More Than Music

Have you ever picked up a used record and thought to yourself, "Where did this come from, and who owned it?" Maybe you have said, "This album is trashed - I wish the previous owner took better care of it!"

Every single time I buy a used record, these thoughts pass through my head. There are a variety of factors that make collecting records a very personal hobby. First, there is the obvious connection to the music. Your collection is a representation of you throughout time - each album, as an individual object, is a static dot on a specific point in your life. As a whole, your collection is a dynamic organism that shifts, is added to (or subtracted from), and reflects personal change that you have experienced as a human. Music is something many people find comfort in, which is why we turn to tangible objects such as cassettes, cds, and records; physical media preserves for us a moment in our lives. Expanding upon this idea, there are situational aspects to record collecting, such as the year, shop, or nature of the purchase/gift. To illustrate this, I always refer to the scene in High Fidelity where John Cusack's character, Rob, begins sorting his collection autobiographically. To find Rumors by Fleetwood Mac, he needs to locate the specific section: "Bought for someone as a gift in the Fall of 1983, but did not give it to them for personal reasons."

Think of the collection of another individual now. It used to be standard for owners to indicate possession of their items, such as with their initials, a custom sticker label, or even their signature. Some collectors see this as a reason to downgrade a copy of that album, often citing the personalization as an eyesore. Personally, I am more intrigued by this, and will use it as an excuse to buy the album if I am on the fence about it. This transferring of ownership gives me enjoyment as I know that record will find a suitable home with me. Whatever it meant to the previous owner will be respected and cherished. Does this seem silly and unnecessary? Absolutely, but it brings me happiness.

That album could have been playing while a couple found out they were pregnant, or in the act of becoming, for that matter. That album could have been playing when they learned of a loved one's passing. It could have been gifted to them by their friend from high school. A sure way of learning which album was the favorite is by wear and general condition - if the record is trashed, do everything you can to revive it. That particular record meant a lot to someone else, and was likely there for them when they needed it the most.

In January when I first moved to Austin, I began buying a bunch of records from the collection of Paul Ray. Paul was a well-known local name, as he was a musician, music enthusiast, and DJ. He passed away in 2016, but I felt happy that I was able to preserve a small bit of his legacy (collection). I did a deep dive on his impact on the local scene, Austin history, and lives that he touched. These records have become very special to me, and I will never forget where I was in my life when I added them to my own collection.

Recently I have stumbled upon a nice selection of jazz records from a different collection, which mainly consists of 1960's Columbia and Coltrane's offerings on Impulse! Records. I don't know the backstory here, but I do think the name of the previous owner is LeRoy E. Humphries. I may ask the local shop if they can tell me a bit about the source of the collection, although sometimes it is a private/personal matter. Regardless, I have been enjoying finding these albums and bringing them home, and I am curious as to what else I will find from that collection.

I think back to me sitting in my basement and listening to Kiss, Alive for hours on end. I memorized the tics, skips, and performance. My connection with that album will hopefully live on with someone else one day. In the meantime, I will appreciate and enjoy used records as they come to me from their original homes, hoping that someone will do the same with mine.