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What Percent of your Collection is Trad?
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Subject: What Percent of your Collection is Trad? From: Rick Fielding Date: 19 Dec 99 - 02:50 PM Happy Holidays to all. One of my students was remarking this week that my collection of records, tapes, CDs and books (thousands of each) was very heavy on music and artists that he was completely unfamiliar with. (I'll do my best to change that, as I do with anyone who shows an interest) I was just curious how many catters, and especially the newer and younger ones (welcome..by the way) have interest in, or knowledge of the more traditional areas of folk music. I don't just mean ballads or broadsides, but would include early recorded old-time country, or blues (or jazz, or bluegrass for that matter) I've always had contemporary singer-songmakers, and revivalist artists (lots of 'em) in my collection over the years, but by the 80s I was listening to old music probably five to one over new releases. In the last 10 years I've been blown away by very few new (to me) writers,(Bob Coltman, and Jerry Rassmussen for example) but have discovered a great many traditional artists who had been around for years (most, long dead, actually) and who I had somehow missed. Gathering information on their lives, times, and techniques, as WELL as their music, continues to be a huge kick. I'd probably break my collection down this way: Traditional British Isles based: 20% American old time country: 30% Acoustic Blues, and early jazz: 20% Singer songmakers and political,(Dylan, Paxton, Ochs etc: 20% Classical: 10% Sheesh! I need another 20 percent's worth. I'd forgotten about the Beatles, Kinks, Stones, Buddy Holly and all that Rockabilly! Oh well...math ain't my strong point. Any feedback will be interesting. Thanks. Rick |
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Subject: RE: What Percent of your Collection is Trad? From: katlaughing Date: 19 Dec 99 - 03:09 PM Man, at our house we are all over the spectrum, but probably more of classical than anything else. First memories, though, growing up, are old 78's of the old cowboy & other songs like Barnacle Bill, foxtrots, waltzes, and other dance and Victorian songs my parents loved so much. Saw an intersting film the other night on the Independent Film Channel, "Crumb", a docu on Robert Crumb, creator of Fritz the Cat and other comics, etc. Very eccentric, incredibly brilliant, as is the rest of his family from what I could tell. His music library consists only of 78's and I think some very old 33 & 1/2's. He doesn't listen to anything contemporary. It was an impressive sight and judging by what he had on during the filming, he's got good taste. But, you probably already knew that, huh? luvyaKat |
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Subject: RE: What Percent of your Collection is Trad? From: Caitrin Date: 19 Dec 99 - 03:34 PM Math isn't my strong point, either, so I'm just going to estimate the percentages. My CDs are probably around 30 percent rock 'n roll. There's probably another 5 percent folk, 10 percent old-time country, 15 percent blues, 10 percent classical, and about twenty percent Celtic. Then there's another 10 percent of miscellania: punk, musicals, R&B, and other stuff. The hardest part about figuring that out was deciding where things fit. A lot of my stuff tends to straddle a couple of genres. Let me also say that I have a lot more music to buy! My collection should even out some more as I continue to purchase stuff. (I've only been seriously interested in traditional music for the past year or so. That's not much music-buying time when you don't make money.) |
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Subject: RE: What Percent of your Collection is Trad? From: Wolfgang Date: 19 Dec 99 - 03:42 PM 70 % trad. (English language), 10 % trad (other languages), 20% else. Wolfgang |
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Subject: RE: What Percent of your Collection is Trad? From: Mbo Date: 19 Dec 99 - 04:55 PM Well, taking all my tapes and CDs into account (there are many) I have a LOT of classical music, mostly compilations I put together on tape and a lot o' classical CD's, (like Puccini stuff, and various suites and small pieces)--probably 40% of my collection. I also have a lot of rock & roll stuff, mostly 70's rock (like ELO, Styx, and Queen) about 30%. Since I've only been into the Celtic thing for the past 2 years, my Celtic music is rather small, about 20%. The other 10% would have to be musicals, some jazz, some movie scores, and George Winston stuff. --Mbo |
