The magic of the circle...

I sit and write this as another year has passed and I find myself another year older. So what you say, and indeed, so what. But it got me thinking about my music collection habits over the years, the money I have spent, the money I have wasted, and what I have learnt from it.


What do I mean by this? The wrong choice of music? Buying a record and not liking the music? Or a thinking the album was more fillers than unforgettable tracks? Buying a record I already had and forgot that I had? (This is possible as I have over 3000 items in my collection)! But no, I wish it were that simple.

My problem is buying the same stuff over and over again. The reasons are varied - here is an example. In 1981 I bought Architecture and Morality by Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark on vinyl. The original version was released in yellow with a die cut sleeve. Subsequent prints had the cover in pale blue and pale green. They then did versions in yellow again, minus the cut out. I think I had one of these versions, standard 9 track album. And it was great, and remains great.

With the arrival of CDs, I was quick to start replacing my vinyl on CD. Easier to store, less likely to get damaged, nice new booklets with lyrics and pictures. Although there were versions out on CD late 80s, I picked up my first copy in 1995. I probably gave the vinyl away or sold it for a few pence at a second hand shop.

In 2003, EMI reissued the album on CD as a re-mastered version with additional tracks. The remastering was a good job, bringing out certain sounds, mixing others, and basically enhancing an already good album. The real treat was the 7 bonus tracks featuring extended versions, B-Sides, Early versions, and also all re-mastered. Enough is enough you might say, you now have everything about this album, and Andy and co. can almost retire on my repeat purchases alone.

But no, Sucker. We have more ways for you to part with your money. Its 2007 and I see that Orchestral Manoeuvres have re-released Architecture and Morality. It must be a mistake, lets have a look. Oh wait, its a double disc edition. How many more extra tracks can there be, even if its been 26 years since we first heard this?

Its actually good news though. The second disc is a DVD and contains a few promo videos, as well as a live concert of the album tour they did in 1981. I hadn't seen too much of this before, so surely worth shelling out the cash (again)?

Damn right, if you love your music like I do, its a very quick and easy decision. I sold the 2003 re-master on eBay for a few quid, which made the net re-investment minimal. And in return I had the complete package.

This may seem like an extreme example, but unfortunately it isn't. The DVD is an extra step you might think, but the list of this kind of buying goes on. OMD is the first band that jumped into my head when I decided to write about this, but my personal list is endless. Even if we stick to OMD, but its the same story with the debut album, organisation, and dazzle ships.

Of course there were situation where I didn't help myself. At one stage I had a collection of New Romantic / Electronic music such as the Human League and Heaven 17 all on vinyl. With my discovery of Gothic Rock, this suddenly became uncool. So we quickly got rid of that - probably all given away. Then after a few years, you miss that music, it is being played in the clubs again, the new trendy bands are citing it as reference. So you go out and buy it all again, usually for more than you originally bought it for. This was still 80s, so yes on vinyl! You know where this is going.... CD..... remastered CD... special editions....

But am I complaining? Of course not. Music is what makes me tick, so I love getting updated, better sounding versions. Extra tracks, rare versions, mixes, make them worth the money. And if you do your homework, you can pick them up for good prices. And usually recoup some of the price back from the proceeds of the sales of the earlier versions. Not everyone is like me, and some just want the original songs, not the definitive versions or the fancy packaging.

For me, it's like an ongoing love affair, one that I hope lives on. The only thing I ask for is that these remastered, re-issued versions at least have decent, professional mastering and a selection of extra (rare) tracks. And to ensure that the remastering is done right, get someone from the band involved in it. Like Jimmy Page did with the Led Zeppelin remasters. Clumsy reissues like the disastrous New Order Collectors double CD editions last year leave a sour taste in the mouth and a hole in the wallet. Fortunately I read the reviews first and kept my originals. Some "corrected" versions were released a few months ago, I need to check if all issues were corrected.

So why I don't have a yacht anchored off San Tropez or drive a Porche is quite easy to see. Or hear in my case. It all goes on my real passion. Music. If you read this blog going forward, you will see my tastes go from traditional goth, to EBM, to Cyber, to New Romantic to Electronic to Ambient to Industrial. It all matters to me, depending on my mood. And if you stick around, you might find my mood turning grumpy as I rant about something that has ticked me off.... farewell for now..

Grumpy