The State of Buying Records in 2022 vs the 1970s

[@GIBKEL]

Working in a record store was absolutely the funnest job (most expensive)I ever had. A third of my pay check went back into the store. Pure joy, lots of hacky sack, promos, and turning someone on to something they never suspected. I was there for the transition.

[@pez7031]

Yeah same thing happened to me when I worked at Burger King at 13. Half my pay went toward food and it didn’t help being a fat kid manning the milk shake machines.

[@rabarebra]

Not as lucky as you two guys. Working as a hairdresser, bald. My workplace has nothing to offer.

[@atomkraft69]

@@rabarebra 😂😂🤣🤣👍👍

[@atomkraft69]

@@pez7031 🤣🤣😂😂👍👍

[@farrellmcnulty909]

@@pez7031 No employee discount? I worked for SEARS and hit their record department EVERY PAYDAY and had a 15% discount. Nice days those were.

[@depafeo]

i got into records last year as I was building out a new sound system and figured I give the format a try. Vinyl made me more appreciative CDs and DACs. Less hassle, less expensive, and quality sound always guaranteed.

[@therevrockinrollin]

I totally remember buying records at pharmacies!

[@jackwezesa1081]

You could do your Christmas shopping in “drug stores” back in the day!

[@johngaldieri5535]

Mazzy I really enjoyed this video - keep making videos like this which are introspective and retrospective at the same time - Northern New Jersey loves you :)

[@albarton7189]

Hi Mazzy. We’re about the same age and I stated buying records at the age of 14 beginning with The White Album. I also amassed a huge collection and somewhere in the early ‘90’s I sold about a third of my collection to make room for my CDs, DVDs and laserdiscs. That’s one of my biggest regrets ever. About 5-6 years ago I started getting back into vinyl and now rarely buy anything on CD unless it’s something really special. There’s 5 or 6 record stores here in the Houston area that I visit monthly for used records and I’ll usually spend a around a hundred bucks with each visit. Most of the new ones I get from Amazon or eBay stores. But there’s really nothing better than spending a Saturday morning thumbing though used record bins and finding an early pressing of an old favorite album that’s in really good shape, bringing it home, cleaning it up, placing the disc in a nice new inner sleeve, placing the jacket in a shiny clean, clear 4mil polypropylene outer sleeve, and placing the record on my vintage turntable for a trip down memory lane. And then I’ll post it on Facebook and all my college buddies respond like it was just yesterday…

[@johnmoreno96]

How things have changed record buying ain’t what it used to be, new records are much higher but it’s relative to wages and costs to produce them. Now used records can be expensive because of collectibility, rarity and competition. It’s become a trend/trendy hobby. How I miss when I/you could find great records for cheap but I deal with it. For the last 40-50 yrs I’ve been a great customer to record stores because I’ve bought many, many records and cds, I will continue until who knows when. Yes collecting and buying records is not the same anymore but I’m hooked and love records and cds. So in a sense that hasn’t changed.(Mazzy when you sold those records in the 90’s makes me cringe but that is not unusual I too sold some records for cheap to buy cds so many collectors are guilty of that) Great video I enjoyed it…John Loves Ya….☮️✌️☮️

[@Lobishomem]

Thanks for this interesting take on the state of record collecting. As always I relate to nearly everything you describe. You are appreciated by this 73 yr old music lover. Keep up the great KZbin work you do.

[@russdawson7256]

A fucking fantastic video!!! The 42 minutes went by in a flash. What a blast this was!!!

[@micklee2552]

The best video you have posted so far IMO. I can totally relate and agree with what you've said and also, we are of the same era.

[@benhartzberg671]

Thank you for your insight. Very informative! Thank you for sharing your experiences and unbiased thoughts! I appreciate you taking the time to share!!!

[@artistikmelon4960]

I just found your channel and love this video! I had similar experience when CD's came out and practically gave away my vinyl and cassette collection!! then a couple of years ago I walked into a Bed n Bath store an saw this cute suitcase record player reminded me of the first one I had when I was teenager so I took it home set it up but then I forgot to get a record lol... so I stopped by my sons (he does music beats and has a nice record collection) I borrowed a couple of his and that night was so amazing listening to vinyl music again but it didn't last me long the darn thing broke down ugg... so my son for Christmas set me up with a new turntable, speakers, amps everything! because he felt bad for me listening to music in that all-in-one thing... ha... now Im recollecting all my records back some used some new some at record stores and some at amazon... but having a lot of fun! And may I say you are a cutie ✌😊💚💚

[@chrishughes5049]

Quality post with actionable info. Lucky that we have in Austin some good record stores with engaging staff and yes I have had some issues with buying from these stores on line, but in these days one must preserve ones nerve endings for stuff that is truly important and give folks a break. Being a techno-ludite, I have not signed up for a instagram account but will do so now, just to get a jump on the new releases, hadn't thought of that before. Thank you for the added value to my youtube experience Mazzy. Cheers

[@logio69]

Lovely video ! Good viewpoint all around about records and buying records.Thanks Mazzy.

[@HomeAtLast501]

I started high school in 1980, and it was SO EXCITING to buy a new record. Record stores were fun, exciting places to be. Buying an item that big (vis-a-vis a small cassette or CD) was exciting. You'd go home, put the record on, and lay back in your beanbag chair, and stare at the album cover, or the sleeve or inserts while you listened. What a great time.

[@mikelooney2172]

My worst Amazon shipping experience was The Who Sell Out. The record was “protected” in shrinkwrap with the shipping label affixed - no box! You can imagine the state of the record by the time it got to the interior of BC. One of the Kate Bush box sets also arrived without any outer packaging. As the Kate boxes were produced at Optimal I know they should have sturdy outer boxes, which makes me think it was a return, and I didn’t buy it from the warehouse deals either. I learned the hard way and now I always select “gift order” and get records shipped double boxed. I will say Amazon does have a good return policy.

