Categorizing records


Just got the neatest cherry record cabinets ($117 ea) and I'm ready to catalog and categorize most of my records. I've got 100 LP dividers and was wondering if anyone had any ideas on categorizing other than MUSIC STYLE/ARTIST/ALPHABETIZING.

Anyone have a LP database to catalog them? Thought I would design one in Filemaker.

I wish the Goldmine pricing guide was on CD, so I could cut & paste the info in my data base. Then I could put it in my pocket pc to take with me to record stores!
champtree
None of my audio group members understand my system, but it works for me. I will outline it for you, perhaps it or some variation will help you decide.

On each shelf (or divider in your case) place only one category of music (Jazz, rock, classical, blues, comedy, etc.). From there, I sort by record label, placing all ECM on one shelf (or section) Verve on another, Blue Note on another and Fantasy on another (Fantasy represents Pablo, Contemporary, Prestige, Galaxy, Milestone, etc.)

At first this may seem complicated, but in my mind artists have a "period" of creativity and are represented by certain record labels at that time. A perfect example is Andre Previn.

Andre Previn recordings on Contemporary label are upbeat jazz trio and such, whereas Andre Previn on Columbia would more likely be "Misty with Living Strings" or other easy listening nonsense.

Using this method, I can find any artist in any period, from serious to sound track, by classifying into tighter musical groups.

Those that stare at my collection and expect to find the usual alphabetical order are always confused and often ask how I am able to find anything. My usual response is "what kind of music or what artist," and from their answer I can look though my (approx.) 6000 LP, locating that exact sound and artist within a minute or so.

Hopefully this will give you ideas that will work for the way you classify music and how you want to search. As for computer, I thought about that, but booting up and searching a database takes longer than looking at the LP splines, so I gave up on that.

Good luck with this.
Readerware software on your PC then synchronize the DB to your Palm O/S PDA. No computer bootup needed. The palm starts up within seconds. Works for vinyl, CDs, DVDs, books, etc. Anything. The neat thing is that you can take the palm with you when you shop and you'll have your collection at your fingertips. I haven't bought it yet, but we're stongly considering it. Mostly for her books (which drastically outnumber my vinyl). I think it would be worth it just for the barcode scanner for ease of entry (at list for the initial entry of 1000s of titles)

Right now I just have my vinyl in chronological order in the order I bought them. But I do like and admire Albert Porter's shelving system. Hmmmm. I can dig it.

Aaron
Albert,
Your system would work well for me but not my wife.

Aaron,
Reader software, I have never heard of it. Will do some more re-search on it. How do you get your LPs into it? And where do you find the info to cut nad paste into it? More info please!! You got my interest up!!!!!
THANKS!!!!!