| Maz 18.11.2005 00:44 |
First off, I realize that the title of this topic is far from the truth. My own collection has grown exponentially since I got a reliable internet connection years ago. I now have more rare Queen songs, videos, and concert bootlegs than I could ever dream of owning. But, it's also not as much fun as it once was. I hadn't realized that I'd lost that feeling until I bought the ROTC CD back in September. For the first time in years, I actually got excited thumbing through the rack for a Queen product. It reminded me of years gone by when I used to hunt down record stores wherever I went. I used to have a system when I entered the store: the "Q" section first, then "M," next "T," and finally "C." (On a side note, who knew that Christopher Cross released so many albums?) As many of you might confirm, the smell and grime of a dusty old record store stays with you all day, but it's worth it when you find a picture sleeve in near-perfect condition. Before p2p, hubs, torrents, ebay, and all the other wonders of the internet, I had a lot more fun with collecting. Now, it's all right in front of me if I spend the money or have the technology. But it's just not as much fun. Anyone else agree? |
| Lester Burnham 18.11.2005 00:52 |
I'm actually slightly old-fashioned in the sense that I NEED to buy the album - just downloading it or buying it from iTunes kills the sensation for me. I used to spend hours in the record store thumbing through CDs and cassettes (too young for vinyl), and that sensation has stayed with me to the point that I can't download entire albums. Just having the artwork and the actual physical plastic of the CD makes the whole experience complete. Granted, I'm not a collector, per se, other than rare songs, which I'll gladly download from the Internet (as long as I can't get them elsewhere). But I'll always buy CDs, because it's just what I do. I still remember the thrill of walking into my local record store ten years ago (wow, almost to the day) and seeing "Made In Heaven" and thinking, "So this is what Queen fans had felt for the past twenty-some years." Of course, I only like music from bands that were formed before 1981... |
| Daburcor? 18.11.2005 01:47 |
Lester Burnham wrote: I'm actually slightly old-fashioned in the sense that I NEED to buy the album - just downloading it or buying it from iTunes kills the sensation for me.Same here! |
| Fenderek 18.11.2005 08:49 |
Lester Burnham wrote: I'm actually slightly old-fashioned in the sense that I NEED to buy the album - just downloading it or buying it from iTunes kills the sensation for me.Absolutely agree! Lester Burnham wrote: I used to spend hours in the record store thumbing through CDs and cassettes (too young for vinyl), and that sensation has stayed with me to the point that I can't download entire albums. Just having the artwork and the actual physical plastic of the CD makes the whole experience complete.Man- I'm still in the shops all the time looking for bargains :) The only problem is- London is VERY overpriced so it's pointless (almost) to buy vinyls there if I can find the same thing (and probably in better condition) on eBay for like half price. Or even less... Still- downloading is definitelly not for me, not the albums anyway. Slightly different with boots of course, but even than I have to burn it and own it on actual CD. There's nothing better than 12" gatesleeve, that's for sure. It looks great, it feels great... Nah- I still have thrills down my spine once I find something I don't have in perfect condition and at reasonable price :) Be it vinyl album, single, 3" CD, CD- you name it :) |
| KevMull 18.11.2005 10:22 |
"I used to spend hours in the record store thumbing through CDs and cassettes (too young for vinyl), and that sensation has stayed with me to the point that I can't download entire albums." Flicking through a stack of plastic jewel cases just doesn't come close to the 'sensation' of flicking through a loadp of vinyl albums and singles. Especially in a dusty, musty smelling old second hand record shop, which is where I spent may a saturday afternoons back in the 80s. The internt can't compete with that. "I love the smell of vinyl in the morning" |
| Jjeroen 18.11.2005 10:51 |
;-) I thought you meant 'collecting' as in bootlegs, demo's and other unreleased recordings. In that case, it would have been a definate YES. YES internet does indeed kill the joy of collecting in that sence. As far as internet killing collecting of records and such? Of course not! Someone who downloads an officially released product is not a collector! It has made collecting more interesting because you can get acces to more interesting stuff and not necessarely need to wait another half a year for the next recordfair. Also it has made hunting for bargains more interesting. |
| That guy who digs energy domes 18.11.2005 11:20 |
Lester Burnham wrote: I'm actually slightly old-fashioned in the sense that I NEED to buy the album - just downloading it or buying it from iTunes kills the sensation for me. I used to spend hours in the record store thumbing through CDs and cassettes (too young for vinyl), and that sensation has stayed with me to the point that I can't download entire albums. Just having the artwork and the actual physical plastic of the CD makes the whole experience complete. Granted, I'm not a collector, per se, other than rare songs, which I'll gladly download from the Internet (as long as I can't get them elsewhere). But I'll always buy CDs, because it's just what I do. I still remember the thrill of walking into my local record store ten years ago (wow, almost to the day) and seeing "Made In Heaven" and thinking, "So this is what Queen fans had felt for the past twenty-some years." Of course, I only like music from bands that were formed before 1981...Dude I totally agree! People always offer to burn me music. What's the point? If I cant shell out the 15 dollars, I dont deserve the damn thing! |
