On collecting records

[StephenO]

I have a collector's obsession. It's quite worrying really.

That probably applies to many of us on here. In additon to 1,200 CDs (a fairly small number compared to some collectors, I realise) and 300 DVDs, I have more books than I have room for or am every likely to read again, several decades of BBC Music Mag and Gramophone gathering dust and old Proms guides dating back to the year dot, not to mention concert programmes, football programmes, my ever growing coin collection and 100+ teddy bears. The trouble is I'm thinking of moving to a smaller house (or possiby a flat) and have no idea how I'm going to fit everything in.

I can empathise with Alison standing in front of her CD collection and not finding anything to listen to. That happens to me a lot. The solution? Go and buy some more CDs!

[Serial_Apologist]

I often wonder what lies beyond such collecting mania. My ex-girlfriend amassed so many weekend newspaper supplements that eventually she was unable either to reach her wardrobe, or her window in winter, to close it. This turned out to be the reason why she never invited me around to her place - not (as I thought) because she had a huge poster of Andy Sheppard! When asked about it, she explained that "one day" all this inflamation would turn out useful Eventually her landlord declared her a fire hazard and threw her out.

Thank goodness I never earned enough money to build up the kind of recordings collections others have described on this thread. 800 albums, 200 CDs and, er, 1056 cassettes, are enough to be going on with.

S-A

[verismissimo]

In his memoirs, the lifelong accumulator Lord Harewood wrote that he'd never met a female record collector. There obviously are such people, but I think his general point remains - that it's overwhelmingly a male obsession. Mildly autistic is what I've always assumed... :)

[Ferretfancy]

It's a drug. I've recently had a minor hearing problem, a form of tinnitus called hyperacusis in which certain sounds seem exaggerated. It's getting better, but I have listened to less music. This has lead me to slow down purchases until things are back to normal ( Hopefully!) That indecisive feeling while staring at the shelves is a very familiar one!
I've hit on the idea of using the note taker on my mobile to jot down any music that comes into my mind, for later listening. It's rather like those times when you see a website in an article and forget to take note.
I've been collecting since about 1958, and I'm reduced to trying to find corners to fit more in, so something has to give. Get rid of duplications? No,I've made that mistake before.

[StephenO]

Hope your hearing completely recovers very soon, Ferretfancy. Think of all the wonderful music you'll have waiting for you! And there'll always be one more corner, somewhere, to squeeze in another disc or two.

[Pianorak]

Hope your hearing completely recovers very soon, Ferretfancy. Think of all the wonderful music you'll have waiting for you! And there'll always be one more corner, somewhere, to squeeze in another disc or two.

Stephen - Don't encourage him – or me – or anyone else! But best wishes for a speedy recovery to Ferretfancy.

Come to think of it my CD purchases have gone up dramatically since joining this board. I suppose it has helped to boost the British economy.

[Ferretfancy]

Thanks for the good wishes, it's a weird story. I had a routine hearing check which showed the usual age related dip. However, I foolishly let myself be persuaded into buying expensive aids which I soon realised I did not need, all was OK. I got a refund. Since I stopped using the aids I've been afflicted by a piercing quality in my hearing, as if the presence region has been boosted with an equaliser, making listening to music rather uncomfortable. It does seem less acute as time goes by, so I'm hoping things will settle down before the Proms !
Best wishes to all,
Ferret

[Mahlerei]

Ferret

Had a similar hearing problem a few years ago and it resulted in facial paralysis (Bell's palsy). This happens overnight so there's no way you could have BP - panic over :)

[Ferretfancy]

Mahlerei
Thanks for the reassurance! I hope that your BP was soon cured. i'm just going to wait and see how my hearing goes, and possibly consult an audiologist, but not until after my imminent holiday in Spain!.
Bws.
Ferret

[Mahlerei]

Hope youhave a good holiday - that can only help.

Yes, the BP was treated with steroids and most of the pata;ysis went afetr a few months. Lost some taste and probne to tearing up when I eat (which is a bit embarrassing). At least the ears are okay :).

[EdgeleyRob]

Does anyone else have stuff they wonder why they bought but would not part with ?.
Today I have been searching high and low for my Walton/Piatogorsky cello concerto CD ( which I found in a drawer! see thread elsewhere on here) and came across the complete Haydn piano trios (9 CD / Beaux Arts) which I bought in a sale a long time ago.
I have never, as far as I can remember, played any of them, nor do I feel inclined to, but couldn,t part with them (or indeed anything in my collection).
Why is this?

[Ferretfancy]

EdgeleyRob

You are not alone. I have several sets that I have yet to play, in spite of having bought them long back. Just as an example, I have Le Grand Macabre by Ligeti, and even though I'm fascinated by his music I never seem to get round to playing it. I also have classic books that I intended to read in my old age, and here I am, well and truly in it, and they are still on the shelf!

[gradus]

I too enter a guilty plea to possession and non-playing of recorded goods. It goes a long way back to the seventies when my LP collection mushroomed whilst I worked in the record industry, but my unplayed collection pales into insignificance compared with certain of my erstwhile colleagues. I have no idea why I keep the records, I suppose its the collector's instinct and I'm even worse with books.

[pastoralguy]

A psychologist friend of mine reckoned that the male species mania for collecting was as a sublimation for 'collecting' women! Since few of us are good looking enough (Speaking for myself!), a rock or movie star to be able to 'spread our seed' then the sexual urge is transmitted into collecting...!

Mind you, this was from a guy who had had 3 wives and goodness knows how many young female students...

[barber olly]

Let's face it, we're weird.... and don't NEED any more ...but I keep buying ... Irrational, right?

Right, stuff still unplayed from those big bargain boxes, but temptation's out there, just one more must have set of Mahler Symphonies, taking account of inflation these bumper sets of CDs and downloads cost pence compared even to the 12/6d Music for Pleasure in 1967! Then there's the 'Naxos Syndrome', the inexpensive opportunity to explore neglected composers and unknown works. Once purchased they join the 'Round Tuit' collection. ...but thanks to EXCEL, at least I can keep an up-to-date check on what I've not listened to yet, and in the main, I avoid buying them more than once!