It would be difficult to choose more than a couple of hundred LP's to discard from my collection. This from what is probably near 6000, not counting CD's.
I purged and binged this collection over many years, buying things that amused me when I had extra cash, then evolving past that piece of music or realizing it was not important in the first place.
My library is now where I can pull any piece of music from the shelf, and be satisfied, provided my mood is not in conflict.
Most would not be considered audiophile quality, but all are musically important. I have many rare albums, such as the Beatles butcher block, with the plastic still on it. I know the value has gone way up, but I bought it the day it was released (from a department store) they had it and all the others like it pulled from the rack and ready to return to the distributor.
I have two signed M&K direct to disk LP's, one was never released, and only distributed as Christmas gifts. I have all the M&K releases in new condition. I have perhaps 20 original Blue Note Jazz albums, and some RCA shaded dogs.
In spite of the value of these rare LP's, I am more likely to play Tori Amos, Radiohead, Sarah McLaughlin or Kate Bush. I do love the Doors, and have every album they produced, first press or radio station promo. I have nearly every Lighting Hopkins release, much of Johnny Winter and all of Bill Evans. I have most of Rory Blocks music, all of Daniel Lanois, and all of Dead Can Dance, as well as most of the 4AD library.
Still love Elvis Costello, the 12" 45 RPM British pressings will kill most "audiophile" records. Love Yello and Man Jumping, and all of Bjork's releases.
Recently been listening to Daft Punk, Dave Matthews and Moby with my 15 year old son. Last year he discovered a group named "Sylver" who were popular in Europe. I love this (CD) and wonder why it never got air play in our market.
My love of a wide variety of music make is imperative to own a big library. If I had the time and money, there are several hundred LP's I would buy right now. Most important to me would be to find Carmen McRae Sings Monk on LP. Been looking for years for a copy.
