I had fairly large vinyl, cassette, and CD collections that either got sold, lost, destroyed or stolen over several chapters in my life. I stopped buying CDs a few years ago when I got into digital downloads and portable players. And although I did like the convenience of readily accessible music at the palm of my hand, I found myself not really enjoying the music as much as I used to. It wasn't until I acquired my dad's old Technics SL-1210MK2 turntable when I started actively seeking out old vinyl records I used to have. Occasional visits to local brick and mortar music stores in search of new/ used vinyl led me to pick up some old cassettes for next to nothing, which ultimately led to buying new/ used CDs again. At first I wasn't too keen on going back and buying physical copies of music I previously owned, but it seems much more gratifying. Yeah sure I have to run through the gamut of simple tasks to reach sonic euphoria: physically powering up the system, selecting the source component, deciding whether the output will be speakers or headphones, deliberately browsing the collection, selecting an album, cleaning the disc (if applicable), pushing play/ pressing rewind/ dropping a needle, etc. The listening experience just seems so much more intimate and enjoyable when you're doing all those things rather than sitting there browsing your catalog of digital files on an HDD. I'm firmly back in the physical media camp and I'm thoroughly enjoying and appreciating my music much more because of it.
Latest acquisitions (more than 5 total as usual):
- Marvin Gaye - What's Going On (MFSL Hybrid SACD)
- Moody Blues - Days of Future Passed (MFSL CD)
- Moody Blues - In Search of the Lost Chord (MFSL CD)
- Alan Parsons Project - I Robot (MFSL CD)
- Dire Straits - Brothers in Arms (Hybrid SACD)
- Rush - Moving Pictures (Blu-ray) (pre-order)
- Santana - Live at the Fillmore '68 (CD)
- Pink Floyd - Meddle (Shine On) (CD)
- Wolfmother (CD)
- Black Sabbath - Sabbath Bloody Sabbath (180gr LP)
And the following were found scouring the used bin (all pre-loudness war, silver-faced, w/ some 1st or Japan pressings):
- Vangelis - Direct (CD)
- Santana - Caravanserai (CD)
- Janis Joplin - Pearl (CD)
- Yes - 90125 (CD)
- Rush - 2112 (CD)
- Duran Duran (CD)
- Billy Joel - Greatest Hits Vol. 1 & 2 (CD)
- The Cars - Greatest Hits (CD)
- Pink Floyd - The Wall (CD)
- Pink Floyd - Animals (CD)
...and the ultimate prize, the holy grail mastering of my all time favorite prog. rock album, scored for a measly few bucks:
- Pink Floyd - Dark Side of the Moon (CDP 7-46001 2 CP35-3017 31B1 - circa 1984 the 1st U.K. issue, Harvest Black Face CD - the very first mastering of Dark Side of the Moon for CD from the original and the same mastering as the first Japanese "non-TO" issue CP35-3017 aka the Black Triangle CD)
Now if you'll excuse me I've got some listening to do.
