Categorizing records

There are several DB's out there that allow quick downloading of info for CEE DEE's. Some allow filling with the stroke of a few letter via an included hard-drive database and access to several on the web. A couple (i.e. CDTrustee) allow one to slip the CD into their computer and it will fill all fields automatically - even a cover picture. Sadly, I have not found a DB that is designed for LP's. Some of the CD data will be the same, but often it is different - tracks, track order, release dates and, obviously, release number.

However, that does not answer the question of categorizing. I use a modified system, similar to Albert's, but mine is mostly just genre by alpha. The label (period) idea is a good one. I do find that the front-facing shelving I've recently built helps me find things much more quickly, but it takes up a lot more space, too.

I put together a catalog of my entire collection of LP's and CD's, reading artist name, album title, and album label and album number into a Dictaphone, album by album.

I then paid my secretary to transcribe everything onto an Excel document.

Being computer-ignorant, I was frightened by the Excel file, so I copied the contents and pasted it into a Word file, and then hit "alphabetize".

The listings are arranged by CD's and LP's, and further subdivided by genre, e.g., classical, jazz, rock/blues, box sets, other.

I have the catalog in a three-ring binder. It is 40 pages single-spaced, sits in a drawer, and I never look at it. It is about twenty albums out of date now.

As for actual arrangement of LP's and CD's, maybe 2/3rds are with us where we are currently living, and the balance is in our other place. The LP's and CD's are sort of in alphabetical order by genre, with special sections for Dylan, Vengerov, the Stones, favorite items, etc. There are also three LP piles propped up against the walls, etc., of frequently played titles, and a varying stack of recently played or plan to play CD's sitting next to the CD holders.

The catalog is nice for insurance purposes, but the real arrangement is irrational and heart-felt (like music).

Being naturally adverse to clerical work, over many years on the job, which involved many memos and other documents I developed a chaotic method that actually proved to be, in its own way effective. After reading something, I simply threw it on top of a pile. When I needed to refer back to a document, I found it easy to remember approximately how old it was, and pull it out of the pile. After rereading, it went back on top of the pile. Over time, the important documents naturally migrated to the top of the pile. Periodically I threw away the bottom.

My recordings, discs and LPs, use a similar system, although of course they stand up on edge. Stuff I am really fond of ends up on one end of the shelf. When I feel like something really different (steel drum band music for example) I rummage through the other end of the shelf.

This is not a joke. I used to feel guilty about being so "disorganized", but then I realized that I am just organized in a different way.

I suggest you rent and watch the movie called "High Fidelity" with John Cussack and Jack Black. It deals with this subject in a new and interesting perspective. You will enjoy it.

My 4,000 LP collection is 85% classical, and, with multiple composers and multiple works on a single LP, filing and seeking can be a bit challenging. My solution is a combination of (1) filing on the shelves largely alphabetically by composer (of the work I consider "primary" to me on the LP) or by period/genre for collections, and (2) an Access database that allows me to search by individual work, composer, artist (soloist, conductor, orchestra, venue, etc), record label, record number, or certain recording engineers. Yes, the database was all entered manually, but the initial build was done when the collection numbered only 1,500 and the rest has been done gradually as the collection has grown over the years since then.

Unlike Albert's system, I find the database almost a necessity for my classical music collection. It's really helpful when trying to find all the various performances of the same work across multiple LPs that may reasonably be filed elsewhere on the shelves (e.g., my 5 different performancea of Debussy's "Sonata for Cello and Piano" on 5 different LPs with additional music variously by Ravel, Busoni, Stavinsky, Foss, Rachmaninov, Barber and Ginastera; or Bruch's "Kol Nidrei" for orchestra and again as transcribed for cello and piano on an LP of various chamber works by other composers).

The database information drops into other software on a Palm for ready access when used record shopping or when visiting with a fellow music aficianado.
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