[@dannyallen8471]

I can relate to many of the topics covered and you hit the nail on the head. During the lock-down due to covid got myself a record cleaner, new sleeves, and went to work on my old vinyl collection. After years of buying cd's, 8-tracks, cassette tapes it was nice to listen to my old records, many purchased when vinyl was the only option. I didn't take of them like I should have but many still sound great. Perhaps the biggest differences I have discovered is my respect for vinyl and the sheer fact that I listen to the entire album without skipping to my fav track. In a way I'm hearing say "Physical Graffiti" for the first time. You mentioned BandCamp, I have purchased several albums from them, without problem and if you have not heard of "Big Something" they are really good.

[@EdKazO-Vision]

I lived through the CD era much like you, Mazzy. For me, the upside was all the releases of vintage jazz on Riverside and Bluenote, etc. I was gobbling them up. Also all that great Stax stuff which was out of print for years. I’m back to vinyl but I’m still hanging onto those CDs.

[@connorfreeman1990]

The records I've bought this year so far include Donovan, Junior Wells, and Coltrane. I was pleased with the pricing and the quality on Amazon. Very pleased with my purchases. I enjoyed this video very much and look forward to more Mazzy content. Happy New Year Norm!

[@jangraves5524]

Love your videos! I’m also a child of the 60’s who played in a band, was majorly influenced by psych and garage bands of the era. Keep up the good work!

[@nabeelzuberi4475]

Thanks. Such a great video. Agree about the antediluvian online interfaces of so many indie street stores and labels

[@dimebagdave77]

Very impressive/lovely collection..enjoyable video.thanks man!

[@dimebagdave77]

Edit: great to hear from someone from the old school who lived through the wax drought with me..i remember the first CD I saw in person was a copy of Purple Rain my friend's Mom bought..😂 was it more fun for you before everyone and their hipster brother started buying records? When was the first time you heard someone say vinyls? For me, about 1999/2000 and I thought maybe the poor girl was confused..😁

[@karmadave]

Great video Mazzy! Happy New Year. Stay healthy 😃

[@coreySLC]

Just found you and loved the educated rant! Truly a kindred spirit. My music collecting and appreciation is so similar to your story, only on a much smaller scale. I shop local, online and my current favorite, thrifting. Cost is a relative thing; if I think something is too expensive I don’t buy, but when Mofi releases a new $60 Iron Butterfly, I couldn’t get my credit card out quick enough! I love music and the experience of finding it, wherever that may be. Enjoy it all!

[@mazzysmusic]

Thank you. 😎

[@brentcunliffe745]

In the UK , when retired , some record prices today can be prohibitive but on the positive side ,look after your records and they will give you decades of enjoyment. Not too many things you can say that about these days.

[@allennudelman7189]

Since I was a kid, I always enjoy going to Record Stores as long as the people working there know what they are talking about and weren't jerks. I will pay up to 20 percent more because the time i spend and the knowledge I get i worth it. I go every Monday to Infinity Records on Long Island and spend a hour. They know me and let me know what is coming in. Great Video

[@mazzysmusic]

No substitute for that ✌🏼

[@garyolshan4177]

The golden years of the 70s will never be duplicated. There will never be another time when there are so many wonderful bands from England. Australlia and the USA. The LA Times had an article today about the vinyl explosion and how pressing plants can't keep up the demand. But I still buy used records since there are precious few bands today that will have any longevity

[@Primeanaloggourmet]

I am a photographer by trade and the same thing happened to photography! Sloppy and lack of skills ruined by the digital age! Kids calling themselves musicians or photographers if you took away the digital tools they use they'd be stuck in the water! I blame educators for not pushing for the analog skills before moving forward like playing an instrument for instance! Back in our day we all played instruments, many time multiples! All were in band since it gave us a gimme class, haha! But we were learning mastery and that is what is truly lost on these generations! Short-cuts and doing thing quickly are the norm! There wont be another Steely Dan group coming anytime soon!😢

[@mrmoth2487]

I've said it before and I'll say it again: Music isn't bad now; you're just not paying attention. There are plenty of extremely talented musicians (and photographers!) out there today, and there's no way of knowing who is going to stick around and who isn't. Probably not many people in the early 2000s thought Blink 182 would be super important in the future, but wouldn't you know it, Travis Barker is the hottest producer around and a certified musical genius. Also: the term "popular music" doesn't mean what it used to. Music tastes are more defined now than they've ever been, and everybody has their own subgenres that they follow. Ice Nine Kills and Gojira are extremely important and influential bands to the metal community, but they mean nothing to the EDM community. I think the best analogy I've heard regarding this topic is this: back in the day, popular music was a river with a bunch of streams running towards it, but today, popular music is a big dumb corporate lake surrounded by countless small ponds that all do their own thing. Or at least that's how it was several years ago-- covid changed the industry quite a bit and we're still figuring out what that means for the future.

[@rft2001]

