letting go today

[ctg492]

Today I did it, something I have thought about for some time. i sent a text to neighbor, a music man and asked if he wanted 300plus 70-80s albums. Hope he does! I think I will toss in the few hundred CDs too. I held those parts of my past through 29 moves. I loved them one time. I have not had a turn table in 10 or so years. The memories no longer sparkle compared the the weight of all that vinyl!

[lessisbest]

That must be REALLY hard, but good for your soul..... Something similar happened to me today. We had the furnace serviced today and while talking to the technician I realized this was the perfect person to come into our home today. I sent him home with 50# of wheat, 10# of spelt, 5# of einkorn (he was really interested in the ancient grains), a Family Grain Mill and a Ninja Blender (with two blenders), and a number of cookbooks using whole grains. I've been trying to find a good home for these things for months. I was blessed 10-times over knowing someone who wanted, but couldn't afford these items, would be putting them to good use for his young family.

[Selah]

Good for you, ctg492! I hope he accepts and will enjoy them himself or find good homes for them. Enjoy that lighter feeling within you.

[Gardenarian]

Excellent!
Someday you will move and be so glad that you don't have all that crap to deal with. (I'm in the middle of moving...)

[KayLR]

Wow, kudos. Like you, I've been lugging around my vinyl for 40+ years....why? I. don't. know.

[SteveinMN]

I've been lugging around my vinyl for 40+ years....why? I. don't. know.
I still listen to mine. Still have a turntable, too. But as I listen to each album, it goes to one of two places: back in the rack or on a pile that goes to Goodwill. Some albums were fine in their day; some were picked up for $1 at a thrift store because I thought I might like them -- and I didn't. I'd say maybe 40-45% of what I've been listening to hits the Goodwill pile. Out they go. Slowly. But out they go. Won't have space to store them all forever.

[iris lilies]

I hate our stupid vinyl collection, up there in the attic for 25 years. In my hoard there is only 1 album I wish to pass on to someone because it might have a little bit of rarity. The rest of them are ubiquitous. And DH's stuff is even worse.

[bekkilyn]

I got rid of any vinyl and cassette tapes years and years ago. I replaced a few with CD's at the time, and nowadays I don't even need to do that since I can just listen to to practically anything online.

Congratulations in letting go of all that weight!

[ctg492]

I know, I want a song I hit any of the sites online. Those vinyls I can pretty much remember when I got each one. I loved them so much during the day I kept a binder with info on each LP. Ok I can even remember where I had a bite to eat downtown at 16 with a friend as I took the plastic off the LP. I kept every receipt from the cool record store from the 70s.
These LPs are pretty much the only pieces a material history I have left. I have moved so many times each time I let go of something. I got matching rubbermade tubs a few years ago to store them. Store for what? Funny how we reach a point like that! Adding I had many years collection of Rolling Stone mag, back from when they were big papers. I remember the collection falling off a shelf in 1986, that did those in for me.
I listened to an interview on NPR where a college student stated he was inheriting a relative's recorded collection. The fellow students felt sorry for him that he got that weight. Eras are different. Like would you pass down your music files today?

[goldensmom]

My rule is if I haven't used something for 2 years or if it hasn't great sentimental value, I get rid of it but I'm glad I kept my 1980's turntable and 5 vinyl albums as I recently decided to get back into vinyl just for fun.

[Packy]

Ha. One of my favorite 45 rpm records is "Holding On To Yesterday", ca. 1975. . But, I listen to it on YouTube. I just purchased a nice new turntable from Radio Shack two years ago. It was on sale, and has a built-in pre amp. Older turntables won't work with newer receivers that don't have a specific "phono" jack, without a pre-amp. I don't use it much. I mainly use it for my 45 rpm records, a collection of around 500 dating back into the 1960's. Vinyl, has made a comeback, but still it is a niche market. I read that old tape-to-master recording machines are being taken out of deep storage to make new "masters" for pressing new vinyl records, and that there is but one source of the special vinyl used to make uh--vinyl records. So, even right now, the relatively limited demand exceeds the ability of suppliers to make new records. Can you believe that? One article I read says that listeners in a blind test could not distinguish between vinyl and compact disc, provided(and this is the proviso)that the vinyl record was in as-new condition. Vinyl records, as you know, are larger and take up more storage space(7" 45's excepted), and they are more prone to wear and tear and scratches. I've replaced my favorite vinyl LP'S with Compact discs. The main circumstance that is keeping old vinyl records in storage (awaiting being disposed of) is that you kids become old Fogeys and become more preoccupied with other things, beside music entertainment. TV Sports, Food & Grandkids, Conspicuous consumption, that type of thing, mainly. Unless, it's something very, very sedate and bland that you see on TV. Celine Dion or Josh Groban comes to mind as for-instances, and even if you kids DID purchase some of their music, it would be on other media than vinyl. One other exception is live concert tours by pop-rock acts like Elton John, etc., that appeal to baby-boomers on account of nostalgia. Paying a premium for tickets, and taking a trip to see them is something to "do". A minority of older artists appeal to younger listeners who may be vinyl collectors--so-called classic rock, comes to mind. Or Johnny Cash. But, it's definitely there. My barber had a customer leave a box of old lp's at his shop to give away. They were in very nice condition, and the Bob Dylan lp's went away fast. There were several others that people grabbed, but the rest of them just sat around until someone took the whole box. When I was a kid, I went through my old Mom's 78 RPM collection, and I actually liked a few of them. But, you didn't see many kids liking music from their old man's day--though now, it's more common. My thought is that the transition in the 50's-60's from band and orchestra and piano music accompanying a primary vocalist, to the use of electric guitars and bass and drums, (and then along came synthesizers), with vocalists adopting a more energetic free-wheeling style(yelling, to old folks), was what changed popular music in a very big way. But, it also created a so-called "Generation Gap" in musical tastes. At least, I think so. Hope that helps you some.

[JaneV2.0]

Ha. .... Unless, it's something very, very sedate and bland that you see on TV. Celine Dion or Josh Groban comes to mind as for-instances, and even if you kids DID purchase some of their music, it would be on other media than vinyl. ...

Guilty as charged. Don't forget Andrea Bocelli. As long as they're all singing in some language other than English: L'Abbitudine, Pour Que Tu M'aimez Encore, Solo Por Ti. I would say just the opposite of sedate and bland. Those words I reserve for The Carpenters and the like.

[Packy]

This may be off-topic, but one of THE most annoying and corny holdovers from the band and orchestra and syrupy vocalist days was Eddie Fisher. Have you ever heard him? Another annoying one was Brenda Lee. Yet, she was VERY popular and successful. But, I just don't know how anyone could call that stuff music. Just glad I wasn't born in the late 1930's.

[ctg492]

Update, sadly the Music Man neighbor did not come get the vinyl :(. I remember thinking in the 70s they would be worth something.