Last year I decided to finally organize my LPs and CDs.
The LPs are organized alphabetically by band name or surname. The real job was taking it one step further by inputting these albums, same way, on an excel spreadsheet. The spreadsheet has these columns:
Group / Artist, album title , Label, Label catalog # or UPC, year of pressing / release, LP condition, sleeve condition, size of media 10" or 12", # of discs and speed (33 or 45).
My CDs are organized the same way and are done so on a separate storage rack system, except they currently are not logged into the excel spreadsheet (yet). Eventually, they will be on a slightly different list:
Artist. album title, Label. Label catalog #, year, # discs, jewel case, digital or box set.
I had to resort to cataloging my LPs because I was buying the same music that I already have. In some cases I wanted a variety of pressings of the same albums, but mostly settled on one favorite.
It takes a lot of time cataloging your music, but it's nice to have these lists at your fingertips on your phone when music shopping!
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Grouped by genre, then sorted alphabetically by name of band or last name of main artist. After that random within the band/artist. |
bin for each genre, then by alphabet in each bin |
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By color!
It's a thing we started in college with several room mates, decades ago. Amazing how well it worked! And still works.
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Alphabetically starting with the first letter towards the side facing me. Could be the title of the album or the name of the artist. Therefore listening is completely random. I guess I could just put them all in randomly and would be the same effect but this way I feel there is a method to the madness. So if I know I want the listen to Selling England by the Pound by Genesis, I know it will either be in the “S” section or the “G” section.
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Alphabetical by artist last name using wooden dividers, split into two groups - jazz and everything else |
From best to worst. ;-) Yes. But we know you jest. Obviously these being LPs the correct answer is by VTA. |
Alphabetically, using wooden divideres. |
Theo's got it. Same way we file companies and paperwork at work.
Continuity. Got to keep it all the same. Doesn't take much to ball me up.
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Two divisions...classical and everything else.
Classical is then alphabetical by composer. Then sub-divided, symphonies, concerti, ensemble and then solo performances by instrument.
Everything else is alphabetical by artist. Then sub-divided oldest to newest.
Otherwise, I can't find what I'm looking for.
I'm trying to create a database using Readerware, but it is TEDIOUS work and will take years!
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Mostly by Classical vs. Everything Else. Classical by composer but only when it makes logical sense. Separate sections for boutique labels such as M.A. and Harmonia Mundi. Operas and gigantic box sets on the top shelf because they collectively weigh less than single disc releases. For aesthetic reasons, I sort the Opera box sets by record label. The different labels all have their own box styles and it just looks better that way. Oddball records, such as stereo test records and a single LP that is cut from the center outward toward the edge, have a single, special niche.
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Theo.
There is always one to bite you though.
Pondered this only two days ago as deciding how to place it.
The Stanley Clarke Project, where both Stanley and Clarke are equal co conspirators!
Went with S eventually. |
Alphabetical by Last Name on solo and first letter of group sans the word “the” and I do keep the Audiophile pressings separate. |
Uber, I'm still working on mine. I think I have close to half my records in now. Every time I listen to a record, I check to see if I have it in my collection, and if not, I enter it.
I think downloading the CSV is a good idea just in case... |
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Alpha by artist. If you want to catalog them, consider putting them into the Discogs database. You can then download a CSV file from Discogs. |
Remember the scene in Diner in which Daniel Stern's character reads his wife (played by the delicious Ellen Barkin) the riot act for mis-filing one of his LP's? She put it away in the incorrect genre. Great movie, great scene. |
Genre, then alphabetical order |
Alpha.
Genre is too hard as Eric says, too many artists fall into possible 2 or 3 genre's depending which way the wind blows.
I suppose it also would make a big difference according to the size of your collection and how often you add to it. |
Just make it easier on yourself and not over think this and just do it alphabetical.
while you are at it....make a spread sheet of what you have also and can update as you add to the collection. |
From best to worst. ;-) I’m curious fellas: why the organization by genre? I suppose if you have a hankerin’ for some Blues (or any other style) it would be handy. I did it that way when I was 17, but then I got a Mose Allison album. Jazz, or Blues? At 18 I switched to alphabetical by artist (surname or group/band name), then chronological. Simple. Classical by composer, then alpha by title of work, and conductor/performer. |
Genre, then alphabetical order....for example, jazz, blues, rock, disco, military marches, soundtracks, disco, easy listening, classical, country, folk, etc. Have MOFI separated on their own racks, as I do Nautilus, DCC, Simply Vinyl, Etc. It’s a long process and is still something I am trying to keep up with, but the occasional flea market, record store, or on line purchases are accumulating faster than I can sort. And, coworkers, family, and friends who have given me boxes of records, I am still sorting those as well. In Germany, my old neighbor gave me a box of classical Deutsche Grammophone records. |
By genre, first, but in the classical category I just finished sorting by the labels. Within the labels I have a good idea of the artists, composers and pieces. I guess I'm thinking of selling down the road as I'm getting older and wanted to see if I had anything valuable. |
Totally random! Last listened to on top of the pile! |
Totally random! Last listened to on top of the pile! |
By genre (classical, jazz-blues, rock), then by composer-composition (classical), artist-composer all other. In classical, when there are more than 1 composer involved, I favour the better of (usually) two performances. |
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Record store style bins. Genre: Jazz, blues, indy, rock, folk, classical, broadway. Artists grouped together. No alpha.
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