@@mrmoth2487 You are so right that there are some great bands now but I'd say not nearly as many as in the past. Also, I liked your analogy about popular music being a bunch of related streams feeding the river. There is not the societal interest and investment in music that was there during the 60's through 80's. Music mattered way more. Records were selling like mad. Artists could spend a lot of time perfecting a masterpiece like Dark Side Of The Moon or Abbey Road. Messages from the counterculture were disseminated through music. Music was central to every young person's life. It was an amazing confluence of rock being the media for the Aquarian Revolution so it meant the world to young people. There was way more crossover. You had producers who just came out of a jazz session, who would then go into a folk session and then a rock and roll session. Not only that, you had session musicians like The Wrecking Crew, who had vast experience in various genres. You had guys like David Crosby, who was not only in multiple bands (Les Baxter's Balladeers, The Byrds, CSN, C&N, The Planet Earth Rock and Roll Orchestra, CPR, solo, etc) but turned bands on to different styles of music (as well as turning them on to great drugs that inspired creativity) in the 60's and then sang with so many other artists from James Taylor to Jonathan Wilson to Elton John to David Gilmour later. When I listen to most newer bands (not all) today, they are generally stuck in one music sound with no variance throughout the record. Like you wrote, in their own pond. Many times I am asking myself, where is the producer to say, "hey guys this is all way too similar" or "hey man, we need a acoustic sound here or an organ solo or flute or strings in here, etc." Bands like The Beatles or even Tears For Fears were all over the place. Bands like Led Zeppelin, early Priest and Black Sabbath were not only heavy but you can hear elements of folk, blues, jazz, psych, lounge and pop in the sound. Break most of their songs down and you'll find that they were well written folk, pop or blues songs. Look at Ozzy's Crazy Train for example. Here is a wonderful pop song done in heavy metal style with socially conscious lyrics. I don't hear that anymore. Bands are mostly just doing one thing and metal bands are just being heavy to be heavy without great songs at the core and in the end, it all comes down to having a great song. Too many psych bands overuse effects to hide the fact that they didn't start out with a great song. Then take singing for example. I don't hear anyone with the versatility of older guys like Ronnie Dio or Glenn Hughes. Ronnie could sing with the tenderness of an angel and then the fury of the Devil. Glenn can belt out blues, soul, jazz, metal etc. Again, I don't hear that anymore. And I don't hear much exploration of harmony the way The Beach Boys, CSNY, The Beatles, America, etc. Yeah, you have some bands like Fleet Foxes but they just are not in the same league as those former bands. Pink Floyd rose above just being another psych band because they had three distinct singers, three songwriters, the genius and chaos of Roger Waters tempered with the melody, harmony and flow of Gilmour and Wright. I like a lot of newer psych bands but they are not even close to Floyd, The Airplane or The Doors. Most of all, I don't hear lyrics with the same poetry and power of artists like Roger Waters, Patti Smith, Bruce Cockburn, John Lennon, Jim Morrison, Laura Nyro, Dylan, Donald Fagan, etc. I don't hear anyone with the combined sensitivity, nuance and complexity of 70's Genesis. The last new band that I thought of as a total package was Porcupine Tree and that was quite a few years back now. So yes, there are very good bands out there but they are getting fewer and far between as it seems that society has moved on from rock and progressive music. You don't have any mainstream artists of the caliber of The Beatles or Elton John selling 100's of millions of records and capturing the mass public's attention whilst introducing them to deeper, more involved, sophisticated music. The last artists that I can think of who did that was George Michael who went from being a pop idol in the 80's to a seasoned, complex and sophisticated artist in the '90s and 2000's. There is a lack of investment and a lack of interest and taste from the general public. I hear way too many pop songs that sound like they were written to be a ring tone. I hear way too much imbecilic third-grade potty poetry of mainstream (not all) rap. Not enough people are paying attention, streaming pays artists nothing, people are not buying enough cd's, lp's, cassettes or downloads. There was not a single new rock album in the Billboard top 100 albums of the year in 2021 for the first time in history. That is not a good sign for the future of music. Maybe I'm a pessimist but that is my take. Keep on finding and supporting new bands as they need it.

[@railwaystationmaster]

THANK YOU SIR .That comment alone absolutely nailed any further futile arguments to the contrary ,1 9 7 0 s is and always will be the golden age of popular music , period !

[@usquebaugh1]

Great perspective and video Mazzy. Like you and many others, I've been doing the AMZN pre-order thing and then reevaluating about a week before release date. This was especially beneficial during the last year with the release dates being pushed back and delays. Here in Canada, it's changed even more dramatically. Until recently, if you grabbed an AMZN pre-order early, that WAS the best price full stop. While I've always bought titles from my local shop as well, since the last months of 2021 and so far in 2022, I'm buying local even more often. Example: I had pre-ordered the Mankunku Quartet - Yakhal Inkomo repress from AMZN at just over 36 CDN, then found it online locally for 30.99. With the plethora of audiophile and regular releases, I found myself having to me more selective than ever. I've also been noticing a trend where a lot of the BN Classics are available for less than the AMZN pre-order price in the months that follow release, so while I probably won't sleep on some of the more desirable Verve titles (ex: Coltrane), I will definitely be exacting more patience and scrutiny on the BN classics as well as 'some' of the Tone Poet releases; because budget.

[@gregbauermeister3388]

I recently started following you. I am from South Africa and I too (regretably) sold off all my vinyl when CD first came out. Fortunately my son recorded the 'gems' from these to Minidisc so I still listen to these on my old player. I am a bit older than you (72) but love all of the rock music (all categories including psychedelia) and I note that we have very similar taste, my top three bands are identical to yours. I was wondering whether you could do something on your channel about how people are buying music nowadays besides online (which you have already done more or less), viz. Apple or iTunes etc. and how artists incomes have been affected by this and indeed what is the biggest source of artist's income is these days. Love your channel btw.

[@captaincopter2387]

In the seventies I made copies of my vinyl albums on cassette so I could play them in my car. I also made cassettes to play in my house. The vinyl was rarely played because I wanted to keep them pristine. When cd’s came along, I boxed my vinyl and kept it in a large closet under my stairs for 25 years. I gradually bought cd’s of the vinyl under my stairs. I consider myself lucky for having both. My kids can’t believe how pristine my 70’s vinyl is today.

[@johnmoreno96]

My situation is a little similar, I collected records in the 70’s and I was anal with them. I recorded some on cassette(custom mix tapes) and always handled them carefully, hold them by the edge, put them in their sleeves with a plastic cover. When cds emerged I stored the records in the garage in a safe place. They survived in great condition. I look at my records now, from back in the day and am so happy that I still own super clean original copies and that I kept at least 90% of them…..😁😁😁

[@johnryan3913]

I don't get it. The records SOUND better. What is the point of buying records you never play?

[@captaincopter2387]

@@johnryan3913 I feel fortunate that my ears aren’t that discerning. The original intent was cassettes for the car.

[@johnryan3913]

@@captaincopter2387 Sorry that sounds judgemental. I agree cassettes are great for driving!

[@johnryan3913]

Also dig the Randy California handle...

[@twofromthetrunk9932]

As always enjoyed this video. I bought records at department stores and a grocery store. When I could afford them. I follow you on Instagram. Well done.

[@muletrane]

Great video Mazzy! Thanks for sharing!

