Nope...I'm still here
2016-2017 was a bad year for my collecting. Other more important things came up which left me a bit strapped for cash. But over the last few months things have picked up a little, if slowly.
The world is constantly changing. In the last couple of years the sales of new vinyl has gone up and up, but still small numbers next to downloads. People who threw away their turntables a decade ago and sent all their records to charity shops are buying decks again and revisiting their youth. Vinyl is on sale again in the local supermarket. The worth of those first pressings even from huge artists like Sex Pistols, Led Zeppelin and Pink Floyd have gone through the ceiling and endless people think it's time to empty the loft expecting to have a treasure trove in the warped and dank boxes of vinyl they haven't looked at for 30 years.
At times I wonder if the 2nd hand vinyl bubble is at it's greatest extent and I ponder sometimes if it's worth cashing in before the big burst happens. How would I feel when vinyl really does become junk nobody wants it and my collection becomes worth less than the value of its plastic and paper recycling? How much of a gimp would I feel knowing its current value now just to see it become a sad old man's worthless obsession (I'm part way there already some would say).
But it is just a ponder occasionally, I would feel a cheat not to have taken up this challenge and at least follow it through to the 2030 4AD anniversary. Besides which, as time passes, the reason behind this quest becomes more and more relevant. While some first decade 4AD acts still manage a small recognition in some alternative circles, there is a range of 4AD acts that are not so well known that could easily be forgotten. Imagine missing out on The Past Seven Days song Raindance, one of the best 4AD songs ever recorded in my opinion.
So I must keep on with my mission.
Now, I know I have promised before that I will get back into writing this blog, then gone on to fail miserably and left an age until writing again, but I will try harder, honest. It is difficult to keep writing, especially when little is happening. I'm very aware of just listing what I have recently picked up and going over very similar ground, one entry after another. It would be good to hear some suggestions of what you think might be interesting to read about on this blog. I did have an idea of showing off some of my proudest collection pieces so far.....maybe I will have a go at that.
As a side note, Discogs, the online music collectors database and a useful way of keeping track of your collection, set up another database called Filmogs, which does a similar thing but for video, DVD, Blu-rays etc. Well, the same folk have just started another interesting database called Posterogs. It's very much in its infancy, but allows users to submit poster infomation into the database and track collections and wants. This is a really useful missing piece of my collecting need, as 4AD did many posters and the artwork is as an important part of the 4AD story. So I'm going to have to go through my posters and start to get them loaded up to the database (once I can sort out the picture orientation problem I seem to be having with the site). This is exciting for me as I can keep track of what I have (I have too many already to have them all framed around the house) and as others put on their collection, see what is out there and try and buy them.
So once again, sorry for such a long delay in posting. Honestly I will do better! Send me some suggestions
