Anal things a music collector will do?

Everything alphabetical in order of release.

Hype stickers get peeled from the plastic and put on the jewel case of CD's.

Most new vinyl, I leave the plastic on it.

If it's a gatefold, I will peel the hype sticker from the plastic and put it on the poly sleeve.

When I get my cds in the mail, sometimes the jewel case is broken or scratched.

this bothers me a lot because jewel cases are becoming a bit hard to find.

Gilbert wrote:

When I get my cds in the mail, sometimes the jewel case is broken or scratched.

this bothers me a lot because jewel cases are becoming a bit hard to find.

I'm not too bothered by scratched cases, but I will replace any broken ones (and any trays with broken teeth). And I also struggle to find jewel cases. I have a few extra right now, but I know that at some point I'm going to run out.

tohostudios wrote:

When I buy a CD that has a sticker on it saying something like "Featuring "song xxxxx" I try like hell to peel that sticker off of the cellophane and stick it on the CD case.  It pisses me off when the sticker either tears or has no adhesive left by the time I get it off the cellophane.

It sounds really anal (and admittedly it is) but it started because after a decade has passed and I dig the CD out again, I like to remember what was supposed to be the "featured track".  This helps remind me of why I bought the thing in the first place.  Plus it's amazing how many times my favorite track off a CD is not the "featured track" after time passes.

I did that with Death Magnetic, because it pissed me off it wasn't part of the artwork.

I found full size empty jewel cases at Target near the blank Cd's...They come 10 in a package for around $6....Everytime i go to target I pick up a pack to keep them around...I cant stand for the cases to be broke or look dingy...I also keep everything by band and genre and vinyl must be in order of release alphabetical order with all the covers facing the same way...

I pretty much do all the things already mentioned, too.

Something that bugs me is when a CD's spine print is the wrong way, so if I want to read it the same direction as all the others, I have to turn it upside down or backwards in the rack.
I also don't like how digipaks are a slightly different size than standard jewel cases, so they don't fit the same.

metalheaded wrote:

I pretty much do all the things already mentioned, too.

Something that bugs me is when a CD's spine print is the wrong way, so if I want to read it the same direction as all the others, I have to turn it upside down or backwards in the rack.
I also don't like how digipaks are a slightly different size than standard jewel cases, so they don't fit the same.

They're at least better than the current "environmentally friendly" cardboard doohickeys. Not only is there no booklet you cant see them when displayed with other CDs. When I was picking at Amazon, I hated getting those as you had to dig around to find them.

metalheaded wrote:

Something that bugs me is when a CD's spine print is the wrong way, so if I want to read it the same direction as all the others, I have to turn it upside down or backwards in the rack.

I don't go as far as turning it upside down or backwards, but that bugs me too.

In addition to some of the things already mentioned, I also remove anti-theft tags that the record company has included inside the packaging. Even those underneath opaque trays.

- everything in alphabetical order, then chronological by release date
- hype stickers are trimmed off around the cellophane and put underneath the tray
- broken jewel cases are replaced
- broken trays are replaced
- price stickers or label residue is taken off with Goo Gone
- anti-theft tags are removed
- cds are never loaned out. You want a copy, I'll burn you one.
- cds are put back into their cases right side-up
- all cds are cataloged in an Excel spread sheet (band name, album name, year of release/year of reissue)
- cd-rs only exist in my collection as place holders until a "real copy" is obtained.
- I don't catalog any mp3 collections or downloads. They don't count as real to me.
- purchases made Jan. 1 thru Dec. 31st for the year are highlighted in bright blue
- items from the "want list" are highlighted in light blue when ordered and remain until they arrive.
- items that are in my collection, but also on my "trade/sell" list are highlighted in pale yellow until they are removed.
- a running total of overall purchases for the year is kept at the bottom, along with a separate running total of "2014 new release" purchases

I guess that's about it.

Citanul wrote:

And I also struggle to find jewel cases.  I have a few extra right now, but I know that at some point I'm going to run out.

I purchase them in bulk on-line. Empty cases, clear trays and black trays are all easily purchased from places like Amazon or ebay.

MetalGuy71 wrote:

- everything in alphabetical order, then chronological by release date

I thought I was the only one who did this. I take it a step further though. I originally had shelves that were organized in this way that had been ripped to MP3 and shelves that were organized in this way that had yet to be ripped to MP3. There is also a separate place I stack CDs that have been ripped, but not yet listened to (usually my "work" music). Now that I'm re-ripping everything in FLAC using EAC, I have a shelf that is devoted to titles listened to AND ripped in FLAC in addition to these other three classifications.

Yeah, I may have a problem.   

MetalGuy71 wrote:

- all cds are cataloged in an Excel spread sheet (band name, album name, year of release/year of reissue)

I have to ask: how long did it take for you to do that? I've been casting around for an app so I can have something mobile if I'm out at a record store and can't remember if/what I own by a given artist. There aren't many where I have that problem, but it's a pain to have to debate the point of risking a duplicate. I keep coming back to Excel as an easy way to solve the problem. I'm just not sure how I could keep it easily accessible via my phone on the road.

Man, I am so un-OCD regarding CDs, as compared to this thread.

