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
They may have "started" in the 70's but they made their mark and the bulk of their music in the 80's.  The Police and U2 are very much "epic".  Prince? Doesn't get much more epic than that. Iron Maiden? Many consider Depeche Mode even today a lot more epic than many other groups. REM? .... People will be listening to Jackson for decades, probably Madonna. Whitney Houston not so much.  Others like Bowie reinvented themselves for the era. 
I, and I'm sure like many on this forum, find my music listening is based on my mood. Especially after a work day. Jazz, classic rock, classical, bluegrass, maybe some 80's punk ,etc. But I also find the medium to deliver the music is also based on my mood. Not entirely sure what drives the feeling for vinyl or CD's or streaming because its not based on the genre. I'm not gonna over analyze but it just works.

Also, like wine pairing does anyone pair booze or cocktails with the music they're listening to? Man I started listening to some Ferit Odman based on glupson's comment and sure enough...Whiskey Sour. Perfect with Dameronia With Strings. Classic with a little zip.

And I gotta agree CD's are to be had at the moment. I was lucky enough to stumble into a shop a few months ago and it was all CD's at the front of the house. 5 CD's for 10 bucks. 3 good recordings and 2 so-so but for $2 each how can I complain. And finding a shop like this is like finding a good fishing hole...now back to a whiskey sour and the rest of Ferit.
As much as I prefer my vinyl over digital, I also really enjoy new music. The simple reality is we close ourselves off to TONS of new music by limiting ourselves simply to vinyl, and listening to the same old stuff over and over. The genre’s I like on digital are selections that are MADE for the digital spectrum. Also, the convenience of digital is what it is. For casual listening it’s hard to beat. As much as vinyl has taken off over the last few years, it will never, ever, surpass the digital market. Ever... just the way it is.
@mikelavigne
There were no Loudness Wars in the 1980s, compression was low. We were able to hear compression on CDs vs records, but most people jumped on the CD bandwagon. Perfect sound forever.
And yes, it was the beginning of recording individual artists from different locations to put together a record.

In the 80s, the record labels exerted more power over bands and robbed them blind. If your band wasn’t a supergroup they were at the mercy of the label. The 80’s was perhaps the greatest era for record company profits. Consumers were price gauged with the cost of a CD. It cost the label about $1.50 to manufacture a disc including packaging.

And I remember the price of a CD being raised to $18.99. I believe Tower records initiated this with the record labels. That’s when I stopped buying new discs.

And I remember the price of a CD being raised to $18.99. I believe Tower records initiated this with the record labels. That’s when I stopped buying new discs.
I buy used CDs on Amazon and rip them to HD.  Ripping program can "renew" pretty much all CDs, while used scratched LP cannot be repaired.  That makes cost of CDs way lower.