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Subject: RE: What Percent of your Collection is Trad? From: wildlone Date: 19 Dec 99 - 05:07 PM About 50% of my collection is folk and of that 40% is trad, but saying that most of my vinyl is over twenty years old some of it is over thirty.BTW I now have over 400 vinyl folk albums. |
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Subject: RE: What Percent of your Collection is Trad? From: Little Dorritt Date: 19 Dec 99 - 06:20 PM About 40% is english folk of which 90% is traditional. Of the remainder 20% is american from eric bibb loudon wainwright james taylor etc. this leaves about 40% ranging from gregorian chant and mystere aux voix bulgare to bjork and santana. I also have the Sporty spice album northern star which is very good. Has anyone got anything in their cd/vinyl collection for which they have no explanation, but which they can't bear to throw away? I have jeff wayne's War of the Worlds which is completely hammy, but never quite makes it to the car boot sale! |
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Subject: RE: What Percent of your Collection is Trad? From: Sandy Paton Date: 19 Dec 99 - 08:50 PM I would guess it's 65% trad, Rick, and another 30% would be "revival" singers of "folk-related" material. The 5% left over would be soup to nuts, but would include very few of the popular singer/songwriters that fill the "folk" radio shows these days. Picky, I guess. Sandy (folk fogey) |
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Subject: RE: What Percent of your Collection is Trad? From: Dave (the ancient mariner) Date: 19 Dec 99 - 08:58 PM 05% Country and Western 10% British Rock and Roll 10% American Rock and Roll 40% Classical 25% Folk 10% Other (jazz, blues,comedy, foreign) |
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Subject: RE: What Percent of your Collection is Trad? From: Willie-O Date: 19 Dec 99 - 09:08 PM In our family, I get about 100% of the Celtic and fiddle music. Don't know what my problem is but that is the only thing I'll lay out twenty bucks on, although I would like to get into jazz classics. I don't hang around record stores as they are still quaintly referred to. Rest of the family prefers mostly the classics of folk--Weavers, Steve Goodman, and some acoustic blues, R & B and show music. So we end up with a mix. Bill |
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Subject: RE: What Percent of your Collection is Trad? From: Pete Peterson Date: 19 Dec 99 - 09:52 PM About 90% traditional music, of which 70% American (includes old-time, Bluegrass, Revival groups such as Weavers, a few singer-songwriters such as Joanne Davis) and rest British Isles, a few oddballs) other 10% eclectic, VERY little classical & even less oldies rock and jazz and the rest of the known universe. Yes, I am a very lopsided person as far as records & tapes and CDs are concerned |
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Subject: RE: What Percent of your Collection is Trad? From: Stewie Date: 19 Dec 99 - 09:54 PM Disregarding several hundred cassette tapes, which I regard as ephemeral, I would probably break down my collection as: 30% American old-timey, including bluegrass, early cajun, early Hawaiian, and western swing. 30% blues, pre and post-WWII, and gospel. 30% folk - mostly traditional American and British Isles - and folk and country influenced singer/writers. 10% contemporary (non-mainstream) country, rock and world (roots) music. Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: What Percent of your Collection is Trad? From: _gargoyle Date: 19 Dec 99 - 09:57 PM I have less than 50 CD's and LP's combined Of those 10% folk, 40% classical, 20%jazz, 10% rock, 20% edge-modern (Black 47 etc.)
However, I have 9 feet, stacked vertically, of sheet music.
In that collection, by shelves, is an equal distribution from each of the past ten decades....with an overflow to the 1880's.
I would rather play, than listen....Radio/TV doesn't interest me, and the CD's are for "background" when guests are around.
