I’ve never been what you might call a collector of vinyl. I started out in the late 70s picking up tracks that I liked, and eventually bought vinyl to play out with as a Hip Hop and House DJ. 99% of my vinyl collection was used as a tool, a receptacle that conveyed music to the dance floor, thus what I have left isn’t exactly in the very best of condition. But now that I have the space and cashflow, I’ve started collecting vinyl and am picking up tracks that I should’ve had in the first place.
But last week, after picking up a lesser known electro gem from 1984, in mint condition and still sealed, I experienced another vinyl-based dilemma — should I treat this sealed gem from almost 30 years ago with reverence, put it on the shelf, and leave it in its factory fresh condition? Or should I do what is supposed to be done with vinyl and play the damned thing?
The track, Video Control by X-Ray Vision, existed on a less than ideal cassette recorded from the John Peel Show way waaay back when I was a fledgling DJ. It’s only in recent times that I’ve decided to restart my record collection, and fill the gaps, as well as buy new vinyl too. But doing so has led me to question my motives a little. I seem to be in state of mind where I buy vinyl because I can, because I want to say I own them, but struggle with the concept of breaking the seal to play them at all, which seems quite wrong to me.
So vinyl collectors, what do you say? Are you all about buying records to play and enjoy them, or simply to look but not touch? It did pain me to open the sealed vinyl, but I do feel better having unwrapped it, put it on my turntable and actually play it, something that I plan to do all the time now. It’s about the music rather than the future value for me.
own:)
own:)
Both!
Both!
Very interesting post!
I try to be strict with myself when it comes to my collection. If its not gonna get played or sampled, I can’t keep it. If I’m not gonna play something it seems a shame to deny somebody else who does like it the chance to play it and enjoy it as it was originally intended.
Play and enjoy! If you want to mix (or scratch ;) )just rip to mp3 and play via dvs
Totally agree with this comment. I still buy vinyl to listen to at home but wouldn’t take it out or scratch with it any more.
Buying to own = hoarder. ;)
Buying to own = hoarder. ;)
I know some vinyl collectors that buy it to profit.
I know some vinyl collectors that buy it to profit.
Buy something to use not to keep, its like all these rich folk that buy guitars/sneakers/toys etc… just to say look what I’ve got on my wall rather than actually enjoying using it.
Although I have to admit I still haven’t played the original white vinyl control records that serato sent me years ago, but that was a gift so an exception to the rule ;-)
Collecting is one thing – but collecting and not playing? That’s idiotic.
Collecting is one thing – but collecting and not playing? That’s idiotic.
I buy and play.
I buy and play.
Buy two.. One to own and one to play!
Buy two.. One to own and one to play!
i wish i had time to play lol
i wish i had time to play lol
I buy vinyl for collecting them -> REC -> Play with Serato ;)
I buy vinyl for collecting them -> REC -> Play with Serato ;)
I’m in the same boat as you. I’ve been buying them because I can afford it now and I spent a few years on Discogs buying up classics and nostalgic jams. I always buy to play and will spend the extra cash for a vinyl copy of releases if it’s available. The odd thing and what I enjoy about mixing vinyl is how much it exposes how much I rely on my software and controllers and after a couple of rounds of vinyl only my mixing really tightens up. The industry is on to us though, it seems every week or so they re-release limited edition albums that are on my must have list. They’re slowly bleeding me dry but how could I not buy this?
http://turntablelab.com/products/geto-boys-we-cant-be-stopped-clear-vinyl-2lp
buy to own -unless its something that doesnt exist as aiff or wav format eg for acapellas etc
buy to own -unless its something that doesnt exist as aiff or wav format eg for acapellas etc
Sometimes I just buy for the album artwork
Sometimes I just buy for the album artwork
after 10 – 20 plays in a club vinyl usually got relegated to my personal collection for listening to at home and with friends at parties to relive the good old days as I didn’t want to ruin it in a sweaty club. but It’s usually still in very good condition by that stage. If I buy vinyl now I burn it to wav.. I don’t play out too often now though so anything I buy I do buy to collect, but it always gets played although I don’t dare use M447’s on them, the concords always come out and the weight gets lifted from the tonearm as an extra measure of protection.
In saying that everything I have on vinyl is post 2000 Dnb, breaks and techno so I don’t consider it to be too precious or rare as there are always a few copies floating round in good condition that I could pick up if god forbid they get a big scratch and were unplayable.
