When buying records it can introduce a warped incentive if you are focused on increased cost over time. When making a purchasing decision, what works for me is to always ask myself a few questions: (1) Have I heard this record before? (2) Do I like this record? (3) If I had it, would I listen to it? (4) Does it fulfill an unmet need in my listening library? (5) Does it meet my standards in terms of condition? (6) Is it worth the price? It's simple - to buy the record, the answer to all of the above questions must be yes! If not I'm happy to wait until something else comes along.
I wholeheartedly agreed with points three-six but not one and two. Much of the fun of buying records is discovering stuff in your wheelhouse that you've never seen before. I've been collecting records since the '70s and i STILL find interesting stuff I didn't know existed. While I wouldn't risk top $ for an expensive new LP or premium priced dealer sale amount, I find LPs at yard sales and flea markets all the time to buy that I don't know.
The absolute worst part of buying limited edition releases just to flip is when the real fans who want to buy it and enjoy it for themselves cannot because flippers/scalpers have gobbled up too many copies.
And the price goes up, everything I have bought the last 10 to 15 years are worth 2 to 3 times more now, and I only buy new records. And the colour ones I bought for $20 to $30 is selling on dischog for $130 to $200, it's insane.
I only buy records that I like to listen to. Like to find old records that I used to have.I collect for the Memories and the listening experience,but everyone is different.
for me there is a contradiction between financial investment and things that I love. When I talk about investing into my record collection, it is an investment into well being, cultural enjoyment, sharing love for music with friends and family. During me business life I worked for a electronic company for 41 years. My customers were professional TV, Movie and Music production companies. More than once I was asked by records companies if I would like to work for them. I always denied because I love music too much.
I want to be able to wear a blindfold, pull any record from my 700+ collection, and it be a killer record . . . great tunes, beautiful art. That's it. Tastes change and mistakes are made (hello, impulse buys!), but I'm getting there. Thanks for the video, Mr. Maslov. You made some great points. Love the passion! Keep it up!
Mazzy, just a note thanking you for this video (and all the rest). I discovered the RUclips vinyl community during the pandemic and my specimen collection really grew, thanks to suggestions from you and Michael from Germany and a number of others who know what Sounds great. Yes, a small infection of FOMO but no major symptoms. I just want you to know that you have been a trusted vinyl mentor and appreciate your wisdom.
@@mazzysmusic Or : You remind of someone's Dad who smoked for 40 years and every time he sees a young person smoking he becomes an evangelist. Let people do what people do with their records because no amount of preaching will stop them.
@@Neil-Aspinall I would never try to stop anyone from enjoying music or collection records. These are my personal opinion pieces which I state several times. It’s simply my take a sort of a discussion starter as you can see by the variety of comments. If somebody wants a backup copy of the same record then it’s their choice. But from my experience records can last a lifetime if you take basic care of them so why not buy something else? Other music to enjoy. I too buy multiple copies if they have musical or artistic differences. I point this out to start the debate which is exactly what happened here. I appreciate your comments and others when they are constructive or snarky works too.
I agree. It's the music first! I don't even call myself a collector. Do I have a collection? Yes, cd's vinyl movies, I've got many collections. Did I go into it thinking, I want to be a collector of something and this will be it, No! I like these things, buy what I like, and guess what, it turns In to a collection of something that my wife is constantly pissed about taking up too much space. There's no thought put into some specially curated collection. More like, I really like this band or the record. Now I have it. That's all there is to it.
Thanks for properly and truly explaining what a record "collector" really is. 👍 The word, 'collector' on this channel and it's followers is the equivalent of 'criminal'. It's nuts!
I'm 81 now, but when I was 14 growing up in New York City, I held a copy of THE CAINE MUTINY soundtrack LP in my hands in a record store in Manhattan. I loved the movie -- which had just come out -- and I briefly considered buying it with my allowance, until some other record caught my attention...a record whose title I've long since forgotten. To this day, I still suffer from FOMO about that.
Some have said to take the low estimate of your collection on Discogs and divide it by ten, that's probably what a dealer would pay for the whole pile if sold as a lot. I think it's probably accurate and is a sobering realization. It would probably take thousands of hours to sell a typical collection at even mid-price estimates, a full time job.
I am retired and was introduced to someone interested in buying Punk albums. I’ve been selling my rare Punk albums for a lot of money. Lower than the medium discogs price but still for a lot. I’ve got lots of enjoyment out of these records and I’m happy to part with them now. Who knows if the vinyl market will crash and I don’t want my loved ones yo be stuck with all these records.
Folks have more disposable income today. I’m age 71, and in my teens records were more precious because we spent time choosing which one we would buy payday to payday. Next payday we’d have the fun of choosing another record, not a 2nd copy for whatever reason.
Ive been collecting for about 42 years and have always bought records for the music. Like you i have some really rare and expensive ones that i just got when buying a private collection from someone and it's nice to think how rare they are but its always the music first. Luv the show.
Your video popped up, I took a look, just so happens that I interviewed a man named Ray Griffith, he's been collecting for decades and has amassed 1/2 million albums. It's been a while since I've spoken with him, but far as I know he still collects. Thanks for the info on FOMO.
Hi, I totally agree ! It is for me all about the love of and for the music. This is not a generalization .In my opinion, If you say you are a music lover of many genres a nd styles of music, therefore you purchased vinyl and portray that as a person but you may also want to sale your vinyl if the price is right, if you will. To me ,thing in life gotta make sense if your trying to teach a goal ! And love for the album/ music vs. collecting vinyl as an investment/ profit don't correlate! It's two different Universes. Your either, a true music lover or a stock broker of music album!
90% of my albums are from 60's, 70's & into the early 80's. I kept my collection (of course) but by the late 80's started w/ CD's, which I still buy to this day, mostly to play in my cars. A few years ago, I started buying new vinyl again, mostly either, yes, you got it- limited numbered, colored vinyl, whatever, or re-releases of old psych records because I simply cannot afford originals. But, I keep my new psych albums sealed & buy CD's of the same record to listen to! Lot of people may think that is crazy, but it's what I do! Will I ever change? I don't know, I am 65 now, been collecting for over 50 years, it's what makes me happy.
Lps are meant to be spun, not hidden behind sealed plastic never seeing the light of day (the light of a turntable side lamp). I'm with ya Mazzy, let's let these puppies out and enjoy the music 😃👍 God forbid this hobby actually be fun.
I appreciate the honesty and the insight. For me it began with the music, (in my case, watching the Beatles on Ed Sullivan, on a tiny B&W TV) vinyl just happened to be the medium I latched onto, largely a consequence of my age, 63. But like you, and I assume many others, my collecting has also been driven by other concerns: FOMO, exclusivity, filling gaps, sonically showing off my system, and finding that rare and potentially valuable record. These concerns can take focus away from enjoying the music; yet in some cases, for example "audiophile" records that sonically kick ass, they can enhance that enjoyment. But as someone who has found himself humming along with the song in the aisle of a supermarket, if the music isn't good, it doesn't improve when the sounds are faithfully reproduced. Thank you for reminding me what's important and your willingness to be publicly honest.
Makes sense to a extend. I actually think if someone wants to buy two copies of everything to flip later to reduce the cost of the one they keep it’s perfectly ok. I buy a lot of records so reducing my expenses only means more records I can buy. WIN WIN
Different strokes for different folks I guess. I personnaly wouldn't do that because it sounds off. If I see two copies of something I like in a record store, I just pick one because somebody else might want it. The only time I'd do that is if I know a friend who'd also enjoy the record aswell. This is also win win for me.
I am a recovering experiencer of FOMO. I completely understand what you’re saying, there is a feeling of missing out, especially these days as pressings are getting smaller, and taking months longer to get pressed. Who knows when you’ll see it again? I’ve purposely become more selective these days. If I pick up 20 records at the shop to walk around with, by the time I check out, I’m down to 2-3.
I have never "Invested" in vinyl outside of maybe flipping something I found for extremely cheap lol, but the FOMO is certainly one that has guided purchases for me. First and foremost FOMO are things that you should actually want lol. Maybe it's just a do I want to spend more money today, or are there two other things kind of ahead of it that I want a bit more. My personal philosophy on FOMO is it's hard to lose money or screw yourself on those things so I will buy it and if in a few days, weeks, or months later I think...."eh, I don't think I want to keep this" or "I don't think this is better than the other pressing"...I know it is so, so, so easy to sell and get my money back in a heart beat. I fell like it's hard to ever lose with that approach because it is beyond easy to get rid of a FOMO item than it can be to get a FOMO item that you missed out on. I think with the "keeping record sealed" piece....I always find it kind of funny that record fans are often not allowed to be "collectors". I mean most people who collect stamps and don't use them or a person who collects baseball stuff and doesn't actually use the bat that is hanging on their wall don't usually hear people say "why do you have that bat and glove sitting on the shelf. If you are not going to play baseball with them what is the point of having them?" Most people understand the difference in that person playing a baseball game on Saturday and the collectables they own. ...but for some reason that does not seem to be acceptable for vinyl collectors to have both a "playing" side and a "collectable" side of their music world. Fun topics here!!!! Great vid!! 1964!!! That is a lot of years of collecting.
I think the difference is that the joy of collecting records is that they are useful, i.e. you can play them and enrich your life spiritually, as well as being beautiful objects. They are not merely beautiful but inanimate objects. Keeping them sealed is denying yourself 50 % (no hang on, a good 75%) of that experience. Sorry but I find the analogy with sporting memorabilia somewhat trite. Of course you are not going to actually play sport with some precious historic autographed baseball bat or whatever when a new one from a sports shop for a fraction of the price would do a better job. By comparison, I have an autographed Beach Boys album which I play, because you can play records without damaging them. A better analogy to keeping a record sealed might be keeping a painting in a bank vault. Or collecting wine you refuse to drink.
Hi Brandon, years ago you responded to a thread by Robert Z when is enough enough, and this was around the time I discovered the VC I watched several response videos and most were OK and I liked Mean Mike Mayos but I enjoyed your response the best and everything you said then still holds true today. Say I found a record that I have been looking for a while like Prince's Around the World in a Day and it is still sealed with tight shrink a perfect hype sticker and store price sticker from a place I remember years ago. I can hear some people say bust it open and play that Mint sounding record and enjoy, they would say you can cut the hype sticker off the shrink and keep it in the record. I wouldn't say no I would say hell no, and find a nice player copy of World. The fact that alot of people in the VC don't get the collecting part bodes well for people like you and me and I'm not talking about back up copies or flipping records but finding a beautiful unopened copy that is visually appealing and back in the day I would take chance on a cool looking cover like almost all of us did. Great band with a cool cover and a vintage still sealed record, open it if you want I know what me and mrhoffame will do.
