For the new year 2021, one of things that I’m considering is what if I start to collect LP and have little collection?
Personally, for pop music, I will go with streaming. But classics, Idagio and others seems to have a long way to go.
I’ve read articles about LP sales more than CD, the future is LP vs Streaming etc - still I think most of them are about popular music genre.
I would like to try LP as kind of musical ritual for my listening pleasure.
My question is, how about the industry trend? I’m out of the touch for a few years especially after having kids.
For classic/jazz fans, I’d like to ask advice there is also reasonably bright future (though niche) on LP sector.
Does Iabels such as Detusche Grammophon seem like to keep making LPs? How about other labels?
Where do you usually shop for LPs? Classical / Jazz music
Thank you.
PS one of my funny thinking is after I see; LP market went down -> become premium thing / Cassette Tape went down -> become premium thing,
what if CD becomes next junk -> selling with premium thing? (As the digital source for classical music)
I'm one of the more fervent vinyl enthusiasts around here, so I can give my perspective. Ultimately though of course our criteria will be different so whatever turns my crank may not turn yours.
Yes, vinyl is still going gangbusters in terms of new stuff being churned out, re-releases, and of course record shops and on-line sales.
(I have something like 7 record shops in walkable/bikable distance from me, in my city).
I'll just recount my experience in case it's of any worth to you, since you seem to have some of the thoughts I do about vinyl:
Though I listened almost entirely to digital sources since dumping LPs in the late 80's, I got back in to vinyl 3 or 4 years ago when I saw how much new stuff was being produced. As a soundtrack fan, the soundtrack releases were spectacular, in terms of the artwork, aesthetics, packaging, re-releases and new releases, and even the sound quality. Getting beautiful new vinyl for me revitalized the vinyl experience: made the objects feel new, rather than creased, crackly, dusty objects you have in a box in the closet, or finger through at some old record shop.
And I've found that an excellent turntable/cartridge produced sound that, to me, is often as satisfying or more than my digital source. (Sounds a bit different, in a way I actually like, but also can be spectacular in audiophile ways as well).
I get the "wanting to have fun" aspect you are going for. Having all my CDs ripped on a server combined with streaming had the perverse effect of devaluing it for me. With anything I wanted at my fingertips, available with a word to our smart speaker, a tap on my phone in the car, a swipe on my ipad in front of my hi-fi system, it actually made music feel so ubiquitous and easy, it cheapened the experience, comodotized it. And frankly, I was sick of interacting with computers and screens for Every Bloody Thing All Day Long. Going all analog for music listening has allowed me to unplug form digital life, like reading a real book on the sofa. And the physical elements of vinyl, including using my turntable, I find deeply rewarding. Like many others have found (though maybe not on this forum so much) the physicality of vinyl changes my listening experience, makes it more fun, and focuses me more easily on listening. Where on my digital streaming I may get through a song or two, with vinyl I almost always sit through at least a whole side, usually a whole album.
Anyway...as to what's available.
I have a wide variety of genres in my collection, but I have a real soft spot for film scores, so lots of scores on vinyl. That would include everything form electronic scores to John Williams and other symphonic film music (I'm a huge Bernard Herrmann fan!). Unlike others here, I adore classical-style music on vinyl. There can be a pleasing apparent texture and density in the vinyl that I sometimes miss when listening to digital.
But the capacity to ignore the nuisances of vinyl, especially for classical, will of course vary among individuals.
I have a ton of classical on vinyl I've inherited from other people's collections, my father, friends. But I also sometimes buy newly released vinyl.
If you want old vinyl classical, you'll be able to find plenty. And you'll have to put up with whatever sonic defects you get. But it seems you aren't caring too much about those issues. If you were more focused on buying NEWLY produced vinyl, then classical would be the wrong genre.
Outside soundtracks, not much being produced on vinyl.
That said, I bought some recently. This one:
https://www.discogs.com/Gustav-Hols...rmonic-Orchestra-The-Planets/release/16136086
Also available digitally:
https://editfuturum.bandcamp.com/album/the-planets
This was just bloody SPECTACULAR on vinyl! Blew my socks off in terms of sonic clarity, dynamics, and the sense of an orchestra playing in front of me. I'll likely pick up some other classical LPs from those new releases.
