Introduction

Brian Eno, it is said, once remarked, "Writing about music is like dancing to architecture." If this is true, there's probably an equally wry analogy for writing about music collecting. Whatever form it takes, whether vinyl, compact discs, online streams, or supermarket background, music surrounds us, to the point where some people have given up buying music altogether. All they have to do is leave the house and they'll hear it.

For others, however, collecting records - by which, in this instance, I mean whatever format budget, space, and taste permit - is a passion that surpasses those adhering to almost any other hobby. After all, other collectors spend their money, catalog their purchases, and then? They disappear into albums or boxes or bags or vaults; get filed on shelves or fade into the furniture, because what else is there to do with then? Yes, books and comics can be reread, DVDs can be rewatched. But how many times, really, can the thrill be relived?

Records, on the other hand, forever repay their original purchase price. Records can be played and replayed ad infinitum. Whether or not you describe yourself as a collector, how many times have you brought home a new purchase and listened to it all but nonstop for weeks? And how many times have you done that with a book?

In fact, there is something almost oxymoronic about "collecting" records. You like a song, or an artist, or a concerto and you buy it. You like another . you buy that, too. Without even thinking about it, you already have a "collection," in the same way that you have a "collection" of clothes, a "collection" of shoes, a "collection" of kitchen implements. Music is such an integral part of life that it is hard to imagine getting through a day without it.

There is, however, a difference between having a collection of music, and collecting music. One is passive; the other is not. And that is what this book is about - the moment when someone consciously, and deliberately, begins filing their records in something other than an orderly pile in the corner; when they look at what they have and start seeking to fill the gaps; when they deliberately drop by a record store or hop onto eBay to see if there's anything interesting.

If you've ever done any of those things, or have considered the possibility that you might, then this is the book for you. Oh, and welcome to the club.

About This Book

Of course, if record collecting is that easy - and that instinctual - why bother reading a book about it? Why not just carry on as you already are? Especially as one of the key suggestions contained in these pages is the importance of collecting whatever you want?

Well .

Like any hobby, there is a dizzying array of do's and don'ts to bear in mind. For example, do shop around for new records; don't simply pick up the first copy you find because you're afraid you'll never find one again - especially if it's a disc that sold in millions upon release. Do shelve them carefully with an eye towards maintaining them in the best condition you can; don't wipe a stray hair off the disc with a moistened finger. Do make a list of the records you're looking for; don't then play them on a cheap and clunky record player, with a stylus you've not changed in ten years.

Of course, there are only so many hours in a day, so many dollars to spend, and so many other distractions to deal with. That's why this book tries not to prevaricate or spend pages obsessing on the technical minutia of "stuff." "Get in, get out, and get on with it" was the mantra as I wrote this book, and leave the specialist details to the specialist collectors. The online world is littered with sites that offer, say, the Bruce Springsteen or Rolling Stones collector an almost mind-bending array of the tiny things that differentiate this pressing of an album from that, and they're great. Especially when you find a mistake or an omission and get a thank you on the page for supplying it.

But you'll need to know the basics - a lot of basics - before you even start studying those pages in depth. You'll also need to familiarize yourself with a lot of new terms before many of the entries on those pages even make sense. Vinyl Record Collecting For Dummies is dedicated to those basics. Yes, I do make suggestions about the kinds of directions your collecting can go, and I do profile artists whose music already has a sizeable following (or not, in some cases). But the heart of the book remains a quick and easy reference guide to (hopefully) every question a reader might have, and a lot that they never even knew to ask.

The point is made elsewhere in this book, but it is worth foreshadowing here. In the grip, as we are, of the so-called "vinyl revival," more new records are being released (and old records rereleased) than at any time in 40 years. Record Store Day alone has filled any number of aching voids, while there is a positive plethora of online dealers and marketplaces, individual artists' websites, fellow collectors' blogs, and specialist magazines and books to investigate. This means there has never been a better time to become a collector, because there has never been more choice of what, and how, to collect. Vinyl Record Collecting For Dummies will set you on your path.

Foolish Assumptions

You want to start collecting records. This book does not take much for granted in relation to its readers, but that one is an exception. And, following on from that, it is likely that one of the following also applies to you:

• You have a few records already and intend on picking up more. But, between the antique store down the road, where everything seems to cost $20, and the record store where they're labeled with arcane codes (VG+/G++) and secret messages (Neths press, comp 1973 re), you don't know where to begin.
• You've got a lot of records and they're a mess. How can they be sorted so you know what you've got, maybe what they're worth, and, most importantly, what else you "need"?
• You've inherited an old collection and have yet to decide whether to keep them or sell. But you don't want some dealer simply to "make you an offer" when you don't know what they're worth - or even if they're worth selling. What should you look for, and how should you present them?
• You're a seasoned collector and you know a lot. But one can never know too much. So you read every book you can find on the subject, because even if there's just a few useful suggestions, you've gotten your money's worth.

How This Book Is Organized

Vinyl Record Collecting For Dummies is divided into five sections, with each section detailing a different aspect of the hobby, from hunting out the optimum equipment to diving deep into your chosen pursuit. Each reader will no doubt prefer a particular area. Some may be fascinated by the idea of seeking out obscure label variations on Beatles records. Others might decide to devote their days to 8-track tapes and hunting down a working quadrophonic player through which to listen to them. And some might just enjoy reading about some of the weird and wonderful things that other collectors collect. Either way, just have fun with it.

Part 1: For the Love of Vinyl

This section offers up a history of record collecting as a hobby, not only in a general sense, but also by way of personal experiences - and the ease with which the unsuspecting music lover can tumble into the hobby. It also discusses buying the equipment you will need to make the most of your acquisitions . and some of the odd little add-ons that maybe you don't need but, for some unfathomable reason, you discover you want.

Part 2: Picking a Record Apart

This section is, for want of a better description, where I take some of those aforementioned secret messages and arcane codes and explain what they actually mean. It follows, too, the life cycle of a record from studio to store, and because there are a lot of people who will tell you that "records aren't everything," it also looks at some alternatives to vinyl itself.

Part 3: From Casual Listener to Collector

The title says it all. This section details some of the myriad places where the rookie collector can get their start, from the humblest yard sale to the most extravagant record fair. It details the common traps that await the unwary, and the correct way to store your records to keep them in optimum shape. And it also talks about buying and selling . but only to make room for more records!

Part 4: Collecting What You Like

This part is where the gloves come off, and we get down to the nitty-gritty. What to collect, who to collect, with a few suggested themes (with which you are heartily encouraged to disagree), but all of which offer particular points that are common, whatever you choose to focus on.

Part 5: The Part of Tens

One thing that record collectors love are top tens, and this book is no exception. In fact, there were so many contenders for this section that...