RESOURCE GUIDE for the marketplace and collecting groups
Lazlo Nibble
Record Collector's Resource Guide
rec.music.{marketplace/collecting} Hierarchies
Last Update: 2 March 1996
Copyright 1996 by Ernie Longmire (Lazlo Nibble)
Additions, corrections, and inquiries to la...@swcp.com
Ernie Longmire, Box 93775, Albuquerque, NM 87199
See the end of this file for more detailed copyright info
The current version of this file is available from:
ftp://ftp.swcp.com/pub/users/lazlo/marketplace-collecting/
T P Uschanov's list of Web-accessable resources is available at:
http://www.helsinki.fi/~tuschano/records.html
Thanks to the following for help and suggestions:
Andrew Russ <end...@phys.psu.edu>
Jim Saxe <sa...@pa.dec.com>
Reto Koradi <k...@spectrospin.ch>
Gary M. Gettier <g...@clark.net>
Jason Hirschhorn <jas...@inch.com>
Jeff Davis <jjd...@xnet.com>
Rob McIntyre <ck...@freenet.carleton.ca>
PLEASE NOTE --
All entries to this guide are made at my discretion, including the
listings of electronically-accessable retailers. This is not an
advertising service. My inclusion of a retailer or service does not
imply that I recommend them, nor does my failure to include one imply
that I *don't* recommend them. -- la...@swcp.com
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::: Resources Listed In This Guide :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
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R001 Periodicals
R002 Internet Mailing Lists (Collecting-Specific Lists Only)
R003 Record Shop And Convention Guides - Regional
R004 Electronically Accessable Retailers And Wanted/Forsale Databases
R005 Supplies
R006 Cataloging Software
R007 Bibliography
R999 Miscellaneous Information Sources
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::: Collecting Resources :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
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R001 Periodicals
* BBC Classical Music (CD+magazine)
Tel: (800) 972-3700
* Goldmine
North America's most prominent music collector's magazine; published
biweekly. Lots of ads and excellent in-depth editorial content.
Subscriptions $35/year; Free trial issues available.
Goldmine, 700 E. State St., Iola, WI 54990
Tel: (715) 445-2214,
FAX: (715) 445-4087
Subscriptions: (715) 445-3775 x257
* DISCoveries
* ICE (International CD Exchange)
In-depth news of interest to CD collectors, including comprehensive
new-release and reissue information. Monthly.
http://www.icemagazine.com/~ice
* Jazziz (CD+magazine)
Tel: (800) 274-9800
* Record Collector (UK monthly)
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R002 Internet Mailing Lists (Collecting-Specific Lists Only)
* Exotica (exotic vinyl from the 1950s and 1960s)
Email: majo...@xmission.com
(with command "info exotica")
* MD-L (Sony's MiniDisc format)
Email: lists...@nstn.ca
(with command "subscribe MD-L [your email address]")
* NEW-RELEASES (Weekly lists of upcoming reissues and new releases.)
Email: new-releas...@arastar.com
(with command "subscribe new-releases" in the message body)
* 78-L (Music and recordings of the pre-LP era.)
Email: list...@cornell.edu
(with command "INFO 78-L")
* Used-Music-Server (wanted and forsale listings, all formats)
Email: used-mus...@wang.com
(with command "HELP" in the subject line)
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R003 Online Record Shop And Convention Guides
WORLDWIDE
* Paul's Local Music Store Guide (by Paul Vercellotti)
http://bit.csc.lsu.edu/~vercello/rstores.html
* Rotator Locator (by Jeff Davis; techno/ambient/dance focus)
http://hyperreal.com/music/rotator/
JAPAN--TOKYO
* Asian Pops CD Stores in Tokyo (by Hosokawa Tatsumi)
http://frig.mt.cs.keio.ac.jp/person/hosokawa/asian_CD_store_e.html
* Stomping Grounds: Club & Shop Guide (by Ele-Bugi Japanese Hip-Hop Online)
http://www.eccosys.com/ELEBUGI/eb9510/stomping.html
* Tokyo Record Stores (by ro...@twics.com)
http://www.twics.com/~robbs/rekodoya.html
* Tokyo Soul Record Shop Guide
http://www.st.rim.or.jp:80/~sho-/SHOP-e.HTML
UK--LONDON
* UK-Dance Guide To London Record Shops (by Stephen Hebditch)
http://www.tecc.co.uk/public/tqm/uk-dance/features/shops.html
Email list...@tqmcomms.co.uk with 'get uk-dance london-shops' in body
USA--CALIFORNIA
* Los Angeles Record Shops (by Lazlo Nibble)
* San Diego Record Shops (by Lazlo Nibble)
http://www.swcp.com/lazlo/MusicResources.html
ftp://ftp.swcp.com/pub/users/lazlo/marketplace-collecting/
* The LP Lover's Guide To San Francisco (by Bruce Goldberg)
http://www.webcom.com/bg63/
USA--NEW YORK
* New York City Record Stores Guide (by William "Will-E" Perez)
http://www.hyperreal.com/raves/nyc/NYC.html
* New York Vinyl Sources (by Joseph Holmes)
http://www.interport.net/~joholmes/sabpsr.html
* Unofficial Guide To Music In Greenwich Village and More (by Bob Gajarsky)
http://www.columbia.edu/~hauben/text/NYC.music_guide
USA--PACIFIC NORTHWEST
* Northwest Record Stores Guide (by Brian Eck)
http://www.eskimo.com/~eck/nw.music
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R004 Electronically Accessable Retailers And Wanted/Forsale Databases
* Further listings may be found at:
http://www.cs.clemson.edu/~junderw/music/onlinestores.html
http://www.yahoo.com/Business_and_Economy/Companies/Music/CDs__Records__and_Tapes/
* CD Banzai (bootlegs, Japanese CDs)
http://www.lainet.com/~cdbanzai/
* CD Plus (Canadian)
Tel: (800) 263-4020 [valid throughout North America and Australia?]