[@ilabelle1]

I really do miss the days of going to (insert record store here) and buying a bunch of records. I remember buying my first album which was Meddle and just staring at the cover while I sat on the bus home. When I was a teenager I used to buy my records used at a place called Cheap Thrills. You could pick up records for a dollar. I had quite a few records! Nowadays all my music is digital. I would love to have walls of records but alas I live in a one bedroom apartment and there is no way I would be able to have thousands of records not to mention the turntable to play them on. I have over 5000 albums on an external hard drive. A good many of those files are Hi Res and lossless files. I run my Mac into a decent amp with an excellent DAC and then into quality speakers. I also have hi-end headphones for critical listening. As far as album art goes I’m stuck with album cover on my Mac. Not ideal but better than a poke in the eye with a sharp stick. I’m used to and actually pretty happy with my setup. The sound of my system rivals vinyl if not surpasses it. But like I like to say: Nostalgia ain’t what it used to be. Would I like having the actual album to ogle and fondle? Of course I would but I have to be realistic and live within my means.

[@musicandartincorporated2455]

Thank you, Mazzy, for this very informative video full of insight and knowlege that only someone with a background in retail could provide 👏 👍 😀

[@the80slivehere]

Extremely interesting perspective from someone who has been there through it all from the unparalleled vinyl heyday to the cool niche vinyl present. While I listened, I was cleaning my flea market CD finds. My fave is Getz Au Go Go (made in West Germany). Stan with Astrud sounded perfect on a rainy Sunshine State morning. Jazz and Classical on CD are sure hard to beat. Rock on, Mazzy! - Heather

[@djjoeykmusic]

Hi Mazzy, great video. Wow, a lot of history and info. Thank you so much I really enjoy your videos. Thank you so much! Happy new year Have a great day and a awesome week Shavua Tov

[@melprophet1936]

Great video! I worked at a record store when in high school in the late 70's and early 80's. We got loads of returns for defects, the majority of which were severe warps. My very limited experience buying records (I'm mostly buying CD's) in recent years is that they seem to have more pops and surface noise than I recall from the old days but who knows? I may be giving too much credit to the good old days.

[@vinylarchaeologist]

Pops and clicks are less of a problem here in Europe. Around 10 years ago, you would often get noisy pressings from MPO in France and GZ in the Czech Republic. That’s changed now, and they do a great job. German record plants like Optimal, Pallas and the few smaller ones always did a good job.

[@melprophet1936]

@@vinylarchaeologist I have some family in Ireland who said very much the same thing you did about German pressing plants. The last time I was frequently buying records back in 2019 I was pretty shocked at how many were noisy. I even cleaned a couple of brand new records and found a fair amount of dirt on them.

[@leonidvolovik5203]

Agree, too much surface noise...

[@pwn3426]

@@melprophet1936 Exact same experience here. I recently went in hard on vinyl. I always was interested in Vinyl(im a cd era baby). After doing a ton of research about the subject, ton of reading and even more youtube watching. I bought me a fluance rt82, DJIII preamp, SMSL AD18 amp/dac and a pair of Emotiva B1+ speakers. I ordered a dozen or so of my favorite albums brand new sealed from ebay and amazon. I also bought another dozen or so used on ebay all rated VG+ or NM. I also ordered vinyl solution inserts and sleeves to protect. I was so let down right out of the gate man. A few of the records sounded amazing and clear while most had so much popping and cracking and just noise all the way through or at least a few songs that made it entirely not enjoyable at all for me. Lets not even mention the few sealed ones that were warped pretty bad. Most of the used ones i received were no where near what they were graded at, safe to say at this point im just done. Sold the fluance rt82 and most of the records at this point, rest in the process ,bought me a Cambridge CXC CD transport and could not be happier. Back to CD collecting for this guy and Im so much happier.

[@therealglennthebaker]

The Wherehouse, Tower, Licorice Pizza, Woolworth....wow. you brought back a lot of memories. Great video.

[@bradbull3926]

Thanks for that Mazzy. As someone who went through the stages you mentioned I’ve stopped buying physical copies of music. But I still get more pleasure out of listening to my vinyl and CDs than I do from the streaming services. So this video was both interesting and useful to me. Thanks again

[@hastalavistababy6969]

clear as water! great video! greetings from Argentina..

[@dennydriverstudio]

A very nice video. Quite informational, with my kind of math (I think that way). Most of the channels I follow are frim VC members in the Midwest or the Northeast. Many of them have referenced you and I was delighted to find that you are in the Northwest (where I reside). It's taken a while for me to checkout one of your videos (for no good reason). I stumbled upon this one tonight and thought I'd check it out. I was pleased with what I saw and heard.

[@mazzysmusic]

Thank you. Hope you enjoy a few more ✌🏼

[@4-dman464]

I took my very first LP back to the record store cos it had a glich, it jumped on 'Rocket Man.' It was Elton John's Greatest Hits back when there wasn't volumes of Elton John's greatest hits, just the one LP, sat at piano in his white suit. So the record dealer played it in the shop there and then. RIGHT THERE! I said. And the record dealer played it back: "She packed my bags last night...." The record dealer explained: "He's singing 'pre-flight' - - it's 'She packed my bags last night pre-flight'." I felt like ten types of twat there in the record store, in my flared jeans and long hair and blurred vision without glasses - - thinking there was some word missing in the 'jump' between 'pre' and 'flight'. What the hell did I think was inbetween? 'She packed my bags last night, prepared to take me back after the flight'? It couldn't have been more obvious that I hadn't been fking anywhere in the world except round the corner on a bus. Pre-flight? Y'mean, like on an aeroplane? No, on a rocket. He's a Rocket Man. He's not taking the fking bus, and she's not packing his bags to throw him out.

[@johnryan3913]

Bernie was always an awkward wordsmith!🚀

[@johnryan3913]

Isn't the song about drug addiction? 🚀🛻🛶🚀

[@johnryan3913]

Hey flared jeans were cool in 1974!

[@4-dman464]

@@johnryan3913 Now it all makes sense. So she IS throwing him out! That's why he misses his wife and kid on the come-down out in space. I sure wish I could get back on that bus and tip the word to the record dealer. I had a history of misconstruing lyrics, ever since 'Satisfaction' first came out and I heard, clear as day over the transistor radio, Mick Jagger calling, "I said PEDRO!" And ever since I thought Penny Lane was a woman (- - with her thighs round Paul's ears....Now it all makes sense! And so on).

[@BigCraig]

Don't feel bad. I used to think ELO's song Strange Magic had the lyric "I've gotta strain my dick". Listen to the song, you'll never unhear it.

