what's vinyl collecting all about?

I don't collect vinyl and I don't (yet) see the point. However, as so many people do, I am obviously missing something and would be grateful for a primer on vinyl collecting.

I'll explain my scepticism though. I collect some books. For example, I have both a UK and a US first edition of Orwell's 'Nineteen Eighty-Four' (neither with a dustjacket). I also have numerous first editions of other books, some signed. However, when a book is re-printed with a new cover design, I don't collect those as well. The interest is first editions is purely in the first appearance ever of the work in question (which with English language works usually menas both the UK and US edition if difefrent).

If music first appears on vinyl (rather than CD and vinyl), then I can see the point in collecting the relevant first pressing, but why would I want the white one, the green and black one, and the speckled one as well? This smacks to me of "collect them all" commercialism.

I am not criticising anyone who does collect vinyl, I just don't quite get it (yet).

Some people like collecting everything a band puts out, including limited or hard to find vinyl. There's really not much more to it than that. Of course it's a "collect them all" mentality, why else would any one need more than one copy? That said, I have multiple copies of a few releases and will probably buy a few more eventually, so it's not like I think it's a bad thing.

ral wrote:

Of course it's a "collect them all" mentality

I appreciate your reply. What I meant to refer to by " 'collect them all' commercialism " was the artficial creation of a collectors market for commercial ends, not by re-issuing an album with a bonus track (or similar), which can be annoying enough, but simply by changing the colour.

I do, however, understand why someone would want to collect everything a band puts out MUSICALLY, which is why I really had to have the exclusive TGA track CD that came with Rocksound Magazine.

I remember when I started buying vinyl a few months ago someone on here (don't remember who) warned me against trying to get everything a band has put out (colour variants) due to the cost involved. I'm now glad I followed this advice, but admire anyone who had the drive, patience and funds to follow this road!

I buy albums I really, really like on vinyl, mainly because it has a romance that doesn't come with CDs or digital. I don't have many because there are not many albums I really, really like. Some stuff sounds better on vinyl too. To me, Born In The USA is the best example of this.

I agree on the color thing although I could see wanting to have each album on vinyl.

Reminds of Stiff Little Fingers...they thought all the colored vinyl stuff was nonsense and actually had it negotiated into their contract that all of their work could only be printed on black vinyl.

Personally, I started collecting Gaslight vinyl because I heard there was a high return on the records not that I planned to buy and sell tremendously.

I own six copies of The '59 Sound, three copies of Sink or Swim, one copy of the demos and a few copies of Señor And The Queen.

I grabbed purple and green copies of SoS so I'd have copies to listen to. My third copy is white with red splatter which is worth a bit more than the purple and green.

I have two copies of The '59 Sound on blue and two on white, I think one on black and one on green. Basically, one copy is to listen to and the others are to sell eventually. The blue record looks incredible though.

I don't collect many bands' vinyl, only a few bands really. I'd rather listen to the vinyl than collect it except in some instances where I've gotta have it.

I shall enter this thread when I return from work!

I have only recently started getting hold of vinyl.

I dont understand the whole collecting every colour variant. However I can understand the appeal to some the achievement of being able to say you have every version is quite an accomplishment.

My own personal reason for buying vinyl is one to do with cost. I got to the point where I was fed up of paying for a CD and supporting bands and being disappointed with the usual packaging and its quality. At least when I buy vinyl im getting something for my money. Bigger artwork, more often than not it looks awesome large. Vinyl looks a lot better than some silver disc. I mean look at this record buy the steal it looks stunning my mate has this and it actually looks like trapped smoke you really need to see it in 3D to see that.



Generally the whole package just looks, feels and sounds better. Also you are generally also buying something that is a lot more limited and special therefore again making it worth the money.

Thats my spin I could expand but I cant be arsed at the moment sooo tired.

The above record does look very nice.

This is a really interesting thread and in my own opinion "Tomaldo" has it spot on. When I was 14 or 15 you could only buy vinyl or cassettes. There was something "romantic" (to quote Tomaldo) and exciting about buying an album on vinyl - it was like a special occasion. First of all a 12" album is quite physically substantial so you really feel like you have purchased something to carry home. The biggest joy though was if there was a booklet inside quoting the lyrics and the odd photo and if it was a gatefold album the pleasure was doubled. It's hard to explain when nearly everything is downloaded now - I use itunes etc all the time and quite often feel cheated!

The final thing before I shut up is (to agree with Kieran) that the artwork on an album cover used to be somthing quite incredible - especially rock / metal albums where the bands tried to outdo each other - it's not quite the same when reproduced on something the size of a CD box.

Sadly I can well understand the need to own every colour / variation produced by a band but each to his own.

I agree with 'english anthem' on the joys of buying vinyl, because like him that's what I grew up with (for three more years than him even).

