MUSIC COLLECTORS SHOW
Those who are all ears and those who are merely curious convene at this semi- annual record fair.
1 Not Your Average Broken Record The sale’s 40 vendors include a couple of proper record stores, plus hobbyists looking to pare down their personal collections. Don Chase has downsized his own massive collection from 3,000 to just a few hundred items by setting up shop at the Collectors Show as well as the Hillhurst Flea Market. “You can’t retire to a two- bedroom apartment in Italy with 3,000 records,” Chase says.
2 They Were Vinyl before Vinyl Was Cool It’s no secret that the popularity of vinyl has soared, with people of all ages yearning for a tactile musical experience in the wake of the download age. With new vinyl available everywhere from independent record stores to London Drugs and Urban Outfitters, the Collectors Show gives new collectors a chance to build their collections, often on the cheap.
3 Put a Few LPs in Your Portfolio While there will be plenty of records in the $ 5-$ 10 range, some vendors bring along real collector’s items, including sealed albums that have never been played. Unlike CDs, records can make for a good investment. “If you buy a really good condition Beatles album for $ 50, if you take care of it, the album will appreciate in value,” Chase says. “There are records that outperform the stock market.”
4 Same Song but Different Organizer Mark Corner says that hardcore collectors have always searched out specific pressings. “Records from a different country were sometimes released with an improved pressing,” he says. “You’d go buy a Canadian pressing of a Led Zeppelin record and find out the English one is better and have to buy that one, too.”
5 It’s Not Just about the Music Besides vinyl records, some vendors will be selling cassettes and CDs. Those starting a collection of LPs will also want to search out a turntable. Then there are the vendors who offer posters and T- shirts, and one who specializes in Led Zeppelin and Jimi Hendrix memorabilia. — Elizabeth Chorney- Booth