, but I still collect records to listen to during the winter months....
Well said, not all vinyl sounds warmer.
A lot of people failed to realised a lot of music were recorded digitally in the 80s.
Most of my Sony classical have that big writings on the record cover that says digital.
Yes, taking a break for some time is probably the most important point of this video.
Don't force yourself to listen to records, simply because you've put a lot money into them.
It's a hobby, it should be fun.
However, if you have a busy life, you sometimes need to free up some time in order to be able to sit back and enjoy them... if you do that the right way, it WILL be rewarding!
It's all about balance.
I always feel like I just want to hear this and that. Boy, does time fly by when you get into the mix of it all.
Hello FRANK 🤗, you are so right about collecting music. It never seems to stop lol. Be records or CDS, dvds , cass. Tapes, how ever you listen to your music or buy your music collecting never stops but it's a great Hobby to get into so spin your records or play your cds or steam your music and have fun.
I’m just getting into collecting. Finally locating my dads record that he wrote in a singing group he was in the same year I was born. Got me excited to hear the record. It has been decades since I’ve heard it. It’s coming in the mail next week. This has sparked an interest in me, to one: get a record player and find good records. By the way, what’s a good record player and speaker to go with it? I’m new to this. I’m cutting room floor new. Thanks for the video!
@vince was spot on about the storage space needed. My collection is approaching 3000 albums, and I’m getting to the point where I have to climb over stacks of records to get into my bed!
Collecting vinyl has its pros and cons. One of the nicest things about dealing with a physical object, is that you can reach out to real people who have similar interests through a virtual platform as it will definitely be an abundant and neverending talking point.
I have a 1948 record that sounds Great from the Goodwill. I so agree with you
Nice video.... I think a big thing that they don't tell you about record collecting is that there is no essentials or must-have records that every collection should have: your collection should have records that you love... Sometimes see some of these "essentials" on record unboxing videos of especially young folks, who probably only bought the record cause they thought they should... I have bought one album like that and it was the only record I ever regretted buying; these days I just buy albums that I know I'll enjoy listening to!
I used to only collect first pressings of certain record labels, Swirl and Island mainly and the prices got out of hand.
At one point for a tee or so I was spending more in my record collection than my mortgage.
I have seen places that are trying to sell records for a lot of money but also in my area places like goodwill are always selling records for a dollar or two.
I just last week managed to piece together my old audio components. They had been stored on garage shelves since the mid 1990's. Was able to get everything working including replacing a cd player with a newer BluRay player. I only have about a hundred lps, about 40 cassettes, and around 60 cds, but I've been going through them one at a time. Funny how I bought some real disasters that I now wonder, what the hell was I thinking, why did I buy that? But then I've found some that knocked me out. Some are awesome! It's great to go down memory lane!
As a rule, records sound better than anything digital; I'm 67 years old and can still hear the difference quite easily. Maybe a stream sounds better than a hammered record, which hardly seems worth mentioning. Record collecting may be a social activity, at least to the extent that a bunch of Asperger-addled weirdos CAN be social. Also agree that it's OK to take a break from collecting and music, as long as it's no longer than a couple of hours, and that collecting is expensive (if you do it right).
Taking a break here and there is nice. I also do the same with games and movies. I usually focus on one thing at a time and enjoy coming back to the other two things refreshed when the time comes. In the summer months, I like to get outside more too.
I mix streaming with CDs, vinyl records and a few cassettes. I just do what feels good and what i have or want to listen to, I love to have and share a physical medium, a connection to my dad to show others what I like and fun to look through second hand boxes and try things out or get a version of a song you like. And i think it's kinda cool to have at university and adds a little something to listening to music
edit: on that note , my collection may be smaller, but I feel once I've moved too my new place I want to go through it and find what I listen to more or less and enjoy spinning some records. A plus my new flatmate said it was cool to live with some who has records and I have a way to plug in headphones if I need to.
I started out just collecting because it was cheaper than CDs . Cost of records has been something I have struggled with so much so that I've played the flipper game, but only to acquire something I've had on my want list. I can honestly say the funk is real. I've been out of the hard core collecting since around the time my Mom passed back in January and have switched gears to collecting '80's G.I. Joe toys as a kind of therapy. Here's hoping that as the holidays come around I'll find myself embracing the hobby again as I LOVE to break out the records at that time of year and go down memory lane. As a suggestion, if you haven't incorporated The Ventures Christmas Album into your holiday repertoire, I couldn't give it a higher recommendation. Its an absolute must have ❤ As always, thank you for your perspective, Frank!