http://www.cd-plus.com/music
* CDnow (CDs, videos, t-shirts)
http://cdnow.com
telnet:cdnow.com
* Compact Disc Connection (CDs, many imports)
1030 E. El Camino #322, Sunnyvale, CA 94087
http://ftp.cdconnection.com
ftp://ftp.cdconnection.com
Tel: (408) 985-7905
Fax: (408) 985-0464
BBS: (408) 985-8982
* DCL - House of Records (soul/funk/r&b/jazz vinyl)
Box 260834, Tampa, FL 33685
Email: dcla...@gate.net
Tel/Fax: (813) 882-3929
* Ear/Rational Music (import/domestic CDs, esp. import dance music)
1592 Kilkenny St, Boulder, CO 80303-1646
http://www.xmission.com/~ear
ftp://ftp.xmission.com/pub/other/ear-rational/
Email: ear-ra...@xmission.com [automated requests]
Email: e...@xmission.com [to reach a human]
Tel/Fax: (303) 665-3325
* Ellesdesia Online (house/techno/ambient/trance/triphop; search+id service)
http://www.ellesdesia.nl
* Forever Vinyl (out-of-print vinyl from 1950s-1980s; search service)
http://www.exit109.com/~sneuman/fv.htm/
Tel: (908) 505-3646
Fax: (908) 505-5337
BBS: (908) 505-8420
* Global Electronic Music Marketplace (GEMM)
http://gemm.com
Telnet: gemm.com
Email: ge...@gemm.com [send command HELP in body of message]
* Golden Oldies (Seattle-area retailer; accepts wantlists)
http://www.accelerated.com/goldenoldies/
Email: old...@ix.netcom.com
* Harvard Square Records (Sealed vinyl only, catalog available)
Box 381975, Cambridge, MA 02238
Tel: (617) 868-3385
Email: hsre...@tiac.net
* HMV Canada (good source for Canadian music & video not out in US)
http://www.hmv.ca
Tel: (800) 5678-HMV
Email: h...@inforamp.net
* HotPlatters (rare vinyl and music related paper goods)
http://home.earthlink.net/~oversight/HotPlatters.html
Email: HotPl...@aol.com
* Intergalactic Garage (new imports, CDs/vinyl)
110 W. German Street, POB 3047, Shepherdstown, WV 25443
http://www.intrepid.net/igg/igg.html
Email: i...@intrepid.net [SUBSCRIBE in message body for weekly updates]
Tel: (304) 876-6818
Fax: (304) 876-9414
* Internet Music Wantlists (CD and Vinyl)
Email: want...@swcp.com [with HELP command in message body]
* Noteworthy Music (Discount CDs, mostly US-domestic)
http://www.netmarket.com/noteworthy
* Nowhere (all formats, specializing in vinyl, accepts wantlists)
2016 Crompond Rd, Yorktown Heights, NY 10598
Email: nowhe...@aol.com
Tel: (914) 962-6274
* PastelBlue (UK-based search service)
http://www.demon.co.uk/pastel/
Email: sea...@pastel.demon.co.uk [with command HELP in message body]
Email: Mi...@pastel.demon.co.uk [to reach a human]
* Paula's House of Music (vinyl; all eras)
http://www.HUB.ofthe.Net/houseofmusic
* Record Collector's Web
http://www.onramp.net:80/RecordWeb/record.html
* Recordings Unlimited (CDs/collectables; mostly alternative)
http:://www.recunltd.com
* Sound City 2000, a/k/a Overseas Shopper, Simmons Overseas Shopper, et al.
Due to the number of complaints voiced about this company on the net
and to the Better Business Bureau, I cannot recommend you deal with
this company or with its owner Linda Simmons.