| The Fairy King 18.11.2005 12:00 |
Internet has some strong points, i discovered some bands thru the internet and became a fan and started collecting. But buying the songs "legally" isn't working for me. 10 euro for a download album? I can get the real thing for the same money or for a few euro's more. And the fact bands add bonus dvd's to new albums is a great way to market the album. You always get the feeling you have something special in your hands. |
| The Fairy King 18.11.2005 12:01 |
Kevo wrote:AMEN! :D"I used to spend hours in the record store thumbing through CDs and cassettes (too young for vinyl), and that sensation has stayed with me to the point that I can't download entire albums."Flicking through a stack of plastic jewel cases just doesn't come close to the 'sensation' of flicking through a loadp of vinyl albums and singles. Especially in a dusty, musty smelling old second hand record shop, which is where I spent may a saturday afternoons back in the 80s. The internt can't compete with that. "I love the smell of vinyl in the morning" |
| Serry... 18.11.2005 12:15 |
I need to feel recording in my hands otherwise I feel uncomfortably. Internet downloads are like reading books from the screen - it's not so pleasant. Real books are better as well as CDs, IMHO. |
| deleted user 18.11.2005 12:21 |
I can't bear downloading songs from the internet. All the Queen I have is shop bought. My brother raves about how much I spend on Queen, and my dad keeps reminding me of this brilliant site where you can get it all for free, but it just wouldn't be the same for me. I still haven't bought all of the Queen albums, and I'd rather keep it that way than effortlessly obtain them. |
| Ray D O'Gaga 18.11.2005 12:25 |
It hasn't killed it for me. The majority of my collection was built in the 90s primarily in dusty old music and book stores, in shelves of used records, cassettes, VHS tapes, and the like. I still remember how thrilled I was to find, for example, "Mr. Bad Guy" on CD and a Capitol promo "Starfleet Project" on vinyl in a used record store I frequented in college. And I still love to browse in places like that, but at some point, my collection got big enough that the majority of the stuff I was likely to find in that kind of place (and would be interested in buying), I already had. Shopping for Queen stuff became a matter of walking in to a place, looking through the "Q" section and saying "got it, got it, got it, got it - let's go somewhere else". So in that regard, the next step for me *was* the internet, principally eBay, which brought back the "thrill of the chase" aspect of it and broadened my market exponentially. The ease of downloads certainly hasn't dampened my enthusiasm for collecting, as I always prefer to own the real piece of plastic or vinyl that a song is on over a download - provided it isn't a demo or something that wasn't officially released, meaning there is no legitimate way of buying the music. And like many of you, I'm not 'just' a fan of the music - I enjoy getting the artwork and so forth that goes along with it. I only, for example, collect vinyl singles for the picture sleeves. Its fun for me, and its a better way of wasting my money than sticking it up my nose or in my arm. |
| Crazy LittleThing 18.11.2005 12:36 |
This is off topic a bit, but there's nothing like flipping through the bins of actual record albums. There is something so satisfyingly tactile about it. The size of the LP album was perfect for the album art, and once you got it home and on the turntable, then you got to read the liner notes, etc. And if it was a gatefold cover with stuff inside? Wow! I used to STUDY that stuff! CDs and electronic media are great and convenient, but there is just a coldness and kind of antiseptic feel to them. I have a couple of used record stores that I frequent a couple of times a year when I feel the need to flip through the bins and get my hands on some proper vinyl. I have a whole demented routine. First I pick out all the albums that I want to look at, then I take them somewhere in the shop where there's a flat surface. One by one, I slide the inner sleeve out, remove the record with my right hand, with the second and third fingers of my right hand in the center, and my thumb just barely touching the outer edge, set the sleeve down on the album cover, inspect the record for scratches and dust, then with both hands on the outer edge, flip the record over to check the other side. Then the record goes back into the sleeve, and the sleeve goes back into the album with the opening at the top, so the record won't fall out. Then I inspect the next one. I can do this for hours. I'm sure there's a kind of medication that I can take for this. But back on the original topic, I think the Internet has changed collecting for those who used to trade in person, at record conventions, etc. The web and broadband has made it easy for so many to get involved in collecting and trading, but it has also devalued many items. I was fascinated by what was going on a few months ago when one trader started releasing some of the more coveted Queen boots. Instantly the value dropped as they were no longer as rare. People were understandably upset as the trade value dropped. The ripple effect through the group of traders/serious collectors was incredible. I watched as a kind of economic system was brought to its knees. It was amazing. And yes, I am one who benefited from this, receiving boots that I never thought I'd be able to hear/see. While we know that are always some who do the "grab and run" and don't seed what they take or acknowledge the person who made the material available, we also see how so many people on QZ are willing to share what they have and help others finish incomplete downloads, answer questions, etc. It's a cool community. You guys are nice people. Thanks! |