Hey, it's summer! Time for the Ventures' *Surfing* (on LP or CD unless they've sold out).
They also don't tell you that you don't need to upgrade to a $239,999 turntable (just came across one)
because more than likely you have an exact copy of an album that would be played on it. The vinyl groove has a finite amount information and you can't get any more from it, no matter your equipment. If your system gives you what you want, enjoy. Great topic Frank, thank you, Peace ☮
"you can't get any more from it...."---- hang on, you're making statements that will confuse novices here. Any physical format has 'limits' to what it can ever sound like, but there's a huge amount of variance in the sound quality of turntables, so it's absolutely true that for example my Technics SLD-20 with Pickering cartridge sounds better than the Victorolas they sell at Target with ceramic needles. Not even CD players all sound the same, let alone turntables. Better machines give you better sound, and it's not a 'hoity-toity' thing, it's a fact.
It's also a big process when you move. Even a small collection takes some planning to relocate. Great video and very informative!
I think I agree with all of what you said. In my case (only wanting 1st pressings with the correct LP number etched on the vinyl, all the inserts and no cut corners and all American pressings...Ahhhh!) It can be a pain, although mine is "self induced" The other is price; which I expect will jump again once this band does find "The End of the Road"! But, oh well, we all must get some sort of satisfaction out of it or we wouldn't bother doing it! \m/
Thanks in part to this video, I've decided to take August to break from buying, writing, and listening to music. I've been rabidly consuming music since I was ten and writing about it since I was sixteen. After more than thirty five years. I feel overwhelmed. Thanks for the video Frank.
Let me know how it goes.
1. A lot of old record labels were known for having pressings that sounded lifeless and flat. I couldn't wait to see if the CD release improved things. Too often, you'd find out that it was the master was lifeless and flat. Sometimes you'd be delighted by how much better the CD was.
2. The social aspect of collecting is what I miss the most.
3. The record cleaning ritual is one of the things that often has me reaching for my CD copy.
4. Time off from music is fine, but I'm coming off a couple year break from listening and I feel like my ears have gotten "out of practice" for hifi listening. It's distressing that I can't seem to get a good sound from my speakers. I had to check to see if they were in phase. They were and I'm trying to figure out where that's left me now that I want to get back into them again. It's like my ability to hear music well is "use it or lose it". Pretty sure Steve Guttenberg has talked about that when he's done videos about aging ears.
5. Record collecting was great in the early days of used record stores and variety stores with cut-out bins. You could pick up 3-4 great albums for $10 or less. It's become too expensive to take chances on new releases and I find I'm mostly blowing my record money on special releases that I really want, like the upcoming Who's Next 4-LP box set (with a SF live show from 69). I can only do that once or twice a year.
1. - Capitol? (Crapitol?)
Yes and no... you can find bargain bin vinyl at both brick and mortar stores, as well as online. I've bought collections of artists for $20 for 4 records, like Angel, Montrose or Genisis.
@@Jhon-Rocks I don't have luck with Warner Bros records they all seem to have a skip or more.
@@Jhon-Rocks I have worn out a few Genesis LPs in the past. A lot of brick and mortar stores will give discounts if owner knows you. I hate it when postage is more than the LP.
#6: Vinyl collecting is as addictive as heroin and about as expensive.
I've been collecting books my whole life. My library goes back decades. Collecting vinyl was, without exaggeration, more pleasurable and more compulsive than my worst book buying binges. I'm in utter shock at how much vinyl I've compiled.
@Theomite The vinyl addiction has its hooks all in me⚫️🥄💉
I need help to get off it, but when you need that fix, there’s nothing you can do stop!
@@edwardevans652 What got me to kick finally was the 1) SEVERE loss of money, 2) the rising price of vinyl both old and new and 3) amassing a pretty choice collection of good shit before all this happened.
I pass by lots of vinyl and go "OOOH-wait...already got it. Oh, and this is a repress."
Had lunch with a record collector last week. He has the same issue I have with wanting to buy guitars all the time.