[@markhutchins7808]

The only problem I have with following my only local record store is that I end up running down there and buying more records when they show the "new" used records they are putting out for the current week

[@silentlyunsteadycollecting]

Very informative & useful video. Cheers.

[@michellerini9276]

Mazzy, I absolutely love your channel.

[@mazzysmusic]

Well thank you Michelle. Appreciate the comment. ❣️

[@wasagageorge2610]

Great video Mazzy, I remember on the back of Columbia/Epic cd's, It read "The sound of the original recording has been preserved as closely as possible, however due to its high resolution, the compact disc can reveal limitations of the source tape" What bunk, I totally bought this hype.

[@michaelbrodybroshears5721]

This was a great video. I learned so much. Thank you for your expertise. Just got into vinyl when the pandemic started. Expensive habit, but man… addicted. Got lots of great ideas here today.

[@mazzysmusic]

Thank you for watching. It’s a fun hobby. Go for the music you love first and then maybe experiment a bit ✌🏼🎶

[@sylvestermatera2719]

Since the late 1970s, wages for the bottom 70 percent of earners have been essentially stagnant and so today the cost of a record seems disproportionately high compared to 45 years ago.

[@johnryan3913]

Yes and I am in the bottom 10 percent. I agree, I used to buy records every week and I was poor then too.

[@bigedhaaheo]

Aloha Mazzy, Thank you for a great video and topic. Very interesting take on your perspective . I to was blessed to work in a record Shop & record department from 1976 through 1980's. I also sold my record collection during the 1980's "83 - 87" on Consignment in a record shop I was hanging out at. I buy most of my new records through Amazon, In grove, deep discount, spin me round, etc. I also buy from Discogs, . At this time on Oahu their are only 2 mom & pops record shops their new records are bout $5.00 above Walmart prices, I do buy local, but used records. Thanks for a great video. Mahalo Ed

[@ThomasBock-pm5ll]

Great information! I was talking to a family member that has been collecting for over 60 years. I'm starting to collect again after 40 years and couldn't swallow the large prices. He also referenced the prices I paid back then vs the wages I earned and it did make sense. I was just beginning to collect jazz and couldn't afford $6 a record not knowing if I might like the artist. I learned fast by buying cutouts which might at times cost 1.99 to 2.99 for 3 records. They were packaged together so the middle album might be a mystery. It got to be a competition to see if you could be the first to go through the bins. Now my dilemma is trying to decide if the mastering and mixing is an improvement or a detriment. I'm learning as I go by following you and a few others. Thanks for your love of the music!

[@djtrishm]

Hi Mazzy I remember in the 70s ,80s and early 90s I cound buy records between $5- 20.00! I would see the price of CD and thought I will never be able to afford them. Who would have thought the price of CDs would drop and the price of records would skyrocket! Thumbs up! Trish

[@elliotmann8882]

I remember those 1970's days in college and going to record stores once in awhile. Great times to live through. I rented a room for $80 a month in San Diego and rode my bike to college, so I didn't pay for parking or gas. College was way cheaper back then, except for the books. Most of the music I like these days come from singers like Megan Nicole, who are not available on vinyl, only digital downloads. That's why I save all my vinyl records from the past.

[@BaldyFella]

Interesting episode Mazzy. When I think back to my vinyl collecting experiences in the late 70s and 80s (mainly 45 singles back then with LPs to a lesser degree) it was just much harder in UK. You had Woolworths or HMV and a few indie one-off small stores but there was no internet. This meant everything had to be bought in the wild which cost money (petrol) and time. I went to record fairs and bought from DJs at soul functions. Half the time you had no idea what you were buying unless a mate had it, or a DJ had played it. It is so much easier today. You can listen to artists and even potential purchases on a streaming service, or listen to a sample of the track listing on an online store. You can track down a lot of rare records in seconds and purchase them in moments (budget permitting). Forty plus years ago you could spend forever and still not track down certain elusive vinyl records. Therefore, when you weigh up the choice you have and how easy it is nowadays to build a valuable collection from your mobile phone, I would say vinyl today is cheaper, more accessible and better quality than yesteryear.

[@750drums]

Bradley's Barn cd on your shelf Mazzy ? Cool !. Great video, Mazzy. After 60 + years of buying, I'm still collecting . I'll buy recordings just about everywhere, except Amazon. I refuse to patronize them for anything. Philosophical reasons. Got a couple good local used stores that get some new stuff as well. Try to get my stuff there as much as possible. Thanks again for another great video.

[@mondoenterprises6710]

I just picked up 11 used records for a buck a piece and in good shape from the local record shop. I also just ordered The Byrds Columbia box for $40 off Amazon. I scored a new used More Blood More Tracks cd for $6 from the local record shop. And picked up 6 used NM used cds for $10, 3 for $5, a Sonny Boy Williamson and a Little Milton and three Morrisey. Like I always say, Go Big or Go Home. Meanwhile, I am still waiting for my Nilsson box cd set from Amazon ordered from overseas in November 2021.

[@ivc5150]

absolutely brilliant video.

[@playbackamusicloversjourne8620]

Great video Mazzy. My experience mirrored yours. The upside of everyone moving to vinyl and streaming is there are so many cheap cds available on the used market now - often $1 or less! One thing I'd add to the issue list with Acoustic Sounds is their return policy - it sucks! You have to purchase another item to get a replacement disc for a faulty pressing and then they'll send the replacement along with your new item but only if you provide proof that you've destroyed the first copy and of course you're not guaranteed that the replacement will be better than the first.. For those of us outside the USA that gets pricey. Got bit with 2 poorly pressed UHQRs - never again will I purchase one of their "superior vinyl formula" expensive boxes. I'm forced to purchase most of my lps online as local outlets stock little of the genres I'm interested in. Lately I've discovered a couple of b&m stores with decent online selections here in Canada so I don't have to always support the evil empire of A'zon! Up until a year ago they were unbeatable for price but have changed their pricing scheme in Canada - very few great preorder deals so if I'm paying retail I'm buying from a b&m store.