The one thing I am OCD is about, I guess, is I HATE having any kind of out-cardboard sleeve around the jewel case. Like, as an easy example that most people have, the Iron Maiden reissues from whenever, how they all had that cardboard slipcase around the jewel case with the album cover on it. Those get thrown in the recycling bin ASAP. What a waste of material. The Ramones Rhino reissues all had them as well. The ones I keep, and annoy me, are the ones where it's like the CD in its jewel case, and then a booklet or something, with the cardboard sleeve around it. One of my Trans Siberian Orchestra CDs are like that, as an example.

When I was a kid, I was really OCD with my cassette tape collection. I retained a little of the OCD at first with my CD collection. Now, I don't worry about much, except I get annoyed at digipaks.

Runicen wrote:

MetalGuy71 wrote:

- all cds are cataloged in an Excel spread sheet (band name, album name, year of release/year of reissue)

I have to ask: how long did it take for you to do that?  I've been casting around for an app so I can have something mobile if I'm out at a record store and can't remember if/what I own by a given artist.  There aren't many where I have that problem, but it's a pain to have to debate the point of risking a duplicate.  I keep coming back to Excel as an easy way to solve the problem.  I'm just not sure how I could keep it easily accessible via my phone on the road.

I originally used a free on-line service. It was a website called cd-tracker.com I think. Something like that. I forget. Then one day, the website went tits-up. I had like a day or 2 to copy everything from the site to a word doc.

After that debacle, I decided to do it myself in Excel. I did it gradually over the course of a summer when I had down time at work. I'd take digital pictures of sections of cd shelves and then start adding them to the spreadsheet. Then at the end of the week, I'd print out what I had done and double-check it with the actual cds to make sure I didn't miss any. Not really sure how long exactly it took. But once it's done, it's easy to add to it every few days or so.

Mine is 4 pages. Page 1 is the collection. Page 2 is the want-list, page 3 is trade fodder, page 4 is my playlist for the week.

I so hate cd-r's. There is no place for them on the shelves.

I put them in a lower drawer where they remain until I have found the original.

then I simply throw them away or give them to friends.

ultmetal wrote:

When I put the CD away in the jewel cases I always make sure they are sitting straight up in the case so you can read them and see the logo straight.

I do this too.   

MetalGuy71 wrote:

Citanul wrote:

And I also struggle to find jewel cases.  I have a few extra right now, but I know that at some point I'm going to run out.

I purchase them in bulk on-line. Empty cases, clear trays and black trays are all easily purchased from places like Amazon or ebay.

The problem is the shipping costs. They can get quite horrific and my OCD has its limits.

Citanul wrote:

MetalGuy71 wrote:

Citanul wrote:

And I also struggle to find jewel cases.  I have a few extra right now, but I know that at some point I'm going to run out.

I purchase them in bulk on-line. Empty cases, clear trays and black trays are all easily purchased from places like Amazon or ebay.

The problem is the shipping costs.  They can get quite horrific and my OCD has its limits.

Oh yea. I just saw that you're in South Africa. Shipping costs could be an issue, coming from the States. Just gotta shop around I guess.

I also do not count cdrs, MP3s or cassettes. I should probably add my cassettes to my list, but I haven't yet.

Like MG71, I have an Excel spreadsheet with multiple pages - page 1 is the collection, page 2 is music dvds, page 3 are my purchases for the year, etc... I started the spreadsheet back in about 1999 and have updated it continually since then. I have it saved in multiple places in case my laptop craps out.

Fat Freddy wrote:

ultmetal wrote:

When I put the CD away in the jewel cases I always make sure they are sitting straight up in the case so you can read them and see the logo straight.

I do this too.   

Anyone else who does this end up searching some disc labels for ANY sign of which part is "up?" I've had a few where it was the barely visible record label logo that finally gave away which way it was supposed to go. Those are the moments where I feel I might be taking this whole business too far.

Runicen wrote:

Fat Freddy wrote:

ultmetal wrote:

When I put the CD away in the jewel cases I always make sure they are sitting straight up in the case so you can read them and see the logo straight.

I do this too.   

Anyone else who does this end up searching some disc labels for ANY sign of which part is "up?"  I've had a few where it was the barely visible record label logo that finally gave away which way it was supposed to go.  Those are the moments where I feel I might be taking this whole business too far.

I do that. I'll look for the record label and line the cd up that way. If that doesn't exist, I'll just put the cd in whichever way looks more visually appealing to me.

After that, I take a good long look at myself in the mirror and wonder why I take so long to put cds away. Then go pay a third of that attention to my kids.   

I used to have a thing about cutouts, promos, drill holes, slashed barcodes, and record club editions. These days if it is cheap enough I don't care. I'd still prefer not to have them, but it's not a deal breaker if the price is right.

I also can't stand piles of cds. But that is more the irritation when they inevitably get knocked over.

I'll also put away friends cds who don't put them back in their cases. In several instances this is quite a chore but damned if I'll let them just sit out uncased. It's kind of a running joke not to let me see a cd just sitting out. Helped a friend move who had his collection on a large spindle. I about lost my sh*t at that. I also don't like discs left in machines either.

I don't count CDR's either, like MG, a place order til I buy the real thing