I need help with obsessive album collecting

^You're talking about Spotify-playlists, right? I obsessive about many thing related to music. I have to make sure it doesn't take over my life every once in a while. But Spotify-lists aren't among them:)

Still, in my opinion as I must have something like 400 lists on my Itunes*. Lists have their use. Easier to locate stuff, when I don't exactly know what or who or who I want to listen to. My point is: The longer the list, the less you will use it. Make them smaller and curate them with more cate than just throwing everything onto two lists. Five-six hours each maybe, is better. As with your addiction, I can't help you. Maybe buy physical copies wnenever you can afford some. That will help you concentrate on one album at the time.

*yeah, still use it as there's a 140 days days long relatively finely taken care and and curated collection on it (=all of my ripped CD's and many LP's. And I like mp3's for practial reasons + I feel that the collection belongs to me - and not that awful Swedish guy).

At a point, maybe years from now, you'll realize maybe 90% of what you potentially obsess over ~ and I know what being obsessed with new and/or old prog is ~ is simply not worth your time and effort. That new symphonic fusion out of Slovenia ? Probably not worth it. The rare,vintage psych/protoprog from Botswana?   Screw it.   

If it's worth your attention you'll find out eventually and you can get it then.   Besides, a good listen on Youtube goes a long way-- many times something will seem temping and after ten minutes listening online I'll be satisfied that it ain't for me.   Besides, a smaller high-quality collection is always better than a big "comprehensive" one.




Edited by Atavachron - July 08 2025 at 17:43

Hi,

I can't say I was ever a "collector" or had to have this and that.

There were a few things, though that were important for me, and Tangerine Dream, Klaus Schulze, Ryuichi Sakamoto, Vangelis (for example) were never an issue for me to get their next one. But in general, they were the only ones that I followed non stop.

After that, it was Ange, Banco, Amon Duul 2 ... and the rest was wide open.

I would think/suggest that you may want to stop ... STOP ... and listen first, and let the ear tell you what to get next, and stop worrying about lists or obsessing about anything.

And I would not EVER even consider the playlists that were created by some AI idiot making sure that their "product" gets more attention than anything else, which will in due time confuse you senseless. Those lists are not there "for you" ... they are there for THEM! The Overlords ... (hehehe)

I like to think that I know why I'm getting this or that ... and not just because of a suggestion ... which often does not work for me ... I do better finding things on my own.

Edited by moshkito - July 09 2025 at 04:46

Gnik Nosmirc wrote: It's been three months since I have subscribed to Spotify and since I have decided to make a huge library of prog and jazz. And ever since I've been both very happy and depressed. Sure, it's cool to see your library growing and shining. But it's also a pain to be constantly thinking about, to add more albums than you can listen to, to overthink whether this album fits or not, whether I am really interested in a specific band that I have just added, whether this album cover is too ugly for my library despite the album being good. I have OCD, and it is both a blessing and a curse. I don't know what to do at this point. Deleting my library and throw away all the work I've done? Have you guys dealt with this kind of addiction and obsessive behavior? How do you deal with it?

You can use a website like AwesomeProg (or RYM, if you prefer) to build your collection as something independent of a particular streaming service.

Floydoid wrote: presdoug wrote: I am somewhat obsessional about buying cds at thrft stores Thrift stores as you call them, or charity shops as we tend to call them in the UK can be useful sources for physical media such as vinyl, CD, DVD, Blu-ray etc, but I like to be very picky and choosy, preferring to go for stuff that I actually want for my collections. Some of the largest charities (such as Oxfam) also have online stores, which as a collector of obscure or arty movies on Blu-ray I find very handy.

In the process at thrift stores, I still am picky and (mostly) pick up things that I know I will definitely want to listen to; it is usually classical music that I get there, and I have been listening and collecting it for about 40 years and have my "fingers in a lot of pies"....unfortunately, there is rarely any prog at these stores that I can purchase...but there are so many classical areas I collect and avidly listen to that I find relevant things quite easily, but I have to stop as I want to have the time to listen to it all, and too much of anything is still too much....

Valdez wrote: I own about 5000 LPs of rock, pop, jazz, and prog. I hauled them from Pasadena Ca. When I moved to Washington state in boxes. I continue to buy used records in the many thrift shops in and around Washington.   I have a 12x12 booth in a consignment store near my home where I sell records and my daughter sells vintage clothing. It is very profitable.   So my suggestion to you is to keep buying … and start selling.

Hi,

I better not let you take a look at my collection and what I have left ... but then, I'm not sure that Ralph Lundsten or Albert Von Deyen would interest your noodles much!

No shortage of broken rocking horses though.

Nowadays my collection is very small. Used to be about 1500 cds and vinyls 15 years ago. No need for it anymore, I have a Spotify subscription and buy 1-3 releases each month on Bandcamp or from the artists directly. I still have about 200 vinyls and 400 CDs which I keep ”optimizing”. Latest purchase: The new Igorrr release due in September, as a colored vinyl.

I was 50 years in and around Pasadena, and when I go back to visit it’s just seems a mess and I can’t wait to get back to walla walla lol. I love it here. 17 years now.   But 17 years ago home prices here were very cheap… Seattle wine startups and the wine business in general have knocked the prices of homes up quite a bit. Glad I moved when I did (2007 before the Wine rush)

Add:   I get homesick only for old friends and some family)

Edited by Valdez - July 09 2025 at 17:51

I've become far more selective over the past couple decades. Once you reach a certain amount of CDs and records, the need to purchase more is lessened. I only get things that I really enjoy or haven't yet added to my collection from the early and mid-20th century. All physical product, no Spotify.

The issue is compounded with me as I also have an expansive library of books.

I'll let my kids sort it out once I kick the bucket. That should be hilarious.