Re-discovering your record collection
Posted by: Gary S. on 19 March 2007
A few years ago my mate told me how he had embarked on a mission to play his entire record collection through from one end to the other and had re-discovered some old gems he had completely forgotten about. Now, my time's too precious to me to embark on such a mission and I prefer to play something to suit my mood, but I have recently been forcing myself to play some old records, stuff I haven't listened to for years and I'm finding some fantastic stuff I had either forgotten I had, or didn't really like before, but am now enjoying.
My system has improved significantly over recent years and it's great to find something which you didn't previously rate, suddenly sounding brilliant. I'm just sat here now tapping along to Avalon by Roxy Music, I've probably not played it for 6 or 7 years, but it sounds superb.
Gary
Posted on: 19 March 2007 by matt podniesinski
I know what you mean. Every few months I try to grab a few records which haven't seen the light of day in awhile. I would hate to guess how long it has been for some. Maybe 10 years?
Matt
Posted on: 19 March 2007 by Chillkram
Funny you should say that Gary. I think that at any one time I probably have only about 10-15 'active' records which I tend to play over and over before moving on incrementally to the next 'batch' as I buy them, the new purchase displacing the oldest of the in favour 'batch'. Every now and again I will dig one out that I haven't played for ages. The other day it was 'Boomers Story' by Ry Cooder that I hadn't heard for around 15 years. I've just dug out B B King 'Indianola Mississipi Seeds' which I haven't heard since around 1989 and Roy Buchanan 'Hot Wires' (can't remember when). Fantastic, they didn't sound like that last time I heard them!
Mark
Posted on: 19 March 2007 by northpole
quote:
I'm just sat here now tapping along to Avalon by Roxy Music, I've probably not played it for 6 or 7 years, but it sounds superb.
Spooky - I was flicking through my lp's on Saturday and came extremely close to playing that very same album - didn't get round to it in the end, but it was a fantastic production.
Peter
Posted on: 20 March 2007 by Opportunity for growth
I've often thought about playing my own collection all the way through. But in what order?
The problem is, I have 5 Styx albums which will have to figure somewhere along the line. So would it be best to adopt a random order, hoping there is sufficient time after each Styx album to recover before the next one comes up? Or would it be better to go through it in alphabetical order and just sink a bottle of whisky on the night that I get past Steely Dan and enter Styx teritory for a single tortured session?
Posted on: 20 March 2007 by BigH47
I like the Styx album I have.
Posted on: 20 March 2007 by Guido Fawkes
and it feels like i just been seen by me mates
feels like i just been seen by me mates
seen by me mates
comin' out of a styx gig
don't wear stripey kecks, babe
i don't wear stripey kecks
don't wear stripey kecks, babe
i don't wear stripey kecks
Half Man Half Biscuit, of course, from Some Call It Godcore
Posted on: 20 March 2007 by Opportunity for growth
Hey! Don't knock stripey kecks ROTF. I spent some of my best years in stripey kecks.
Concerning Styx albums, some are certainly less embarassing in hindsight than other. The one with the Easter Island statues on the cover with Renegade on it for example. But I have to cringe at The Serpent is Rising with the bloody ridiculous 'Karakatoa' followed by Styx's version of the Halleluia chorus. Jeez!
Loved it at the time of course.
Posted on: 20 March 2007 by manicatel
My CDX2 has been at the Salisbury hospital for the last couple of weeks (new transport needed!) & I declined the offer of a loan player, so the LP12 has been getting a fair bit of use lately. I've thoroughly enjoyed digging out some stuff I haven't played for years.
Matt.
Posted on: 20 March 2007 by billgpdx
quote:
Originally posted by Opportunity for growth:
Concerning Styx albums, some are certainly less embarassing in hindsight than other. The one with the Easter Island statues on the cover with Renegade on it for example.
Ah, Pieces of Eight. Now I'm not a huge Styx fan by any means, but I always thought the tune "Blue Collar Man" from that same album kicked ass.
All the best,
Bill
Posted on: 21 March 2007 by willem
1.) Never had Avalon, the only Roxy Music LP that stays in my collection is the first one.
2.) I actually know someone who plays his records in alfabetical and chronological order. He's a nice guy nevertheless.
3.) I'm trying to keep my collection down to about 600 LP's, which means that on a yearly basis I have to sell about the same amount as I buy. This forces you to be rather critical about what you buy, keep and sell. I have a simple database to help me decide on what to keep. Avalon would never make it here and neither would Styx. In my outbin at the moment is stuff like 'Absolutely Live' (Doors).