I'm in total agreement with your comments on sealed records. When I was growing up and records were cheap and plentiful, it was not that uncommon for people to buy one copy to play and one to put away. Very few of those folks were doing so for investment purposes. Who would have guessed what many of those titles would be worth today. And if that was their intention, so what? How is that any different from someone who buys multiple pressings of the same title, or the collector who buys LP's and 7" singles for the artwork alone? Everyone collects for different reasons. Just follow your heart. 99% of us collect because we love music and the format. I can't imagine life without music. I pick up everything I see when I'm out hunting, regardless of how many copies I have. This has afforded me the opportunity to help out friends who have lost their collections or introduce some of my favorite titles to others. When I sell, it's always below market value or the "perceived" value. We are all addicted at some level. I do fight FOMO. There are some excellent Marketers within the community. Buyer Beware! Record Store Day has served its purpose and can go away. I only take issue with flippers. Great topic, It elicits a lot of different emotions from a lot of very passionate people. Cheers!
Mrhoffmane, thanks for saying what needed to be said. I feel that you just described me to a T lol 😁👍 I think people just need to mind their own business and stop worrying about what others do with their own records and however they want to enjoy them. Like you, I love all my records, but there are a couple that I want to preserve in my collection.
I totally agree. I collect for the music. Although I admittedly variant collect records I really love, but it has nothing to do with it being an investment - but rather just the experience of the album and being able to choose different experiences.
A record hound friend of mine just found at the end of April 2022, an original Plastic Cloud in unwrapped and little if at all played, excellent condition, with the insert for 3 Canadian dollars at a thrift store here in the Toronto area with a value of approx. 1,500 dollars. He says he is going to keep it. I would ,that's a top drawer psychedelic record.
So, he has a capability even rarer than true perfect pitch - he can hear the sound of money, mostly flying off into the distance. I cherish really beat up old LPs because they were never re-released on CD, and are too obscure for most any library to bother distributing. Besides yourself, who exactly are you trying to impress with the record you likely can't risk putting under a needle, for fear your investment should be damaged. Historical collections of art or literature have their purposes, but music treated as a hermetically sealed Honus Wagner baseball card is drained of purpose. But by all means, enjoy staring at your shelves of catalogued plastic, if that's your taste.
@@z1522 If it were mine I would slap it on the turntable as soon as possible and play it again and again and again. The value for me is in the music. I really enjoy that music. I have a number of rare records in my collection and they all get regular rotation on my turntable. Love my garage/psych/lsd music. Trying to impress no one, just letting folks know that some of these discs still can be found in the wild. By the way I am going to offer my original first Rush album on the Moon label and some hard to find blues in exchange for the Plastic Cloud.
I had a shocking case of FOMO, then I started to see stuff gets repressed more regularly than I expected. In terms of investment, it's all very well seeing the 'Discogs' value increasing, but those high price records don't sell in large volume and cashing up at the supposed market value could take a while.
Great video!!!! I can only speak for myself. I Don't buy records as a investment. I buy the records that I Love. I admit that in a few cases, The only time I would ever buy a record for a backup is if it was a rare album. It has happened a few times to me that a record I loved when I went to play it again, it was warped and I wish I had a backup copy for that reason only. This is the way I look at it. Everyone has a right to do with his or her money what they want. God knows we are not on earth forever. So, I buy the albums I Love. If I buy a album and I don't care for it, I put it in the discard pile and they go to the thrift store. I acquired my first record in 1968 and I still have it. I can understand the reason why some people would want to buy a backup copy especially if the record they Love is not exactly the most popular album, It may be very tough to find it again.
So true Mazzy - thanks for speaking to what is on a lot of our minds. Like you, I have been guilty of this in the past as well, but have really focused in on collecting for me lately. Having a well curated, well rounded and diverse collection of music I like. I don't have the storage space or $$ to simply "invest" lol. Perfect example just happened yesterday - I happened to see the always dangerous "preorder" button for the Bill Withers Still Bill mofi release. My brain instantly went the FOMO route as these will obviously sell out and sky rocket in price...but then I did a self check and told myself that I already have a clean original copy of that album, and that there is really no justification to spend money on the mofi. So I'm happy to say I am improving in this category 😎
Like you, I have experienced FOMO. I have been better at dealing with it by telling myself that I don't need every Tone Poet or Classic Series Blue Note or the Prestige releases. I buy the ones I'm interested in listening too. The owner of my local record store once said don't think of your records as a collection. Think of them as a listening library. I think that's very good advice.
Oddly enough, the Blue Notes and impulse! titles are the ones I can't fight the FOMO on. To have the analog remasters in a complete collection...I...I just CAN'T not get them. I have to fight the Numero Group and Light in the Attic boxed sets all the time and usually win...but the Blue Notes? I am helpless against them.
My first collection was very much like a specimen collection. I tried to buy all the most important albums, even if I didn’t like it but I wanted to hear it and see why it is important. Now with limited space I have stopped that and now I just try to buy albums that I truly love. That said I still do too much blind buying lol. Oh well, somethings can’t be stopped. FOMO is real and we all have to fight that. I’m getting better at it
Interesting - when you said “specimen collector”, I immediately understood what you meant and when you explained it turned out to be right. I definitely buy and collect widely and focus on quality music regardless style. Love your collection. If you like obscure 45s you might find something fun on my page.
I agree with you...the FOMO can apply to just about any kind of collecting that goes on. Enjoy what you have. We get a high when some new shiny object comes along; and then you come down. Cycle can continue from there.
100% agree. I don’t care how rare a release is - I’ll buy it because I’m going to listen to it and not leave it unopened. I invest in property, stocks and bonds etc :-)
I buy what I like, not what I should get, or think I should get based on what is recommended. I don't have nearly the collection you have however but I've been collecting vinyl for a long time myself, going back to the late 70's as an adolescent. The ONLY time I rebuy something is to replace a poor copy with a cleaner one and have many originals, most bought used (and this includes 45's), many as reissues and rarely do I buy something that is for the FOMO. the ONLY reason is being able to get something while I can at the price it is at before it goes up or is on sale etc, but it is not limited to the vinyl purchase, but is for anything that I need or want, and can safely purchase without going broke if you know what I mean. I buy stuff to play, or digitize for playing in the car, of which I just finished a project for just that. Captured from vinyl, with most from my 45's (singles that is), with probably 2/3rds being original pressings, many on styrene at that, the rest are reissues. The rest of the playlist came from LP's, from the mid 60's to the mid 70's. Most of it rock/pop, but a couple are not though. Shanheid by Pierce Webb and Early Morning Love by Sammy Johns, and No Matter What (your Stomach's in) that was the music for the Alka Seltzer commercial from 1966 on an original Liberty 7" 45. Anyway, that was fun to put together, but the thing is, I enjoy all that and like to mix and match for a playlist for the car when the mood strikes but I also just play for the sake of playing on my Rega P6.
I bought 18 records on RSD bc it was my first one. Bought 7-8 in store then bought more the next day online. Very happy with most of them, but they really do put a ton of garbage out to scam collectors.
Started gathering music with a dumpster find in the 70s. I seldom buy new and only buy what I like to hear. I have many treasures and treat it like gold prospecting. the fun is in finding the the gold not owning the gold. I don't own anything I won't listen to but it's fun to see what it's worth some of my best records cost less than a dollar. But I love your enthusiasm.
Onya Mazzie! Yet again, there's some reassurance and good to know that our "addiction" is widespread. (And my wife thought it was just me!) My addiction happens when it comes to having every version (CD, SACD, Vinyl, DVD-A, Blu-ray...---Bloody Neil Young is sucking my Superannuation dry!) of a particular artist but man, do I love the chase! (Think about all the fellow "cool people" you meet in shops, markets, fairs...all sharing the same passion). Staying clear of the vices of greed and want of FOMO, collecting and LOVING your music (in any format) is pure passion with good clean interest, enthusiasm and stimulation at the highest level. Thanks for making this old Ozzie guy feel good!
I feel the same about "record collecting". I often say that I'm not a record collector; I buy records or CD's because I like the music and want to listen to it. And I don't care about what value my record or CD collection has. I do catalog them on Discogs but that's so that I know what I have (for example when I'm shopping and want to check if I already have that album or those songs). I might buy an album on vinyl that I already have on CD but that is because that particular album would sound great on vinyl. But other than that, I avoid buying duplicates.
That more or less sums me up. It's always about the music. The format is secondary, though I generally have more fun out of vinyl - I grew up in the 70's and 80's and that's where the memories are, looking at those labels on my Dad's 45's and hearing Chuck Berry or Roy Orbison or The Drifters. All I wanted out of life at 16 was a bass-heavy amp, a reliable turntable and some speakers that could bring it. That's still mainly true...
I've never found new records to elicit that feeling. I own around ten records made after 2000, because they are either impossible to find used or were new releases I wanted. I have owned a few hundred modern records over the years, but have unloaded them after finding originals since they always compare unfavorably. When I owned them, I never played them.
I have the original version of the Blind Faith album, bought on the day it was released. Never felt like I needed the ugly yellow and black thing that The Suits replaced it with. I buy what I love, and take the best care of it that I can. Nothing lasts forever. Live for today.
Both versions we’re actually released at the same time. I remember Tower records in SF had two stacks when it first came out. Which should I choose 🤷🏻♂️😘
@@mazzysmusic Very interesting! The shop where I got my copy only had the one with the girl, at first. Maybe it was a purchasing decision by the owner! Thanks!
I know I'm 2 years late to this video or more, but I understand what you're saying here. I started buying vinyl because I got it into my head that all my digital music could just be taken away at a moments notice. If I have digital saves and physical copies of music, then I'll have access to it for as long as I have equipment to play it. But then I had a nice little fully analog setup and played a Walmart Metallica vinyl on it and just fell in love with the sound. The stereo separation and the subtlety, and on a Walmart vinyl. I can't imagine what a well recorded and mastered vinyl sounds like, so if I ever find a classic in good condition, I at least want to listen to it.
My side hustle as a retiree is reselling all kinds of things and I run into quite a few guys who enjoy finding albums at estate sales and garage sales not to flip but to invest in. They consider it as a great investment and those folks cannot be convinced they're not good investments. I have I have heard some stories of incredible returns on albums such as yours and they are saving them for their children to enjoy and/or sell someday.
I never understood why I saw collectors buy 2 copies and kept one sealed or have different limited edition vinyl colors of the same album. To me that is wasted money. The only time I purchase 2 copies is if one is slightly different in sound. For example, an artist put out an album called Unlocked and then Unlocked 1.5 which are slightly different and sound different.
You definitely have a point that is true for many of us - myself included (to a certain degree). To my "defence" I'll say that (in general through my life) I have regretted things I DID NOT do more than things I did. This goes for buying records as well - and it's not so bad/expensive as the prices are developing these last years. But I'm not a completeist. I have 3 (out of app. 3.000) records that are still sealed - and it's amongst the most expensive, I own: one Supersense laquer and two MOFI One-Steps. The reason for this that I feel I need a special occasion to open a record 3-500 USD. And then I have 10-15 sealed records (30-60 USD) that I bought an extra copy of on webshops because the shipping was the same as for one - and I hope to sell these extras to help pay the shipping for my keepers copy.