Who is because of your Channel that I discovered record collecting to begin with is it going back to 2016/2017, unfortunately due the prices of retro video game collecting I had to drop vinyl collecting in 2019.
A decision that was financially smart,
yet as you mentioned I do kind of miss the social aspect of it.
Hey Frank -
Great Video, as always.
One thing that "they" don't tell you about record collecting is that "they" can be snarky, self-important jackass know-it-alls when it comes to taste in both record choices and gear. I learned a long time ago that there's no point in arguing aesthetics - people typically like what they like. Lot of folks love Sansui, Marantz, Pioneer. I gravitate more towards Onkyo, Technics, and Realistic. It's what I like. Some folks even dig the sound from a Crosley (I don't, but if YOU do, fine).
Lots of folks like the popular genres of music (so do I) but once you cross "age borders," then somehow you become weird or wrong. It's okay for a 60 year old to like Led Zeppelin, The Who, The Beatles, and The Steve Miller Band - but when you say you also like OneDirection, then you're pigeon-holed as a weirdo.
Frank Zappa said it best - "The Ultimate Rule ought to be: 'If it sounds GOOD to you, it's bitchin'; if it sounds BAD to YOU, it's shitty. The more your musical experience, the easier it is to define for yourself what you like and what you don't like."
Lots of "they" can't wrap their heads around such a statement.
To your own tastes be true. Don't be afraid to seek out new (to you) music, but don't make yourself endure music you don't like just because "they" told you to do so.
Cheers.
I am 99% into digital, however often I prefer the mastering done for vinyl, no (or less) loudness wars, or the engineer pushing the envelope because 24bit digital can handle it with no regard to what is suitable for the average house.
Digitising vinyl (and tape) is also a fun exercise, trying out different rigs/cartridges etc, then trying to figure out what worked the best. Then there is de-clicking software, some are good, but many are truly horrible.
As one odd side, I often prefer digitising an LP as a single file, including the needle drop and the arm dropping into it's stand/holder after the auto stop. the only bit I cut out is the side A to B turnover.
If I listened to records constantly I wouldnt have time to catch up on your videos 👌👌👌
Ive realized I go through ups and downs with record listening. I restore old TurnTables as well. Sometimes Im hot and heavy into spinning records and restoring tables. Other times I’m outside turning wrenches on my cars. Everything has its season and its time. This is definitely a rabbit hole and an over time investment….
Keep on spinning my friend…..
Something that's starting to concern me about my record collecting is running out of space. I only have so much space!
I’m thinking about taking the protective sleeves off my collection and going for a cleaner look on my shelves.
Why is this a terrible idea?
When a song is mastered it sounds different if it was mastered for digital or if it was mastered with vinyl in mind. I've read a lot of times that mastering is an art and there are variables for what medium its for.
Great video Frank!
I took a looooooong break from vinyl while raising my kids. And now that they've flown the nest i got back into it a few years ago. But, like a few of your viewers, I don't often have either the time or the energy to listen to my Lps unfortunately.
Keep on spinning Frank 👍
Don't have the energy to put a record on a turntable and listen to it? You may as well check into a cemetery if you're that tired.
Record collectimg is a pain... I lifted up a large tote box of records last week... The next morning I leaned down and heard a crack in my lower back... Ive been in pain for a week now.
You should squat, keep your back straight, grab hold of the box and lift using your legs.
Sadly, these days a record collecting journey is getting way over expensive….. therefor I set myself a price limit…
Here’s my five
1 The outer tracks has a longer length of groove per second, so as the stylus travels to the end of the side, the quality is reduced as the track length is shorter. Groups now get over this by having two LP’s where the last third of the vinyl is not used.
2 Records are cut 20Hz to 20kHz as the stylus cannot coup with the transits, as they are too fast for tracking, hence softer sound as the dynamics are reduced.
3 Early records where not always virgin vinyl, but recycled vinyl, which had defects.
4 LP’s are damaged with every play unless you have a good quality, and looked after stylus.
5 pressing quality although on 180g vinyl is now as bad as the 80’s with very poor pressing and damage post production.
Bonus
6 Vinyl roar, noise from the groove pressing,so gentle quiet parts are ruined by background noise. Of course distal can have this from analog recordings from the original tape hiss.
So as you rightly say, not LP’s sound great, depends on recording, mastering and manufacturing quality.