However, I don't miss the crackling dust, the scratches, and the skipping. I welcomed CDs with open arms as they were and are so convenient (I don't buy downloads), though I do really do miss the vinyl covers.

The ones I rememmer best, and still have, are 'Dark Side of the Moon', which came with postcards and a poster, several Who records ('Quadrophenia' which had a fantastic b/w photo booklet, 'Tommy', which had two pockets which made it hard for me to even find the second disc [call me dumb], and 'Live at Leeds', which all sorts of goodies in a separate sleeve).

And of course everything is bigger on vinyl covers and sleeves. The photos on the Clash's 'London Calling' come to mind, which you can barely see in the CD booklet, and Springsteen's brilliant sleeves for 'The River'. However, I can't afford both CD and vinyl these days, so CDs it is.

I just got my first vinyl in the mail today!! It is, of course, the '59 Sound! (normal edition)

But yeah, I like the sound on a lot of vinyls. Something about the analog media just feels more natural. Also, they generally get more valuable over time unlike your average CD.

simo wrote:

I agree on the color thing although I could see wanting to have each album on vinyl.

Reminds of Stiff Little Fingers...they thought all the colored vinyl stuff was nonsense and actually had it negotiated into their contract that all of their work could only be printed on black vinyl.

at least theres a few bands with some sense. although i guess its up to the fans to spend money on ten different colors of the exact same record if they want. i love gaslight, but there are other bands' records i want to buy in place of five different copies of SOS

thanks for all your interesting replies

I think I will go and get the TGA albums in vinyl, if only for the bigger artwork, but I'll stay clear of colour collecting, so I'll just get whatever is cheapest

that aside, I already have the SOS Demos, Park Avenue, and the Ragan/Fallon split, as they were only available on vinyl in any case

i still need sink or swim and satq on vinyl. i will get around to that soon. im not going to get started trying to find a gold satq or anything particular like that because thats how this all starts! haha.

steph wrote:

i still need sink or swim and satq on vinyl. i will get around to that soon. im not going to get started trying to find a gold satq or anything particular like that because thats how this all starts! haha.

I must admit though that I do have my eye on the 1st press SOS just now.

steady now steady now wrote:

thanks for all your interesting replies

I think I will go and get the TGA albums in vinyl, if only for the bigger artwork, but I'll stay clear of colour collecting, so I'll just get whatever is cheapest

that aside, I already have the SOS Demos, Park Avenue, and the Ragan/Fallon split, as they were only available on vinyl in any case

You should buy from stalls_standing he's still got a bunch a stuff.

steady now steady now wrote:

steph wrote:

i still need sink or swim and satq on vinyl. i will get around to that soon. im not going to get started trying to find a gold satq or anything particular like that because thats how this all starts! haha.

I must admit though that I do have my eye on the 1st press SOS just now.

Haha ...and so it begins.

khchausk8er wrote:

steady now steady now wrote:

thanks for all your interesting replies

I think I will go and get the TGA albums in vinyl, if only for the bigger artwork, but I'll stay clear of colour collecting, so I'll just get whatever is cheapest

that aside, I already have the SOS Demos, Park Avenue, and the Ragan/Fallon split, as they were only available on vinyl in any case

You should buy from stalls_standing he's still got a bunch a stuff.

Yeah I got my stuff from him today just dont buy the stuff I still have my eye on im just waiting to see what my girlfriend has got me for my birthday she has dropped major hints its vinyl and seeing as we are both fans it would make sense but it might be hot water music to!

I would buy more vinyl if bands included a digital download with the record. I think Gaslight did this for Senor and the Queen.

I have a bunch of Less Than Jake vinyl (Anthem picture disk, Losing Streak picture disk, Losers, Kings, and Things We Don't Understand, Hello Rockview on 6 7"s)

I have Senor and Queen, 59 Sound, and then I bought SOS on black vinyl for $10 at the show. I couldn't believe it.

KSUpilot wrote:

I would buy more vinyl if bands included a digital download with the record. I think Gaslight did this for Senor and the Queen.

I have a bunch of Less Than Jake vinyl (Anthem picture disk, Losing Streak picture disk, Losers, Kings, and Things We Don't Understand, Hello Rockview on 6 7"s)

I have Senor and Queen, 59 Sound, and then I bought SOS on black vinyl for $10 at the show. I couldn't believe it.

i've been collecting vinyl for about 10 years now and i buy alot of different stuff, but collect records from a few bands(tga, ltj, alk3, hwm and AM!).

and the hello rockview is 7x 7"s. anthem also has a version or boxset 7's but it 7 picture discs which rule.

i think i probably have the most comprehensive collection of gaslight and less than jake records in australia, and i'd be very surprised if i didnt