Weird, me, I guess
Kind regards,
Willem
Posted on: 21 March 2007 by northpole
quote:
Avalon would never make it here
Willem
If you've never had it, are you sure you should be so decisive in eliminating it from giving it a future run?
You get through 600 lp's each year?
Makes me feel like the rank amateur I probably am!
Peter
Posted on: 21 March 2007 by Gary S.
quote:
Originally posted by Opportunity for growth:
I've often thought about playing my own collection all the way through. But in what order?
I keep all my albums (and CDs) in alphebetical order, by Artist - It raises an intersting point - is this normal?? Therefore, if I played all by albums through, I would start at A (Abba!) and finish with Z.
Gary
Posted on: 21 March 2007 by Oldnslow
I'm embarrassed to say that I would need to live to about 200 to be able to play my collection from A to Z, even if it was in order.......
Posted on: 21 March 2007 by Chillkram
quote:
Originally posted by Gazzer:
I keep all my albums (and CDs) in alphebetical order, by Artist - It raises an intersting point - is this normal??
Gary
Yes, Gary. I always keep mine in alphabetical order within subcategory's of Rock/pop, jazz/folk and classical. I know these are very broad categories and not everything fits neatly into this system, but I know where to find them.
quote:
Therefore, if I played all by albums through, I would start at A (Abba!) and finish with Z.
Z Top?
Mark
Posted on: 21 March 2007 by Guido Fawkes
quote:
Originally posted by Gazzer:
I keep all my albums (and CDs) in alphebetical order, by Artist - It raises an intersting point - is this normal?? Therefore, if I played all by albums through, I would start at A (Abba!) and finish with Z.
Gary
So you're not keen on Aardvark then.
I tried putting my albums in alphabetical order, but had too many under T: The Beatles, The Hollies, The Nice, The Pink Floyd, The Pretty Things, The The, The Zombies and so on.
Posted on: 21 March 2007 by billgpdx
quote:
Originally posted by Chillkram:
not everything fits neatly into this system, but I know where to find them.
Thats all that really matters - they can't do you much good if you can't find them.
I have my albums sorted somewhat similar (alphabetical within these categories):
Blues
Jazz
Everything Else
Posted on: 22 March 2007 by Fraser Hadden
I keep mine alphabetically arranged by year. This has two advantages:
(a) New stuff is generally just slotted on the end as my back catalogue is pretty much complete
(b) It throws together surprisingly disparate CDs within one single field of view as I peruse, wondering what to play next. Thus stuff I haven't played for ages at least presents itself to me for consideration.
Compilations are just stored alphabetically as there is no rhyme or reason to their date of issue.
Fraser
Posted on: 22 March 2007 by JoeH
I have a cupboard full of LPs in roughly alphabetical order, two CD towers similarly sorted, and several heaps of recently/frequently played stuff in no particular order.
Posted on: 22 March 2007 by Jono 13
quote:
Originally posted by Opportunity for growth:
Hey! Don't knock stripey kecks ROTF. I spent some of my best years in stripey kecks.
Concerning Styx albums, some are certainly less embarassing in hindsight than other. The one with the Easter Island statues on the cover with Renegade on it for example. But I have to cringe at The Serpent is Rising with the bloody ridiculous 'Karakatoa' followed by Styx's version of the Halleluia chorus. Jeez!
Loved it at the time of course.
Nooooooooooooooooooooooooo big hair here please.
Jono
Posted on: 22 March 2007 by willem
quote:
Originally posted by northpole:
You get through 600 lp's each year?
Makes me feel like the rank amateur I probably am!
I reckon my LP12 gets to taste 3 - 400 different LP's each year. Can't manage the full 600, have to work and all. Sorry
.
Willem
Posted on: 22 March 2007 by Jet Johnson
quote:
Originally posted by northpole:
quote:
Avalon would never make it here
Willem
If you've never had it, are you sure you should be so decisive in eliminating it from giving it a future run?
You get through 600 lp's each year?
Makes me feel like the rank amateur I probably am!
Peter
The truth is Roxy Music music's last album (ie worth listening to) was Stranded ......
Posted on: 23 March 2007 by BigH47
Just played Styx's Paradise Theatre in tribute to you guys. I still thinks it's an OK album.
