A Love Supreme: Collecting LPs
By now it’s common knowledge among music fans that CD sales have plummeted, while the LP has made a furious comeback. Last year almost 2 million new LPs were sold. Part of that renaissance has been the reissue of classic jazz and classical recordings. Here Chad Kassem’s Acoustic Sounds has been doing yeoman’s work. Thanks to remastering wizard Steve Hoffman, Acoustic Sounds is now poised to reissue on 45 rpm no less than 25 albums from the famous Impulse label, which featured everyone from Coleman Hawkins to Ben Webster. In addition, Music Matters’ Ron Rambach has been putting out marvelous 45 rpm versions of the Blue Note classics. They sound terrific. It’s a real service since so many of the originals come with a tariff that can be staggeringly high.
But not always. As good as the reissues may be, there remains a lot to be said for collecting older LPs. Perhaps it appeals to the prehistoric hunter-gatherer lurking inside us. It’s also the case, however, that the original monos often simply sound stunning, possessing a solidity, dynamism, and high frequency energy that stereo reissues can’t always match, especially if you splurge on a mono cartridge, which is making its own comeback.
A recent trip to New York, where I visited Academy Records on West 18th Street and the Jazz Record Center on West 26th street, provided a powerful reminder of the lure of black gold. Even as Tower Records and other purveyors of the CD go under, vinyl shops seem to be going strong. What’s more, their proprietors often have a deep knowledge about their esoteric wares. Academy, where I picked up, among other things, an Archiv LP featuring baroque Italian organ concertos, seems to have a limitless number of LPs flowing in. They’re also extremely reasonably priced, ranging from $2.50 to $8.00 for the most part. They’re also in excellent condition. If you’re looking to assemble a classical LP collection, I couldn’t think of a better place.
Academy is easy to find. The Jazz Record Center takes a little more legwork. Literally. Owner Fred Cohen will buzz you in, but he’s located on the eighth floor. For any jazz LP fan, his shop is something of an El Dorado. He has thousands of LPs neatly stacked in bins, among them a stash of original Blue Note, Prestige, and Impulse that aren’t always inexpensive, but are fairly priced. I was fortunate enough to espy Blue Note 1542, featuring a young Sonny Rollins, as well as an Art Blakey recording. There are also a number of Pablos and other LPs ranging from $5 to $15 in price.
What's more, meeting Cohen turned out to be a treat. Cohen, affable and precise, explained to me that he’s not “fastidious” about the equipment, but loves the albums. He’s a serious jazz connoisseur, who has an extensive personal collection of both LPs and memorabilia. He’s currently completing a book on Blue Note records. I picked up a copy of the excellent volume Longplay: the History of Records and Modern Jazz, which is based on an exhibition held by the JazzBaltica organization in Salzau, Germany. The book, which contains an essay by Cohen on Charles Mingus, reproduces a postcard from him complaining, “I have had my record’s stolen, copied, and robbed by my inability to find one honest man, person or record company in America.” It was not an uncommon complaint among recording artists. We also see a copy of John Coltrane’s first record contract with Prestige Records in 1957 which states that he will receive $300 per 12’ album and record three per year.
In addition, the book contains an essay by the well-known critic Dan Morgenstern that offers much valuable information about the evolution of the LP. As Morgenstern notes, “the advent of modern jazz and the introduction of the LP occurred in fairly close sequence.” Morgenstern also notes that the arrival of the 10-inch LP fostered the rise of spectacular covers by artists such as David Stone Martin and Paul Bacon.
I don’t know how it is with you, but for me establishing an LP collection isn’t simply a matter of amassing a bunch of black discs. It’s an education.
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Comments
Thanks, Jacob for sharing these "finds." There are lots of great LPs available in very condition for under $8.00 and that helps make this hobby even more enjoyable. Hopefully, somebody will comment on Bay Area vinyl emporiums with lots of goodies. The Analog Room in San Jose has all of the reissues and some very good used records.
