Maintaining a CD Collection (AM New York article)

[BeBop]

Maintaining a CD (or vinyl) collection in New York City takes a special kind of person. We’ve got limited space in our apartments, moving it is a nightmare and finding a good record store has become quite a chore.

But even in the age of digital downloads some remain dedicated to the round discs. We spoke with four New Yorkers about their devotion to the CD. Article

[Big Beat Steve]

Nice article, and don't we all sympathise with some of the problems and odd experiences mentioned?

But talking about 400 CDs and all of THIRTY-FIVE LPs (or even 150 LPs)?

Space must really be at an extreme premium when that kind of figure warrants mentioning at all. (Yes, hopefully I'll NEVER have to move house. )

[Free For All]

Does anyone watch "Hoarders"? That is one scary-ass show!

[cih]

"Alphabetizing might make me sound a little compulsive, but it actually makes it easy to find whatever I'm looking for"

That is a really good idea - you could apply that to other stuff too, like long lists of names in directories etc

[BruceH]

400 CD's and 150 LP's? This is a joke, right?

[mjazzg]

"Alphabetizing might make me sound a little compulsive, but it actually makes it easy to find whatever I'm looking for"

That is a really good idea - you could apply that to other stuff too, like long lists of names in directories etc

[B. Clugston]

400 CD's and 150 LP's? This is a joke, right?

One of the collectors had 400 CDs and 35 LPs. I guess to some kid who just uses an iPod and has no CDs that would seem a lot. 400 CDs would almost fit in two IKEA CD towers--that's not going to take up a lot of room.

[BeBop]

For anyone who hasn't seen it, AM New York is a free paper handed out on the street. It's mainly to get adverts into the hands of people who otherwise (1) get their news on the web, (2) don't read the news, and/or don't think the news has a positive monetary value. Seems to me - generalizing - that probably would be the iPod/younger generation.

[A Lark Ascending]

For me and for many people, I'd imagine compact discs (or vinyl LPs or even cassettes) are like photographs. … In most instances with my collection, when you pull out an isolated disc, I can probably tell you where I acquired it, where I'd first heard it, where I was working at the time, who I was dating and a handful of other memories inexorably interwoven with it. To jettison the disc would be, for me, like tearing up a photograph that serves that same end.

That bit rings true with me! It's not just about what is on the disc.

Edited November 9, 2010 by A Lark Ascending

[Ken Dryden]

I can find anything filed in seconds because I started alphabetizing my collection a long time ago, before the CDs got into 5 digits.

The new arrivals and unheard stuff isn't strictly alphabetized, but may be soon when some new shelving arrives next week.

[Dan Gould]

Nice article, and don't we all sympathise with some of the problems and odd experiences mentioned?

But talking about 400 CDs and all of THIRTY-FIVE LPs (or even 150 LPs)?

Space must really be at an extreme premium when that kind of figure warrants mentioning at all. (Yes, hopefully I'll NEVER have to move house. )

Makes me think of a question - homes in Japan are really tiny, right? I mean, most if not all. That's the impression I've gotten.

And, Japan has these extensive and still ongoing Blue Note reissue programs, presumably supported by a core of hardcore Blue Note/Jazz fans.

So for these people, how do they fit their collections into the typical Japanese home? Are there "Its me or the CD collection!" articles in Japanese media?

[JSngry]

400 CD's and 150 LP's? This is a joke, right?

No, this is New York City, where everybody and everything is SPECIAL ALL THE TIME!!!

20th Century FOREVER!!!

(apologies in advance to any and all NYC-ers who honestly maintain the old & for-real used-to-be in the face of the insurmountable and the inevitable)

[Daniel A]

400 CD's and 150 LP's? This is a joke, right?

Liz Hester, about 400 CDs and about 35 vinyl albums.

...

"When I moved to New York about five years ago, I put all the CDs in books and threw out the jewel cases, which was traumatic enough. I kept thinking about how much I would miss the art and books. It was such a big decision that I can't imagine getting rid of any of the actual CDs."

400 CDs without booklets and jewel cases? Those will fit in a single CD folder...

Edited November 10, 2010 by Daniel A