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book, collecting, Music, record collecting, record collector, record collectors, records, Robert Crumb, Thurston Moore, vinyl
So I’ve been luxuriating in reading some books more for the pleasure of it (rather than technical stuff to help authors or the day job). This book is about, record collectors, the act of record collecting and the general love for music both mainstream, obscure and just down right freaky. For the music fan this is Mills & Boon reading. For those related or taken on the challenge of a partner who is a record collector an insight into the mind of your loved one.
The books tries to explain the passion of collecting from many different perspectives, through the eyes of collectors (some famous – like Peter Buck (of REM fame), Robert Crumb (cartoonist) and Thurston Moore (Sonic Youth), others not so famous but equally obsessed. From a psychologist point of view – clinical (relationship to low sertraline) to psychotherapy. As a result we get discussions about the sensuality of vinyl and wonderful quotes like “CDs are like sex with a condom”.
We explore the kinds of collecting that go on – from types of records – old pre-war 78s, 1st issues of records, special prints like shaped coloured vinyl, those quickly taken out of circulation through to records that just seem to be rare and then the plain odd like albums commissioned by Listerine (the mouthwash) advocating the product’s wonders to people thinking they’re going to make it big putting out just tuneless oddities, to the child like contributions like Sammy Squirrel Teaches the Multiplication Tables (Which apparently has a publisher’s address on the cover of The Metaphysical Motivational institute, Drawer 400, Ruidoso, NM) and psychotic wonders such as “Sit on My Face, Stevie Nicks” by the Rotters and Naughty Rock ‘n’ Roll by the P-Verts or maybe various artists on the Sugar Tits Label.
As the book progresses we get a chance to be taken on an exploration of the validity of the portrayal of collector/obsessive music fan portrayed in Nick Hornby’s book High Fidelity by the character Rob Gordon (portrayed by John Cusack in Stephen Frears‘ cinematic adaptation); music collectors are geeky single men that can’t sustain a relationship etc.
The book is however 10 years old – and sadly doesn’t reflect how the rise in Mp3s has impacted. As everything get ripped and becomes for ever available (legally or illegally) on the web, what is happening to the passion of the hunt for the mysterious, weird and rare? Who knows, but its fun hearing the stories.
. This an excellent book on how the music industry has managed to shoot itself in the feet a number of times (and with a canon at that); although it does only cover events upto 2008 (as we enter 2014 it would be brilliant to see an additional chapter to get insight into how the resurgence of vinyl and the rise of Spotify has impacted thinking – beyond the deadlines of complaints by the likes of Thom Yorke about Spotify).
. Their story starts out in the 1920s and 30s. Alan’s influence on music perhaps isn’t as widley appreciated, as more recent figures such as Berry Gordy, Jerry Wexler and so on. But actually it is astonishing, from the ‘discovery’ of Lead Belly; to breaking Jelly Roll Morton, setting Muddy Waters onto the road to blues fame; to introducing Dylan to early folk music.
– this is a great read, with Greg Milner’s writing and passion for his subject carrying you along – so much so you’d think you’re being carried along by a good thriller if you didn’t know better. The book is a lot less scholarly (but not light on fact) and focuses on key points and events in the evolution in the recording of music from the early days of Edison upto the digital age. Like Alan Lomax its amazing how one or two individuals can have such tremendous influence. Given the Lomax’s impact they also make a passing appearance in this book. But their contribution only covers a dozen or so pages rather than the 600+ of the biography.
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