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Subject: RE: What Percent of your Collection is Trad? From: Rick Fielding Date: 19 Dec 99 - 10:03 PM Yeah, Robert Crumb! Brilliant, absolutely brilliant. Makes me howl with laughter everytime I see one of his comics. (I think "Whiteman" was my fave) Can't think of anyone I'd less like to have as a houseguest though. (I have a number of heroes like that) I forgot that I have at least 5% Comedy records in my collection. Mostly English from a lot of years ago. I think I'm up to 125% now! Rick |
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Subject: RE: What Percent of your Collection is Trad? From: Stewie Date: 20 Dec 99 - 02:26 AM There are 2 Robert Crumb and His Cheap Suit Serenaders albums on CD: 'Chasing Rainbows' and 'Singing in the Bathtub' Shanachie 6002 and 6003 respectively - lovely stuff! |
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Subject: RE: What Percent of your Collection is Trad? From: Big Mick Date: 20 Dec 99 - 02:34 AM Got to be about 60% trad of various persuasions. I have quite a fair amount of the really good music of the mid 60's to early 70's. At least what I enjoyed. I also have a pretty good collection of Blues and Rhythm and Blues. Remember "It's A Beautiful Day"? Damn, I haven't listened to that in 15 years or so. Rickster, I am glad you made me look at this. On the sheet music side, books and broadsides, It is about 70%folk. All the best, Big Mick |
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Subject: RE: What Percent of your Collection is Trad? From: Roger the skiffler Date: 20 Dec 99 - 04:23 AM Having spent part of my 29th wedding anniversary on Sunday putting up another CD-rack, I'd guess my collection is around 70%jazz, 15% blues, (electric as well as acoustic)10% folk,about half of that USA, the rest 50s rock 'n' roll, shows & comedy. Herself contributes classical, spoken word, soul and 60s pop to the mixture. I wondered who was represented in the most media. I have Lonnie Donegan on 78, LP, CD and cassette, I have the Weavers on 78, LP, CD but I have Fats Waller on all those and piano roll as well, so he wins out! One never knows do one?! THe proportion of folk has grown considerably since I've been on the Mudcat and heard all your views on various artists. RtS |
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Subject: RE: What Percent of your Collection is Trad? From: Terry Allan Hall Date: 20 Dec 99 - 09:02 AM Approx. 45% (maybe 300 songs) |
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Subject: RE: What Percent of your Collection is Trad? From: Ringer Date: 20 Dec 99 - 09:11 AM Yeah, I remember Its a beautiful day (and, all being well, I've worked out how to italicise) -- recently converted Deja Vu and Stand Up (Jethro Tull) so I could listen in the car, & filled the spare tape time with IABD. The rest: 50% English folk, 50% classical |
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Subject: RE: What Percent of your Collection is Trad? From: Blackcat2 Date: 20 Dec 99 - 09:33 AM I'm looking a CD rack system that appears to be: 40% Celtic, 10% Classical(I hate that term - Aaron Copeland is too new to be Classical) 10% Cajun-Creole, 20% novelty (Dr. Demento/Monty Python/TV Theme Songs (9 CDs of those)/Tom Lehrer/etc. 5% Jimmy Buffett 10% big band/swing (Benny Goodman/Lionel Hampton/pre-1950 Sinatra/Dave Brubeck 5% Blues/Blues Rock/Rock
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Subject: RE: What Percent of your Collection is Trad? From: Rick Fielding Date: 20 Dec 99 - 12:17 PM Please forgive me for thread creep, but Garg's "sheet music pile" made me think of this. Once at the radio station where I do my show, they brought Tiny Tim in for a late night interview. I found out about it the next day! One of the really fascinating entertainers of our time, was interviewed by someone who didn't have a clue that they were talking to a man with a HUGE collection of sheet music and recordings from the turn of the century, and the knowledge to go with it! The whole damn interview was based on "Tip Toe Thru The Tulips"! I'd have killed to spend 3 hours with him. Which reminds me: I'd forgotten about my cylinders, one sided 78s and Pop music from 1900-1915. Looks like I'm up to 130%! Rick |
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Subject: RE: What Percent of your Collection is Trad? From: Metchosin Date: 20 Dec 99 - 12:29 PM 60% Vinyl of that 10% Folk and International, 5% Blues, 50% Rock/Pop, 20% Classical, 10% Country and Bluegrass, 5% Novelty and misc. I just love the Sally Ann and garage sales, so this collection keeps expanding more quickly than the others.