* VideoExpress (videos)
http://www.videoexpress.com
ftp://ftp.videoexpress.com
telnet:videoexpress.com
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R005 Supplies
* Acoustic Sounds (VPI and Nitty Gritty record cleaners, etc.)
Tel: (800) 716-3553
* AGM Wordworking (CD storage)
Tel: (800) 858-9005
* Andy's Record Supplies (record sleeves, other supplies)
48 Colonial Road, Providence, RI 02906
Tel: (401) 421-9453
Fax: (401) 421-0841
* Bags Unlimited
Everything imaginable, in single units or bulk. Record sleeves, CD/tape
jewel cases, cleaning supplies, storage and shipping boxes, you name it.
7 Canal Street, Dept. A, Rochester, NY 14608
Tel: (800) 767-BAGS
Tel: (716) 436-9006
Fax: (716) 328-8526
* Can-Am
Metal office-furniture style storage units. Best-known for their CD
drawers. 3-drawer units hold 800+ CDs; well-made but expensive.
Tel: (800) 387-9790
* Davidson-Whitehall (CD storage)
Tel: (800) 848-9811
* Hy-Q Enterprises (CD storage)
Tel: (800) 878-7458
* Leslie Dame Enterprises (CD storage)
Tel: (800) 261-4919
* Lorentz Designs (CD storage)
Tel: (800) 933-0403
* Lyle's Cartridges (phonograph supplies)
Tel: (800) 221-0906
* The Needle Doctor (phonograph supplies)
Tel: (800) 229-0644
* Something Special Enterprises (general collecting supplies)
Tel: (412) 487-2626
* Sorice (CD storage)
Tel: (800) 432-8005
Email: sori...@aol.com
* VPI (record cleaners)
VPI, Aberdeen Business Park, 77 Cliffwood Avenue, Cliffwood, NJ 07721
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R006 Cataloging Software
MASTER PAGES
* Music Collection Software Page
http://www.inch.com/~jasonh/cdclubs/dl.html
MACINTOSH
* CDMatica 1.1 (by Otto Krauth)
http://www.sfu.ca/~okrauth/CDmatica.html
WINDOWS
* ClassiCat (for classical music collections)
http://www.tdware.com/
* DiscTrak
ftp://204.118.131.125, get "DT-811.ZIP"
Tel: (206) 814-9676, get "DT-811.ZIP"
Email: Bl...@aol.com (Blaine Young)
* MusicFile 2.0
http://www.ixl.net/~gmarkl
Email: gma...@ixl.net (George Markell)
* Music Catalog
ftp://ftp.marcam.com/win3/pim/am_mu40.zip
* Recording Master
http://www.mbnet.mb.ca/~hobson/
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R007 Selected Bibliography
* Bootleg: The Secret History Of The Other Recording Industry
By Clinton Heylin. Overview of the history and politics of bootlegging.
ISBN 0-312-13031-7; hardcover $29.95.
* The Complete Introduction To Record Collecting
ISBN 0-9515553-8-3; Lstg. 14.95. (IBD Ltd; UK 1996)
* Goldmine's Price Guide To Collectable Records
ISBN 0-87341-325-3; softcover $19.95.
* McNally's Soundtrack Guide (?)
ISBN 0-964-3539-1-1; $29.95.
West Point Records, 24325 San Fernando Rd, Newhall, CA 91321
Tel/fax: (805) 253 2190
* Rockin' Records
By Jerry Osborne. Price guide.
Sun Ripe Productions, (800) 543-7133 ($40+$4 s+h.)
* Search for the Black Gold: A Guide to Buying Used LP's
By Roger Gordon. Specialises in classical recordings. $25.
Roger Gordon, 312 Highland Ave Suite D, El Cajon, CA 92020
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R999 Miscellaneous Information Sources
* The Finding Musical Info FAQ
http://www.cs.ubc.ca/spider/edmonds/usenet/musical-info.txt
Email: majo...@edmonds.home.cs.ubc.ca
(with command "get faq musical-info.txt")
* The CD Club Home Page
Includes full catalogs for the RCA/BMG and Columbia House CD clubs,
the CD Club FAQ, etc.
http://www.inch.com/~jasonh/cdclubs
* The Soundtrack List
5000+ listings of soundtrack recordings on LP and CD; searchable by
title, composer, label, etc.
http://www.filmmusic.com/soundtracks/
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This document is Copyright 1996 by Ernie Longmire (Lazlo Nibble).
Permission is granted to download/print out/redistribute/establish WWW links
to this file provided it is unaltered, including credits and copyright notice.
