Force of habit

[cactuswatcher]

I needed to rearrange one of my closets this morning. I ran across my stack of 33 1/3 LP records. I haven't owned a record player in ages. Even if I had one I wouldn't listen to the records once a decade. So why can't I get up the nerve to give/throw them away?

Comments

[armygeezer.livejournal.com]

It could be that they bring back memories of our youth, or it could be that some of them are worth a lot of $$$ and you still have to find out if there's a diamond in that coal bin!

[cactuswatcher.livejournal.com]

Which reminds me I'm old enough to remember when everyone had a coal bin.

[atpolittlebit.livejournal.com]

After the coal furnace was replaced we used the coal chute to get into the house if we got locked out.

[masqthephlsphr.livejournal.com]

For me, it would be to admit they're obsolete, which means admitting I'm old. I have all the songs I like on those LPs on MP3, and yet... I can't throw away the records I once scoured record stores for and was thrilled to find, own, and play, even though me? I don't have a record player anymore, either.

[cactuswatcher.livejournal.com]

I guess that's part of it. I have no problem giving up some books, with other books it would be very difficult. I never had as many records. So I guess the few records I have are important to me, at least as nostalgia.

[masqthephlsphr.livejournal.com]

Books, on the other hand... you might read them again! And let's face it, the printed page is not yet an obsolete technology for getting your reading done on.

[cactuswatcher.livejournal.com]

Back in the day I bought some pretty lame books for amusement, ones that make some of the least of my Buffy books seem like fantasic treasures. No regrets parting with them.

[masqthephlsphr.livejournal.com]

I cull my book collection with some regularity. Not so with my record collection, which I culled once about ten years ago and now just sort of tip-toe around.

[ann1962]

I don't see a problem here. Keep them.

[cactuswatcher.livejournal.com]

Fortunately, I never had a wall full of LP albums like some people I knew. One fellow who was with me in graduate school had his apartment full with hundreds of opera LPs.

[masqthephlsphr.livejournal.com]

It's a lifestyle choice, I think.

[mamculuna.livejournal.com]

We have even older ones--we keep thinking we'll buy something to play them on. Mine are in terrible shape, and doubtless warped by now, but Bill has some really old stuff from the 40's that belonged to his parents, and I'd really like to hear it. Original cast of South Pacific, etc.

Mine tend to be more Beatles and Stones.

[atpo-onm.livejournal.com]

How many records?

What to do with them depends on a number of factors, but for heaven's sake please don't throw them out-- I can guarantee you someone out there would like them. F'rinstance--

http://www.recordcollectors.org/

Not so much help for you, but which conveniently happens every month just a few miles away from me. Nevertheless, illustrates my point. (I usually buy just a few records or CDs, have to watch the budget. In more golden days of my youth, I'd have walked out of a swap meet like this with several dozen.)

Many thousands of titles have been released over the last 75-80 years or more, in a variety of musical genres, that will never show up on CD or downloads. You want those tunes? It's normally vinyl / 78s or nothing. The music means more to me than the format.

[cactuswatcher.livejournal.com]

Not more than 30 albums and sets. Classical with a few odd folk things. My brother was the discophile in the family. I never had anything really special. The records are in good shape. I always copied them to reel-to-reel tape and played the tapes when I was actively listening. By the time the tapes started deteriorating from stretching, I was more interested in playing music than owning copies of it.

[mamculuna.livejournal.com]

Jim, do you know anybody who likes fish (aside from your cat, that is)? If so, could you pass along this note from someone trying to find a home for some nice koi:

http://ursulav.livejournal.com/1489528.html?style=mine&nc=13#comments

[cactuswatcher.livejournal.com]

Unfortunately, the last place I knew with a private koi pond was in Missouri.