As an example, the mastering between an Oasis and Dire Straits recording, just listen to the two processes, one is deliberately raw and the other is very high detail.
Really enjoyed this one,,I think most of the collectors would agree with you,,especially, the last 2 points...thanks Frank
My two cents, space requirements for collections. I have a two bedroom home and one of the bedrooms is designated as my music room. 2 chairs, book cases of CD's and the two large closets are where I keep my records. Stereo system along the other wall. Forget about using the room to sleep in. By the way, I stopped buying vinyl when the price got to $7.98 a record.
I have been collecting records for 45 years with 8,000 albums (so far), and one thing I have found and you usually don't hear mentioned much is that, if you care about your records and their preservation and best playing state, you have to almost constantly find and monitor them for a relatively cool and dry environment for optimal condition. This is not always easy with varying climates and regions of different areas and countries. Direct sunlight, too much heat, malfunctioning thermostats, high humidity, and so on are the enemies of vinyl. Vinyl record albums are somewhat of a paradox because in general they are a tough, hardy medium that can last you a lifetime but at the same time have many vulnerabilities and vagaries that can render them somewhat sensitive. It's good just to be reminded of this and know it going in. Record collecting is still an awesome hobby and endeavor whose rewards far outweigh any minor inconveniences.
In your case, there’s a zero percent chance you could listen to all of those records, and a similar percent chance that they’re in good shape. Don’t take this the wrong way, but you’re a hoarder at that point.
@@mikechivy No, they're all mint to near mint. You must be a youngster because when you get up into your late fifties and have been collecting records your entire life you may find that you have that many of something if you are a music lover. I have heard most of them or I wouldn't have bought them. Are music stores "hoarders"? I'm sorry, but you're clueless.
Hey Frank, what jazz and classical do you have in your collection?
All great points that if "collectors" haven't been living by, should. Like any hobby, you have to let it be fun, because just like any hobby it can become a "chore" and feel like a job at times, and that's not what a hobby is all about. And I'm so glad you mentioned that recordings starting around the 90's were digital, I don't think enough people stop and understand that, they get caught up in the hype behind "Audiophile", I really hate that word at times, lol. That said, and to add to your comment, the problem isn't a digital recording, it's in the mastering, because even records pressed in the 70's can sound like crap if they were mastered poorly. Also, and I know you're in the same camp, it's ok to have a CD player in your rig, if for no other reason, you can enjoy some of your "Grails" while you wait for the price to come down, if ever, on it's vinyl counterpart ;)
Well, one thing they don't tell you and that people don't realize is that the longer you actively collect records the more space you are going to need. Myself, after collecting records for over 60 years, I now have 4 Ikea Kallax 4 x 4 shelving units(each with 16 cubicles). The bottom 2 rows hold my file boxes of R2R tapes and 78 rpm records(and they are full). Luckily, I have 8 foot walls in my entertainments room which allows me to stack one unit on top of the other(which means I have to use a ladder). Then, there are the boxed sets I have to contend with. I had to add 4 more, but 4 X 1 Kallax Units, again stacked with one pair on each side of my main Kallax units. They are placed symmetrically to balance the room.
Then as I fell in love with the Compact Disc when they were introduced to the U.S., in the center and between the 8 Kallax units, I have 2 stacked maybe 5 foot wide CD shelving units. Running out of room there, I removed all the Classical, Christmas and Christian CD's(hmm, 3 C's, I just realized that), putting them in the large bottom drawer of the record supply cabinet which my VPI RCM is sitting on top of.
Oh, then there is my 7" record collection easily numbering 9-10K. These include boxed sets. They are all in my computer room in 2 double-wide 6' 6" teakwood veneer shelving units with 2 more single but wide 6' shelving units. Normal sealings here, so all I can stack are dedicated 7" record boxes on top of the cabinets.
Then there is the expense of the records themselves, besides of the expenses of shelving units. Starting back so far, records were alot cheaper back then, with the newly released records being on sale for maybe $3. U.S. or a little less in the early 1970's. If I had more money back then I would have bought more records. My financial position only allowed me to buy some of the latest LP's(to get the stereo hit versions and especially if they had more than one hit on the albums) and many 45's.
