Best Ways to Organize a Classical Record LP Collection ?

I have a collection of about 3,000 classical LPs.  They are generally ordered chronologically by when composed.  Hence, medieval, renaissance, baroque, classical, etc. Bach before Haydn before Mozart before Beethoven, etc. Vocal and opera recordings are segregated from instrumental but are also arranged chronologically.

 Recordings by the same composer are ordered: symphonies and other large orchestral works; concerti; chamber works; solo instruments.  It's far from perfect, but I can usually find what I'm looking for very quickly.

What I’ve done is to first sort into the following categories, and then within each category by composer, or by the composer of either the major work or the work that is of greatest interest to me in the case of recordings having works by multiple composers. One reason I chose this methodology is simply that in my case it happens to work out nicely with respect to the available shelving. The categories are:

-- Analog mastered recordings on labels which usually provide exceptionally good sound quality (e.g., Astrée, Harmonia Mundi, Chesky, Wilson Audio, Pierre Verany, some EMI, RCA Japan, etc.).

There are a number of past threads here providing discussions of the best sounding classical labels. Search posts by member Rushton in particular.

-- Digitally mastered recordings on labels which usually provide very good to excellent sound quality (e.g., Telarc).

-- Recordings on labels which usually provide good but not exceptional sound quality (e.g., Philips, London, Argo).

-- Historical recordings from the mono era (e.g., Toscanini)

-- Most others.

-- Recordings that are in questionable condition, or worse.

Enjoy! Regards,
-- Al

I have far more "Classical" (the term originally identified a time period and composition form or style, approximately the mid-18th century through almost mid-19th, including Haydn, Mozart, and Beethoven. You can see TV clips from the 1950s, in which what is now called Classical was then referred to as "serious"---as opposed to Pop---or "longhair"---a pre-Beatles term!---music) CDs than LPs, both organized the same: Alphabetically by composer, then alpha by composition title (The Rite of Spring, for instance) or form (concerto, sonata, symphony, etc.), then alpha by conductor (no offense to orchestra members implicate!). Collections are at the end, also alpha by either the performer (if appropriate) or period (Baroque, say). After the music, I have the overtly audiophile label recordings (Reference, Sheffield, Wilson) and audiophile re-issue label pressings (Chesky, Classic Records), alpha then numeric. 

Great info ! Very helpful.
So far I am reading that members are organizing. Not in any order.

By Label first, then Alphabetic (Composer or Performer)....
By Composer first, then Performer, with the label later ?
By an Organizational Category first, then Composer (Alpha)  
The chronological by date method sounds very interesting.

So is it true ? 

Filing By Label and release catalog number - You are an LP collector
File by Composer / Performer - You are more of a music lover.

This is the situation I am dealing with. A partial view of what I (and my wife) sees. 

https://goo.gl/photos/RcrVBfh656gh5XKt9

The records are temporarily in the front part of our house including the room where you enter. :^(   I am being asked (pressured) to move them. The numerous treasures I am finding is really slowing me down as I stand there and admire these records, losing focus. I tend to go onto the internet to read about them. This really slows down the process. I hate filing. I love listening. To see my existing main room is to see records (2k?) and cds, many all over the place, (not including files on the Western drive). I just know where everything is. This is no longer the case.  
  
I had some but not a lot of mono recordings before. I may now need to acquire a mono cartridge sometime in the future as I have come across a number of mono recordings i.e. Budapest String Quartet.

Bdp24

You can see TV clips from the 1950s, in which what is now called Classical was then referred to as "serious"---as opposed to Pop---or "longhair"---a pre-Beatles term!---music)

8^)

Bdp24 - having being born in the 60's, my LP collection is mixed, but mostly longhaired. 

The Classical - Serious were always an honored guest with a dedicated spot, but still a minority group.  But they are about to take over in that space - the pressure on me to get them there may make it look more like a hostile takeover.  

As we know with classical, the records need to be in good shape due to the large swing in dynamics. A noisy record, a well played lp can ruin the experience. I had been listening to a lot of recently acquired over the winter, classical on digital lately. It was sounding great   "soul resetting great". I happened to be looking for a good condition Symphony I was enjoying in LP format,  when by chance, replied to this ad for selling of a collection.  When I asked if he had that LP his answer was   "probably".  

 

Hi Almarg, 

I found your comment that "Decca, Argo provides good but not exceptional sound"  an interesting one.  

Arthur Salvatore posts on his blog.  

Most of the very best orchestral and (especially) opera recordings I have ever heard are from the Decca label, but their overall sonics are very variable. This is in contrast with their rival EMI, which are more uniformly excellent (though not reaching the highest standards of Decca).

The EMI's I have heard so far are excellent.

Here is Rushton's thread where the different label qualities are discussed.  

https://forum.audiogon.com/discussions/classical-record-labels-and-recording-engineers

I hope to be able to contribute to it in the future.  

I brought along the original post from Rushton's thread along with a few others that I had printed off,  "BUT", when I got there and fell into the honey;  it all went out the window as I flipped through the records in the boxes - my mind became a blur. It was like I could no longer read.  Having gone there to find one or two records, I initially came home with a box and based on those threads DECCA was big on my hit list. After a couple of hours home it dawned on me, what I was leaving behind ....next thing I know they are all in my house. The person I met was selling the records for a 75 year old audiophile/music lover who was moving to a condo. He had been collecting them for 30 years. Feel honored to have been given this incredible music opportunity.