Never had the urge to collect as an investment, although I do have doubles of maybe 3 or 4 albums saved for a rainy day. The FOMO is very real though, sometimes I have to check myself and ask “would I have bought this if it wasn’t super limited?”
One day I was browsing through a 2nd hand vinyl site and came across an album I really wanted. I checked my library and found out I already had it. To my own bewilderment I had a brief sensation of disappointment: I could not fulfill my desire to acquire. That's when I realized it was not about the music, not even about the ownership for the sake of ownership ... it was all about acquiring more.
Great topic Mazzy, I’ve spent a lot of time considering the role of my collection. I could write you a book about all this but I won’t. Love this video. All I can say is I do my best, cheers my friend.
I would never buy record I didn't want or an artist I didn't like. That being said, I enjoy collecting the bands I love. It brings back my childhood (being 54). If it goes up great. I just want to own what I enjoy. (Limited edition and numbered is nice if that's the case as well). And I don't plan on flipping any of my records, they will be carried down to my kids.
Same here. I just want to have copies of the music I love at my fingertips to listen to and ENJOY. Better still if they go to another potential music lover to play and enjoy after I leave this world -- preferably beloved family members.
When I missed out on the Pepper Adams and Charles Mingus records on RSD, I started looking for what I didn't get that day. What I found was that I could get the RSD records I wanted - Bill Evans, Charles Mingus, and Pepper Adams - on CD for $100.00. A lot of these RSD live releases are soundboard or radio broadcast recordings, and are hardly state of the art audiophile releases. If I can get them for less, I will. I'll still buy vinyl - used when possible, new when more affordable than used.
I bought the 2018 represses of Ali Farka Toure's first 5 albums 25$ each.... before that I searched and purchased 4 of the 5 OG pressings, it took me years to track down affordable OG copies around 150-225$ each, because there were no represses at the time. some people invest in old coins, stamps, old cars. old wine, multiple properties.... if someone wants to invest in Sealed White albums, why not?
@@mazzysmusic...you don't like that some people might enjoy collecting sealed White Album(s)? Maybe I'm not reading your words correctly.... but if it would it personally bother you, what is the reason for it?
Multiple copies (almost flipping): Some times buying multiple copy or copies and selling at a later date helps pays for the copy that you actually play. Helps pays for your hobby. Opening New Records: In most collections, there are so many opened records that don't get played or only get played very rarely. It's kinda dumb to open all the new records. Play the already opened ones a few too many times first. Now if you have been waiting years for a particular record to come out, sure open and rock out. But most of the time, a record comes out, and I'm not in that mood, but I know eventually I will be. Crack it open when it's time.
I agree Mazzy. I have a lot of vinyl but acknowledge it for the music. There are outliers like Van Halen's Balance for whatever reason. One thing CD wise are prog rock band box sets. Jethro Tull are the most popular example. Benefit, Stormwatch, etc are still available. But Aqualung, Heavy Horses, Songs From the Wood, etc are prohibitively expensive. Why IDK. There are also big sets like Steve Hillage, Gentle Giant, Wishbone Ash, and especially UK that are obfuscatingly expensive. Shoot the UK Ultimate Collectors Edition on Discogs is $1k+. Ultimately recognize a FOMO or speculative vs organic growth and perform your research.
I know this post is a year old, but I just happened upon it. First let me say that I really dig the way your shirt picks up the pattern of the records on the shelves behind you. Next, I must repeat a comment I left elsewhere a while back: If I wanted to make money, I'd get a better-paying job. Records I collect for fun, for pleasure, for music. My friends tell me I should leave notes about which records are valuable so that when I die my heirs (!) will know where the money is. Yes, some of them are worth something (today, maybe not so much tomorrow -- I remember the first time LPs became worthless overnight in the late '80s/early '90s), but that's not going to do me any good because I don't buy records I don't want in my life, so I'm unlikely to sell them as long as I'm alive. After that, you're on your own.
Had a Huge Collection " Sold 90% " Retired still have enough Vinyl & Japanese cds To keep me happy Not a Beatles fan-I listten to the odd one but I was in my twentys when they can popular & I was heavy into Jazz most of my life Good video
We're the same age Norm, the 1st two albums I bought with my own money were Inna Gadda DaVida & Are You Experienced. Still have them. We seem to have lived similar childhoods in some ways, but on opposite sides of the country.
I have been buying records since the mid 60's just for the music. I have a sizable collection that probally has some valuable records. I was not aware of different pressings or one recording sounding better than another until a few years ago. I still buy but look for the better pressings. I wanted to buy the recent Jimmy Hendrix Box set but did not because I felt $150 was too much (I'm cheap) I already have the original USA pressing & CD of it. Did not Have to Have it.
Agreed. What you really want as a collector is simply to break even with inflation should you ever sell down the road. That way you can enjoy the hobby without ever feeling that you are wasting your money. You are simply parking money in something that you will get enjoyment out of.
In regards to FOMO: Everything is a limited edition. There isn't unlimited quantities of anything. So I don't fall for the "Limited Edition." If I happen to secure one, I am excited but I don't seek it. I am excited to have the music. I love Miles Davis and there now a few UHQR and many variations of Kind of Blue. I am happy to have it in my collection but I don't covet or feel FOMO for other things in that regard. My FOMO comes in when I might miss out on a deal or something.
In recent years, anytime I've bought something due to FOMO I get humbled when I realize that there are plenty of copies still available and often cheaper if I would have just waited a bit longer. Part of it is trauma from not buying a lot of shit when it came out in the early to mid 2000's. Alot of that stuff has yet to get a repress. The stuff I regret not getting is the stuff that I saw used cheap and didn't get cuz I thought it would still be there and later realized "oh I should picked that up when I had the chance..."
Most records are not always a good investment, but some are, especially original pressings. Looking at The Beatles "Mono LP Box", I knew it would be an excellent investment. Looking at the disinterest in the "Mono CD Box" and how long it languished on the shelves, I realized the "Mono LP Box" would receive the same disinterest, so the supply would be in shorter supply. I think that most of the sales were pre-sales and record stores didn't want to make the investment in the LP box and have them languish on the shelves. I bought 2 sets and one remains sealed. The value of The Beatles "Mono LP Box" is probably 10 times what I paid for them. I remember a year or so ago when Acoustic Sounds found a boxed set and listed for $600. Still that was more than I paid for both my sets together! Will it go down? Probably not. Will they re-issue it? Probably not. Record companies are in business to make money and even if they re-issue, maybe 5,ooo copies, they will languish on the shelves. The Beatles are collectable. When they re-issued the British versions of the Beatles albums, I bought 2 of each, keeping one each sealed. I sold the sealed copies a few years ago for $1,000. If I had broken down and bought the Collector's Choice set, with the exclusive color vinyl 45, I would have more than double the value of my investment. Look at the Mofi boxed set. It still commands astronomical prices. Many of the re-issues of any records, especially audiophile, were made in small numbers and it makes sense to have sealed copies. Then there are some re-issues which are just dang valuable. Take the re-issues from Classic Records. Acoustic Sounds bought out Classic Records years ago, which included warehouse stock and the metal masters. Acoustic Sounds has re-issued many former Classic Records titles, using the same metal parts that CR used, but pressed by their QRP in-house pressing plant. Well, the original CR releases are going for multiple times the prices of the AS re-pressings. Anything from CR is valuable and a good investment. Way back when, both CR and AS had their records pressed by RTI. Those RTI pressings of AS releases also go for multiple times the amounts of the later QRP pressings. So, the AS pressings by RTI are also a good investment. It is true, for most re-issues, they are not a good investment. You have to be selective in buying records as investments and you have to be knowledgeable about recorded media.
Perhaps the Supreme Court will agree to hear Maslov v FOMO. Do we have a Constitutionally mandated right to a backup copy of a record, or is it for individual states to decide? If the latter, how will intestate orders be regulated? Does Politico have some inside scoop, and if so, are they to be believed? Should blue states impose a carbon tax to mitigate the environmental impact of pressing records, and if so, should UHQR releases be exempted from any carbon taxes? Politics, man... politics. Cheers, Tom
I have to agree to an extent on your points. The reason someone would buy in the hope it would go up in price it is very simple, money really is worth nothing, if someone can exchange their money for something limited (truly limited, higher quality standard etc and so on) they eventually will have something that is worth more than what they paid initially. If this sounds really confusing, the main point I'm making is that investing in items would be at least to have a better chance of beating inflation, we do know that $10 today won't be able to buy the exactly the same in 5 years time. And I'm not saying we should go all out and spend all our money and live of thin air for the rest of the month and make sure you don't get into debt to purchase these things, otherwise you are reverting the initial point which was an attempt at making money down the line. Make sure what you do, you enjoy doing, really, that's the key part.
I have about 400 records. I invest in my happiness. Records give me a reason to get up in the morning. I'm 2 years out of a drug rehab facility and I've found something I love instead of drugs. Music has always been a healthy passion. I guess I can't understand why someone would buy a true Philips 1970 "Black Sabbath self titled" 1st Uk pressing, when they can buy a 1971 repress for about $1500 cheaper. The sound is the same. They're both awesome UK Vertigo pressings.
i paid off all my debt. payed off my property, my house, all new construction, payed off all the gear in my recording studio.... i have a garden/greenhouse and my own water well... I payed off all my credit cards, my truck, my wife's Suberu.... I own gold, silver and Bitcoin... food for 6 months... guns and ammo.... why can't i invest in my record collection? why Mazzy? why?
Of course you can. This person doesn’t like the practice w music but I never tried stopping anyone else from doing so. This is a personal opinion piece ✌🏼
Says the guy who wakes up at 5am on record store day to buy all the limited editions, has multiple copies of albums and all kinds of different editions.
The bus stopped in Millbrook & I got on. Eventually, a hitchhiking trip to SF & 2 shows of a day on the green, which you prbly were at. The Commander, NRPS, Beach Boys, The Dead. #2 was The Band, Jessie Collin Young, Joe Walsh & CSN&Y.
I've been fighting the FOMO thing really hard. I've spent thousands on the Mondo and Waxwork colored vinyl reissues of movie soundtracks and although I love many of the ones I have, I impulse bought a bunch that I'd be happy just to have digitally in itunes or don't care about at all. Seeing as those cost $20-50 each new and I collect old records as well, I just remind myself how many fun flea market and dollar bin LPs I could have for the cost of one new LP.
To say I’ve never thought about the value would be a lie but at this point I’m at about 800 lps not many doubles so I can say I have pretty much all I want or need, now most of my purchases are something new I’ve learned about or a blind buy happy with where my collection is.
