![](columbia_photo.jpg)
I COLLECT
Why? I don't know. They just
appeal to me.
First of all is the cover
art, I suppose. While it's true that you can't judge a book by its cover, the
art directors certainly tried to get you to pick out an Lp by the attractive album art. Columbia Masterworks
covers were and are stylish and interesting. And the large 12" X 12"
format catches your eye much better than does the measly 5" X 5" CD
cover - or whatever is used to advertise downloadable mp3s!
Secondly is the cachet of
owning vinyl records - an outdated, outmoded niche audio format. Even more
niche is owning classical
vinyl records. I own about 1500 Lps,
total, in all musical styles and genres. I will never unload them!
Perhaps it was my father... when
I was a little boy in the early Sixties I used to enjoy thumbing through the
family record collection, most of which were selected by Dad. The
I really discovered
classical music when I was sixteen - it was Rimsky-Korsakov's "Le Coq
d'Or" suite that did it for me. I remember driving into
Where do I find these? In indie record stores, yard sales and, especially, library sales.
Many of my Columbia Masterworks have come from this very library on the floor
below this very display case!
Drop me a line if you find
this interesting... I always like to talk records.
Wes Clark, July 2013
wesclark.com