Why classic albums are selling more than new ones

Boston Herald ^ | Thursday, August 2, 2012 | Jed Gottlieb

[Olog-hai]

… In the first half of 2012, catalog albums—the industry’s term for discs released more than 18 months ago—sold 76.6 million units. New albums tallied 73.9 units. It’s a narrow victory, but the margin will increase slowly, steadily over time. New will never top old again. …

There is a simple, straightforward reason so many catalog titles dot Billboard’s album charts this summer: price cuts.

Labels and retailers have slashed prices on catalog releases, making them, on average, $5 cheaper than new releases. This has had a dramatic effect. Phil Collins couldn’t be less hip, but last week, when Amazon’s MP3 store cut Collins’ “…Hits” to 99 cents, Mr. Sussudio popped in at No. 6, ahead of such contemporary stars as One Direction, Chris Brown and Maroon 5 on the Billboard 200. …

[bicyclerepair]

Never heard the full spectrum of music until my first CD.

Heart, Rush, Boston, all ROCK.

[Museum Twenty]

So, if I infer correctly from the article, price influences quantity of items sold?

It almost seems as if there is some sort of, well, for lack of a better word, “relationship” between price and “demand”?

And, to speculate further, perhaps this “demand” somehow (maybe via Quantum Physics?) impacts Availability?

That's the kind of info that could be useful, if there were any incentive to “plan” future production. You know, that could be a GOOD idea.

Has anyone in Washington DC heard about any of this sort of stuff, because, Boy-Howdy, an entire National Economy could be built on that!

I must be wrong. Because The Vintage Media has advised that everyone in DC is smarter than me, you, or anyone who might read this.

So, the whole supply/demand thing must not work then, eh? Alas, ‘Tis a pity we'll never test it out.

[Ruy Dias de Bivar]

***I remember the 8- I bought a cassete playing 8 track insert for my GT6 stereo...***

I bought some 8-track recordings back in 1970. The owner, as he sacked my 8-tracks, told me that he tried to judge the type of person who bought 8-tracks, but I messed him up.

I bought, that day,

Iron Butterfly
Easy Rider soundtrack
Leonard Bernstein’s greatest hits
Buck Owens and the Buckaroos.

[Ruy Dias de Bivar]

***I have switched my allegance to Texas country - great music,***

I did the same in 1966 after I could not stand the British Invasion and teenie boy singers.

Fell in love with Texas Swing! Bob Wills, Hank Thompson, Johnny Cash, Buck Owens.

[the invisib1e hand]

I dont know how to listen to the radio anymore. If there was good music on there, I don't think I could put up with the trash talk and the commercials long enough to hear it. Sad, because I grew up attached to one. First it was WRKO (Dale Dorman); then FM came on strong (WVBF was the local station -- double-u-vee-bee-eff/stereo-one-oh-fie-eee-eye-eye-ive!). Then WBCN, then WXRT in Chicago which, in the late 70's, was probably the greatest FM station going..then on to Tampa, WQSR, and whatever station Russ Albums (of The Wax Museum fame) was on..

In the 90's and early 00's I was on a Christian-only kick, which was fortunate because some of the best pop and alternative at the time happened to be Christian -- and it was probably the best Christian music ever, too.

Then the iPod came along and you know happened then...

Oh, wait, silly me - I do listen to the "radio" - on my iPhone. Jazz 88.3 out of San Diego. The best station on the planet. Got turned on to jazz -- the real deal -- thanks to them. About half of everything I've bought in the past two years I've heard on that station. So I guess radios not dead after all...

[P.O.E.]

Nobody could sing “Toot Toot Tootsie” like Al Jolson.

[windcliff]

I love Johnney Maestro.

[driftless2]

"Every good....has been invented"

I agree completely. You are obviously a person of tremendous intelligence. Not that I would ever infer that someone who agrees with me has high mental capabilities. No, not me. (snicker)

[ex91B10]

"One of the few albums in recorded history with absolutely no loser tracks. "

This one's still the winner IMHO.

The Kenyan must go.

[ex91B10]

My word! Haven't thought of him in years...

"The Big Matress", the Off-The-Wall theatre in Harvard Square, Revere Beach in July meant a trip to "The Clam Box", "The Combat Zone"...

Back when Boston was a ball!

The Kenyan must go.

[DAC21]

Another can't go wrong purchase

[bt_dooftlook]

Try last.fm; I think it is ad-free. Enter the name of your favorite artist in the search box then, when their page appears, click on the -Radio button down the page to hear a stream of similar artists - very cool! For those with large digitized music libraries, try Subsonic - the server side catalogs your music then streams it to the mobile client on your smart phone.

[bt_dooftlook]

Some favorite “all-good” albums:

“One Foot In the Blues” by Johnny Adams - killer blues vocalist backed by an ace band and a Hammond B3 legend, Dr. Lonnie Smith (1996)

“Paul Weller” by Paul Weller (1992) - first solo project; formerly with The Jam, Everything But the Girl, and The Style Council

“Sweet Oblivion” by Screaming Trees (1992) - these guys pre-dated the whole grunge era, and did it better, to boot - just great from beginning to end.

“Abort” by Tribe (1992) - great obscure Boston band

Enjoy!

[the invisib1e hand]

How about the Ghoul? Or Charles Laquidera?