Mazzy I got into vinyl because of the inner lock groove on Sgt. Pepper. My mom had never heard it before we got it on CD. So I was interested on how there could be this difference between releases. I've never believed the argument that vinyl was the superior format per se, I just liked the idea of tracking down these pieces of history and experiencing them the same way the first audiences did. Again with the Beatles, but the first time I heard "I Am the Walrus" it was on the radio shortly before I bought Anthology 2. I was disappointed by the version on that release and I thought, what happened to that cool sound effect in the middle of the song? Turns out that even after getting the album version of the song I wouldn't hear it the same way until I heard it on a great sound system. Point is collecting vinyl came from a place that had nothing to do with investing as a mindset. For a while vinyl was cheaper than cds so it was a fun way of finding new music. Now it's my preferred listening experience. I do enjoy Record Store Day as a way of getting a one off cool item but my choices are usually 1 or 2 on each RSD and even then I might not be able to find them. I love the community that has built around the event and I will continue to support it if possible.
I agree with you in many aspects of RSD. I almost bought the Patti Smith collection LP issued for RSD, I stopped myself because I have all her LPs in my collection already.
I've had to do that several times because I remembered that I already had the individual albums already. I think there was a Kate Bush boxed set a few years ago and realized "Wait...I already have vintage of these, I don't need that."
You need the “moon rock needle”. Pricing and FOMO is driven by guys like you and the others online “buy now or cry later”. You just did a video the other day “most expensive records”. It’s about the hype and exclusivity. We love the sound and are junkies. We are all seeking the “better” the “rare”. Can’t complain because we are all in this marketing vortex. Limited edition sells records. Supply/demand. Inflation of record prices has gotten crazy crazy because more people are in the market now and hype of RUclips videos etc. Dont get altruistic. We all love the music and the records. Unfortunately others see an opportunity because of the demand.
Great episode, guilty of this as well. About 6 months ago I changed my mindset and with each purchase ask myself, are you going to listen to this or are you just acquiring it? FOMO is real though, but I'm more interested now in building a living breathing music collection not a music museum. Keep up the great content!
Good semi rant Mazzy ! I buy records because I still get a massive buzz when I open them, put them on the deck and the stylus hits the groove. What will come out of those speakers, that is still so exciting. What is the financial worth of my records ? No idea, at some point I won't be around to hear them any more and someone will benefit from selling them or discovering great music as I did. Until then I'll carry on buying and listening they way I always have.Take it easy mate, really look forward to your thoughts and stories.
FOMO is definitely part of my DNA. I contact for another reason though. I have a great number of LPs and have them stored on regular bookshelves. One day the whole thing will collapse from the weight and I will be sick. Where do you get your storage cubes? What do you recommend?
A sappy side of me holds on to some sealed second copies of premium pressings in the hopes that future generations will be thankful for such a gift from the past. Sure I'd like to make some money off of those too, but that's not my main motivation. I'd die for a reasonably priced sealed LZ II RL SS, or a reasonably priced sealed DSOTM UHQR. I want to provide future generations with specimen pieces from what will become a bygone era.
I’ve been watching a lot of RUclips videos about the Fine Art Business. I’ve never liked/understood Modern Art and now that I have a little more knowledge about the business of Modern Art, I finally have an understanding of why I’ve never liked it. Is record collecting, especially vinyl, being manipulated into becoming a “Fine Art Business “? It sure sounds like it. If it’s anything like the visual art business it will completely take over and pollute popular music. Maybe it already has. That would explain A LOT!
Just a segment of it and really just a small segment. Same with the art works. There high profile high end crazy sales there but so much more modern artwork than can be had by following and artist where the work really hits and inspired you. Not manipulated but the art world intelligencia
agree...great episode. I buy what I like on vinyl and cd. If they go up in value great...if they don't oh well. Like with any hobby there are extremes. I am certainly glad I do not have the FOMO virus! Thanks for the content!
I've been addicted to music since birth. At 6 months old, I'm told by my family that I would let out blood curdling screams and cry like hell whenever our 7" single of 'Hey Jude' finished playing. Someone would always have to keep get up to replay the record over and over again for hours at a time. My poor brothers. However, I've also been a big collector of music that I enjoy, with a collection that has been growing since I was a little girl. I'm still buying and collecting records of varied styles and genres that I love. In spite of whatever several people in the comments section here are griping about, there isn't, nor should there be a single problem with that. Just because I enjoy collecting the music that I love does NOT mean that my main interest is in the investment. Honestly, I don't personally know a single soul who collects for that reason alone. Again....Why would YOU have a problem with that person? I don't understand why there are people here that actually take issue over what others do with their own records. Someone may enjoy having a lot of sealed copies on hand for various reasons. What's wrong with that?? NOTHING. I am reasonably certain that most collectors are probably music lovers as well. If not, oh well...not my problem. Its their own collection to do with as they please. If that should bother anyone, then apparently the problem is you. It sounds like a mental problem if you ask me.
I have a bad case of FOMO as a music collector, but it’s more from fear that something will go out of print so quickly and then I’ll have to pay extra later. This results in me picking up music when I might not be ready to enjoy it (spiritually and financially speaking). FOMO is real and if you know of any support groups out there, I’d be interested! LOL.
Do I have sealed copies of records... yes. Why, because I either forget I have pre-ordered it and order another (I could count on 1 hand how many double copies I have though), or I have still to get around to listening to it.
My environment is a little different than most maybe, but I have many records still sealed. I am still in the process of adding my collection into Discogs but I'm hoping in the future I will be able to take my stereo out of the storage closet and start to play them again. Besides the space in my apartment I have a sometimes violent adult special needs son and I am not interested in having records or my stereo destroyed. I listen to digital copies of new releases, even the UHQR or MOFI/MFSL releases I can hear the difference from other releases. At this point if I die before this happens then yes, my Wife and Daughter will more than likely sell my collection so it is a 'reverse investment'. It is not worth alot but emotionally it is to me. When Im done I will have about 2200 in Discogs and I have never sold one. They are not for sale while Im alive. I do however love to buy albums. I feel like a kid at Christmas when the courier comes even though I will not be opening it (for now) I dont think I suffer from FOMO (at least not alot) Out of the last 30 records I bought only one was bought because it was unique to Europe from the North American release and I did consider it's value would be greater in the long run. I bought the recent UHQR release of Jimi Hendrix 'Are You Experienced' because it is one of my favourite records and I want to experience the sound of my first UHQR, again, one day I will get to play my Vinyl again P.S. I should note, the only 'duplicates' I have in my collection are because I inherited them from Family. I do not buy backups
I agree that it’s about the music. I also notice in myself some collecting behaviours that, left unchecked, are not so great. I don’t go so far as buying a backup copy as I, too, take care of my records. One of my “borderline” activities is to occasionally buy a second copy of a limited edition expensive box set thinking that selling it at a premium will pay for my copy. I’ve done that with the Funhouse box you mentioned, The Grateful Dead’s Pacific Northwest ‘73/‘’74 box set and Joni Mitchell’s Archives Vol 2 on vinyl. Also the numbered half-speed masters of Peter Gabriel’s Last Temptation of Christ soundtrack. The funny part is that while funding the first purchase with the sale of the second is my intention I have yet to pull the trigger on the sale. Hmmmmmm.
I'm a big collector, I have a huge stash of CD's and records. The difference between me and most commentators here is that a hell of a lot of my stuff is collectible because it's a Japanese release. (I live in Japan). I don't buy to flip. I hardly ever buy online, I go to record stores and dig the old-fashioned way. I only do the RSD thing for stuff I want. This year I splashed out on the Scott Walker 'Boy Child ' release. A dreadful quality pressing and unmitigated cash grab, but as a Scott completist I had to have it. Finally caught up with a well used copy of Billy Cobham 'Crosswinds' for a ¥800. Felt more FOMO over that one.
I have a few sealed LPs, mostly Dylan. The top two are probably the 200 gram Live 1966 box and the first US pressing of Love & Theft, both in perfect condition with stickers. I know what the insides look like and I have them on CD to play. I’ll probably open them at some point but they’re sealed for the time being, kind of as a museum piece I suppose. But generally speaking, I think collecting multiple copies of anything is either a business - if you’re running a shop - or it gets very close to hoarding. The same way someone with a psychological problem that makes it nearly impossible to part with an old broken lamp “in case it comes in handy”… some record collecting can be like a very expensive ‘high end’ version of that. You’re only keeping the records for you, not anyone else, so a record I don’t need should probably go.
I have been a collector of various things over the years and the "collector mentality" and Covid-era sell-outs made my pendulum swing hard in the direction of FOMO and hoarding a bit, thankfully it has now swung back to a more reasoned and curated approach. But I'm guilty of all of this to a very small extent too.
I buy some of them just to upgrade my collection. My early Beatles albums are shot to hell so it's nice to replace them. The new Let It Be was fantastic imo.
I think we all go through FOMO. I have three copies of Nirvana Nevermind and two are unopened. Bought one to listen to it. Found out there was a better-sounding one, bought that one, and then the 30th anniversary came out, so I sprung for that one as well. I like the album but I really only need one. I have now walked back from that abyss. I don't need the series or the whatever anymore. If I have a good-sounding release, that is good enough for me.
When buying records it can introduce a warped incentive if you are focused on increased cost over time. When making a purchasing decision, what works for me is to always ask myself a few questions:
(1) Have I heard this record before?
(2) Do I like this record?
(3) If I had it, would I listen to it?
(4) Does it fulfill an unmet need in my listening library?
(5) Does it meet my standards in terms of condition?
(6) Is it worth the price?
It's simple - to buy the record, the answer to all of the above questions must be yes! If not I'm happy to wait until something else comes along.
Good list
I wholeheartedly agreed with points three-six but not one and two. Much of the fun of buying records is discovering stuff in your wheelhouse that you've never seen before. I've been collecting records since the '70s and i STILL find interesting stuff I didn't know existed. While I wouldn't risk top $ for an expensive new LP or premium priced dealer sale amount, I find LPs at yard sales and flea markets all the time to buy that I don't know.
The absolute worst part of buying limited edition releases just to flip is when the real fans who want to buy it and enjoy it for themselves cannot because flippers/scalpers have gobbled up too many copies.
The is what Record Store Day is all about. Sadly.
Absolutely 💯!
And the price goes up, everything I have bought the last 10 to 15 years are worth 2 to 3 times more now, and I only buy new records.
And the colour ones I bought for $20 to $30 is selling on dischog for $130 to $200, it's insane.
Yes they are cunts for doing that
I only buy records that I like to listen to. Like to find old records that I used to have.I collect for the Memories and the listening experience,but everyone is different.