Please ask for permission before publishing this document (in print, off
the Web, and/or for profit) or altering the file for publishing on the Web.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Answers to Frequently Asked Questions
rec.music.{marketplace/collecting} Hierarchies
Last Update: 30 December 1995
Copyright 1995 by Ernie Longmire (Lazlo Nibble)
Additions, corrections, and inquiries to la...@swcp.com
Ernie Longmire, P.O. Box 93775, Albuquerque, NM 87199
See the end of this file for more detailed copyright info
The current version of this file is available from:
ftp://ftp.swcp.com/pub/users/lazlo/marketplace-collecting/
Thanks to the following for help and suggestions:
David A. Pearlman <d...@vpharm.com>
Andrew Russ <end...@phys.psu.edu>
Jim Saxe <sa...@pa.dec.com>
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::: Questions Answered In This FAQ :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
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General Questions
G001 How much is my collection worth?
G002 I have a record/CD/tape with a drill hole/notch cut in the cover.
Why are records/CDs/tapes "cut out"?
G003 I have some items marked "Promotional - Not For Sale".
Is it really illegal to buy and sell these?
G004 I want to buy records from someone outside the US, but I don't want
to send cash -- how can I arrange payment?
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CD Questions
C001 Is "CD Rot" for real?
Some of my CDs are turning a bronze color. What's going on?
C002 What was the first CD ever?
C003 I have a mispressed CD -- it's supposed to be by Artist X but it
plays a completely different album. Is it worth anything?
C004 Why is it illegal to rent CDs but legal to rent out videogame CD-ROMs?
C005 Where does my money go when I buy a CD?
C006 What's the longest CD ever pressed?
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Vinyl Questions
V001 What is an RCA "Shaded Dog" record? Why are they so valuable?
V002 What is a test pressing? Are they collectable?
V003 Why is the Caine Mutiny soundtrack worth ten thousand dollars or more?
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::: General Questions ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
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G001 How much is my collection worth?
Any item has two values: how much someone is willing to pay for it,
and how much someone would have to pay before you'd be willing to
sell. Therefore the only people who can really determine the real
"price" of an item are the buyer and seller.
It may or may not help to consult a price guide. Guide authors use
all kinds of techniques to derive the prices they list, but they can't
take into account local supply and demand, market fluctuations brought
on by reissues or changes in people's tastes, or retailer whim. Supply
and demand always trumps the price guide. Some really high guide prices
are the highest price that item brought at auction somewhere; just
because there's one person crazy enough to pay that price for the record
doesn't mean you can expect to find another.
If you're trying to sell your collection to a dealer and expect him to
pay you guide price on it, forget it. Even if he can sell the records
again for those prices, he's typically only going to want to pay you
half that price for them -- otherwise he's not making any money in
selling them. You can almost always do better in selling your collection
to other collectors than in selling to a dealer, but then you have to do
all the work (writing up and placing ads, collecting payment, packaging
and shipping).
In other words, there's no simple answer to this question. You won't
know the answer unil you've sold it all and have time to count the money
in your pocket afterwards.
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G002 I have a record/CD/tape with a drill hole/notch cut in the cover.
Why are records/CDs/tapes "cut out"?
The short answer: items are "cut out" (physically damaged in some way)
to prevent record shops from returning them to the labels for credit.
Itmes are marked as cutouts by slicing a notch or drilling a hole in a
corner of the sleeve or jewel box.
The term "cutouts" generically refers to discontinued or overstock
items that were marked as cutouts by the record label, then sold in
bulk to a cutout distributor. The cutout distributor then sells them
(usually in "grab bag" form -- pay a flat price per unit, you don't get
to choose what you get) to record stores, who sell them on the cheap.
Artists don't get royalties on these sales, which is part of why they
can be let go for so little.
To confuse things slightly, some labels will mark promo releases in
the same way they mark cutouts -- by notching or drilling the case --
instead of using a "For Promotional Release Only" stamp or sticker. If
you run across a "cutout" of something that's been released in the
last couple of months, it's really a promo. Some promo CDs have a
hole punched (not drilled) in the UPC code on the tray insert, but leave
the jewel case intact. In general, ragged drill holes or slices mark
cutouts, and "clean" punch holes, clipped corners, etc. mark promos.
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G003 I have some items marked "Promotional - Not For Sale".
Is it really illegal to buy and sell these?
No. The record companies will occasionally rattle their sabres on this
issue but in fact they have no legal power to prevent people from buying
and selling marked promos. In fact, they are well aware that most of
the promos they issue end up being sold in the open market sooner or
later, and often will send out "collectable" promos in bulk as a sort
of bribe to encourage record shops and radio stations to push their
product. The "Must Be Returned To The Record Company On Demand" wording
of some promo labels is meaningless; no record company has ever issued
the demand.
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G004 I want to buy records from someone outside the US, but I don't want
to send cash -- how can I arrange payment?
Check with your bank first. Most major banks should have a department
or office that can issue checks for you in the currency of your choice.
Unfortunately, in some areas this service is extremely expensive or
simply unavailable. If you live in the US and have difficulty getting
international checks in your area, a company called Ruesch International
can issue a check in any denomination for a flat fee of $2.00.
Ruesch International, Inc.