I agree that establising an LP collection is an education and lots of fun. I been exposed to many works that I might have passed over by searching for recordings from labels known for producing quality sound. For example, I happen to like the sound of British EMIs (ASDs, in particular). Searching for them in the used bins has led me to works by Elgar, Faure, and even Rachmaninoff that I might very well have missed. Lyrita LPs have exposed me to a host of British 20th century composers that I probaby would never have heard. Some of these EMIs and Lyritas are now cherished favorites and have helped me grow musically.
One of my fondest hobbies is flipping through the used bins at my local record shop and finding little gems for $1.00, and I've unearthed some great stuff in there. The thing is - although the covers aren't "collectible" - the vinyl inside is pristine for the most part.
The $1.00 bin is also the place where you can afford to take chances on things you might not otherwise have spent the money on and discover new artists (or just new to you). While I'm not unearthing any Blue Note 1500's in there, I've actually picked up a few Verve, Impulse!, and Contemporary sides along the way.
Chris
The Signal Collection, LLC
North American Distributors
of Connoisseur-Grade Hi-Fi
It took me about 20 years to get back into vinyl and I have not looked back. I still listen to CDs alot and some of the more recent ones sound really good. Also, I have some LPs that dont sound so good. If anything playing LPs is just more fun.
You dont have to be into vinyl to be a hi fi nut but it adds that extra dimension that makes a whole lot of difference.
When CD came out I thought it was the best thing that ever happened. Now I've come the full circle and I am so glad I took the leap back into vinyl.
I recently came across your blog and have been reading along. I thought I would leave my first comment. I don't know what to say except that I have enjoyed reading. Nice blog. I will keep visiting this blog very often.
Sarah
http://www.craigslistposter.info
Jacob:
These are great tips. Does TAS have any plans for researching and publishing a directory of vinyl stores in major metros around the country?
In reply to atulkanagat -- Wed, 03/25/2009 - 08:14:
That's a good suggestion. In the meantime, there's a partial list at http://www.recordstoreday.com/Venues, where you can search by state (in the U.S.).
John Mitchell
Atul: Many thanks. I don't know of any such plans, but it's an interesting thought. So many places boast good record shops--Los Angeles, Pittsburgh, and so forth. On a trip to Montreal a few months ago, I found a good source for vinyl as well.
Jacob,
Great article, thanks. I was one of those who held out for many years when the new-fangled technology of compact dics made its way into the mainstream. I finally gave in but never gave up on vinyl or packed away my Linn turntable. I recently accompanied my 14 year-old son to the local Best Buy and was pleasantly surprised when while scouring the CD racks came upon a small collection of vinyl albums that BB was selling. Although I have educated my son on the history of vinyl and it's value it was another opportunity to both teach and take a trip down memory lane.
What I truly missed about having vinyl readily available - besides the richer sound - was the art work on some covers and the fine liner notes that accompanied many classic jazz, rock and even some latin albums. Yes collecting albums is an education - Long love vinyl!
Jacob,
Very informative and thank you.
With regards to CD sales being down, I am not questioning your numbers. I do question whether those reports take into account music that is downloaded.
I am guessing if vinyl could be d/led sales reports would be showing quite a bit less as well. :)
Keep up the great work!
Jonathan Tinn
Jacob,
Very informative and thank you.
With regards to CD sales being down, I am not questioning your numbers. I do question whether those reports take into account music that is downloaded.
I am guessing if vinyl could be d/led sales reports would be showing quite a bit less as well. :)
Keep up the great work!
Jonathan Tinn
Help please,
I have inherited a family treasure trove of LP's mainly of the orchestral, choir, brass band and easy listening genre together with two very good direct drive turntables fitted with Shure V15 - 3 cartridges.
Does anyone know of a stockist of a stylus to fit this cartridge?
Can anyone help with advice on cleaning these LP's to remove dust remove scratching the LP?
Can anyone advise on a suitable surface protectorant that will facilitate dust removal in the future?
Any advice will be greatly appreciated.
Thanks - silvershadow [Australia].