I don't have FOMO I just have an Addiction to Vinyl...
for me there is a contradiction between financial investment and things that I love. When I talk about investing into my record collection, it is an investment into well being, cultural enjoyment, sharing love for music with friends and family. During me business life I worked for a electronic company for 41 years. My customers were professional TV, Movie and Music production companies. More than once I was asked by records companies if I would like to work for them. I always denied because I love music too much.
Good call ✌🏼
I want to be able to wear a blindfold, pull any record from my 700+ collection, and it be a killer record . . . great tunes, beautiful art. That's it. Tastes change and mistakes are made (hello, impulse buys!), but I'm getting there. Thanks for the video, Mr. Maslov. You made some great points. Love the passion! Keep it up!
I think 700 + Is a very sensible contained collection. Well done for controlling the collection.
Mazzy, just a note thanking you for this video (and all the rest). I discovered the RUclips vinyl community during the pandemic and my specimen collection really grew, thanks to suggestions from you and Michael from Germany and a number of others who know what Sounds great. Yes, a small infection of FOMO but no major symptoms. I just want you to know that you have been a trusted vinyl mentor and appreciate your wisdom.
Agreed, Mazzy seems like a really nice individual and is an inspiration.
Bud you are the best example of the 'Kettle calling the pot black' that I've seen in a long while.
The you missed the point of the video 😎
@@mazzysmusic Or : You remind of someone's Dad who smoked for 40 years and every time he sees a young person smoking he becomes an evangelist. Let people do what people do with their records because no amount of preaching will stop them.
@@Neil-Aspinall I would never try to stop anyone from enjoying music or collection records. These are my personal opinion pieces which I state several times. It’s simply my take a sort of a discussion starter as you can see by the variety of comments.
If somebody wants a backup copy of the same record then it’s their choice. But from my experience records can last a lifetime if you take basic care of them so why not buy something else? Other music to enjoy.
I too buy multiple copies if they have musical or artistic differences. I point this out to start the debate which is exactly what happened here.
I appreciate your comments and others when they are constructive or snarky works too.
About time someone addressed this! The only vinyl investment value should be it's worth to the persons happiness.
Yes !
I agree. It's the music first! I don't even call myself a collector. Do I have a collection? Yes, cd's vinyl movies, I've got many collections. Did I go into it thinking, I want to be a collector of something and this will be it, No! I like these things, buy what I like, and guess what, it turns In to a collection of something that my wife is constantly pissed about taking up too much space. There's no thought put into some specially curated collection. More like, I really like this band or the record. Now I have it. That's all there is to it.
Thanks for properly and truly explaining what a record "collector" really is. 👍
The word, 'collector' on this channel and it's followers is the equivalent of 'criminal'. It's nuts!
I'm 81 now, but when I was 14 growing up in New York City, I held a copy of THE CAINE MUTINY soundtrack LP in my hands in a record store in Manhattan. I loved the movie -- which had just come out -- and I briefly considered buying it with my allowance, until some other record caught my attention...a record whose title I've long since forgotten. To this day, I still suffer from FOMO about that.
81 ? So you must have heard of Kerouac !
Some have said to take the low estimate of your collection on Discogs and divide it by ten, that's probably what a dealer would pay for the whole pile if sold as a lot. I think it's probably accurate and is a sobering realization. It would probably take thousands of hours to sell a typical collection at even mid-price estimates, a full time job.
I am retired and was introduced to someone interested in buying Punk albums. I’ve been selling my rare Punk albums for a lot of money. Lower than the medium discogs price but still for a lot. I’ve got lots of enjoyment out of these records and I’m happy to part with them now. Who knows if the vinyl market will crash and I don’t want my loved ones yo be stuck with all these records.
@@vinylrichie007 That's because you are selling to fellow collectors. I was talking about dumping a whole collection on a dealer and what they pay.
Folks have more disposable income today. I’m age 71, and in my teens records were more precious because we spent time choosing which one we would buy payday to payday. Next payday we’d have the fun of choosing another record, not a 2nd copy for whatever reason.
Ive been collecting for about 42 years and have always bought records for the music.
Like you i have some really rare and expensive ones that i just got when buying a private collection from someone and it's nice to think how rare they are but its always the music first.
Luv the show.
Your video popped up, I took a look, just so happens that I interviewed a man named Ray Griffith, he's been collecting for decades and has amassed 1/2 million albums. It's been a while since I've spoken with him, but far as I know he still collects. Thanks for the info on FOMO.
Hi, I totally agree ! It is for me all about the love of and for the music. This is not a generalization .In my opinion, If you say you are a music lover of many genres a nd styles of music, therefore you purchased vinyl and portray that as a person but you may also want to sale your vinyl if the price is right, if you will. To me ,thing in life gotta make sense if your trying to teach a goal ! And love for the album/ music vs. collecting vinyl as an investment/ profit don't correlate! It's two different Universes. Your either, a true music lover or a stock broker of music album!
Exactly ✌🏼
90% of my albums are from 60's, 70's & into the early 80's. I kept my collection (of course) but by the late 80's started w/ CD's, which I still buy to this day, mostly to play in my cars. A few years ago, I started buying new vinyl again, mostly either, yes, you got it- limited numbered, colored vinyl, whatever, or re-releases of old psych records because I simply cannot afford originals. But, I keep my new psych albums sealed & buy CD's of the same record to listen to! Lot of people may think that is crazy, but it's what I do! Will I ever change? I don't know, I am 65 now, been collecting for over 50 years, it's what makes me happy.
I think that's cool idea 😊
Whatever makes you happy is what is most important 👍
Lps are meant to be spun, not hidden behind sealed plastic never seeing the light of day (the light of a turntable side lamp). I'm with ya Mazzy, let's let these puppies out and enjoy the music 😃👍 God forbid this hobby actually be fun.
I appreciate the honesty and the insight. For me it began with the music, (in my case, watching the Beatles on Ed Sullivan, on a tiny B&W TV) vinyl just happened to be the medium I latched onto, largely a consequence of my age, 63. But like you, and I assume many others, my collecting has also been driven by other concerns: FOMO, exclusivity, filling gaps, sonically showing off my system, and finding that rare and potentially valuable record. These concerns can take focus away from enjoying the music; yet in some cases, for example "audiophile" records that sonically kick ass, they can enhance that enjoyment. But as someone who has found himself humming along with the song in the aisle of a supermarket, if the music isn't good, it doesn't improve when the sounds are faithfully reproduced.
Thank you for reminding me what's important and your willingness to be publicly honest.
I usually buy the vinyl and also the digital version simulataneously because I travel a lot for work. Tough to travel with vinyl :)
Makes sense to a extend. I actually think if someone wants to buy two copies of everything to flip later to reduce the cost of the one they keep it’s perfectly ok. I buy a lot of records so reducing my expenses only means more records I can buy. WIN WIN
Sure 🤷🏻♂️
Different strokes for different folks I guess. I personnaly wouldn't do that because it sounds off. If I see two copies of something I like in a record store, I just pick one because somebody else might want it. The only time I'd do that is if I know a friend who'd also enjoy the record aswell. This is also win win for me.
I am a recovering experiencer of FOMO. I completely understand what you’re saying, there is a feeling of missing out, especially these days as pressings are getting smaller, and taking months longer to get pressed. Who knows when you’ll see it again? I’ve purposely become more selective these days. If I pick up 20 records at the shop to walk around with, by the time I check out, I’m down to 2-3.
I have never "Invested" in vinyl outside of maybe flipping something I found for extremely cheap lol, but the FOMO is certainly one that has guided purchases for me. First and foremost FOMO are things that you should actually want lol. Maybe it's just a do I want to spend more money today, or are there two other things kind of ahead of it that I want a bit more. My personal philosophy on FOMO is it's hard to lose money or screw yourself on those things so I will buy it and if in a few days, weeks, or months later I think...."eh, I don't think I want to keep this" or "I don't think this is better than the other pressing"...I know it is so, so, so easy to sell and get my money back in a heart beat. I fell like it's hard to ever lose with that approach because it is beyond easy to get rid of a FOMO item than it can be to get a FOMO item that you missed out on.
I think with the "keeping record sealed" piece....I always find it kind of funny that record fans are often not allowed to be "collectors". I mean most people who collect stamps and don't use them or a person who collects baseball stuff and doesn't actually use the bat that is hanging on their wall don't usually hear people say "why do you have that bat and glove sitting on the shelf. If you are not going to play baseball with them what is the point of having them?" Most people understand the difference in that person playing a baseball game on Saturday and the collectables they own. ...but for some reason that does not seem to be acceptable for vinyl collectors to have both a "playing" side and a "collectable" side of their music world.
Fun topics here!!!! Great vid!! 1964!!! That is a lot of years of collecting.
I think the difference is that the joy of collecting records is that they are useful, i.e. you can play them and enrich your life spiritually, as well as being beautiful objects. They are not merely beautiful but inanimate objects. Keeping them sealed is denying yourself 50 % (no hang on, a good 75%) of that experience. Sorry but I find the analogy with sporting memorabilia somewhat trite. Of course you are not going to actually play sport with some precious historic autographed baseball bat or whatever when a new one from a sports shop for a fraction of the price would do a better job. By comparison, I have an autographed Beach Boys album which I play, because you can play records without damaging them. A better analogy to keeping a record sealed might be keeping a painting in a bank vault. Or collecting wine you refuse to drink.
Hi Brandon, years ago you responded to a thread by Robert Z when is enough enough, and this was around the time I discovered the VC I watched several response videos and most were OK and I liked Mean Mike Mayos but I enjoyed your response the best and everything you said then still holds true today. Say I found a record that I have been looking for a while like Prince's Around the World in a Day and it is still sealed with tight shrink a perfect hype sticker and store price sticker from a place I remember years ago. I can hear some people say bust it open and play that Mint sounding record and enjoy, they would say you can cut the hype sticker off the shrink and keep it in the record. I wouldn't say no I would say hell no, and find a nice player copy of World. The fact that alot of people in the VC don't get the collecting part bodes well for people like you and me and I'm not talking about back up copies or flipping records but finding a beautiful unopened copy that is visually appealing and back in the day I would take chance on a cool looking cover like almost all of us did. Great band with a cool cover and a vintage still sealed record, open it if you want I know what me and mrhoffame will do.
I'm in total agreement with your comments on sealed records. When I was growing up and records were cheap and plentiful, it was not that uncommon for people to buy one copy to play and one to put away. Very few of those folks were doing so for investment purposes. Who would have guessed what many of those titles would be worth today. And if that was their intention, so what? How is that any different from someone who buys multiple pressings of the same title, or the collector who buys LP's and 7" singles for the artwork alone? Everyone collects for different reasons. Just follow your heart. 99% of us collect because we love music and the format. I can't imagine life without music. I pick up everything I see when I'm out hunting, regardless of how many copies I have. This has afforded me the opportunity to help out friends who have lost their collections or introduce some of my favorite titles to others. When I sell, it's always below market value or the "perceived" value. We are all addicted at some level. I do fight FOMO. There are some excellent Marketers within the community. Buyer Beware! Record Store Day has served its purpose and can go away. I only take issue with flippers. Great topic, It elicits a lot of different emotions from a lot of very passionate people. Cheers!
