Do you buy anything just for collectibility?
 

I don't, really. But I've thought about it. I'm talking about, for example, buying two copies of a new LP, one for listening to, the other to keep sealed and mint with the idea that someday it will be worth a lot of money.

Just curious how many of us are into this kind of thing. I'm guessing most of us are not. But the other day I talked to someone who owns two copies of the original Daydream Nation on LP, and it got me to thinking.

Never. I listen to music, and dispose of it when I've finished with it, and keep the good stuff. If something gets worn out (this has never happened), I would buy a new copy.

Just to clarify: I am not a "record collector."

(We all know the "somebody" with the two DN's is you.)

my grandmother collects stamps, she collected them for me from the month i was born until the month i turned 18. Then she gave them to me, it was very sweet and all but deep down i would have preferred the money she spent on stamps. I suppose one day i can sell them.

Ha! No, not really. I only own a crappy DGC CD reissue and the new deluxe LP set. Maybe I am that "somebody" in the metaphorical sense, but not in reality. The "somebody" happens to be the owner of the record store I haunt.

Somebody in the SY forum suggested they were buying a second copy of the DDN-deluxe LP set though, for this reason. Just seems like a really expensive thing to do.

Only idiots buy stuff for collectability. I dont have much money, I wanna spend it on stuff I actually like and will listen to.

I've occasionally bought a second copy of something by accident, but never so that I can keep one in mint condition for investment purposes. When I end up with two copies by mistake, I usually give one of them away.

I buy all sorts of SY crap for completism though, just as a kind of an ongoing challenge to myself to keep the collection... erm... complete. Does that count as buying for collectibility? Or just nerdishness?

For the record, I am currently losing the completist challenge.

Well, SonicSam, that's a little harsh. I wouldn't call collectors idiots. In fact, many collectors are pretty smart. And if I had endless pots of money and all the time in the world, I could see myself getting into it.

But I get your point. I would guess that there's relatively little in my collection that's truly "collectible" in any sense that means anything to serious record collectors. The devoted collector pays attention to things like original labels and even the matrix numbers. I don't have the inclination or the time for that kind of thing, but I understand the obsessiveness, even though I also think it's a bit weird.

If anything is collectible in my collection, it's only by accident, from having picked up something when it first came out, or stumbling across a great copy of a favorite record, and such. I don't purposely go digging around for collectible records myself.

That's more where I'm at, sort of. With certain artists. I'm also interested in having a "representative" collection, if that makes sense. One that's broad and fairly far-ranging (within the genres I like to listen to!)

I think that buying anything for investment purposes takes all the fun out of buying it. People who buy wine as an investment for instance: Where's the fun in that? Wine is for drinking, for goodness' sake.

And, to avoid going off-topic, records are for playing.

Exactly.

I'd still like to hear from the exception among us, if there is one. Anybody at all collect for collectibility? Come on. There must be somebody.

We won't give you a hard time. Promise.

i thought you were the one.

Nope.

That's a fallacy perpetuated by the gmku-defamation league.

I know people who do this with comic books, and a few who do this with "collector" type albums.

I only buy one copy at first, and if I buy another copy it has to be different from the original.
for example, I have 3 copies of Mudhoney's every good bioy deserves fudge.
I have the regular one, one with puke colored vinyl and the picture disc of it.

Come to think of it, I do that, too. For example, four copies of VU & Nico: yellow vinyl, mono, regular stereo vinyl, and an old cheesy reissue.

i have bought some records and cds specifically for resale when the bands break up

I've been flirting with buying most of Fugazis catalogue on vinyl just to have both formats.

I had to have Repeater on CD and LP. Both are cool. Not sure why it seemed so important at the time to have both, though.

I asked this in the Sonic Youth forum, but I'll ask it here again: Do you think the release of the deluxe LP set will affect the supposed collectibility of the original 1988 pressing? Or will eBay auctions continue to draw ridiculous bids of 80 bucks or more?

This I ask of you.

Well I haven't got either. SO I can't answer that question for you.

the original pressing will keep its value and even increase in the colledctors market as people who have copies of the original are very reluctant tolet them go. the reissue will become collectable for other reasons later on down the track.

the melbourne direct 12" has already tripled in price.