30% Tapes of that 40% Folk, 60% Rock/Pop
One day, when time permits, I intend on organizing and cataloging the stuff, but as a Virgo who has gone off the rails, as my husband points out, this may take some time. And then there is another room, the end of which, contains Alternative and Misc. recordings, of which, I won't even try to cataloge or catogorize the CDs, Vinyl and tapes strewn around and contained therein. (doesn't count, it's our daughters') |
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Subject: RE: What Percent of your Collection is Trad? From: Metchosin Date: 20 Dec 99 - 12:36 PM Rick! You have one sided 78's too. I have one here that should be framed and mounted as a piece of art. It is an RCA Victor with the most beautiful spider web embossing on it that I have ever seen. |
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Subject: RE: What Percent of your Collection is Trad? From: Rick Fielding Date: 20 Dec 99 - 12:39 PM Yup Met. Mine are mostly Sir Harry Lauder. Hey wait a minute, nobody's mentioned 8 tracks! Rick |
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Subject: RE: What Percent of your Collection is Trad? From: MTed Date: 20 Dec 99 - 02:22 PM I have no idea how to integrate Vinyl and CD's--and forget percentages--my vinyl stuff is now in 12x12x14 boxes--two each of blues, C&W, commercial/Traditional folk, and International(which includes field recordings, revivalist, and cabaret/pop), one each of Hawaiian, Jazz, Latin, and classical, with about half a box each of things like show tunes, self-released or small label rock, psychedelic rock----not to mention about 12 boxes of regular rock, r&b, pop--etc. The largest number of CD's are Christmas music, with a bias toward both dementia and nostalgia, then there is a lot of French and Italian pop stuff, Hawaiian, Rat Pack music, and compilations of pre-rock pop, such as Ruth Etting, Al Jolson, Gene Austin--then compilations of recent pop, such as Cure, Pet Shop Boys, and of course, whatever 20's-30's folk country or Blues I have found,(such as Carter Family, Charlie Patton, BLJ, and a bunch of compilations)-- I all makes sense to me--
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Subject: RE: What Percent of your Collection is Trad? From: JedMarum Date: 20 Dec 99 - 02:58 PM hmmm, my 'collection' is rather ethereal. I never seem to hang onto anything for any length of time. All my LPs are gone. I seem to accumlate 'stuff' as my musical focus changes, the collections disappear. Of the 100 or so CDs I currently own, 60% would be classified as "folk" trad or otherwise - a large percentage of Irish, and other Celtic (mainly trad) - then my favorite folkies; Nancy Griffith, Bill Staines, Ed Miller, Rick Fielding, Lyle Lovett - several Doc Watson, Tony Rice, Norman Blake, JD Crowe - I have some wonderful CDs with Spanish Guitar, a few country (Vince Gill, Ricky Skaggs, Allison Kraus), probably 15% of my collection is classical, and another 15% is blues; BB King, Robert Cray, and old blues collections. I am definately a binge listener. I steep myself in a record for extended periods of time. In my car CD player I have Rick Fielding's new release, and I have been playing it over and over, I also have a Peter Rowan CD and one I am working on. These recordings take up all my listening focus cycles, for now. |
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Subject: RE: What Percent of your Collection is Trad? From: longhair Date: 20 Dec 99 - 04:21 PM let's see.....'bout 40% 60's-70's rock/folk, 30% blues (electric & acoustic), 20% traditional/old country/bluegrass, 10% newer country and other. There are others, but not in a quanity that ranks a % point... |
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Subject: RE: What Percent of your Collection is Trad? From: Joe Offer Date: 20 Dec 99 - 08:46 PM Hmmmm. Do we get extra credit if we have BOTH Rick Fielding CD's? Do they count as "traditional"? Well, I have some 2,800 CD's, so I have to keep track of them on a database, and I still can't find 'em when I want 'em. The database says 1,028 folk CD's and 168 Celtic - I'd suppose five percent of that is singer-songwriters from the last 20 years (but hardly any purchased since I gave up on singer-songwriters about 4 years ago and put all those CD's in the linen closet), maybe 50 percent containing music written in the rest of the twentieth century, and 45 percent earlier than twentieth century. I have a respectable number of children's CD's (49), Bluegrass (47), Country (158 - mostly the old stuff), Christmas (67) Gospel (87), other religious (72) [hey, I'm a Theology major], Jewish (15), Western/cowboy (36), vocals (427), Show tunes (59), Polkas (16), Classic Rock (86), Folk Rock (58), Rock 'n" Roll and Pop (73), and Yodeling (2) - and a bit of other stuff like Latino (14) and German (14) and Classical (71) and other stuff. I've often contended that a person's choice of music is a pretty good personality indicator. Well, I guess I've more-or-less bared my soul. I still think I should get extra credit for the Fielding CD's. Oh, and I have one by Art Thieme and at least a few Golden Ring CD's that feature the golden tones of Sandy and Caroline Paton. I've been meaning to pick up Frank Hamilton's CD, but haven't done it yet.... -Joe Offer- Oh, the database also says a lot of those CD's came out of the 99-cent bin. Many of those are the ones in the closet. I buy a lot of used CD's. |
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Subject: RE: What Percent of your Collection is Trad? From: Bill D Date: 20 Dec 99 - 09:53 PM well, whatta 'ya expect? *grin*...maybe 500 LPs of which 85% or so are trad or "in the tradition"...LOTS of tapes of old radio programs, etc..of which 90% would be traddish.. I do have a few jazz, classical, foreign..(Ravi Shankar, etc.)...but I am heavy on Scottish, Old-Timey, American trad and English Trad......also a few Bluegrass, Irish, Revival, ...and a few mistakes that I'd like to trade...
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Subject: RE: What Percent of your Collection is Trad? From: JedMarum Date: 20 Dec 99 - 09:58 PM Joe ; I am floored! 2800 CDs? LOL - that is amazing! I had to laugh at myself (by the way; I miscounted I have about 150 CDs, 100 in one machine and the rest are loose) last week I put my CD player on random for all disks and found I already owned a song I had been looking for (Vince Gill's Go Rest High Upon that Mountain). I felt foolish because I had owned that CD for almost a year and forgot I had it! With 2800 CDs I'd really be lost! |
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Subject: RE: What Percent of your Collection is Trad? From: Little Neophyte Date: 20 Dec 99 - 10:08 PM Here is my Collection Breakdown Traditional British Isles Base: 20% American Old Time Country: 30% Acoustic Blues & Early Jazz: 20% Singer Song Maker & Political: 20% Classical: 10% I just borrow Rick's Collection. BB |
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Subject: RE: What Percent of your Collection is Trad? From: Bill D Date: 20 Dec 99 - 10:25 PM (and the definition of trad is what you make it, I guess.).I have this old LP with a paper jacket, called "Olden Ballads"...with Richard Dyer-Bennet on one side and Tom Glazer on the other....and I include stuff like that as 'trad', as well as semi-revival stuff... I have a lot of what one would call 'hard-core' trad, too, but for the purposes of this survey I won't break it down,, (and WOW, Joe...that is a lot of CDs..I guess you NEED to be compulsive to keep them organized!) |
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Subject: RE: What Percent of your Collection is Trad? From: Caitrin Date: 20 Dec 99 - 11:55 PM I'm the one who enforces keeping track of CDs in my house. We got my dad a 200 disc CD player for his birthday, and I put all the CDs in in Alphabetical order (by artist), then made a listing of all of them both by number and alphabetical, which is found both in hardcopy and on the computer. As new CDs are bought, I make people write them down at the end of the list so I can type them in later. Of course, it's all going to go to heck once I leave for college, and none of them will be able to find anything. |
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Subject: RE: What Percent of your Collection is Trad? From: Rick Fielding Date: 21 Dec 99 - 01:10 AM Hmmmm Joe. I think I'm in the "traditionally based, contemporarily influenced, terminally screwed " section. Oops, I forgot about "spoken word". Got about 1% of those. Lots of Gielgud reading Shakespeare and stuff like that. Lest you think I have snobbish pretensions, be aware that I also have "Rodney Dangerfield, Richard Pryor, and Robin Williams (when he was funny) Rick |
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Subject: RE: What Percent of your Collection is Trad? From: Art Thieme Date: 21 Dec 99 - 10:51 AM Kat, I liked Crumb until I saw that docu./film----what a totally dysfunctional family!!! Surviving that must be seen as a victory of sorts I guess. But I sure don't ever want to see that film again. Art |