I always love you philosophy on things. I agree...why does record collection have to be different than collecting other things?
Mrhoffmane, thanks for saying what needed to be said. I feel that you just described me to a T lol 😁👍
I think people just need to mind their own business and stop worrying about what others do with their own records and however they want to enjoy them.
Like you, I love all my records, but there are a couple that I want to preserve in my collection.
any record i buy is priceless to me and i play every single one of them. Music is for playing not displaying
I totally agree. I collect for the music. Although I admittedly variant collect records I really love, but it has nothing to do with it being an investment - but rather just the experience of the album and being able to choose different experiences.
A record hound friend of mine just found at the end of April 2022, an original Plastic Cloud in unwrapped and little if at all played, excellent condition, with the insert for 3 Canadian dollars at a thrift store here in the Toronto area with a value of approx. 1,500 dollars. He says he is going to keep it. I would ,that's a top drawer psychedelic record.
So, he has a capability even rarer than true perfect pitch - he can hear the sound of money, mostly flying off into the distance. I cherish really beat up old LPs because they were never re-released on CD, and are too obscure for most any library to bother distributing. Besides yourself, who exactly are you trying to impress with the record you likely can't risk putting under a needle, for fear your investment should be damaged. Historical collections of art or literature have their purposes, but music treated as a hermetically sealed Honus Wagner baseball card is drained of purpose. But by all means, enjoy staring at your shelves of catalogued plastic, if that's your taste.
@@z1522 If it were mine I would slap it on the turntable as soon as possible and play it again and again and again. The value for me is in the music. I really enjoy that music. I have a number of rare records in my collection and they all get regular rotation on my turntable. Love my garage/psych/lsd music. Trying to impress no one, just letting folks know that some of these discs still can be found in the wild. By the way I am going to offer my original first Rush album on the Moon label and some hard to find blues in exchange for the Plastic Cloud.
I had a shocking case of FOMO, then I started to see stuff gets repressed more regularly than I expected. In terms of investment, it's all very well seeing the 'Discogs' value increasing, but those high price records don't sell in large volume and cashing up at the supposed market value could take a while.
Great video!!!! I can only speak for myself. I Don't buy records as a investment. I buy the records that I Love. I admit that in a few cases, The only time I would ever buy a record for a backup is if it was a rare album. It has happened a few times to me that a record I loved when I went to play it again, it was warped and I wish I had a backup copy for that reason only. This is the way I look at it. Everyone has a right to do with his or her money what they want. God knows we are not on earth forever. So, I buy the albums I Love. If I buy a album and I don't care for it, I put it in the discard pile and they go to the thrift store. I acquired my first record in 1968 and I still have it. I can understand the reason why some people would want to buy a backup copy especially if the record they Love is not exactly the most popular album, It may be very tough to find it again.
So true Mazzy - thanks for speaking to what is on a lot of our minds. Like you, I have been guilty of this in the past as well, but have really focused in on collecting for me lately. Having a well curated, well rounded and diverse collection of music I like. I don't have the storage space or $$ to simply "invest" lol. Perfect example just happened yesterday - I happened to see the always dangerous "preorder" button for the Bill Withers Still Bill mofi release. My brain instantly went the FOMO route as these will obviously sell out and sky rocket in price...but then I did a self check and told myself that I already have a clean original copy of that album, and that there is really no justification to spend money on the mofi. So I'm happy to say I am improving in this category 😎
Like you, I have experienced FOMO. I have been better at dealing with it by telling myself that I don't need every Tone Poet or Classic Series Blue Note or the Prestige releases. I buy the ones I'm interested in listening too. The owner of my local record store once said don't think of your records as a collection. Think of them as a listening library. I think that's very good advice.
Oddly enough, the Blue Notes and impulse! titles are the ones I can't fight the FOMO on. To have the analog remasters in a complete collection...I...I just CAN'T not get them. I have to fight the Numero Group and Light in the Attic boxed sets all the time and usually win...but the Blue Notes? I am helpless against them.
My first collection was very much like a specimen collection. I tried to buy all the most important albums, even if I didn’t like it but I wanted to hear it and see why it is important. Now with limited space I have stopped that and now I just try to buy albums that I truly love. That said I still do too much blind buying lol. Oh well, somethings can’t be stopped. FOMO is real and we all have to fight that. I’m getting better at it
I buy for enjoyment and from investment standpoint. I even buy records for shear joy because I
Know most people will not want some of what I purchase
Interesting - when you said “specimen collector”, I immediately understood what you meant and when you explained it turned out to be right. I definitely buy and collect widely and focus on quality music regardless style. Love your collection. If you like obscure 45s you might find something fun on my page.
I agree with you...the FOMO can apply to just about any kind of collecting that goes on. Enjoy what you have. We get a high when some new shiny object comes along; and then you come down. Cycle can continue from there.
100% agree. I don’t care how rare a release is - I’ll buy it because I’m going to listen to it and not leave it unopened. I invest in property, stocks and bonds etc :-)
I buy what I like, not what I should get, or think I should get based on what is recommended. I don't have nearly the collection you have however but I've been collecting vinyl for a long time myself, going back to the late 70's as an adolescent. The ONLY time I rebuy something is to replace a poor copy with a cleaner one and have many originals, most bought used (and this includes 45's), many as reissues and rarely do I buy something that is for the FOMO. the ONLY reason is being able to get something while I can at the price it is at before it goes up or is on sale etc, but it is not limited to the vinyl purchase, but is for anything that I need or want, and can safely purchase without going broke if you know what I mean.
I buy stuff to play, or digitize for playing in the car, of which I just finished a project for just that. Captured from vinyl, with most from my 45's (singles that is), with probably 2/3rds being original pressings, many on styrene at that, the rest are reissues. The rest of the playlist came from LP's, from the mid 60's to the mid 70's. Most of it rock/pop, but a couple are not though. Shanheid by Pierce Webb and Early Morning Love by Sammy Johns, and No Matter What (your Stomach's in) that was the music for the Alka Seltzer commercial from 1966 on an original Liberty 7" 45. Anyway, that was fun to put together, but the thing is, I enjoy all that and like to mix and match for a playlist for the car when the mood strikes but I also just play for the sake of playing on my Rega P6.
I bought 18 records on RSD bc it was my first one. Bought 7-8 in store then bought more the next day online. Very happy with most of them, but they really do put a ton of garbage out to scam collectors.
I am finally shaking the grip of FOMO and it feels damn good.
Started gathering music with a dumpster find in the 70s. I seldom buy new and only buy what I like to hear. I have many treasures and treat it like gold prospecting. the fun is in finding the the gold not owning the gold. I don't own anything I won't listen to but it's fun to see what it's worth some of my best records cost less than a dollar. But I love your enthusiasm.
Onya Mazzie! Yet again, there's some reassurance and good to know that our "addiction" is widespread. (And my wife thought it was just me!) My addiction happens when it comes to having every version (CD, SACD, Vinyl, DVD-A, Blu-ray...---Bloody Neil Young is sucking my Superannuation dry!) of a particular artist but man, do I love the chase! (Think about all the fellow "cool people" you meet in shops, markets, fairs...all sharing the same passion). Staying clear of the vices of greed and want of FOMO, collecting and LOVING your music (in any format) is pure passion with good clean interest, enthusiasm and stimulation at the highest level. Thanks for making this old Ozzie guy feel good!
I feel the same about "record collecting". I often say that I'm not a record collector; I buy records or CD's because I like the music and want to listen to it. And I don't care about what value my record or CD collection has. I do catalog them on Discogs but that's so that I know what I have (for example when I'm shopping and want to check if I already have that album or those songs). I might buy an album on vinyl that I already have on CD but that is because that particular album would sound great on vinyl. But other than that, I avoid buying duplicates.
That more or less sums me up. It's always about the music. The format is secondary, though I generally have more fun out of vinyl - I grew up in the 70's and 80's and that's where the memories are, looking at those labels on my Dad's 45's and hearing Chuck Berry or Roy Orbison or The Drifters.
All I wanted out of life at 16 was a bass-heavy amp, a reliable turntable and some speakers that could bring it. That's still mainly true...
I've never found new records to elicit that feeling. I own around ten records made after 2000, because they are either impossible to find used or were new releases I wanted. I have owned a few hundred modern records over the years, but have unloaded them after finding originals since they always compare unfavorably. When I owned them, I never played them.
I have the original version of the Blind Faith album, bought on the day it was released. Never felt like I needed the ugly yellow and black thing that The Suits replaced it with. I buy what I love, and take the best care of it that I can. Nothing lasts forever. Live for today.
Both versions we’re actually released at the same time. I remember Tower records in SF had two stacks when it first came out. Which should I choose 🤷🏻♂️😘
@@mazzysmusic Very interesting! The shop where I got my copy only had the one with the girl, at first. Maybe it was a purchasing decision by the owner! Thanks!
I know I'm 2 years late to this video or more, but I understand what you're saying here.
I started buying vinyl because I got it into my head that all my digital music could just be taken away at a moments notice.
If I have digital saves and physical copies of music, then I'll have access to it for as long as I have equipment to play it.
But then I had a nice little fully analog setup and played a Walmart Metallica vinyl on it and just fell in love with the sound. The stereo separation and the subtlety, and on a Walmart vinyl.
I can't imagine what a well recorded and mastered vinyl sounds like, so if I ever find a classic in good condition, I at least want to listen to it.
The WalMart Metallica releases are great.
My side hustle as a retiree is reselling all kinds of things and I run into quite a few guys who enjoy finding albums at estate sales and garage sales not to flip but to invest in. They consider it as a great investment and those folks cannot be convinced they're not good investments. I have I have heard some stories of incredible returns on albums such as yours and they are saving them for their children to enjoy and/or sell someday.
I never understood why I saw collectors buy 2 copies and kept one sealed or have different limited edition vinyl colors of the same album. To me that is wasted money. The only time I purchase 2 copies is if one is slightly different in sound. For example, an artist put out an album called Unlocked and then Unlocked 1.5 which are slightly different and sound different.
You definitely have a point that is true for many of us - myself included (to a certain degree).
To my "defence" I'll say that (in general through my life) I have regretted things I DID NOT do more than things I did.
This goes for buying records as well - and it's not so bad/expensive as the prices are developing these last years. But I'm not a completeist.
I have 3 (out of app. 3.000) records that are still sealed - and it's amongst the most expensive, I own: one Supersense laquer and two MOFI One-Steps. The reason for this that I feel I need a special occasion to open a record 3-500 USD.
