Are these in your collection?

Who are vinyl collectors and how do they determine what to collect and buy? Like any other type of collectors, you have some that are casual and others are fanatic about their finds.  I have broken the collectors of vinyl down into the top ten type of collectors as I see them:

1.'I like it' Collectors
To me this is the best way to collect anything.  If you like Charlie Daniels Band and Beasties Boys get them! Who says you can't have them side by side.  If you are a music lover, this is most likely how your collection habits will be.

2. Investment Collectors
This is tricky.  For what is valuable today and fall from grace tomorrow. Just a couple of weeks ago after the death of Michael Jackson, his Thriller was demanding top dollar.  On August 17, 1977, the day after Elvis died, only the super rich could touch any of his work. Rarity and current events dictate what you will be collecting at the time as well as quality.

3. Cover Art Collectors
Artwork of some of the covers dictate the price of some records. Some Collect for the artist who did them such as Roger Dean  (Yes), Storm Thorgerson  (Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin), and Mouse & Kelly (Grateful Dead). Others its for the controversial images such as The Beatles – Yesterday and Today (1966) original cover image, the aptly named "butcher cover" or John Lennon & Yoko Ono, ‘Unfinished Music No. 1: Two Virgins’, Which featured John and Yoko fully nude.  Another sought after style is "Cheesecake covers", like "Pajama Party" or "Cha Cha On the rocks".  These mostly came out in the 50's and 60's, and are in fact, well, "cheesy".
If you are collecting for artwork, you probably have LP frames to put them in and have them displayed.

4. Genre Collectors
Some collect according to genre.  Genre is defined as "an expressive style of music".  Some examples of this is Blues, Rock, Jazz, Techno, Hip Hop, Country. And believe me, this list goes on.  Genre can be according to the techniques or the styles. Also, geographical origin is sometimes used to define the music genre. Each genre has "sub-genres" for example: Blues can be Delta Blues, Chicago Blues or Jazz Blues. Country can be Outlaw Country, Truck Driving Country,or Rockabilly.  This is just to name a few.  To view to entire breakdown of Genres, go to Wikipedia , where they had to break up this list into four separate pages.
The interesting thing about these collectors, is that they will have a wide variety or artists, sometimes having one or two LPs by artists that you would not expect them to listen to.  David Gilmore, noted guitarist and vocalist of Pink Floyd, dives into the blues sound on his "About Face" album.

5. Artist Collectors
Artist collectors will pay top dollar for that rare cuts from they favorite artists. Some even go as far as collecting everything from the "Best of" to the 7 or 12 inch singles of their favorite performer.  A copy of Rolling Stones 1st LP 1964 "2.52" 1st Pressing recently sold of over $3000.  These collections can span Band and solo releases as well.  An Eric Clapton collection would be incomplete with out some "Cream".

6. Promo Collectors
These collections are full of some really different styles and artists, many whom never made it big.  Promos and or DJ copies of some are a dime a dozen, and others are very hard to come by. Contrary to popular belief, it is not illegal to sell promotional recordings. These releases are often marked "PROMOTIONAL NOT FOR SALE","For Promotional Use Only"or "DJ COPY. The white labels often are advance promo singles made in even more limited numbers.

7. Label Collectors
Another cool way to collect.  These collections may include more that one label, but it will probably will be the more obscure labels such as "Small World" or "D.K." and often being Indie Recording Labels.  Some go for the art work on the label itself.

8. Era Collectors
They pick an Era, a decade if you will.  Someone who loves the 60's is liable to have a blast collecting hunting down vinyl from that time.  Just be sure to include some of all genres to complete this type of collection.
 

9. Size Matters collectors
To them, size (or length) matters.  You have those who go for the 7" singles better known as 45rpm, or you have some that only want the 12" singles. They often end up with a lot of Promos as well.  Some love the gate-fold cover albums only, collecting more for the cover that the music.

10. The Audiophiles
These are serious people.  They collect for quality.  Audiophiles are defined as collectors, identified by their love for music.  They only want the best they can get.  They look for still sealed, or at the very least NM. Some will only buy 180 gram vinyl or higher. Others seek out Masterdisks or first pressings. Original releases are highly treasured by audiophiles. And all will tell you that mono rocks and nothing beats the sound of analog. Their equipment is just as important, the care they give to it and their collection is second to none. If you know an audiophile, you know you Do NOT touch a piece of their collection without permission. Chances are they will say no, unless you are also 'one of them'.

This is just my take on the collecting styles of vinyl lovers. Some love the colored, picture or die cut disks. There are others, such are my first love who only collected 'The Best Of' LPs.

Are you a collector?  What kind of collection do you have? If your a music lover, you and haven't discovered the world of vinyl collecting, you might want to consider it.  Because Nothing Beats Vinyl.