CDs vs digital music

I have spent tons of money on music... first with vinyl albums and 12" singles, then CDs. Often, I bought the CD version of the album, especially if there were bonus songs on it. I love my IPOD and use it everytime I am at the gym. Still, I have been slow to adapt to digital music. I know that it is the direction of the industry, and that CDs will become less and less popular. But there is something I enjoy about having something tangible. I like the album/cover art and liner notes -- and the fact that I will still have the music should my hard drive crash. As a result, I find myself buying used CDs vs digital music -- often times, I can get the CD less expensive than the digital version - especially if the album has been out for a while. Amazoncom loves me, and I love Amazon.com back as that is where I purchase and sell my music. Everyone expected vinyl records to become valuable once CDs took over but that didn't happen - aside from music that never made it CD. And it doesn't look like CDs will become valuable as they disappear - unless it never gets licensed for digital use.

I have way too many CDs and need to pare down as I don't really listen to them. My idea was to rip them to my computer, then sell the CD for whatever I could get. Of course, I would hold onto CDs that were out of print or had special meaning to me. I spent $1500 on a metal locking cabinet to hold the 2,000 CDs I have. Probably a waste but it does look nicer in the living room than open spinning towers. Alas, even with being unemployed I have not ripped many CDs -- I wish there was a device I could load 100 CDs at a time and have it automatically rip into digital files. I would definitely invest in that!

415 Records Concert

Over Labor Day weekend, I got to check out a few of the influential bands that were on 415 Records in the early to mid-80's. The bill included Wire Train, Translator, and Deborah Iyall from Romeo Void. Romeo Void's Benefactor album and Never Say Never EP were records I played a lot in 1983 - 1984. That album was incredible as it really had a defined sound -- part punk, part new wave with a dash of sax. Incredible album. And Wire Train's first record, "In A Chamber" is infamously great. In 1995, a CD was released that contained Wire Train's first 2 albums, and soon after went out of print. This CD which I have a copy of, sells for $80 - $200 on Amazon.com or eBay. Luckily, I have 2 copies, but will probably sell one for fear that another label like Rhino will pick up the rights to redistribute the album.

Deborah Iyall was great -- she did a new song, plus many Romeo Void classics. Her personality was huge - and made the show fun.

Translator was good, but I only knew one of their songs.

Wire Train was good too, but the lead singer's voice wasn't as sharp as it had been. Still, I was greatful to see this band live having waited 25 years to see them!