Clockwise: Classic record collections Too North’s vinyl offerings and a spattering for the punk rock set too.
Turnover private collections bolster third annual music collector’s show
To sit down and contemplate the sheer vastness of musical styles is a staggering feat. For audiophiles serious about collecting such a proposition can be simultaneously exciting overwhelming and beautiful.
This seemingly limitless existence of music genres and sub-genres makes it nearly impossible for many collectors to nail down a favourite album or artist. With different moods and experiences tastes will change — sometimes as often as daily — giving various pieces of work new meanings and lasting impressions.
“There is so much out there it’s like asking a mother who her favourite child is” explains Marilyn Hall owner of record store Inner Sleeve and one of this year’s presenters at the Calgary Music Collectors Show.
“I’ve been listening to a lot of psych lately. One of my favourites is this group called Dust but the album is sitting right beside this New Orleans funk album (Scull Snaps).”
It’s this kind of collecting mentality that will give like-minded music fans something to get excited about with Saturday’s third annual Music Collectors Show according to organizer Mark Corner. Although the event has a vast variety of products for sale — including CDs memorabilia posters books accessories and hi-fi equipment — undoubtedly the major draw will be the massive amount of vinyl up for grabs. In larger centres particularly Toronto events such as this take place up to eight times a year. However according to Corner the success of Calgary’s show can be attributed to keeping things fresh with new collectors selling their wares each year.
“We want there to be a constant turnover. It brings in more variety different titles and perspective as far as what the event is about” he says. “We don’t want the same stock year after year. That can all happen by having different sellers.”
Of course the amount of rare and hard-to-find records is what makes the show possible (even Hall will be showcasing mostly vinyl from her personal collection rather than her store’s stock) but it’s the atmosphere and camaraderie that Corner says encourages patrons to come back each year.
“It’s just for the music fans we’re not looking to integrate the show with comics and stuff. We don’t want it to turn into a pop culture show” Corner explains stressing that in addition to the high-end collectables there will be plenty of bargains.
Corner estimates there will be about 50 sellers at this year’s show most of whom are private dealers. The selection of music for sale will be as varied as the sellers themselves including everything from jazz prog rock classic rock new wave classical punk and everything in between — or as Hall says “It’s going to be a vinyl buffet.”
As well Brenin Barrow owner of Burning Moon Video and programmer for the monthly Plaza Theatre horror movie screenings will be selling cult and horror DVDs music-related DVDs like documentaries and concerts and of course CDs and vinyl. The addition of Barrow’s stock isn’t as odd as one might think according to Barrow.
“Rock ’n’ roll and horror movies go hand in hand” he says.
For those curious about the value of their records Corner says he will do free appraisals for anyone who brings them in to the show.
