CD / LP Shopping

[BeBop]

You know the phenomenon: you're shopping for CDs or LPs (...or 78s or cassettes..). You pick up something based on the title or artist. A quick glimpse and back she goes. What will cause you to put something back - aside from money or the discovery that you already have most or all of the music? Too many standards? Too few? A player, song or instrument you don't like? A label you don't like (e.g., Andorran)? 27 minute recording time? Suspect mastering? Cover art?

For me, it's vocals, Andorrans and, for easily located music, cutouts.

Edited August 30, 2008 by BeBop

[Rooster_Ties]

In no particular order...

> Vocals in a lead role, or any whiff of a hint that the vocals are of the "traditional" jazz variety.

> Lack of sidemen listed anywhere on the outside.

> CD Playing time less than 37 minutes (in most cases, but not all).

> Leader plays too many different wind instruments on the same session (four or more = "no way" - and I'm skeptical with even three).

> Two or more boring (overplayed) standards.

> The presence of anybody on the recording that I associate with the 'Wyntonian' circle of musicians.

and just for Chuck...

> Anything NOT certifiably recorded between November 8, 1963 (a.k.a. "Black Fire") and sometime around the 3rd quarter of 1978.

[BeBop]

Lack of sideman listings is an almost surefire no-go here too. Possibly because of another strong aversion: James Spaulding

Another: any CD for which the mainstream hype-machine is spinning wildly out of control. (e.g., Esperanza Spalding)

Edited August 30, 2008 by BeBop

[Quincy]

Lack of sideman listings is an almost surefire no-go here too. Possibly because of another strong aversion: James Spaulding

Ooo, I've done that. Not sure if it's him or my sometime fear of flute. It's a part-time affliction cause you know, I love Dolphy on flute, and others too such as Kirk and Rivers.

Length of disc doesn't matter that much if the price reflects the poundage. I've actually come to appreciate the 35 minute CD that has little to no filler over discs crammed to limit with bonus tracks that may have been better left in the vault.

Edited August 30, 2008 by Quincy

[marcello]

There are certain sideman that stop me cold in my tracks. The rest of the band and the songs may seem interesting but if I see certain names, I drop it like a hot potato.

Javon Jackson is a case in point. He may be a wonderful person, but he's not my kind of player.

[DukeCity]

Lack of sideman listings is an almost surefire no-go here too. Possibly because of another strong aversion: James Spaulding

Another: any CD for which the mainstream hype-machine is spinning wildly out of control. (e.g., Esperanza Spalding)

So...you're saying that the new "Spaulding Meets Spalding" disc is a no go for you?

[7/4]

I can't remember the last time I had to put a disk back, my buying is usually pretty focused.

.

[BeBop]

Lack of sideman listings is an almost surefire no-go here too. Possibly because of another strong aversion: James Spaulding

Another: any CD for which the mainstream hype-machine is spinning wildly out of control. (e.g., Esperanza Spalding)

So...you're saying that the new "Spaulding Meets Spalding" disc is a no go for you?

Not unless it's a DVD featuring medieval weapons.

I'm kidding. I do have a heap of LPs/CDs with James Spaulding. (22, if my database can be trusted, including many enjoyable ones with Freddie Hubbard, Wayne Shorter and Duke Pearson) I just tend to put him deeply in the liability column when I calculate the worth of a recording, to me.

[Dan Gould]

I haven't gone CD shopping in a long time but before I stopped buying, I was starting to put things back on the basis of "is this going to be significantly better or different from what I already have by X?"

[Eric]

The too many standards/war horses thing gets me too.

[Niko]

besides individual players, i tend to look a lot at instrumentation, too; for instance, knowing that i listen to about five hours of piano trio a year i rather buy quartets and quintets... (same with big bands...)

[DMP]

"A Child Is Born."

[AllenLowe]

snot - I hate snot-covered discs; feel the same away about mucus and pus -

Edited August 30, 2008 by AllenLowe

[Jazzmoose]

What will cause you to put something back - aside from money or the discovery that you already have most or all of the music?

Security cameras.

[paul secor]

Do I really need another recording by ... , or am I just buying something to buy it? Many times, if I give the matter some thought, back in the bin it goes.

[Indestructible!]

What will cause you to put something back - aside from money or the discovery that you already have most or all of the music?

Security cameras.

I guess for me it would strictly be about the $$$... going to Amoeba and being accustomed to used prices has spoiled me whenever I see a place trying to charge $17.99 for a CD.

Cheers,

Shane

Edited August 31, 2008 by Indestructible!

[clifford_thornton]

I can't remember the last time I had to put a disk back, my buying is usually pretty focused.

.

Yeah, me too. On vinyl, condition is the main issue for me. If it's not quasi mint, or a strong VG++ at least, I don't fool with it. Keeps my collection manageable, too.

[Spontooneous]

"Produced by Sonny Lester"

(Watch me duck and run.)

[aparxa]

No place to store the CDs for quite a long time.

[stuartjewkes]

No place to store the CDs for quite a long time.

Hasn't stopped me unfortunately! Piles of CDs dotted around the living room now...

[Jason Drake]

If its on one of the Lonehill/Gambit et al Andorra labels I always huff and puff and put them back, muttering under my breath about ripoffs..

[Hoppy T. Frog]

Guilt over consumption. A deep depressive feeling that the music won't make me happy.

Also, other people's greasy fingerprints on the disc or LP.

[BeBop]

"A Child Is Born."

...or Alfie.