Multiple sightings of unusual recordings

[EnemyoftheStoat]

I've noticed over time that certain mainstream recordings pop up frequently at the charity shops. I guess this isn't a total surprise given the ageing demographic here and the popularity of certain A&R over time, as well as.the number of BBCMM discs that must be out there.

However, having recently acquired the Naxos recording of Tveitt Hardanger Tunes suites, I have seen another one of these on the shelves in the last few days. This isn't the first time that this sort of thing has happened.

Has anybody else noticed this phenomenon - and what should we call it?

[vinteuil]

Has anybody else noticed this phenomenon - and what should we call it?

... 'stochastic' is always a good word to drop in to the conversation

[Roger Webb]

I've noticed over time that certain mainstream recordings pop up frequently at the charity shops. I guess this isn't a total surprise given the ageing demographic here and the popularity of certain A&R over time, as well as.the number of BBCMM discs that must be out there.

However, having recently acquired the Naxos recording of Tveitt Hardanger Tunes suites, I have seen another one of these on the shelves in the last few days. This isn't the first time that this sort of thing has happened.

Has anybody else noticed this phenomenon - and what should we call it?

Not only 'pops', and not only in this country!

I noticed secondhand copies of Holst LPs in the shops I frequented in Paris...but, hold on, not The Planets! In fact these shops rarely had The Planets. No, the one Lp I saw consistently was Lyrita SRCS 34 (with its distinct green abstract cover), in fact the first time I became aware of it a piece was playing on the shop system which I took to be a neo-classical French composer...Milhaud, Poulenc etc, but asking the owner what it was, he replied that, being British, I should know! It was Holst's Double Concerto. I found out later that the Lyrita had become popular amongst French audiophiles because it had been chosen by Quad to demonstrate their new Electrostatic Loudspeakers at the Paris HiFi Show.

It's playing now through my Quad Electrostatics!

[pastoralguy]

I found a marvellous disc of Joplin Rags on NAXOS that cost me a pound. I decided I must loan it to a friend only to find another copy in a ‘five for a pound bin’ a few days later.

I wonder how many CDs of Gould’s Goldberg Variations I’ve encountered!

[smittims]

I've seen many copies of the famous Barbirolli Elgar Celo concerto and Sea Pictures , sometimes two or even three together. I often muse on who owned the records I buy and who decided to give them away, possibly when they inherited them . Some , even 70 years old, seem hardly played .Why? I wonder.

[vinteuil]

.
... when I die (and assuming I go first) poor Mme v will have to cope with my hoard : the Hammersmith charity shops will suddenly be awash with unfeasible amounts of French harpsichord music. If charity shops are still accepting CDs....

[Roger Webb]

I find it quite dispiriting in charity shops to come across CDs with price stickers bearing the name of my shop still on them!....now that was a bad bit of advice, I often think!

[Pulcinella]

I find it quite dispiriting in charity shops to come across CDs with price stickers bearing the name of my shop still on them!....now that was a bad bit of advice, I often think!

Think positive: they may well have been ditched because they've been superseded by the same recordings in bigger box sets/compilations, often remastered too.

[Roger Webb]

Think positive: ...................

..................yes, they could have been sold by my staff!!!

[vinteuil]

...yes, they could have been sold by my staff!!!

well, - one hopes they hadn't been half-inched

[Roger Webb]

well, - one hopes they hadn't been half-inched

Funny you should mention that, we had a spate of missing cases (the CDs were removed and kept behind the counter in 'masterbags'). Mainly opera sets. Coincidentally I noticed repeat orders for discs supplied to the local library were for the exact same operas. Putting our heads together, the music librarian and I came up with the conclusion that someone was stealing the discs from the Library (the discs were left in the cases, which had a metallic strip which set off the alarm at the door, but not the discs), they were then coming to my shop and stealing the boxes etc. We decided to advise when something went missing. No sooner had we agreed this the phoned rang, William Tell (Decca 4 CD set) had lost its discs in the Library. Still on my selves was the box and libretto complete. I stuck a 'Post-it' to it saying 'If you want to buy this set, bring it to the counter....if you want to steal it, good luck, you're being watched!!'
This particular thief retired I think! We never had a problem again.