Both. Some gems are sealed. Some not.
All my vinyl’s been played. The reason I bought it in the first place was to listen to it. Most of it’s still in really good nick too – I’ve always stuck to the rules: “Only hold it by the edges or the label, don’t touch the grooves with your fingers/hands”. Seeing people slapping their greasy paws all over their records makes me wince!
What is it about vinyl that inspires such loyalty and devotion? No other format has done that to people. I grew up in the cassette and CD era but still ponder collecting vinyl even though I have no practical reason for owning it. Its value seems to be increasing year on year, particularly now that everyone has gone digital. Why else would Reloop release a midi turntable at the height of the controller era?
probably because unlike almost every other medium you can’t record over it or (easily) reproduce its contents
Just ordered 4 records after years.
1. One I already own. But I love the record so much that I ordered one as a spare.
2. One I already have as MP3s from Beatport. But I want them from vinyl (I like the dirty sound during breaks in Trance tracks).
3. Two records I’d been searching for for years.
I record all of my records with a hi-fi pick-up system using an external sound card with phono preamps. The tracks will then be encoded with Apple Lossless so I can play them in DJ mixes (both DVS and controller) and on my stereo without any wearing.
So I buy them for both: To collect and to listen.
My parents always told me to listen/read first and then comment… :)
No, I would never buy a record just to have it. It has to be played at least once. It is it’s destiny ;)
Agree with Serkan on this one.
Would you buy a painting and not look at it? I rest my case.
Half and half, I’d say.
I buy vinyl because I want to have certain amazing tracks in my (physical) record collection. I also buy vinyl because digging in a real life record store is just so much more of an experience compared to downloading anonymous files.
Then again, I’m just a hobbyist. So whatever I buy to play is also something that I buy for my collection.
what a good find i miss record digging i have never heard this track and i love old electro
I’m a bit in between- Most of my vinyl is stuff I have good digital copies of anyway and my turntables and desktop both run through the same speakers anyway. Sometimes I prefer to put the vinyl on, sometimes I just open itunes.
All of my vinyl does still get used, just a lot more lightly than before.
I mean, I understand wanting to keep something pristine, but it’s not like a bottle of wine. It’s not getting better with age. Eventually you’re going to want to listen to it, and I don’t think waiting is going to make the experience any sweeter.
Music is made to be heard, not have its packaging admired :p
the package of the music makes it more tempting to buy any other format than vinyl…the cover “Renegades of Funk” by Afrika Bambaataa and the Soul Sonic Force looks awaesome on a record cover…when you buy vinyl you can make CDs and mp3s and WAVs out of it..so vinyl has its advantages over any other format..plus it feels best for scratching.
Yes, but you need to make sure that your recording is perfect or else you’ll get just a little drift from ripping it down. And warping every time you record a song would SUCK.
That being said, great packaging is always an advantage.
i dont record songs, i just play them of a record, im too lazy to record all my vinyl
Vinyl only sets are coming back en vogue. Open that thing up and play it. I like to play some sets that are a mixture of mp3 and vinyl. That really makes it fun and people are always wondering how can we do both. Plus, some songs I still can’t find the mp3 for so I will rock the vinyl. Plus , when swapping out from another DJ on turntables, I always try to use vinyl.
How I wish we could go back to the days when all we had was Vinyl. Don’t get me wrong, I love the convenience of digital DJ’ing, there was just something about DJ’ing with Vinyl that nothing else can quite replicate the feeling of. Spinning the vinyl before putting it on the deck, giving it a quick wipe with a microfiber cloth (maybe that was just me) then carefully dropping the needle on the groove and hearing the static. It had a certain kinda, I don’t know what, that digital and even CDJ’s just cant give you.
Also, I dunno about anyone else but I found it so much easier to build a set with vinyl, I knew just by looking at the sleeves exactly what every tune sounded like. Plus it was so much easier to arrange a proper record box than it is to arrange a virtual one!
Buy to own, waiting for the right moment to play…
Typically, when I purchase a record, I’ll play it a few times and then record it to WAV or AIFF. This allows me to collect without the guilt, but also not worry as much about the possible guilt of wearing out my records (DVS records are easily replaced, but a number of the regular records I have haven’t been pressed for years)
PLAY IT! And loud!