[@svenjosefsson8007]

I tried,stupidly with hindsight, to sell my LP collection back in 95 ,here in the uk, and was told they where ALL worthless! How times change eh? I understand the inflation argument but as a retiree I now find I can only afford new LPs on the same basis a I did as a kid back in the seventies! ie. NOT often. No matter CDs are dirt cheap these days and lets face it . It's the music that matters not the format. Rock on Mazzy ✌

[@bassbymichele]

I wish I could work in a record store in the 70's.. thanks for the usual fantastic video Mazzy

[@26tomabb]

A real eye opener. Thanks...

[@terrykeenan4308]

Wow! Love this video Mazzy! Glad you mentioned Mike at InGroove, I look forward to watching his new release video every Thursday, and you’re right, more shops should do this. I tried telling my local shop here in Utah, and they never heard of him! I was like, What? You’re in this business, you should be doing this. That being said, for some reason my shop cannot get mobile fidelity or analog productions in, so I buy from InGroove or Acoustic Sounds. They do get in Blue Note, which Is a great label you could have mentioned. Great pricing for a well sounding record. One last thing. We all know the quality of mobile fidelity, analog productions, Sam records, Impex, Craft and Speakers Corner, but what about those others, that are selling records cheap and are digitally sourced. I’m thinking Waxtime, etc. I would love you to do a video about all these different record companies, and who is putting out what. That would be a great video to watch and a big help to the vinyl community. Just recently I saw Elvis Costello first album by Back and Black, but I heard bad things, so I’m reluctant to buy. Also Singles Going Steady by the Buzzcocks just came out again, but I’ve never heard of the label. These are great records that should be done right. So, that’s my long winded response. Once again, great video! Appreciate your insight.

[@mazzysmusic]

I’m not sure I have any of the Back to Black reissues but I assume they are on a case by case basis regarding good or bad 🤷🏻‍♂️ It seems difficult for most stores to get new Mofis these days. One of my local shops gets them occasionally

[@terrykeenan4308]

@@mazzysmusic yep, I’m wondering why that is. Thanks for your response. It would be great to figure out these labels, so you know if. It’s digitally sourced or from the original tapes!

[@jackwezesa1081]

That Buzzcocks lp is great. 🎸!

[@markr51]

Putting costs in perspective, I was earning about $1.00 an hour in 1969 just out of HS. I remember buying the first Santana album and "Green River" by Creedence for $2.99 on sale at Tower on Columbus. I also bought "Stand!" by Sly and the Family Stone for $3.99 that night too. I almost didn't buy it because of the cost, but really wanted it. Three really different kinds of music, three great albums, all affordable for a college kid making a buck an hour. I could also go see these bands live at the Fillmore West or Family Dog for $3 - $3.50 then. That was for a triple bill. What a bargain! I feel that vinyl costs are comparable accounting for inflation, while live music has skyrocketed. More power to the artists but feel fortunate to be a young adult back in the day. Retired now and blowing some of my disposable income on LPs now. Totally worth it.

[@dbdigital57]

This is a great topic and reminder of buying 45’s that had been in jukeboxes and resold at at discount (usually 49 cents) at a local “dime” store

[@danmartinez5502]

I also was in the record business as a National Retail Record Chain buyer from 1970 to 1982. Today's record stores in my market are very weak both in selection and knowledge. When I visit Austin it's like vinyl heaven such as Waterloo Records. However most stores in my market have very little Jazz and Blues and very little knowledge. Today's audiophile records is a great option that was very limited on the 70s. This is the best that vinyl has ever been. Acoustic Sounds is superior. MD is getting better but needs to expand there info on album releases. If your buying albums to flip or to show and not listening to you are wasting time and money and your missing out.

[@michaellourie4252]

Waterloo Records was my go to place to buy lps for almost 2 decades until I moved away. What a fantastic place for vinyl!!

[@danmartinez5502]

@@michaellourie4252 Great video our career paths were very similar. Enjoy you perspective..

[@markwilliamson4834]

So much good information in one video!

[@randyhinshaw3320]

Came across your video and I was a fellow Wherehouse employee in the early 70s. Worked in Lakewood and opened the Downey store then moved up north and worked in the main San Mateo store. Best time of my life!

[@mazzysmusic]

Fun days ✌🏽

[@rite-note1702]

Well Done When I do use Amazon I also find it useful to add LPs to my Wish List. Amazon as well as third party retailers see this and many times will drop the price on your items over the coarse of a few days. Amazon will also radically drop the price at times when inventory is getting low then jack up the price when there is one or two left. Living in Toronto fortunately there are many stores I shop at.

[@Claus-CaptainPhoenixCorner]

Great reflections, Massy. Surprising to learn that you discarded/sold all your vinyls... 😯 I luckily kept mine when CD's arrived.

[@mazzysmusic]

I only sold a third of them. Still unfortunate✌🏽

[@bobdarlington4634]

Great stuff Mr Maslov. One thing I will say, over here in England it costs around £25 if you want/need to buy a reissue of an album that cost 3 or 4 quid maximum back in the 70's and often sold a gazillion copies back then.And that's for a standard copy, not re-mastered/re-mixed or whatever. Far better I think to go to a local secondhand shop and buy an original for less than a fiver or tenner. Thing is all these represses seem to be what's holding up all the new bands and artists releases. I'm more than happy to pay £25 to help support new artists, but they are usually at the back of the pressing queue when it comes to getting their material out there. The price, literally, of the music business, I guess, which is more than happy to supply old farts with their must have nostalgia, bah humbug and peace and love to you (smiley face thing) !

[@johnryan3913]

Also the reissued editions are often inferior to a good copy of an early pressing from back when tapes were fresh.

[@bobdarlington4634]

@@johnryan3913 Exactly so John. My eldest daughter, who has picked up the record buying bug from me, is always saying, " £25, and it's possibly a poor quality reissue, I'll stick to looking for a good secondhand original down at our local record store". Surely It can't cost a massive amount putting out these standard reissues, with no recording studios needed, or producers etc, the music is already there. So apart from the cost of the pressing and album sleeve, transport etc, couldn't the big three labels put these old albums, (that originally often sold in large or huge numbers), out at a lower price, say £15 ?. I'm sure they would sell a great many more, especially to younger people who are possibly new to record buying.