| Maz 18.11.2005 13:05 |
Ray D O'Gaga wrote: So in that regard, the next step for me *was* the internet, principally eBay, which brought back the "thrill of the chase" aspect of it and broadened my market exponentially.In many ways, I agree with how shops dried up after awhile. There are, after all, only so many times you can thumb through the Q section and find yet another copy of ANATO or NOTW. But I never latched on to ebay with the "thrill of the chase." To me, I had more fun digging through the racks in the basement of a record store on the remote chance I might find a Starfleet 45 than putting in the keywords on the search screen. Perhaps that's why I have more fun tracking down interviews from the 1970s than trying to buy promo singles anymore. |
| Erin 18.11.2005 13:20 |
Before mp3's, I went to a lot of trouble just to get the b-sides and 12" versions. Then I put them on tape, so I could listen to them in the car.;-) |
| Just You and Me 18.11.2005 14:07 |
ok, i'm not a collector yet but i am working on my collection. i lost about 10 queen c.d.'s on my plane flight from the U.S. to france and as the cd's are very expensive over here i have downloaded a good ammount of music to have it to listen to. i do, however, miss going to the used C.D. store and searching for anything queen. i still have a few albums in the case which i enjoy very much just knowing i have the real thing. also, my host mother bought me a greatest hits record from a market here in france and i was so excited. it's the first album i have from when it first came out. now i just have to find a record player... |
| ok.computer 18.11.2005 16:23 |
You know, you can still experience the record-collecting experience. We have a great joint in Belfast called Hector's House - I love rooting through the musical detritus of vinyl from years gone by. Actually if anything, I'm still only a casual browser of the internet's rarities. It's handy for when I need a digital copy of my double-vinyl Mannheim bootleg or other such stuff. A word to the wise, and those who are considerably younger than I. Save some money, buy a decent turntable, amp and speakers, and get into vinyl. The sound is much better, the sleeve is much bigger, and you actually feel you're getting something for your money. More seriously, do the CD versus vinyl test if someone will let you at a good sounds store. You'll tell the difference in quality immediately. |
| FriedChicken 18.11.2005 16:37 |
I don't think internet killed collection. Cause there's still stuff that is not on the internet. I have Queen recordings which aren't on the internet. And i've got some of that stuff for years. |
| deleted user 18.11.2005 18:46 |
<font color=#C5150>The Fairy King</font> wrote:AMENKevo wrote:AMEN! :D"I used to spend hours in the record store thumbing through CDs and cassettes (too young for vinyl), and that sensation has stayed with me to the point that I can't download entire albums."Flicking through a stack of plastic jewel cases just doesn't come close to the 'sensation' of flicking through a loadp of vinyl albums and singles. Especially in a dusty, musty smelling old second hand record shop, which is where I spent may a saturday afternoons back in the 80s. The internt can't compete with that. "I love the smell of vinyl in the morning" |
| Saint Jiub 20.11.2005 01:27 |
Actually, I am not a collector, as I am a fan just for the music. I do not care about picture sleeves. If something is re-released on CD or DVD, then the previous vinyl or VHS has little value for me. I used to enjoy record fairs, but I got bored with them long before I discovered downloading off the internet. After buying tons of stuff from the record fairs, eventually there was not much left to buy as the new millenium approached, because QP did not want to flood the market, and mostly chose to release recycled material. Really, things at QP have been fairly stagnant since the FM box set. No wonder there is a lack of excitement. Unfortunately, many collectors will buy anything with the Queen name on it ... so why should QP change? I think the internet has been great for most Queen fans, and has filled a void that QP has neglected to recognize. I wonder if the box sets will be worth releasing in 2009, if most relevant content is leaked on the internet by that time? |
| Bobby_brown 20.11.2005 11:12 |
I just download bootlegs, not original stuff (at least with Queen) and i still get mad about Vinyl, a diferent cover and the smell... oh my! Take care |
| Rick 20.11.2005 11:17 |
If you talk about demos and bootlegs, then certainly YES! |
| Jjeroen 20.11.2005 12:25 |
<font color=green>Rick wrote: If you talk about demos and bootlegs, then certainly YES!Apart from the fact that internet made it sooo much easier to make -the right- contacts. Which, of course, is a major PLUS. |
| Rick 20.11.2005 13:41 |
That's right. :-) |
| bohemian 11513 20.11.2005 16:16 |
20 years ago "Video Killed the Radio Star"... that´s for sure! :-) |
| The Visible Man 20.11.2005 16:34 |
i must agree. Collecting isn't that fun anymore. But that's not only with queen. You can find everything on the net. in the early 90's i was a maniac and collected nearly everything that was queen related. Really expensive things and very rare, but in times of internet these things can be found everywhere - and sadly they are not really worth much anymore. Thinking of all the box sets and awards for example |