And then I have 10-15 sealed records (30-60 USD) that I bought an extra copy of on webshops because the shipping was the same as for one - and I hope to sell these extras to help pay the shipping for my keepers copy.
you have a great collection, thank you for this video, was truly interesting to watch and learn about some of holy grails you have over there
Never had the urge to collect as an investment, although I do have doubles of maybe 3 or 4 albums saved for a rainy day. The FOMO is very real though, sometimes I have to check myself and ask “would I have bought this if it wasn’t super limited?”
Mofi's complete business model seems to be based on FOMO lol. Cheers for your channel :-)
One day I was browsing through a 2nd hand vinyl site and came across an album I really wanted. I checked my library and found out I already had it. To my own bewilderment I had a brief sensation of disappointment: I could not fulfill my desire to acquire. That's when I realized it was not about the music, not even about the ownership for the sake of ownership ... it was all about acquiring more.
Great topic Mazzy, I’ve spent a lot of time considering the role of my collection. I could write you a book about all this but I won’t. Love this video. All I can say is I do my best, cheers my friend.
Yeah we can only do what’s best for each of us Bob. Just my personal take abs a bit in recovery 😎🤠😬🥺
I would never buy record I didn't want or an artist I didn't like. That being said, I enjoy collecting the bands I love. It brings back my childhood (being 54). If it goes up great. I just want to own what I enjoy. (Limited edition and numbered is nice if that's the case as well). And I don't plan on flipping any of my records, they will be carried down to my kids.
Same here. I just want to have copies of the music I love at my fingertips to listen to and ENJOY. Better still if they go to another potential music lover to play and enjoy after I leave this world -- preferably beloved family members.
When I missed out on the Pepper Adams and Charles Mingus records on RSD, I started looking for what I didn't get that day. What I found was that I could get the RSD records I wanted - Bill Evans, Charles Mingus, and Pepper Adams - on CD for $100.00. A lot of these RSD live releases are soundboard or radio broadcast recordings, and are hardly state of the art audiophile releases. If I can get them for less, I will. I'll still buy vinyl - used when possible, new when more affordable than used.
I bought the 2018 represses of Ali Farka Toure's first 5 albums 25$ each.... before that I searched and purchased 4 of the 5 OG pressings, it took me years to track down affordable OG copies around 150-225$ each, because there were no represses at the time. some people invest in old coins, stamps, old cars. old wine, multiple properties.... if someone wants to invest in Sealed White albums, why not?
If course they can. And they do. I personally don’t like that or practice
@@mazzysmusic...you don't like that some people might enjoy collecting sealed White Album(s)?
Maybe I'm not reading your words correctly.... but if it would it personally bother you, what is the reason for it?
Multiple copies (almost flipping): Some times buying multiple copy or copies and selling at a later date helps pays for the copy that you actually play. Helps pays for your hobby.
Opening New Records: In most collections, there are so many opened records that don't get played or only get played very rarely. It's kinda dumb to open all the new records. Play the already opened ones a few too many times first. Now if you have been waiting years for a particular record to come out, sure open and rock out. But most of the time, a record comes out, and I'm not in that mood, but I know eventually I will be. Crack it open when it's time.
Fair enough ✌🏼
I agree Mazzy. I have a lot of vinyl but acknowledge it for the music. There are outliers like Van Halen's Balance for whatever reason.
One thing CD wise are prog rock band box sets. Jethro Tull are the most popular example. Benefit, Stormwatch, etc are still available. But Aqualung, Heavy Horses, Songs From the Wood, etc are prohibitively expensive. Why IDK.
There are also big sets like Steve Hillage, Gentle Giant, Wishbone Ash, and especially UK that are obfuscatingly expensive. Shoot the UK Ultimate Collectors Edition on Discogs is $1k+.
Ultimately recognize a FOMO or speculative vs organic growth and perform your research.
I know this post is a year old, but I just happened upon it. First let me say that I really dig the way your shirt picks up the pattern of the records on the shelves behind you. Next, I must repeat a comment I left elsewhere a while back: If I wanted to make money, I'd get a better-paying job. Records I collect for fun, for pleasure, for music. My friends tell me I should leave notes about which records are valuable so that when I die my heirs (!) will know where the money is. Yes, some of them are worth something (today, maybe not so much tomorrow -- I remember the first time LPs became worthless overnight in the late '80s/early '90s), but that's not going to do me any good because I don't buy records I don't want in my life, so I'm unlikely to sell them as long as I'm alive. After that, you're on your own.
As an 24 year old getting into this passion this was helpful information! Thank you sir
Welcome. Buy the music you like and experiment occasionally if you can. ✌🏼
Had a Huge Collection " Sold 90% " Retired still have enough Vinyl & Japanese cds To keep me happy Not a Beatles fan-I listten to the odd one but I was in my twentys when they can popular & I was heavy into Jazz most of my life Good video
I have suffered from FOMO myself. I always end up just sticking the record on the shelf and then forgetting it is even there.
We're the same age Norm, the 1st two albums I bought with my own money were Inna Gadda DaVida & Are You Experienced. Still have them. We seem to have lived similar childhoods in some ways, but on opposite sides of the country.
Opened my ears to his early stuff sandy and its hard to be a saint in the city.
I have been buying records since the mid 60's just for the music. I have a sizable collection that probally has some valuable records. I was not aware of different pressings or one recording sounding better than another until a few years ago. I still buy but look for the better pressings. I wanted to buy the recent Jimmy Hendrix Box set but did not because I felt $150 was too much (I'm cheap) I already have the original USA pressing & CD of it. Did not Have to Have it.
Agreed. What you really want as a collector is simply to break even with inflation should you ever sell down the road. That way you can enjoy the hobby without ever feeling that you are wasting your money. You are simply parking money in something that you will get enjoyment out of.
I don't think most people even have the intelligence to wrap their heads around what you've just said.
In regards to FOMO:
Everything is a limited edition. There isn't unlimited quantities of anything. So I don't fall for the "Limited Edition." If I happen to secure one, I am excited but I don't seek it. I am excited to have the music.
I love Miles Davis and there now a few UHQR and many variations of Kind of Blue. I am happy to have it in my collection but I don't covet or feel FOMO for other things in that regard.
My FOMO comes in when I might miss out on a deal or something.
In recent years, anytime I've bought something due to FOMO I get humbled when I realize that there are plenty of copies still available and often cheaper if I would have just waited a bit longer. Part of it is trauma from not buying a lot of shit when it came out in the early to mid 2000's. Alot of that stuff has yet to get a repress. The stuff I regret not getting is the stuff that I saw used cheap and didn't get cuz I thought it would still be there and later realized "oh I should picked that up when I had the chance..."
Most records are not always a good investment, but some are, especially original pressings. Looking at The Beatles "Mono LP Box", I knew it would be an excellent investment. Looking at the disinterest in the "Mono CD Box" and how long it languished on the shelves, I realized the "Mono LP Box" would receive the same disinterest, so the supply would be in shorter supply. I think that most of the sales were pre-sales and record stores didn't want to make the investment in the LP box and have them languish on the shelves. I bought 2 sets and one remains sealed. The value of The Beatles "Mono LP Box" is probably 10 times what I paid for them. I remember a year or so ago when Acoustic Sounds found a boxed set and listed for $600. Still that was more than I paid for both my sets together! Will it go down? Probably not. Will they re-issue it? Probably not. Record companies are in business to make money and even if they re-issue, maybe 5,ooo copies, they will languish on the shelves.
The Beatles are collectable. When they re-issued the British versions of the Beatles albums, I bought 2 of each, keeping one each sealed. I sold the sealed copies a few years ago for $1,000. If I had broken down and bought the Collector's Choice set, with the exclusive color vinyl 45, I would have more than double the value of my investment. Look at the Mofi boxed set. It still commands astronomical prices.
Many of the re-issues of any records, especially audiophile, were made in small numbers and it makes sense to have sealed copies. Then there are some re-issues which are just dang valuable. Take the re-issues from Classic Records. Acoustic Sounds bought out Classic Records years ago, which included warehouse stock and the metal masters. Acoustic Sounds has re-issued many former Classic Records titles, using the same metal parts that CR used, but pressed by their QRP in-house pressing plant. Well, the original CR releases are going for multiple times the prices of the AS re-pressings. Anything from CR is valuable and a good investment.
Way back when, both CR and AS had their records pressed by RTI. Those RTI pressings of AS releases also go for multiple times the amounts of the later QRP pressings. So, the AS pressings by RTI are also a good investment.
It is true, for most re-issues, they are not a good investment. You have to be selective in buying records as investments and you have to be knowledgeable about recorded media.
👍👍👍
Perhaps the Supreme Court will agree to hear Maslov v FOMO. Do we have a Constitutionally mandated right to a backup copy of a record, or is it for individual states to decide? If the latter, how will intestate orders be regulated? Does Politico have some inside scoop, and if so, are they to be believed? Should blue states impose a carbon tax to mitigate the environmental impact of pressing records, and if so, should UHQR releases be exempted from any carbon taxes? Politics, man... politics.
Cheers, Tom
Only buy what you would want to listen to if you can't sell them. Extra copies are for giving to friends you think will enjoy them.
I have to agree to an extent on your points.
The reason someone would buy in the hope it would go up in price it is very simple, money really is worth nothing, if someone can exchange their money for something limited (truly limited, higher quality standard etc and so on) they eventually will have something that is worth more than what they paid initially. If this sounds really confusing, the main point I'm making is that investing in items would be at least to have a better chance of beating inflation, we do know that $10 today won't be able to buy the exactly the same in 5 years time.
And I'm not saying we should go all out and spend all our money and live of thin air for the rest of the month and make sure you don't get into debt to purchase these things, otherwise you are reverting the initial point which was an attempt at making money down the line. Make sure what you do, you enjoy doing, really, that's the key part.
I have about 400 records. I invest in my happiness. Records give me a reason to get up in the morning. I'm 2 years out of a drug rehab facility and I've found something I love instead of drugs. Music has always been a healthy passion.
I guess I can't understand why someone would buy a true Philips 1970 "Black Sabbath self titled" 1st Uk pressing, when they can buy a 1971 repress for about $1500 cheaper. The sound is the same. They're both awesome UK Vertigo pressings.
I’m with you in the Black Sabbath. Wishing you a good road to recovery ✌🏼
PVC protectors damage the vinyl with heat over time BTW
i paid off all my debt. payed off my property, my house, all new construction, payed off all the gear in my recording studio.... i have a garden/greenhouse and my own water well... I payed off all my credit cards, my truck, my wife's Suberu.... I own gold, silver and Bitcoin... food for 6 months... guns and ammo.... why can't i invest in my record collection? why Mazzy? why?
I suppose i should stop buying vinyl and open a McDonalds franchise? why?
