Suggestions for organizing albums

Seems to me that categories, then alphabetized within the category would be about all you need to do.

I separate by category and put a tag on the shelf to identify it. Then I arrange the records in alphabetical order within each category. As for category names, that really depends on your music preferances. I think it is more important to physically place your records in a manner that allows you to pull them out without damaging the covers. I had a sheet metal shop make U shaped holders 9" wide. They are not visible in use and they keep a long stack of records from lying to one side creating a lot of pressure.

I just alphabetize mine, with categories mixed. I keep a spreadsheet (alphabetized by arists then sorted by year) so I know what I have when I go the the 'fun' store. I keep the LP order on the storage unit the same as the spreadsheet - I can find what I want pretty quickly. I also have alphabet tabs on my storage unit (Bags Unlimited)to help me locate the 'letter' of the artist quickly.

How many LP's do you have? IMO you definitely want categories. Both for CD's & LP's, I have Blues, rock, classical, jazz. And also "country" for CD's. I also have a Comedy section (!) for LP's. Personally I'd go nuts w/o categories.

OTOH there's nothing wrong with having "current listening" piles or stacks, or even an unorganized seperate group that "you know where they all are".....

My system of sorting is not very good for large collections but I have mine sorted by best albums at the top. My very favorites are on the top shelf. The artists are grouped together. So I have top tier through bottom tier by shelf location. As example Pink Floyd is 4th shelf down and all grouped together. Top shelf (for me) is Mindy Smith, Diana Krall, Jennifer Warnes, Fresh air, etc.
It's a poor sorting system but it works for me. The standards are on top and the obscure stuff goes to the bottom.
Thanx, Russ

Just stick them in anywhere. When you want to play a specific album, you'll have to search for it. While searching, you'll stumble across many you were always just skimming past before, never noticing. Now they get noticed, and possible played.

That's how mine are disorganized.

Thanks for all of your ideas. A $1.280 hit on a key point for me -- is there a scientific way to stumble into a fresh discovery:)?

I have about 600 albums and I seem to always go to the eye level shelf to start, which ignores most of them. I think I'll go to one of the LP store sites like Acoustic Sounds and get some ideas for categories, and then either improve the lighting near my shelving or rotate the categories to eye level once in a while.

Thanks for sharing

iTunes

you can organize your records in alphabetical order, or rip them to a pc and use mediamonkey