Another thing they don't tell you is that physical record quality is not what it used to be. To me, it's like they put more effort into the album covers and package than they do producing a quality pressing. We have to realize that most of these record pressing companies are using equipment and presses over 50 years old. No matter how good you fix them up, they are new only once. Then there are the people operating the equipment who during their lives so far, many didn't even know what a record was before they started pressing them. It's no wonder that they have trouble centering records in record presses. Then there are the older people who might have previous experience in the record manufacturing field. Many of them look like drunks or druggies.
Here's and example of the newer records not being as good as the older records. Recently, I found an album which I had been trying to find a good copy of for years in an antique store. It was even in the $5. U.S. bins. It looked like new! I bought it and brought it home, expecting it to have an edge-warp(like so many of the new records today), but it was absolutely flat! I cleaned it on my RCM and when I played it, the record surface was alot quieter than many audiophile records today. The record pressing was even centered correctly! Pressing companies like QRP seem to have trouble centering the stampers when they press records. A recent re-issue I just bought was the Rolling Stones "Metamorphosis" album. From personal experience, I have learned to be wary of anything Abkco puts out. This one was no exception. The vinyl was so noisy between tracks that I had to digitize it and run it through sound processing programs before I could stand to listen to it. The Amazon mp3 version doesn't have the surface noise, but the mixes themselves are poor.
Today, if I didn't have a physical media collection, I would be happy to stream and download digital versions. So, I can't really look down on those who follow the digital route instead of investing a fortune and continuing to spend even more money on physical media. A couple of things I've decided is if a recording had previously been available in true stereo, I'm not going to blow my money on a new so-called "audiophile" mono version. Both my ears still kinda work so I prefer stereo(or even quadraphonic) sound. Then there are the new so-called "audiophile" vinyl re-issues of records I got when they were just released, I am going to think hard before I blow more money. I've already gone through that with CD's, getting better versions of record albums I already had. That was often worth it.
Then there are the newer compilation albums. What's the point in keeping issuing new version with maybe a song or two different and in a different order. I equate it to a porno film. Maybe there might be different people involved, but the action is the S.O.S.
Many of these new "audiophile" issues of previously released recordings issued on vinyl, maybe for the first time, are prohibitively expensive. At the same time, if they issue it on CD or SACD, I'm going to buy that type of format, usually at a fraction of the cost for records!
It’s definitely full of rabbit holes. And depending on your interests, you can go in hundreds of different directions.
My collection, as shown on an episode of “Vinyl Dens” is mostly Beatles. But even collecting one artist/band has hundreds of rabbit holes.
Which brings me to one thing that was not mentioned.
As with any collection, if you do go down these rabbit holes, do it because it’s what you enjoy doing.
Because if you enjoy it, you will want to come back to it after you take a break.
hey, frank. great video. Agree with you on all points. I have been collecting LP's since 1969, stopped collecting for about 10years from 2008 until 2018 due to having to take care of my mother who had dementia. Since she passed, I have been back into it again. My last partner commented a few years ago that maybe I should get rid of some of the records that I have because there is not enough in room in my house to put her stuff into unless I make some room. I pointed to the front door and told her to close it as she leaves. Not heard from her since. In recent times i have actually thought that she might have been right, 12,000+ LP's probably is too many. Ah well i think I prefer Miss Rotty's company anyway because she does not complain about anything...........Take Care, Enjoy the music.......
I spent $350 for a turntable and $350 for a cd player to connect to a surround sound system. My 1000+ records and CDs sound amazing. I am hearing sounds never heard before from records and CDs that I've had for decades. Regarding vinyl pricing, when inflation is accounted for, they cost about the same. In1976 it was common to purchase a new record for $3.99. In today's dollar, that is $31.72.
Rabbit hole I understand that. Still looking for Genesis Abbacab (C). Haven't found it yet but end up buying other records in the process
It can be competitive. Those 'friends' you make hunting for records can be like fellow hyenas vying for the same carcass after chasing off a lion.
Thanks for the video, Frank. When are you going to do another episode of vinyl dens? Keep spinning!
Thanks! Good question - I planned to do one back in June, but other things kept coming up. I would love to say this month, but it will likely be early September.
@@Channel33RPM Thank you, Frank. You're the best!
Collecting is very addicting, especially if you are into the Beatles. There is always one more record "I need to own". And after you get the record, "Did I really need that"? And you need a very understanding spouse. (I wish). Ok back to Discogs!