Of course you can. This person doesn’t like the practice w music but I never tried stopping anyone else from doing so. This is a personal opinion piece ✌🏼
Yep! I’m doing it. I’m guilty of FOMO, and the Beatles 2014 mono pressings has cured it. I’m done.
So did you buy it?
Says the guy who wakes up at 5am on record store day to buy all the limited editions, has multiple copies of albums and all kinds of different editions.
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The bus stopped in Millbrook & I got on. Eventually, a hitchhiking trip to SF & 2 shows of a day on the green, which you prbly were at. The Commander, NRPS, Beach Boys, The Dead. #2 was The Band, Jessie Collin Young, Joe Walsh & CSN&Y.
I've been fighting the FOMO thing really hard. I've spent thousands on the Mondo and Waxwork colored vinyl reissues of movie soundtracks and although I love many of the ones I have, I impulse bought a bunch that I'd be happy just to have digitally in itunes or don't care about at all. Seeing as those cost $20-50 each new and I collect old records as well, I just remind myself how many fun flea market and dollar bin LPs I could have for the cost of one new LP.
To say I’ve never thought about the value would be a lie but at this point I’m at about 800 lps not many doubles so I can say I have pretty much all I want or need, now most of my purchases are something new I’ve learned about or a blind buy happy with where my collection is.
Mazzy I got into vinyl because of the inner lock groove on Sgt. Pepper. My mom had never heard it before we got it on CD. So I was interested on how there could be this difference between releases. I've never believed the argument that vinyl was the superior format per se, I just liked the idea of tracking down these pieces of history and experiencing them the same way the first audiences did. Again with the Beatles, but the first time I heard "I Am the Walrus" it was on the radio shortly before I bought Anthology 2. I was disappointed by the version on that release and I thought, what happened to that cool sound effect in the middle of the song? Turns out that even after getting the album version of the song I wouldn't hear it the same way until I heard it on a great sound system. Point is collecting vinyl came from a place that had nothing to do with investing as a mindset. For a while vinyl was cheaper than cds so it was a fun way of finding new music. Now it's my preferred listening experience. I do enjoy Record Store Day as a way of getting a one off cool item but my choices are usually 1 or 2 on each RSD and even then I might not be able to find them. I love the community that has built around the event and I will continue to support it if possible.
Great way to get into records ✌🏼
I agree with you in many aspects of RSD. I almost bought the Patti Smith collection LP issued for RSD, I stopped myself because I have all her LPs in my collection already.
I've had to do that several times because I remembered that I already had the individual albums already. I think there was a Kate Bush boxed set a few years ago and realized "Wait...I already have vintage of these, I don't need that."
I have purchased a couple of back up of albums I really like because if the unthinkable happens to it I'm good to go. 👍
You need the “moon rock needle”. Pricing and FOMO is driven by guys like you and the others online “buy now or cry later”. You just did a video the other day “most expensive records”. It’s about the hype and exclusivity. We love the sound and are junkies. We are all seeking the “better” the “rare”. Can’t complain because we are all in this marketing vortex. Limited edition sells records. Supply/demand. Inflation of record prices has gotten crazy crazy because more people are in the market now and hype of RUclips videos etc. Dont get altruistic. We all love the music and the records. Unfortunately others see an opportunity because of the demand.
The most important question is, will you pass this collection on, or will you sell it out as Michael Hobson?
Great episode, guilty of this as well. About 6 months ago I changed my mindset and with each purchase ask myself, are you going to listen to this or are you just acquiring it? FOMO is real though, but I'm more interested now in building a living breathing music collection not a music museum. Keep up the great content!
Good semi rant Mazzy ! I buy records because I still get a massive buzz when I open them, put them on the deck and the stylus hits the groove. What will come out of those speakers, that is still so exciting. What is the financial worth of my records ? No idea, at some point I won't be around to hear them any more and someone will benefit from selling them or discovering great music as I did. Until then I'll carry on buying and listening they way I always have.Take it easy mate, really look forward to your thoughts and stories.
FOMO is definitely part of my DNA. I contact for another reason though. I have a great number of LPs and have them stored on regular bookshelves. One day the whole thing will collapse from the weight and I will be sick. Where do you get your storage cubes? What do you recommend?
A sappy side of me holds on to some sealed second copies of premium pressings in the hopes that future generations will be thankful for such a gift from the past. Sure I'd like to make some money off of those too, but that's not my main motivation. I'd die for a reasonably priced sealed LZ II RL SS, or a reasonably priced sealed DSOTM UHQR. I want to provide future generations with specimen pieces from what will become a bygone era.
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I’ve been watching a lot of RUclips videos about the Fine Art Business. I’ve never liked/understood Modern Art and now that I have a little more knowledge about the business of Modern Art, I finally have an understanding of why I’ve never liked it. Is record collecting, especially vinyl, being manipulated into becoming a “Fine Art Business “? It sure sounds like it. If it’s anything like the visual art business it will completely take over and pollute popular music. Maybe it already has. That would explain A LOT!
Just a segment of it and really just a small segment. Same with the art works. There high profile high end crazy sales there but so much more modern artwork than can be had by following and artist where the work really hits and inspired you. Not manipulated but the art world intelligencia
agree...great episode. I buy what I like on vinyl and cd. If they go up in value great...if they don't oh well. Like with any hobby there are extremes. I am certainly glad I do not have the FOMO virus! Thanks for the content!
Thank you ✌🏼
I've been addicted to music since birth.
At 6 months old, I'm told by my family that I would let out blood curdling screams and cry like hell whenever our 7" single of 'Hey Jude' finished playing.
Someone would always have to keep get up to replay the record over and over again for hours at a time. My poor brothers.
However, I've also been a big collector of music that I enjoy, with a collection that has been growing since I was a little girl.
I'm still buying and collecting records of varied styles and genres that I love.
In spite of whatever several people in the comments section here are griping about, there isn't, nor should there be a single problem with that.
Just because I enjoy collecting the music that I love does NOT mean that my main interest is in the investment.
Honestly, I don't personally know a single soul who collects for that reason alone. Again....Why would YOU have a problem with that person?
I don't understand why there are people here that actually take issue over what others do with their own records.
Someone may enjoy having a lot of sealed copies on hand for various reasons. What's wrong with that?? NOTHING.
I am reasonably certain that most collectors are probably music lovers as well. If not, oh well...not my problem.
Its their own collection to do with as they please. If that should bother anyone, then apparently the problem is you.
It sounds like a mental problem if you ask me.
I have a bad case of FOMO as a music collector, but it’s more from fear that something will go out of print so quickly and then I’ll have to pay extra later. This results in me picking up music when I might not be ready to enjoy it (spiritually and financially speaking). FOMO is real and if you know of any support groups out there, I’d be interested! LOL.
It’s cost avoidance 😀
I told a friend I'd never sell my records, so he named a price and it turns out I would.
Do I have sealed copies of records... yes. Why, because I either forget I have pre-ordered it and order another (I could count on 1 hand how many double copies I have though), or I have still to get around to listening to it.
My environment is a little different than most maybe, but I have many records still sealed. I am still in the process of adding my collection into Discogs but I'm hoping in the future I will be able to take my stereo out of the storage closet and start to play them again. Besides the space in my apartment I have a sometimes violent adult special needs son and I am not interested in having records or my stereo destroyed. I listen to digital copies of new releases, even the UHQR or MOFI/MFSL releases I can hear the difference from other releases. At this point if I die before this happens then yes, my Wife and Daughter will more than likely sell my collection so it is a 'reverse investment'. It is not worth alot but emotionally it is to me. When Im done I will have about 2200 in Discogs and I have never sold one. They are not for sale while Im alive. I do however love to buy albums. I feel like a kid at Christmas when the courier comes even though I will not be opening it (for now) I dont think I suffer from FOMO (at least not alot) Out of the last 30 records I bought only one was bought because it was unique to Europe from the North American release and I did consider it's value would be greater in the long run. I bought the recent UHQR release of Jimi Hendrix 'Are You Experienced' because it is one of my favourite records and I want to experience the sound of my first UHQR, again, one day I will get to play my Vinyl again P.S. I should note, the only 'duplicates' I have in my collection are because I inherited them from Family. I do not buy backups
I agree that it’s about the music. I also notice in myself some collecting behaviours that, left unchecked, are not so great. I don’t go so far as buying a backup copy as I, too, take care of my records.
One of my “borderline” activities is to occasionally buy a second copy of a limited edition expensive box set thinking that selling it at a premium will pay for my copy. I’ve done that with the Funhouse box you mentioned, The Grateful Dead’s Pacific Northwest ‘73/‘’74 box set and Joni Mitchell’s Archives Vol 2 on vinyl. Also the numbered half-speed masters of Peter Gabriel’s Last Temptation of Christ soundtrack.
The funny part is that while funding the first purchase with the sale of the second is my intention I have yet to pull the trigger on the sale. Hmmmmmm.
Dude you nailed it here!
I'm a big collector, I have a huge stash of CD's and records. The difference between me and most commentators here is that a hell of a lot of my stuff is collectible because it's a Japanese release. (I live in Japan). I don't buy to flip. I hardly ever buy online, I go to record stores and dig the old-fashioned way. I only do the RSD thing for stuff I want. This year I splashed out on the Scott Walker 'Boy Child ' release. A dreadful quality pressing and unmitigated cash grab, but as a Scott completist I had to have it. Finally caught up with a well used copy of Billy Cobham 'Crosswinds' for a ¥800. Felt more FOMO over that one.
I have a few sealed LPs, mostly Dylan. The top two are probably the 200 gram Live 1966 box and the first US pressing of Love & Theft, both in perfect condition with stickers. I know what the insides look like and I have them on CD to play. I’ll probably open them at some point but they’re sealed for the time being, kind of as a museum piece I suppose. But generally speaking, I think collecting multiple copies of anything is either a business - if you’re running a shop - or it gets very close to hoarding. The same way someone with a psychological problem that makes it nearly impossible to part with an old broken lamp “in case it comes in handy”… some record collecting can be like a very expensive ‘high end’ version of that. You’re only keeping the records for you, not anyone else, so a record I don’t need should probably go.
I have been a collector of various things over the years and the "collector mentality" and Covid-era sell-outs made my pendulum swing hard in the direction of FOMO and hoarding a bit, thankfully it has now swung back to a more reasoned and curated approach. But I'm guilty of all of this to a very small extent too.
I buy some of them just to upgrade my collection. My early Beatles albums are shot to hell so it's nice to replace them. The new Let It Be was fantastic imo.
I think we all go through FOMO. I have three copies of Nirvana Nevermind and two are unopened. Bought one to listen to it. Found out there was a better-sounding one, bought that one, and then the 30th anniversary came out, so I sprung for that one as well. I like the album but I really only need one. I have now walked back from that abyss. I don't need the series or the whatever anymore. If I have a good-sounding release, that is good enough for me.