I've been sorting through my old collection of vinyl albums for a yardsale and it got me thinking about categories and time. Scot Joplin fit nicely beside Bach, tho another collector might put them at opposite ends of the shelf. Some of the Donovan goes with Joan Baez, some with the Beatles. A recording of Pete Seeger, Memphis Slim, and Willie Dixon at a nightclub?? Really?? OK, OK just put them in a box and let someone else sort them.

However, when talking with my (29 year old) son, I was informed that the Grateful Dead are a bluegrass band, and they have been for decades. When did that happen?? I asked his twin brother, and he agrees. Is this just twinspeak (it must be wonderful to have someone who completely agrees with what you're saying, even if the rest of the world doesn't agree at all) or does it have something to do with the current popularity of "bluegrass festivals"? I have no idea, but Bill Monroe went into a separate box from the Dead.

Meanwhile, after I went to an Arlo Guthrie concert recently someone told me they saw me at a rock concert. I do wish they'd turned the volume down a bit, but really??

Anyway, I think I'm really happy with the Itunes/Ipod concept. I've turned off the "Genre" thing and make playlists with one song from here, another from there. When I browse music, I appreciate the 30 second previews if I'm totally unfamiliar with the players.