700 Eleventh St. NW
Washington. DC 20001-4507
800: (800) 424-2923
Tel: (202) 408-1200
Fax: (202) 408-1211
Call their 1-800 number and ask for the "international department".
Tell them you want an international check. They'll need the name of
the person you want it made out to, so have that ready when you call.
They will issue a check drawn on a bank in the country you're sending
it too, and will hold the check(s) until they recieve payment (you can
write them a check and mail it to them -- they *do not* take credit
cards).
Ruesch is reliable, friendly, and cheap.
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::: CD Questions :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
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C001 Is "CD Rot" for real?
Some of my CDs are turning a bronze color. What's going on?
In general, no, "CD Rot" is not real. To date there is no evidence
that CDs, if properly manufactured and stored, will gradually become
unplayable. Unfortunately there have been several occasions where
*improperly* manufactured CDs have been sold to the public only to
self-destruct in some way later on.
One early problem occurred in the mid-to-late 1980s when a number of CDs
were labeled with an ink that eventually migrated through the lacquer on
the label side and caused the aluminum surface to lose its reflectivity.
The damage is immediately visible by looking at the data side of the
discs in question. These discs self-destructed very quickly and were
pressed in relatively small numbers, so you are unlikely to run across
any today.
The best-known problem is with a larger number of discs pressed between
1989 and 1991 by Philips Data Optical (PDO) in the UK. Due to errors in
manufacturing, these discs are slowly turning a dark orange or bronze
color, primarily on the label side. This discoloration gradually
propagates from the outer edge of the CD towards the center, and can
eventually make such discs unplayable. If you have such a disc, PDO will
replace it for free. You can contact them at the following address to
arrange for the replacement:
Dave Wilson, Marketing Services Manager
PDO Discs Ltd. (UK)
Philips Road
Blackburn, Lancashire BB1 5RZ
United Kingdom
Tel: +44 254-52448
Fax: +44 254-54729
By all reports, PDO have been very accomodating in their response to this
problem.
There *is* a real phenomenon called "laser rot" that affects 12" video
laserdiscs, but it is caused by problems that occur when the two sides
of such a disc are glued together. CDs are one-sided so they are not
at risk for this particular problem.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
C002 What was the first CD ever?
According to the "Tenth Anniversary of The CD" supplement to the
26 Sep 1992 issue of Billboard Magazine (thanks to Derek Nichols
for looking this up):
* 1 October 1982: Billy Joel - 52nd St.
(First commercial CD released in Japan.)
* June 1983: 12 CBS titles, 15 Telarc titles, 30 Denon titles
(First US CD releases. All CDs sold in the US previously had been
import titles pressed for overseas labels. These were still
manufactured overseas, but for US labels.)
* August 1983: Polygram releases 100 titles in the US
* September 1984: Bruce Springsteen - Born In The USA
(First CD manufactured in the US.)
According to Clinton Heylin in his book Bootleg: The Secret History
Of The Other Recording Industry:
* 1987: The Beatles - Get Back acetate, BBC sessions, and Sessions
(Probably the first genuine bootleg CDs; a young entrepreneur
convinced the Technotronics pressing plant in Philadelphia that
he worked for EMI and needed these three CDs pressed in quantities
of 500 each as "promos". They did it! He sold most of them for
$100 each at the 1987 Beatlefest.)
* Late 1987: Bob Dylan - The Gaslight Tapes
(First "protection gap" bootleg; i.e., an unauthorized release legal
in some countries but not in others because of differences in
international copyright laws.)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
C003 I have a mispressed CD -- it's supposed to be by Artist X but it
plays a completely different album. Is it worth anything?
As mentioned elsewhere, any item is worth pretty much what you can
convince someone else to pay for it. At the moment, there doesn't seem
to be any real collector interest in mislabeled or mispackaged CDs --
among other reasons, they're far too common. In most cases you're
better off taking it back to the store for a new copy.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
C004 Why is it illegal to rent out CDs but legal to rent out CD-ROMs?
The law doesn't say anything about CDs per se, but rather about "sound
recordings" and "computer programs". The relevant section of US
copyright law is 17 USC 109:
[A person who owns a particular copy of a sound recording or
computer program is not allowed] for the purposes of direct or
indirect commercial advantage [to] dispose of, or authorize the
disposal of, the posession of that phonorecord or computer program
(including any tape, disk, or other medium embodying such program)
by rental, lease, or lending...
-- 17 USC 109 (b)(1)(A)
This subsection does not apply to [...] (ii) a computer program
embodied in or used in conjunction with a limited purpose computer
that is designed for playing video games and may be designed for
other purposes.
-- 17 USC 109 (b)(1)(B)
In other words:
* Renting out sound recordings is a violation.
* Renting out CD-ROMS for home computer systems is a violation.
* Renting out CD-ROMs for home videogame systems is not a violation
(there's a specific exemption).
The law prohibiting rental (17 USC 1101 as far as I can tell) applies
to sound recordings -- the format doesn't matter.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
C005 Where does my money go when I buy a CD?
