A Brief Detour
Sorry (again) for the long gap between posts. In the meantime, I thought you would all get a kick out of this. My nephew sent it by text and I’m not sure of the source. My family had a lot of fun ribbing me about this. Well descriptive of me and The Lovely Mrs. JC. Just substitute Prestige and yellow labels and you have the story of our relationship.
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[me squinting at the cartoon label to see what label it *actually* is]
Looks like Far Out Near In by Johnny Eaton on Columbia. Obviously a later orange label pressing and not the original 6-eye.
Great cartoon Al. It probably relates to all of us.
Reminds me of trying to talk records with my coworkers. I think it was something about how I find it odd that certain rarities- Five Leaves Left, Soul Station, Shades of Redd, et cetera- always seem to be available but for an extremely high price, and yet some of the rare punk and adjacent stuff I also go for that doesn’t command as high a price is almost never available. Some of the pressing numbers should be similar, but some records never end up for sale, yet you can buy an original issue of Five Leaves Left right now if you have about $1,000 to spend (same with Shades of Redd or Soul Station). I was wondering if it was economic or emotional or what. 1568 is supposedly one of the rarer records in jazz collecting, yet wait a couple months, and somebody will sell a copy. It almost seems like nice copies of that title sell more often than beat copies, too. Do rare records circulate more the higher the price is because the owners know they can get four figures? I’ve heard that some collectors view these more like antiques and don’t actually play them (Shame!), so maybe some are more willing to sell off rarities because they’ll get thousands in exchange for them, which would also explain why some of the rarities that sell more than they seemingly should are often in surprisingly good shape, whereas with the cheaper rarities, you don’t get a huge return, and they’re really hard to get, so owners are possibly more likely to cling to them. I thought it was an interesting concept. My coworkers did not. Their eyes glazed over after about five seconds, and I got crap for it for months until those specific coworkers eventually went to other jobs. Basically, you can’t talk records to anybody but people that want to talk records. That, or people that are so intent on seeming like they like you that they’ll pretend they care. Next time a solicitor shows up, maybe I should see how long I can talk records with them before they realize I’m not buying anything from them. Could be a scientifically significant experiment that provides a lot of insight on the human psyche.
i never talk records with any non-record people except occasionally my wife or if a friend asks, and even then, i stick to basics: “i got a rare thing that I think is neat”. haha.
I will always talk about music and sometimes even Jazz, but I never talk about record collecting unless it is a forum like this (which is why this site is so great) or with a fellow collector. I certainly do not want to hear about someone’s beer bottle collection, so I figure other people are the same.
Interesting subject. I have learnt not to talk about my passion because people just don’t understand. I remember when the CD was about to be launched, people telling me with sympathy that now my collection would become worthless.
Regarding the museum pieces, Blp 1568, Tiny Brooks’ True Blue, J. R. Monterose on Jaro Jam and Studio 4, etc etc. I rarely play them, not to say, almost never. The consideration of keeping them in virgin state may play a role. But another reason is that there is so much music I really prefer. Of my preferred music I have always had more copies. One for playing and one as a museum piece.
I find people with a passion, almost regardless of what that passion is, are interesting. Bill I wouldn’t mind hearing about someone’s bear bottle collection assuming they put as much time, effort, and thought as we do in our collections.
First off, I sincerely hope everyone is doing well. Now then back to records….I am a bit disappointed in the earlier comments. Music is what records are all about,we listen to appreciate the art and the artist. I keep hearing that a lot of you are collecting for the WRONG reasons ! To me it sounds like buying art to match your furniture and buying books because they look good on your coffee table. I know you think that I’m nuts, so be it. Enjoy your albums and share the music….
everyone’s reason are valid, Art, because they are their own. I collect because I feel like it. that’s all.
and gst, i agree. a beer bottle collection could be cool to see. i find that people who collect things like to hear at least a bit about the odd collections of others. a friend of mine is to the card game “magic: the gathering” what we are to vintage jazz vinyl, and we sometimes trade notes on scores and congratulate each other without really appreciating it, but knowing that great feeling from our own hobbies. 🙂
i will start talking to 17 year old girls behind the counter of the grocery store about a perfect buy i made on a first press Blue note, but that i found out that there is a ‘R’ on the label, so it’s worthless…. she looks at me like i am really pathetic… I LOVE IT
thanks Al, for keep posting , wish all the health to everybody.