How selective are you?


Unless someone is a big classical music fan, I am always amazed by the fact that many have thousands of LPs and cds.
With classical music, you can sometimes have a hundred copies of the same composition performed by different musicians in different places.
As an example, I like fusion era Miles. For my taste, absolutely best albums from that time are Bitches Brew and Pangaea. And that's exactly what I have, just these two because everything else from him after it is either much weaker or just junk.
Or take Pink Floyd. Wish You Were Here and Dark Side are the best, so I have them. The Wall is OK, I don't have it, and the rest is just not worth it at all.
Deep Purple. Machine Head and maybe Live in Japan, that's all, though I think that Demon's Eye from Fireball is a great song.
Why listen to what is worse along with what is better? To make "better" even better by comparizon?
I think that there is no good music, classical aside, for thousands of titles though there are many good songs scattered in many albums. Maybe some keep many titles because of one or two songs, I don't know.
inna
It takes all kind, but to frame the question as being selective is presumptuous. It could just as easily be "How Pedantic Are You?" Sometimes it's the less than perfect works that that makes an artist truly interesting.
Elizabeth, that's for certain. I too am always on the quest for new music but usually I find a song maybe two from an album that I like so I would either just have to use the computer or buy a cd, if available, and record those songs onto a tape with slight drop in fidelity, then sell that cd.
By the way, I don't really expect anyone to publicly admit that a big part of their collections may be just sitting on shelves for years without being played.
I agree with quality over quantity. I'm always looking(listening) for new music but if the content doesn't rate close to a 10 forget it. I'm much more lenient when considering recording quality.
You make a good point. I would ask it this way, if you could get a full refund on any cd or lp you gave up, how many would be left in your collection? A lot of stuff we keep because it's not worth a lot to get rid of it. I have the 1963 Karajan beethoven set on LP in alsolutely mint condition. Played once while being taped. But it's not worth anything. I think I saw one for sell for $15. Better just to keep it. I too have given away many LPs everytime I moved while in the Military.
Nearly all of the music I have was purchased used. and since I am cheap, it had to be a good deal too!

I just give my discards to the local secondhand charity.

And it is true, with so many LPs, naturally some sit for years. Not a problem.
Even listening 365 days a year, ten hours a day, is only 3,650 or so albums Add in CDs.. and the complete rotation of playing every single item once would take me approximately three years.

The positive side is I can play whatever I like...