The Washington Post ran a report on this subject on February 15, 1995.
Based on information from the RIAA, Billboard Magazine, and elsewhere,
they broke down the $11.99 street price of a typical hit new-release CD
as follows:
$ 2.00 Record-label profit + Executive salaries
$ 1.40 New artist development
$ 1.15 Distribution
$ 1.10 Manufacturing (CD + artwork + jewel case)
$ .85 "Other"
$ .80 Performer royalties
$ .65 Songwriter royalties
$ .65 Advertising and promotion
$ .35 Producer
$ .30 Recording costs
$ .25 Music videos
$ .20 Managers and lawyers
$ .10 Artist pensions
------
$ 9.80 Wholesale cost to retailer
+
$ .95 Miscellaneous retailer expenses
$ .90 Store personnel salaries
$ .75 Rent
------
$12.40 Total cost to retailer
$11.99 CD price at retail
$ .41 Loss to retailer
These figures make it clear that everyone but the label is getting a
royal screwing. Label profit, salaries, distribution (usually label-
owned), manufacturing (label-owned again), and "other" (a.k.a. "hookers
and cocaine for the label VPs") add up to $6.50/disc -- or more than half
of a CD's retail price. The people who actually make the music (the
performers, songwriters, and producers) get less than a third of that.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
C006 What's the longest CD ever pressed?
To date, the longest CD reported is "Gridlock! CD-2", a DJ-only
remix compilation issued by the US DJ label Razormaid. This CD
clocks in at 80:16. In future issues of this FAQ I'll try to list
the next five or ten runner-ups.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
::: Vinyl Questions ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
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V001 What is an RCA "Shaded Dog" record? Why are they so valuable?
RCA's "Shaded Dogs" are their LSC-series (Living Stereo Classical) LPs
from the late 1950s and early 1960s -- the term "shaded dog" refers to
the painting of Little Nipper on the label of these records, which has
a shaded background on a red label. This series was very exactingly
recorded and is in demand primarily among audiophiles who actually
want to listen to these excellent-sounding performances. The mere
presence of a "shaded dog" on the label doesn't automatically make it
valuable; since these are sought out for listening purposes, condition
is extremely important and some pressings (identified by the matrix
number in the runout groove) are in higher demand than others.
This is definitely a specialist's market. If you're interested in
dipping your toes, a book by Jonathan Valin called The Living Stereo
Bible describes the series in more detail.
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V002 What is a test pressing? Are they collectable?
[David A. Pearlman answers:]
Test pressings were issued for many albums issued from the late '60's
through the early '80's. Typically, a small number (very rarely over
a few hundred, frequently fewer) test pressing copies of an album
would be pressed. These were obstensibly for use only by record
company personel, the artist, and/or for advanced promotion. The
exact numbers of test pressings issued varied both with the particular
release and with the label. By the mid '80's, the vinyl test pressing
had generally been replaced by advanced copies on cassette tape.
Test pressings are generally identical to their commercial
counterparts except that the label is different. In some cases, the
label will describe the contents. In most cases, it will simply list
the pressing plant where the test pressing was made. Most test
pressings were originally issued in generic white sleeves, usually
with a Xeroxed copy of the track listing, label information, producer,
publishers, etc. included. Over the years, these Xeroxed information
sheets tend to get lost, so many test pressings are found without
them.
Although most test pressings simply replicate commercially available
material, there are occasional test pressings which correspond to
music that was pulled from issue at the last minute (but after the
test pressings were distributed). These tend to be much more
desirable.
The value of test pressings vary widely. Test pressings for albums by
groups of little collectable interest can usually be obtained for
between $2-10. Test pressings for collectable artists/albums can cost
much more.
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V003 Why is the Caine Mutiny soundtrack worth ten thousand dollars or more?
The soundtrack album for the film The Caine Mutiny is extremely rare,
with possibly less than a dozen copies in circulation. The album was
pressed but never released; extant copies probably slipped out through
label executives and other label employees. Author and playwright Herman
Wouk explained the circumstances behind this release's scarcity in the
following letter to a collector, Mr. John Clark:
Dear Mr. Clark:
Here's the approximate story on LOC-1013 seen from a memory
perspective of a quarter of a century:
My play THE CAINE MUTINY COURTMARTIAL made a great hit on Broadway
while the film was still being completed. Columbia Pictures
hastily rushed out this record to cash in on the play's success. I
never saw the record or its slipcover, but I was warned that they
intended to feature the "courtmartial scene" from the picture
soundtrack; the shoddiest possible piggyback ride on my play.
I am a man of peace, but this annoyed me. I telephoned the
brutal, crafty, able head of Columbia Pictures, Harry Cohn, and
warned him that the issue of this record meant that Columbia
Pictures would never again have an opportunity to bid on one of my
novels for filming. Cohn looked into the matter, called me back,
and said in his tough gravelly voice,"I've got you beat on the
legalities, but I've listened to the record and it' no goddamn
good, so I'm yanking it."
