Arkay
Lunatic Member
This thread has been fascinating; some of the LPs listed I see lots of here, others not so much.
Common ones include:
Barbara Streisand (esp. the one with Kris Kristofferson (sp?))
Herb Alpert
Montovani
BoneyM -lots!
Michael Jackson's Thriller (Previously everywhere, but markedly less so since he died: I think people grabbed them and are hoarding them as somehow suddenly 'valuable').
In addition, I see a lot of "compilation" LPs, especially Disco ones.
The "Grease" soundtrack is pretty commonplace.
Many others (many already mentioned).
Perhaps the most common thing of all isn't vinyl LPs, but Karaoke Laserdiscs. There are enough around to fill landfills with, or to build skyscrapers from!
I suspect some things are "regional"; the Grand Canyon Suite mentioned as being common in Arizona is NOT common here. I wonder if the "Oklahoma" soundtrack is particularly common in Oklahoma?
Of course, there are Chinese (Canto-pop) LPs that are particularly common here, too.
Some records SHOULD be common. For many years, Bing Crosby's "White Christmas" was the number-one top-selling album in history. Later, it was superseded by Carole King's "Tapestry", which was later supplanted by Michael Jackson's "Thriller". All of these are fairly commonplace, but not as ubiquitous as, say, Herb Alpert. But they sold more than he did. Crosby's is the oldest, therefore fewer still survive. MJ's was common, but seems to have become scarce lately, I'm guessing due to hoarding after his death. But where are all the Carole King "Tapestry" LPs? Maybe people hold on to the things that still sound good/better? Or maybe those LPs all got trashed by people to stoned to handle them safely?
I've noticed that even a few of the best vintage record stores here --ones with rare, expensive and collectible LPs worth hundreds or more-- still have a few of these. I asked a dealer about it, and he said there are still people who want one example of any given title. He picks only the BEST examples, in mint or near-mint shape ("hot stampers", perhaps? ) and prices them reasonably, but much more than the thrift shops. He says they are commonplace because they sold so many to begin with, which means they sound good. Since MOST people used to listen to vinyl and now only SOME do, there is "over-supply" on these big-selling titles, but it doesn't mean they aren't good or are totally unwanted. He says most collectors already have their "one, good" example, since it is easy to find one, so he doesn't sell too many, but they do still sell.
I have to admit to owning a good many of the artists/LPs mentioned, but that is because I bulk-buy lots of dozens up to a few hundred LPs at a time, and inevitably a few of these get mixed in. I've sometimes kept the best copy, just to have one for occasional (VERY occasional) listening. My best bird-dogger has helpfully started removing the really common "junk" for me, though, when he culls out scratched and damaged LPs, as he knows I don't want them, and won't pay for them. Like the other enthusiasts the dealer had spoken about, at most I want only one copy of any of these (if I want one at all), and in most cases, I already have my "token copy".
Interestingly enough, a few non-junk LPs also show up all the time. I have multiple "Persuasive Percussion" LPs (the one with black polka dots all over a white background), all bought for peanuts. That same LP is in some audiophile shops for reasonable sums!
Common ones include:
Barbara Streisand (esp. the one with Kris Kristofferson (sp?))
Herb Alpert
Montovani
BoneyM -lots!
Michael Jackson's Thriller (Previously everywhere, but markedly less so since he died: I think people grabbed them and are hoarding them as somehow suddenly 'valuable').
In addition, I see a lot of "compilation" LPs, especially Disco ones.
The "Grease" soundtrack is pretty commonplace.
Many others (many already mentioned).
Perhaps the most common thing of all isn't vinyl LPs, but Karaoke Laserdiscs. There are enough around to fill landfills with, or to build skyscrapers from!
I suspect some things are "regional"; the Grand Canyon Suite mentioned as being common in Arizona is NOT common here. I wonder if the "Oklahoma" soundtrack is particularly common in Oklahoma?
Of course, there are Chinese (Canto-pop) LPs that are particularly common here, too.
Some records SHOULD be common. For many years, Bing Crosby's "White Christmas" was the number-one top-selling album in history. Later, it was superseded by Carole King's "Tapestry", which was later supplanted by Michael Jackson's "Thriller". All of these are fairly commonplace, but not as ubiquitous as, say, Herb Alpert. But they sold more than he did. Crosby's is the oldest, therefore fewer still survive. MJ's was common, but seems to have become scarce lately, I'm guessing due to hoarding after his death. But where are all the Carole King "Tapestry" LPs? Maybe people hold on to the things that still sound good/better? Or maybe those LPs all got trashed by people to stoned to handle them safely?
I've noticed that even a few of the best vintage record stores here --ones with rare, expensive and collectible LPs worth hundreds or more-- still have a few of these. I asked a dealer about it, and he said there are still people who want one example of any given title. He picks only the BEST examples, in mint or near-mint shape ("hot stampers", perhaps? ) and prices them reasonably, but much more than the thrift shops. He says they are commonplace because they sold so many to begin with, which means they sound good. Since MOST people used to listen to vinyl and now only SOME do, there is "over-supply" on these big-selling titles, but it doesn't mean they aren't good or are totally unwanted. He says most collectors already have their "one, good" example, since it is easy to find one, so he doesn't sell too many, but they do still sell.
I have to admit to owning a good many of the artists/LPs mentioned, but that is because I bulk-buy lots of dozens up to a few hundred LPs at a time, and inevitably a few of these get mixed in. I've sometimes kept the best copy, just to have one for occasional (VERY occasional) listening. My best bird-dogger has helpfully started removing the really common "junk" for me, though, when he culls out scratched and damaged LPs, as he knows I don't want them, and won't pay for them. Like the other enthusiasts the dealer had spoken about, at most I want only one copy of any of these (if I want one at all), and in most cases, I already have my "token copy".
Interestingly enough, a few non-junk LPs also show up all the time. I have multiple "Persuasive Percussion" LPs (the one with black polka dots all over a white background), all bought for peanuts. That same LP is in some audiophile shops for reasonable sums!
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