Okay. I file my CDs by artist and, when it makes sense, I group solo albums with the groups that the artist belongs to. For example, Alex Chilton's and Chris Bell's solo works get filed with Big Star. At some point, however, I have to decide if an artist deserves his own section. I'd never, for instance, put Lennon's solo works in the Beatles section.
So here are today's two dilemmas...
Jay Farrar has a solo record and an EP. I think that Son Volt is about dead. Do I file Son Volt under Farrar now? Do they each get their own sections?
Also, Gram Parsons. I think of the Flying Burrito Brothers as Gram's work so I think they get filed together. However, what do I do then with "Sweetheart of the Rodeo?" I think of it as Gram, too, but he's not even on most of the versions that made the album.
These, my friends, are the things that keep me up at night.
Posted by mikewolf at January 08, 2003 04:18 PMi think everyone should get their own section. i would never file paul westerberg under the replacements, although i do love him so. it's just not the same, you know?
besides, it's just easier to keep in order if they're all alphabetized consistently.
the only time this doesn't apply is for "themed music", like xmas, or halloween. those are filed by theme and then alphabetized accordingly.
glad to be of service! (hee hee)
Posted by: the evil queen on January 8, 2003 07:25 PMi think everyone should get their own section. i would never file paul westerberg under the replacements, although i do love him so. it's just not the same, you know?
besides, it's just easier to keep in order if they're all alphabetized consistently.
the only time this doesn't apply is for "themed music", like xmas, or halloween. those are filed by theme and then alphabetized accordingly.
glad to be of service! (hee hee)
Posted by: the evil queen on January 8, 2003 07:25 PMI keep them in seperate sections. If I didn't Neil Young, Buffalo Springfield and CSN&Y would all be clumped together and that is just wrong.
Besides, if you take the Jay Farrar--Son Volt example to the extreme, why aren't those discs filed under Uncle Tupelo?
Posted by: Dennis on January 8, 2003 10:18 PMWell, it depends how you file and how your shelves (?) are configured. How are things sectioned? Are there dividers with labels?
On my shelves there's usually more than one artist per shelf. So for instance, top shelf, there are all the Beatles CDs (chronologically, left to right), immediately followed by the solo Beatles CDs. Natch.
So I have no qualms putting Uncle Tupelo, Wilco, Son Volt, and solo Farrar together in one section. Not all mixed up, of course; organized by artist/group. So I don't file Son Volt *under* Farrar; I file it with Farrar, and related artists on the same shelf, and I know where that section is and what it is.
But, since I view Son Volt as pretty much Farrar's group (yes? no?), I would file them together, and if a label is needed, call it Jay Farrar/Son Volt.
Hey, maybe we could start a CD organizing consultancy service for people with out-of-control collections?
Posted by: Jim on January 8, 2003 11:13 PMI don't like the grouping solo artists with their former/on hiatus bands. Would you ever group Lionel Richie with the Commodores? I think not. I let my Frank Black live somewhere other than my Pixies because that's just how Frank Black likes it. Ditto for Gram Parsons. Where do you stop at that point? Do you group the Byrds with Gram Parsons, then onto Flying Burritos, and somewhere down the line with New Riders of the Purple Sage and Roger McGuinn solo albums? It's too much to consider, if you ask me. Everything is alphabetized, except for bands that start with numbers, which I tend to alphabetize by the number rather than place at the beginning of my collection. But then, that's just me.
Posted by: Jesse on January 9, 2003 02:50 AMI think I'm starting to come around on Dennis' (who really is a librarian, mind you) and Jesse's non-grouping paradigm.
Otherwise, like they say, it gets too crazy. I'd have to have a Uncle Tupelo section that also includes Son Volt, Wilco, Jay Farrar and Jeff Tweedy. Oh, and what about the Wilco/Billy Bragg albums? Do I then need to put Billy Bragg in that section?
And to continue on Jesse's example, does the Pixies section now have to include Frank Black and The Breeders? Do I have to file Tonya Donnelly, Belly and Kristen Hirsch with Throwing Muses?
Argh. Too much. Let's just stick to the alphabet...
Posted by: mrw on January 9, 2003 09:47 AMI organize my CD's the same way Mike (when Mark lets me)! It's a good system. You just "know" when someone deserves their own section. I tend to keep them together probably longer then I should (for example if let to me Neil Finn would still be filed under Crowded House or Split Enzs), but you're right about Lennon. Too important in his own right to not get his own section.
Posted by: Marjorie on January 9, 2003 12:06 PMI know what you mean. Does Justin Timberlake still belong with N'SYNC? Do the solo efforts of Joey McIntire, Jordan Knight and even Marky Mark belong next to NKOTB? Does Andy Gibb's solo work belong next to the Bee Gees? Can you guide me?
Posted by: Meredith on January 9, 2003 02:23 PMYou file where you think you'll go look for it. Otherwise, you'll never remember what you decided.
Posted by: Bruce on January 9, 2003 07:39 PMI think you should file them however the hell you will be able to remember where you put them, I don't have but a small fraction of the CD's you have and it drives me bananas when I can't find one!
Posted by: holly on January 9, 2003 08:07 PMHey jim,
You're consulting idea is profound! There is no one way that could ever fit everyone. It depends on so manny variables. How many CDs you've got. Do you play them all the time, or just occasionally? Do you focus on just a few artists, in one genre, or a wide variety; or somewhere in between? People pay for weirder consultations. Maybe add in organizing home libraries, hardware cabinets, sock drawers, etc, to broaden the appeal. Organizational Consultant. Holy crap.
Posted by: deano on January 9, 2003 08:56 PMOragnize???
I have CD's in like 4 rooms of my house and in both cars. I often forget all about a cd and when I find it again it is like Christmas (assuming that the disk is actually in the case).
But this also works in reverse I got a CD for my bday last year, listened to it once and have not been able to find it sence!