Thus was born your collector's item.
Cordially,
Herman Wouk (signed)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This document is Copyright 1995 by Ernie Longmire (Lazlo Nibble).
Permission is granted to download/print out/redistribute/establish WWW links
to this file provided it is unaltered, including credits and copyright notice.
Please ask for permission before publishing this document (in print, off
the Web, and/or for profit) or altering the file for publishing on the Web.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Lazlo Nibble
* DISCoveries
WORLDWIDE
JAPAN--TOKYO
UK--LONDON
USA--CALIFORNIA
USA--NEW YORK
USA--PACIFIC NORTHWEST
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
R005 Supplies
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
R006 Cataloging Software
MASTER PAGES
MACINTOSH
WINDOWS
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
R007 Selected Bibliography
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CD Questions
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Vinyl Questions
In other words:
[David A. Pearlman answers:]
Dear Mr. Clark:
Cordially,
Herman Wouk (signed)
Last Updated: 30 December 1995
Welcome to the rec.music.collecting and rec.music.marketplace newsgroups.
How do these newsgroups work? What are the differences between them?
This article will help you get your postings read by the right audience.
The two most important points to remember are:
1) "Marketplace" groups are only for buying and selling things.
* RECORDS AND CDS go in the rec.music.marketplace.cd/vinyl newsgroups.
* TAPES AND COLLECTABLES go in the rec.music.marketplace.MISC newsgroup.
* INSTRUMENTS go in the rec.music.MAKERS.marketplace newsgroups.
2) "Collecting" groups are for discussing the hobby of music collecting.
* NO BUYING, SELLING, OR WANTLISTS (these go to the "marketplace" groups).
* No general music discussions -- they go in rec.music.misc and/or
any of the dozens of other artist- and genre-specific newsgroups.
The rest of this article contains a more detailed explanation of these rules
as well as some tips that will help you get your records sold if you're using
the "marketplace" groups.
The current version of this file is available from:
ftp://ftp.swcp.com/pub/users/lazlo/marketplace-collecting/
Copyright 1995 by Ernie Longmire (Lazlo Nibble)
Additions, corrections, and inquiries to la...@swcp.com
Ernie Longmire, P.O. Box 93775, Albuquerque, NM 87199
See the end of this file for more detailed copyright info
Thanks to the following for help and suggestions:
Daniel Barrett <bar...@cs.umass.edu>
Gary Clinton Sather <gsa...@kuentos.guam.net>
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
::: Basic Posting Guidelines :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
BASIC POSTING GUIDELINES FOR THE REC.MUSIC.COLLECTING GROUPS
* The rec.music.collecting groups are for postings directly related to
music collecting as a hobby. Some sample topics:
Collection care, storage, and display
Valuation, appraisals, and insurance
Useful references (price guides, discographies, etc.)
Favorite retailers, real-world and online
Reissues and specialty releases - quality and availability
"War stories"
* The rec.music.collecting groups *aren't* for:
Wanted/Forsale postings. These have their own hierarchy (the
rec.music.marketplace groups) and are off-charter in the
collecting groups. Wanted and forsale messages should NOT be
posted or crossposted to rec.music.collecting.*; the .collecting
groups were created so people would have a place to discuss music
collecting without having to wade through .marketplace-style ads
to do it.
Discussion of new releases, except as specific to a particular
format. For example, the fact that a new album is coming out
on CD is not sufficient reason to post to rec.music.collecting.cd
about it, unless there is something special about the CD release
that would make it of interest to collectors (limited edition
packaging, different tracks, tracking or remastering errors on
a reissue, etc.)
General "who wrote this song?" questions. These should go in
rec.music.misc or the appropriate genre group if one exists;
alt.music.lyrics also has many folks eager to answer these
kinds of inquiries.
The latest version of the Great Floating LP-vs-CD Flamewar.
We've all seen it a hundred times before. Take it somewhere else.
* "How Much Is This Worth?" questions come up a lot on the collecting
groups. While these posts are not necessarily inappropriate, there
are probably better places to get this kind of information. Most
record shops -- especially independent stores and those that deal in
used vinyl -- have a number of record price guides to choose from. If
you only have a few records you're curious about, write down specifics
and look up the prices in the store. If you have a lot, it's probably
worth your time to buy a copy of the guide.
If you still decide to post valuation questions, please be sure to
include all of the following information about the release(s) you're
curious about:
Label
Title
Artist
Catalog Number
Condition of your copy (any damage to the sleeve or record,
including simple scuffing, sleeve splits, etc.)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
BASIC POSTING GUIDELINES FOR THE REC.MUSIC.MARKETPLACE GROUPS
* The rec.music.marketplace groups are for "wanted/forsale" postings --
messages offering musical recordings and memorabilia for sale, or
seeking out musical recordings and memorabilia for purchase.
