The cost of LP's and CD's - an observation


Back just before CD's, Albums were usually around $6-8.00, cutout less, double albums a bit more. When CD's first came out they were 'premium' items and cost $10-15.00, slowly the prices for CD's came down and records slowly all went down to a buck or two then disappeared. Now it's reversed, CD's are a few bucks, new Albums are usually around $15 to 25.00. (I didn't figure out the inflation rate, someone else can add that in) . And those cutouts can now be worth a small fortune. I just thought this reversal was interesting. Of course with Streaming, music of any quality is very cheap.


128x128deadhead1000
I enjoy music. Too much great music is not and never will be on "records.’

of course, you have that quite backwards. literally the golden age of both music, and the recording process, came and went prior to digital.

it’s not just that analog is better, but that the recording process served the music and music making, much better then. and the musicians were....more special.

we do have inferior digital copies of many of these recordings, but not nearly enough of them.

few people would want only current music, in substitute for music from that classic period. let alone digital instead of analog. and there are plenty of vinyl versions of current music to keep it interesting. personally i don't want to choose so i have top flight digital. but if i had to choose, i know what it would be.
"literally the golden age of both music, and the recording process, came and went prior to digital....

few people would want only current music, in substitute for music from that classic period."

As much as it is true that even current teenagers listen to Simon and Garfunkel, I would not venture into saying that they think of current music as not being the golden age for the music they like. And they like it, no doubt about it.

Having said that, and in case I have not already thanked you, thanks for that Ferit Odman LP recommendation. It was worth it and I am recommending it to everyone who is willing to pay attention to me. I guess I am preaching coexistence?
"The great mass of people abandoned the quality of records for the convenience of CD. "

In my case, nothing could be further from the truth.  What caused me to pack my bags was the abysmal quality of LP's.  Recall in my college days returning defective LP's over and over.  Remember the ritual trying to guess which LP in the bin had the least tics and pops.  THAT's what drove many of us to CD's.

Ironically, I just hauled out my Project Expression table, Ortofon om super 20e, Bellari vp129, and Sennheiser hd580's.  This all on a Salamander rack with built in goody drawer.  I LIKE the ritual of tinkering with the table, cleaning the LP's.  No doubt the nostalgia factor is operative but I love listening to these LP's all over again.  This affordable gear plays together incredibly well and I get the whole LP thing.

But if I want to demo my system, I would haul out a well engineered CD or SACD.  Not for convenience, but for SQ.  
thank you for the comments about the ’Ferit Odman’ rec. we need more music recorded and played like that. :-)

I would not venture into saying that they think of current music as not being the golden age for the music they like. And they like it, no doubt about it.

well....maybe....but all we have to do is look at the 80’s music to realize how little youth liking the music might matter. in the winds of time it’s like it never happened. time has not been kind to it. i suspect today's music might not be much better.
I distinctly remember new CD's, at their height in the mid-2000s, regularly costing $18.99 or so