[@jamiebo100]

Being ripped off again I think ...... in the UK we were royally ripped of over the price of CDs when they came out ..... ive read the jewel cases were actually more expensive to produce than the CDs themselves and we were forking out about £15 per CD in the 80s !

[@djjoeykmusic]

The love the end of your video Great stuff W o r d! I love you Mazzy

[@royceinthehouse842]

Mazzy great job on this brither

[@HunterMann]

Great video thanks! I noticed your impressive wall of vinyl, very cool but it also makes my neck feel sore when I think of the many hours I used to look at all my records vertically and having to look just after you edges and for some vintage albums the edges are all worn off so I can’t find that record. I’m curious, if you had enough space would you switch to having record bins like they have at most vinyl stores? I really prefer those because I can divide them with divider cards by artist or genre as well I can see the front of the album cover as I flip through them. It just makes so much sense I don’t understand why so many people settle for vertical Add viewing of the record collection, any comments?

[@mazzysmusic]

I do have a selection of new releases and a few series in smaller flip bins I do like them but wouldn’t want them for the entire collection. You learn from the spines too ✌🏼

[@playvinylinthemilkynight1879]

I remember during my record-buying heyday in the mid-late 80's while I was in college, most new records cost 7.99-8.99 for domestic releases and 11.99 for imports, like all the 4AD bands. Great vid, Mazzy.

[@briankorbelik2873]

I'm old, in the 70's you could get an "import" meaning the British release of the album for $5.99 in the States. I found a great copy of the original English releases of "Are You Experienced, and Electric Ladyland" for what is now a song. And it wasn't all that expensive then. And yes the 60's-80's were better times despite Reagan and Thatcher.

[@matthewchance8835]

I used to work at The Wherehouse in the late 80s-early 90s. I remember the albums & CD's were around $10-$15 in price, we also still carried cassette tapes. The List Price on records were always on the top corner of the record spine. The record clubs were the one's who would charge the list price [Columbia House, BMG] that's why you were always getting the 12 LPs, CD's or Cassettes for a penny, so you would have to buy 5 more at regular list price [$4.98, $5.98 & higher for box sets & double LPs, etc.] That was the catch. The Wherehouse would sell an album at $8.99 when the Retail Price was $9.99. I also worked at Music Plus in 1984-1985 & that was fun because we had a big selection of 12" singles @ $3.99 each and I was also a part time D.J. at that time & I'd get all the new 12" releases there.

[@davidpye2002]

Wow this takes me back. So many good record stores - Eucalyptus in Vallejo when I was a kid. Then there was Tower Records, The Wherehouse, Rainbow Records. I spent a lot of time in Berkeley at Rasputin, Leopolds and Amoeba. Then frequented the Virgin megastore in SF when I worked downtown. Most of them gone now...ahh memories!

[@mattydread66]

I was a purchaser for Pacific Coast One Stop in the early 90s. Yea, I remember… Most of us snatched up CDs (which I still have). When I think back to how much access I had to vinyl. - a lot of it practically free - WHAT WAS I THINKING??!! Ugh - all these years later I’m still rebuilding my vinyl collection. 😢

[@Beatgeneration2010]

love your videos

[@mazzysmusic]

Thank you ✌🏼✌🏼✌🏼

[@jamesdamon9876]

SoCal 60+ guy here. Similar collection histories. Love the retail shoutouts…memories.

[@vinyl1Earthlink]

I remember much bigger discounts in the late 70s. Cutler's in New Haven would go as low as $3.79 on $6.98 list, but the market was very competitive. When the major labels tried to discontinue vinyl at the end of the 80s, you could buy everything as a cutout for less than $1. I bought a huge pile of records at the Tower Annex for 10 or 25 cents each - i took a six copies of each title. If you bought used in that era, you could pay $10 or $20 per 100 pieces. Those were the days!

[@farrellmcnulty909]

3:02 - I WANT THAT - That's the most beautiful, the cleanest copy of that album I've ever seen. I love Apostrophe.

[@jonsimons7934]

Great video Mazzy, and very fair. As you hint at the beginning, I do think it's different in the UK. I'm from Swindon (home of XTC). It seems that every price you quote in dollars as average is at least the same number in pounds, so about 25% more or worse. I've gone back to buying CDs in the main cos they're so much cheaper and now reserve my vinyl buying to "special" albums.

[@limomangeno]

Ok I always looked for record albums on Sale...Korvetts ,Mays,Alexander's, were the big 3 in the New York City area.They all had fantastic record departments.Macys record dept didn't compare to the others. The sale prices were 1.99 to 3.49 in the 70s.min.wage in NYC was one dollar an hour.I went into the city to Sam Goodies,and around the corner from the Brill Building ...45 st 47 street whole sale record companies. The 3 albums you showed, went for under 4 bucks each.

[@rocky-o]

i worked in alexander's record dept in new york in the mid-70's...sam goody's was also a great place to shop.....

[@miltonruiz7641]

How about Colony Records by the Brill Bldg

[@rft2001]

I was a major record collector from a young age. Worked in a record store. The biggest difference is that in the 70's and 80's records were the people's format. Great sound at a fair price. New releases were $5.99 to $6.99 and you could pick up a promo copy for $3.71 to $4.66 many times all the way up through the late 80's. When cd's came out, I stuck with records because they were more affordable and still sounded great even on the fragile 80's/early 90's vinyl. Nowadays, though, they call lp's "vinyl" (a term we rarely used back in the day) and they have become an elitist format so, as a confirmed utilitarian and contrarian, I buy cd's because they sound great and are cheaper.

[@fostexfan160]

LOL.....great insight, what comes around goes around. Hang onto those cd's. They will become collectable

[@ericstarr3591]

My problem with CD's is the over the top loudness mastering being applied to CD's. The brickwalling and loudness is making CDs with this type of mastering applied - unlistenable. I've grown tired of buying a cd to find it is mastered in this way - so i've been pushed to vinyl or LPs. No more loudness worries.

[@mike_burke]

@@ericstarr3591 That is by far the main reason I went back as well (not for nostalgia, or to be hip). I enjoy the convenience and durability of CD, but since the mid-nineties too many were ruined by bad mastering and brickwalling. They were meant to be listened to in the car, and had to compete with engine and road noise.

