Ten years ago, when we moved into our current residence, I went crazy and decided to donate about 65% of my vinyl record albums to one of those tax-deductible charity organizations. You know, the kind that will send out a truck to pick up your gently-used, unwanted items.
At the time, my rationale was that we would not have enough space in the basement for my records, and besides, who cares about records anymore? "Hell, I've got everything on disc, anyway" was another brilliant argument in my defence at the time.
So like a fool, I started grabbing handfuls of vinyl, with no regard or discretion for what I was getting rid of, boxed them up, and put them on the porch for the charity truck to come pick them up. Cased closed, goodnight and God Bless.
Ten years later, a lightbulb turned on: WTF was I thinking? I got rid of all my good shit! Things that will never be released on disc or any other format. Rare, import items that were in my collection for years and years, never to be seen again. Whomever (or is it whoever?) sorted through that particular "donation", got their hands on a damn good collection of "wax". I feel like Fred Sanford in the episode of "Sanford and Son" when he donates his collection of rare "Blind Mellow Jelly" records to the library, only to regret his decision once he finds out they were actually worth a good amount of coin.
For a while, I felt like someone seeking a missing loved-one. I started hitting the thift stores, antique shops and the like, hoping to find just one of my lost babies.
I've gotten over that feeling now, I and suppose one day, perhaps something will turn up. Until that time comes, I've been building up what I call an "anti-record collection". The Salvation Army is a good place for these types of records. You will never find rare gems at the SA: I suppose if you went there several times a week, you might get lucky and find something cool, but for the record, I have never seen even a Beatles record for sale in any thrift shop. No, what you will find in these places is the worst drek, crap that makes you wonder what kind of lunatic bought that crap in the first pace.
These are some of my recent acquisitions from the local Salvation Army, and while yes, they might have a certain cheesy value to them: you know, maybe break them out at a party and yuck it up with your guests while you guzzle beer and snicker, they really serve no function.
Vinyl records are "in" again, perhaps due to nostalgic or aesthetic reasons, and there are a number of vinyl advocates out there, including several prominent musical artists, who claim that records have a "warmer" sound than their digital counterparts. In fact, records are still being produced, and sold, albeit at a higher cost than what they used to sell for back in the "good old days".
Those of us who are "in the know" are also hearing rumblings that music cassette tapes, are starting to creep their way back into the game, as well as VHS tapes.
Everything that is replaceable will be replaced by the things that were replaced. Wow...