I’d liken it to my cigars, they’re sat in a humidor ageing and just waiting for the perfect moment to enjoy them. I know they’re good, I know they’re valuable, and I know that as soon as I light them up they’re worthless, but I’ll know when it’s right to savour one.
I’d say rare, valuable or treasured vinyl is similar, there’s nothing wrong with preserving them in as good a condition as possible, but when the artists was recording their music did they want to see it sat on a shelf or did they want people to listen to it? I’d say enjoy preserving them and only you’ll know when the moment is right to enjoy them without guilt.
Nowadays we’re privileged to have so many different ways of storing and enjoying music, I don’t see anything reprehensible in enjoying records as they were intended, but with the digital age and all the alternative forms of media they don’t have to be used and abused non-stop anymore.
buy to own -unless its something that doesnt exist as aiff or wav format eg for acapellas etc
Play it !
Collect since the 80’s and buy mostly secondhand nowadays.
In Amsterdam there is a nice shop were I can spend hours and than the kick to play “new” records at home.
I loooove collecting and playing vinyl. They remind me of why I got into to DJing in the 1st place – to dig through crates, select a song, drop the needle in place, scratch it up, and watch the dance floor enjoy (hopefully) the selection and technique. With that said, i still purchase vinyl, though mainly to have hard copies of the music I love and to admire the album art.
Whenever I buy a new record, I crack the seal (IF it’s new – and it probably isn’t) and listen to it at least once. I rip some tracks if I think I’ll play them regularly or sample them. And I scratch each record, even if it’s jazz, afrobeat, or anything else that people do not typically scratch. I got into DJing because of what I saw people doing with their vinyl. Scratching is one of the primary reasons, therefore not one record in my collection hasn’t been enjoyed in this way. Otherwise, I might as well save my money and only buy mp3s :)
I’ve never understood people who buy vinyl and handle it with white gloves on. It’s there to be played and then also ripped to mp3 for use on Serato. Both and, not either, or.
its like have a nice piece of art work, keeping it in a dark room for safe keeping and looking at jpegs of it on your pc.
I totally feel you on this one. I’ll try to break it down on different internal POVs I have when it comes to vinyl in 3 different perspectives.
1. The Accountant. So I buy an original press, sealed up (As the OP described) and I should have gotten it long ago as a tyke. Not only do I value this gem but so do other vinyl purists that would be willing to pay a premium to attain said vinyl. If I ever decided to sell any of my records for its actual value I would like to maximize the return I’d get on it during the point of sale. Several reasons being that the record goes to a good home with a person whom you’ll trust will take care of it (maybe you sell it to a friend and see it on multiple occasions). Also, having a collection of gems organized by record label and catalog numbers can increase the confidence of the buyer knowing that you maintain your vinyl and you’ll have repeat customers in the event you sell again.
2. The Fan. Ok so I really love this tune. I really really love this tune. I made love to this tune. I revisited deceased friends/family because of this tune. I have to feel every frequency of this analog bliss! So yeah, as a fan, I’d make it a ritual to crack this baby open and mix or just listen to the fine audio quality of this gem!
3. The Dj. I want to put this rare gem in a mix to share its rarity and record the set so I can always go back to listen to the set. Not only that, but i’d also like to whip out that record during a live intimate mix where people can see the original pressing and receive the positive vibes i get from this tune!
The problem with the last 2 is that you’ll be causing the accountant in you a headache. Reason being, your diminishing the value of the record every time you play it and since its rare you can’t exactly have a depreciation account handy because its value cannot be replaced (in many scenarios) because the record is being depleted!
Lastly, just enjoy the record. Unless your kid mixes too and y’all share the experience (like me and my son) then preserve the vinyl so he can venture off in to your world when your not present in this life. If thats not the case then play loud! Your not going to be able to take the record with you into the afterlife!
I have my listening vinyl, and my dj vinyl. I dont mix them. So if I buy vinyl, its not staying sealed. Im listening to it with the fine expensive stylus, ot Im djing with it using a shure m44-7. My listening records are pristine, and they get handled with white gloves. Im very posh…..lol
Admit it – you do a little bit of the robot every time you pull on your white gloves right? I would.
I buy vinyl purely to listen to but I can see where you are coming from . I had that same moment the other day when my Amused To Death re-issue finally arrived . I couldn’t resist opening it and getting it on the turntable .