* Posts should go to the group most appropriate to the items being offered
or sought. A "CDs for sale" post should go to rec.music.marketplace.cd,
not to the .misc group.
* If you are selling items in more than one format (i.e. LPs and CDs),
you should consider making separate postings for each format unless
all the items are very closely related (i.e., you're selling your
entire Psychic T.V. collection, in which case you should crosspost
to the relevant groups and make it clear in your subject line that
you are selling multiple formats.) Please do not post or crosspost
messages with 150 LPs and five CDs to rec.music.marketplace.cd.
* If you are looking for an item in more then one format, crosspost to the
appropriate groups. (You should not crosspost to .misc unless you are
looking for an item in a format that doesn't have a more specific
group, such as cassettes or 78s.)
* The rec.music.marketplace groups *aren't* for:
Anything that isn't a wanted or forsale posting.
Announcements of new releases and services.
Instruments and gear. Postings offering or seeking hardware belong
in the rec.music.makers.marketplace hierarchy, and are specifically
off-topic in rec.music.marketplace.
Frequent repostings of the same items for sale by the same seller.
Please do not offer the same items for sale more often than once a
week. There isn't enough turnover in readership to warrant posting
your ad every day.
* Try to make your subject line as specific as possible in the space
available. Your subject line is like a little advertisement for your
posting; you want to encourage people interested in what you're
selling/seeking to read your message. The best way to do this is to
let them know as much about your posting as possible in the space
available to you. Some common abbreviations have come into use in the
marketplace groups that will help save space: WTB == wanted to buy, FS
== for sale, and so forth.
Here are some examples of how to design a good, specific subject line:
Bad....Subject: Promos
Good...Subject: FS: Tori Amos/Y Kant Tori Read/Kate Bush 12" promos
Bad....Subject: WTB: Sinatra
Good...Subject: WTB: Capitol Sinatra CDs: "Tone Poems", others
Bad....Subject: LPS FOR SALE!!!!
Good...Subject: FS: 250 Jazz LPs - Verve/Blue Note, Stan Kenton, more
If you are selling a *lot* of items, get information about the genre and
major artists into the subject, and put a more detailed summary of what
you're selling in the first few lines of the actual message so people
don't necessarily need to sift through your entire message to see if you
have something they want.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
::: Group Charters :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
GROUP CHARTERS: REC.MUSIC.COLLECTING HIERARCHY
CHARTER: rec.music.collecting.cd (passed 143:19, Aug 1995)
Discussion of issues relevant to collectors of audio compact discs.
Postings belong here only if they have some direct bearing on the CD
format -- the mere availability on CD of a given release is *not*
sufficient reason to discuss it here, unless the item is only available
on CD, a CD reissue, has CD-only features, etc. The group is also not
for discussion of musical quality, how much you like an album, and so
forth, as none of these questions are specific to the CD format. Wanted
and for-sale postings are off-charter here and should be directed to
the most appropriate rec.music.marketplace group.
CHARTER: rec.music.collecting.vinyl (passed 153:16, Aug 1995)
Discussion of issues relevant to collectors of vinyl LPs, singles, and
related recording formats. Wanted and for-sale postings are
off-charter here and should be directed to the most appropriate
rec.music.marketplace group.
CHARTER: rec.music.collecting.misc (passed 143:20, Aug 1995)
Discussion of music-collecting issues for which there is no more
specific rec.music.collecting newsgroup. Wanted and for-sale postings
are off-charter here and should be directed to the most appropriate
rec.music.marketplace group.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
GROUP CHARTERS: REC.MUSIC.MARKETPLACE HIERARCHY
CHARTER: rec.music.marketplace.vinyl (passed 151:18, Aug 1995)
Postings offering and seeking sound recordings on vinyl (LPs, 7"/12"
singles, and so forth). Such postings belong in this group *only*,
both so that people interested in the material can find it and so those
who wish to avoid such postings can do so easily. Posters are
encouraged to be as specific as possible in their subject lines,
including a description of the genre and/or artists involved.
Messages offering the same items from the same seller should not be
posted more often than once a week.
CHARTER: rec.music.marketplace.cd (passed 146:17, Aug 1995)
Postings offering and seeking sound recordings on compact disc. Such
postings belong in this group *only*, both so that people interested in
the material can find it and so those who wish to avoid such postings
can do so easily. Posters are encouraged to be as specific as possible
in their subject lines, including a description of the genre and/or
artists involved. Messages offering the same items from the same
seller should not be posted more often than once a week.
CHARTER: rec.music.marketplace.misc (passed 143:23, Aug 1995)
Postings offering music-related merchandise (recordings, memorabilia)
for which no more specific .marketplace group exists. Note that
rec.music.MAKERS.marketplace and its subgroups exist for the sale of
instruments and gear; those postings are off-topic here.