So I’ve done it. I’ve bought a 1 TB drive and I’m going to dub all my CDs to digital files. Then I’m gonna toss (donate, most likely) 90% of my CDs.
I don’t know how many I have. I’d say around 3500. During most of the 1990s I was an avid collector and for a few years I was receiving discs as promos. I did a severe slimming down a few years ago (an entire suitcases’ worth of discs out of their jewel cases and in thin sleeves) and that hardly made a dent. The problem is this: with so many discs, I don’t listen to any.
So here’s how you’ll help. The act of transference is a tedious one, but I figure if I list what I transfer each day it will be kinda fun.
The bulk of my collection is alphabetized – but before we can get to that (and that part will be fun) I have a giant Comic-Con bag filled with stuff I’ve pulled recently. This plus another “assorted” shelf will be the first to go.
Here’s what I dubbed last night:
Dire Straits – Communique (strange the first thing I dub should be such a random, middling CD. However, I recently bought it used – six bucks – and that’s why it is at the top of the pile.)
Randy Newman – Good Old Boys (one of my all time faves. It’s unlikely I’ll ever part with this physical disc.)
Bob Marley & the Wailers – Rastaman Vibration
Bob Marley & the Wailers – Uprising
Bob Marley & the Wailers – Survival (why in the world do I have so many Bob Marley discs? And I know I have more! I’ll donate them to the first coed I see.)
Charlie Haden/Hank Jones – Steal Away: Spirituals, Hymns and Folk Songs
The Minit Records Story 2 disc set
Grant Green – Matador
Prem Joshua – Yatri (great Indian techno music like you hear at Seva on 30th Ave.)
Old 97’s – Satellite Rides
Giuseppe Verdi – Preludes & Overtures (Ricardo Muti)
The Tradition of Gregorian Chant – 4 disc set (when the hell did I buy this? This might be something I borrowed and never returned.)
Dave Brubeck Quartet – Time Out
The Beatles – Rubber Soul
The Dixie Hummingbirds – Thank You For One More Day – the 70th Anniversary of the Dixie Hummingbirds
Gerry Mulligan/Paul Desmond Quartet
Bela Fleck & Edgar Meyer – Music For Two
The Specials – The Singles Collection
John Coltrane – Blue Trane
Popul Vuh – Einsjager & Siebenjager
Mose Allison – Your Mind Is On Vacation (try finding this disc on Grooveshark! You can’t!!)
Grateful Dead (untitled 1971)
Van Morrison – Hymns to the Silence 2 disc set
Until the End of the World Soundtrack
Bill Evans – Conversations with Myself
Full Up: More Hits From Studio One (this disc is staying – it is great in the car.)
Ein Straussfest II (Cincinnati Pops Orchestra)
Squeeze – 45s and Under
John Zorn – Issachar (this is one of his listenable albums – it is a string trio playing Semitic tunes)
Philip Glass – Einstein on the Beach – 3 disc set
Philip Glass – Satyagraha – 3 disc set