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Subject: RE: What Percent of your Collection is Trad? From: Rick Fielding Date: 21 Dec 99 - 11:08 AM Jeez Art, I dunno. Doesn't every family have one member who snoozes on a bed of nails, another who hears voices, and a third who's best pick-up line is "Can I ride you piggy-back"? I've seen the film 3 times with the same morbid fascination that compells me to watch "Christian Television", Infomercials, and the News. Gad! I'm so straight! It must be the way I get my "weirdo fix"! Rick |
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Subject: RE: What Percent of your Collection is Trad? From: Mbo Date: 21 Dec 99 - 11:14 AM Whoa--you people have monstrous large collections! I only must have about 60 or 70 CDs and tapes put together. Then again, there's the 30 some-odd tapes of country music that I have (good stuff mostly from the 80's to early 90's. Anything past 1995 isn't worth listening to.) But if there's a song I'm looking for, I know exactly where to find it, if that counts for anything. --Mbo |
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Subject: RE: What Percent of your Collection is Trad? From: Blackcat2 Date: 21 Dec 99 - 11:24 AM I sure wish that my CDs could fit into a multi CD changer but I don't think they make them to hold over 500 CDs. It's kinda scary just how much money I've invested in music over the years. I wish that I could pick up stuff from the udes CD store, but oddly enough folkies tend to hold onto their music and /or buy mostly what they know they'll like. I actually have an "in" at the local used CD store when it comes to Celtic CDs - and about once a week he'll call and tell me about one they got in. 95% of the time it's either the Chieftains or Phil Coulter - oh well . . . Orlando isn't the best city to get old vinyl stuff either - especially Celtic. Got to go to Miami or Atlanta for that. I want to try out New Orleans one day too. |
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Subject: RE: What Percent of your Collection is Trad? From: Joan Date: 21 Dec 99 - 04:10 PM Interesting. Never thought much about what's in my collection, so no time like the present. Let's see. Math was never my bag, either. Howzis? Four cups trad, mostly American but including a generous handful of English/Scotish/Irish. Another cup of turn-of-the-century (the last turn) schmaltz and a level tablespoon of esoteric "stuff." A heaping teaspoon of fiddle tunes and dance music from the South and New England. One pinch of songs I've recorded. Mixed together you get a lot of noise, so best to hear them one at a time. I have a large number of vinyl albums some of which I've turned into cassette tapes, including a lot of years of Christmas presents from Folk-Legacy. :-) Many more tapes which is what plays in my car--fiddle tunes are better than gasoline for making the car go. CDs which I can hold in one hand. That about does it. Joan
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Subject: RE: What Percent of your Collection is Trad? From: Joan Date: 21 Dec 99 - 04:10 PM Interesting. Never thought much about what's in my collection, so no time like the present. Let's see. Math was never my bag, either. Howzis? Four cups trad, mostly American but including a generous handful of English/Scotish/Irish. Another cup of turn-of-the-century (the last turn) schmaltz and a level tablespoon of esoteric "stuff." A heaping teaspoon of fiddle tunes and dance music from the South and New England. One pinch of songs I've recorded. Mixed together you get a lot of noise, so best to hear them one at a time. I have a large number of vinyl albums some of which I've turned into cassette tapes, including a lot of years of Christmas presents from Folk-Legacy. :-) Many more tapes which is what plays in my car--fiddle tunes are better than gasoline for making the car go. CDs which I can hold in one hand. That about does it. Joan
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Subject: RE: What Percent of your Collection is Trad? From: Joan Date: 21 Dec 99 - 04:13 PM Oops...seem to have doubled the recipe. Sorry. j |
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Subject: RE: What Percent of your Collection is Trad? From: Rick Fielding Date: 21 Dec 99 - 05:13 PM See Joan, aren't we lucky to have recorded with Folk-Legacy? If we'd been with Capitol or Columbia, we'd have gotten those dumb Andy Williams, and Mitch Miller records for Christmas! Rick |
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Subject: RE: What Percent of your Collection is Trad? From: Joan Date: 22 Dec 99 - 09:58 PM Heaven forfend, Rick! And happy holidays to you and Heather. May 2000 be a peaceful and healhy year for us all. Joan |
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