"Can anyone help with advice on cleaning these LP's to remove dust remove scratching the LP?"
OOOOPS - typo - should read "......to remove dust WITHOUT scratching the LP"
Thanks
To silvershadow: Im in Sydney and I got a Nitty Gritty from Scientific Design at Westleigh in Sydney's north west. its good at cleaning records
Hi Rossop,
Thank you for this information - I am on the Mid-North coast of NSW and top-end Hi-Fi suppliers are non-existent.
Will contact Scientific Design and try to pick one up on my next trip to Sydney.
to silvershadow; call Jurek Nowak 94848672
Thanks for the post. It brought me back to my University days when I was a weekly regular at the secondhand bins of my local jazz stores. Most of my 2500+ LP collection come from these bins. A good part of my jazz knowledge dates from countless chats with the enthusiasts manning the till. That spirit got lost with the impersonal CD megastores and later with internet shops.
I've had an LP12 since 1981, which I have replaced last year with a VPI then again a week ago with an SME. I am now having serious problems listening to the CD player.
I would recommend to anyone with a serious LP collection to invest in a record cleaning machine such as VPI or Nitty Gritty. These will remove deeply ingrained dust and reduce surface noise.
Thanks for the post. It brought me back to my University days when I was a weekly regular at the secondhand bins of my local jazz stores. Most of my 2500+ LP collection come from these bins. A good part of my jazz knowledge dates from countless chats with the enthusiasts manning the till. That spirit got lost with the impersonal CD megastores and later with internet shops.
I've had an LP12 since 1981, which I have replaced last year with a VPI then again a week ago with an SME. I am now having serious problems listening to the CD player.
I would recommend to anyone with a serious LP collection to invest in a record cleaning machine such as VPI or Nitty Gritty. These will remove deeply ingrained dust and reduce surface noise.
Don't forget all us online used record dealers who are available to anyone not only city folks :-)
Peder Beckman
Kool Kat Jazz Records
www.koolkatjazz.com
Back in the 1960s I was a young boy with a love for the music, I and my 4 brothers collected records. My biggest surprise came when I opened my new Beatles Let it be album when it first came out and found all the inside cover pictures were upside down from the outside front and back cover, a rare find. Unfortunatly all those old albums were stolen. Since the late nineties I have been buying lp records, 45s and 78 rpm records mostly from a thrift store in my area, and yard sales. I mostly look for old jazz records but all other types of music I sometimes buy as well. I have a Numark Pro TT-1 turntable with a Grado 78 rpm mono cartridge and a Grado Prestige Gold cartridge ran through a Bellari VP130 phono preamp. I have this hooked up to my computor where I have a Magix Audio 2004 cleaning lab to clean up the sound and then burn to CD. While CDs have a clean 16 bit sound you can`t beat the warmth and range of the 700 bit sound of a clean lp record. Proper phono cartridge alignment and setup along with a good cleaning is essential to bring out the best sound in the records. I hope that this may be of help to someone.
Sooo, do any of you keep a database of your collection? If so, what software do you recommend?
alhall, .even though I have 1000s of records unfortunatly I do not have much time, so I am limited to just occasionally listening to some of them and once in a while making a CD version of one. I am not sure what would be a good database system but if I had one it would probably be a full time job for a month or two to catalogue all of them. Sorry I could not be more help in this regard.
I had bought a shareware software called Spinfree Audiofile over 10 years ago. It reads the CDs and downloads the track / song info from one of the online databases. You have to fill in musician's names and other info if you want (composer, arranger etc..) by hand. LPs is only by hand, so it's a long laborious process.
The software is no longer available or supported. I've got something like 3500 titles in it, so I'm a bit stuck. I would be interested to see any alternaitves - perhaps Ican find a way to transfer the data between the two.
I read your comment about the person who owns the Wilson Alexandria II's and the two JL subwoofers. I'm a big organ fan and quite interested in the extent to which adding two subs to the Alexandria's would improve bass response and be worth the $$. Any way to communicate this request and get a response from your friend would be appreciated.
Encinitas, CA