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I Just Inherited 4,000 LPs

My longtime friend just passed away, leaving me his 4,000 LPs. 

I haven't had time to really look, I know there is a ton of jazz. He lived in New Orleans for many years, we went to the music festival together twice, listened together here often over the years. The LP's are only 5 minutes from here.

And serious wood library shelving, each self-contained 3 ft wood shelf has a partial back and recessed metal tracks for adjustable metal dividers. They can be put individually on top of any shelf, I will leave the too tall uprights, put the shelves into new wire shelving.

Our house is a small split level with an internal garage full of 42 years of junk as well as our existing 2,500 LPs.

OMG, what a project to rearrange, discard long dusty stuff, (Donna’s 100% on board) assemble new wire shelving to condense stuff we keep and new wire shelving to fit the LPs here.

Then: how to merge them with my 2,500 LPs which are alphabetical. Logistical Options keep me up at night.

Twenty 3 ft shelves, I will use 3 bankers boxes per shelf to get them off the shelves, leave 60 boxes over there, get the shelves over here on the wire shelving, finally the LPs over here. I believe his are generally alphabetical, perhaps Donna and her twin sister Effie can find what's out of order over there while I am working here.

A labor of love, and a lifetime memory and gratitude to my friend Roderick.

Elliott




elliottbnewcombjr
elliottbnewcombjr OP
5,907 posts
 
whart

Did you go to Colony Records, NYC?

https://www.google.com/search?rlz=1C1SQJL_enUS881US881&sxsrf=ALeKk028mHpTahHBTFr1R9-7g4vn3D6otA:...

One visit I casually mentioned something to one of the owners, he said 'follow me', took me down to a basement level, holy crap, I mean holy crap. He mysteriously found it. Asked me not to reveal the basement trip to others. 

When they closed, he told the NYT he was going to move the collection to his garage. That's either the largest garage, or a large joke on the reporter who printed it verbatim.

clearthinker's avatar
clearthinker
1,582 posts
 
Hi Elliott
I don't know you but I know you are loving going through all those LPs and being uplifted by your old friend.

My recommendation is to take your time and wallow in the experience as long as possible.  When my father passed aged 102 I discovered two old diaries I didn't know about, covering his last two years at school, 1926 and 1927.  I limited myself to reading just a few pages a day and the joy lasted nearly a whole year.
jafant's avatar
jafant
20,374 posts
 
elliottbnewcombjr

My condolences for your loss. Your friend thought highly of you with such a gift. Enjoy the Music!

Happy Listening!
elliottbnewcombjr OP
5,907 posts
 

clearthinker

Truth be told, he and his wife were hoarders. His sister and daughter are going to discover some treasures IF they take their time as you say.

One of my fondest memories of them was when I suggested they might clear out a better path to the LP's. Ronnie the wife responded "But Roddy needs that stuff". I smile every time I think of it.
elliottbnewcombjr OP
5,907 posts
 

jafant

Yesterday, my first real look, I found more than a few Fanwood Library Albums, heavy vinyl covers with index cards, late charge warnings, ...

I thought, did he just pay the fines? If you knew Rod you would know that was a real possibility.

I called his sister, said either the Library had a big sale after CD's took over, or he was a very bad boy.

She laughed, yes, the Library had a big sale and that is also where the Library shelving came from.

A new memory found.
More to discover