[@mymixture965]

You are absolutly right with your calculation, I had a similar discussion a few days ago about gasoline. Here in Austria you had to work 4 times more for buying gasoline in the 70´s. And I think this is true at least for Europe too.

[@sonybluraydisk]

Oida so is es

[@mano1971music]

Great video Mazzy! Just curious, what are your thoughts on buying off e-Bay? I find that I'm able to purchase rare, out of print vinyl from sellers on that site at decent prices. However, it's the rating and condition of the vinyl record that I'm taking a chance at. A seller might say "Mint to Excellent" condition, yet when I receive the album, it's far below that description......

[@mondoenterprises6710]

The Big Lebowski doesn't like The Eagles, man.

[@ryanmoore2779]

In fact he hates the F’n Eagles man! Creedence tapes

[@greghawkins229]

I bought cd’s strategically. Greatest Hits, the best cd of the artist I liked, box sets and used/discounted cd’s. I never stopped buying vinyl hence my collection of 30k+ records

[@jackwezesa1081]

Greg I never got on the CD bandwagon . My record collection exceeds 30K also.My first purchase with my own money was Meet The Monkees in 1966 !

[@greghawkins229]

@@jackwezesa1081 awesome. Mine was picture sleeve purplish 45 vinyl Sweet Talking Woman by ELO. Figured out Pretty quickly that full on vinyl is what I wanted. Have too many 45’s but that’s the addiction problem. Will not Turn away something that catches my fancy if I have money in my pocket. Hence my purchase of cassette box Of 60 70/80’s rock recently

[@tonycord-growthexitadvisor]

I just bought from Acoustic Sounds for the first time and agree Chad and his team need to upgrade their e-commerce - good conversation an perspective, Mazzy!

[@liammolyneuxmusic]

Great video Mazzy. I totally agree on many of your points especially these companies cashing in because of the collectibility of certain records. P.S are you going to buy the upcoming Wildlife half speed remaster.✌️❤️

[@gordonlang2866]

"of course he is"

[@greghawkins229]

Great video

[@tenantrep]

Loved this video! I’ve heard newer reissues are mostly pressed from digital CD’s. Is that true. I only like analog on my vinyl so tend to only buy used 1st pressings from the 60’s and 70’s. With the exception of Blue Note Tone Poet and certain albums pressed from the original master tapes. The negative is you end up with lots of crackles and pops even with cleaning. Thoughts?

[@mazzysmusic]

Crackles pops are from bad pressings or old records that were not cared for

[@Theatre_Of_Noise]

Always enjoy your take on things. And I'm not even a vinyl guy . . .

[@teckertime]

Same Here.

[@cbond1c113]

I sold all my vinyl for CDs initially because I was lured by the both the bonus track & portability. I will say that I did find the sound quality to be more powerful & crisp as well. During the 1990's this was important to me because I was married and spent most of my time at work, and music was my helpmate (not my wife). The last 3-4 years I've been revisiting music I've loved on vinyl, and it's been a wonderful experience to have something tangible again. I do find that the Grateful Dead is more affordable on CD than vinyl, and after purchasing my 7th RSD Box Set of theirs this summer (add the colossal LYCEUM Box-Set this upcoming Friday) ) I am going back to collecting them exclusively in that format. BTW Great exposition! It does make sense.

[@xentakis]

My recollection from being a teenager in the mid and late 90s is that CDs routinely cost $20, which is a bit crazy when you think about it. Paying $30-$40 for an LP (and easily being able to stream it first to make sure the music is good) doesn’t seem so bad by comparison.

[@johnryan3913]

I never paid $20 for a normal CD - usually $8 to $15, except for certain Japanese imports with LP cardboard facsimile covers. There were some great box sets for under $20 including the Capricorn r&b boxes, and the early Chess boxes which admittedly had mediocre remastering. But it was how I got more deeply into Bo Diddley.

[@ChrissHill-im7kj]

The only problem I have is finding certain things on CD. Pat benatar should be easy but she's not unless you just want the greatest hits. Spock's beard? Out of print..The Tubes? Only certain titles..

[@johnlamarca3339]

There’s a record store here in the UK that really does mail order right. They allow you to pre-order with no payment, and they will notify you when it comes in and even put it aside for you. You can also reserve in-stock records if you’re not ready to place your order just yet. Like the In Groove, they’ve figured out how to make a one location, independently-owned brick & mortar shop a big and successful online enterprise.

[@justplayed2555]

Which store is this?

[@GIBKEL]

You hinted at an interesting question….when to buy music as purely digital(never, as I have to own a physical item) as CD, or vinyl. I just not sure of what and when. Somewhere around 2005, I just kind of gave up. Been buying great memories, my favorite albums and some of these jazz reissues the past few years. I miss going into the store, regardless.

[@theboywithathorninhisside.4179]

Another point. Any advice regarding Collecting original Year limited Pressed THE SMITHS vinyl Albums. I'm currently upto 70/80% of their previous back catalogue. But obviously so many related As Sold and Mis~Dated Issues out there. Its always tricky to find and Collect something stated as Original Press, over the Repressed from Original copy. Its a complete and utter mind field currently.

[@kevin2472]

Thank you for the rant on e-commerce! I’ve run into that problem both with vinyl and in my other hobby of model railroading! Local shops either don’t have a website at all or if they do it’s lacking! So the fact that big e-commerce sites are killing the local shops is mostly their own fault in my opinion.

[@jacomo007jf]

I appreciated the information and "rants". I would like to offer up another record label worth buying from, and that is Run-Out Groove, where you get to vote on the next release.

[@mazzysmusic]

I have a handful of their releases. Totally forgot to mention them ✌🏽

[@nfaller89]

So awesome of you to shout out Hi Voltage. One of my favorite shops that I frequent. Their store is so impressively catalouged. And their staff is pretty rad to boot. I also don't tend to agree with you, records are not as overpriced as people make it out to be.

[@davidleinweber]

I love my old vinyl collection, especially the covers. That said, I haven’t actually listened to one in years, literally over twenty years probably. They are reaa pain to keep organized and I can never find anything when I want it. I get them relatively organized but before too long they’re in chaos again