Buying on Spec

Subject: Buying on Spec - Poll
From: Torctgyd
Date: 22 Mar 05 - 06:54 AM

I'm just curious on what other folks do when the urge comes on them to browse through the folk section and buy a CD on spec from either a band/artist whom you've never heard of, or between two CD's from the same band/artist that you've never listened to before.

Do you judge the 'book' by its cover or do you delve deeper (if the store allows you to read the booklets)? Do you go by whether it is made up of songs or do you prefer tunes or a balanced mixture of the two? Does the author (Trad) put you off or attract you? How about the origin of the artist/band or their material? Would you buy a CD by a band from Belguim playing Irish stuff or an Irish band playing Belgian stuff?

Or does it vary with your mood? One day that's a pretty cover I'll buy that, the next I really fancy something Bulgarian?

To start off I'll give you mine:

Generally, I go for the more (Trad) authored with a healthy mix of songs and tunes preferably of English origin, preferably melodeon based and lacking piano's. If I'm in the mood for something more exotic, generally from countries I've been to (Greece, France, Holland for example) or countries I'd like to go to. If it's a choice of singer/songwriters I tend to prefer the younger, female voice to the older male. Sometimes though its just a gut feeling that you need to buy that CD which, surprisingly, seems to work out well more often than not.

T

Subject: RE: Buying on Spec
From: Uncle_DaveO
Date: 22 Mar 05 - 09:53 AM

I'm more likely to buy a CD by a singer whose name and style I know, preferably solo. Guitar or banjo accompaniment is a plus, because it suggests a sort of song that might fit into my repertoire. I look for song titles which at least suggest to me that I might want to learn and perform the song. "Trad" is a plus, but not required.

Dave Oesterreich

Subject: RE: Buying on Spec
From: Uncle_DaveO
Date: 22 Mar 05 - 09:56 AM

And one more thing I forgot to add: A male performer is somewhat more likely to get me to buy--not because I don't want to hear the female voice, but because I think there's a little higher likelihood that there will be songs on the CD which I can use.

Dave Oesterreich

Subject: RE: Buying on Spec
From: GUEST,MMario
Date: 22 Mar 05 - 09:56 AM

I make it easy on myself - I don't buy a CD unless I "know" the band - or unless it has been reccomended to me by someone who I respect

Subject: RE: Buying on Spec
From: GUEST, Hamish
Date: 22 Mar 05 - 10:00 AM

I don't buy totally on spec so much these days: my shelves are groaning with CD's which seldom, if ever, get played. It's so easy to hear new stuff these days: even if it's just an MP3 sample on line, that it's not necessary.

The last CD I bought was Ricky Skaggs' Brand New Strings. I heard the title track on streaming radio, loved it, and bought it online pretty much there and then. And it's 60% brilliant (i.e. a couple of dodgy tracks) but the good ones make it a good buy. A better ratio than some of the totally "on spec" CDs bought in a previous era!

Subject: RE: Buying on Spec
From: Charmion
Date: 22 Mar 05 - 10:05 AM

I generally buy a CD on spec only if I know something about the repertoire, which means I'll buy CDs by completely unknown performers if they're singing songs I know and like, especially songs I would like to learn. I definitely prefer Trad stuff when I don't know the performer; way too many self-indulgent w***ers present themselves as singer-songwriters in the folk idiom! I'll buy a CD of original (i.e., composed by the performer) material only when I've heard it played on the radio or in concert, or if a friend whose taste I trust recommends it.