Things you skip when collecting artist discographies?

Does anyone have any particular kind of releases that they avoid when getting an artist's discography? I am a big j-rock fan and they are big on singles in the Japanese market. However, they are also good at releasing specialized compilations dedicated to Singles and B-Side releases. That makes collecting most of the singles largely irrelevant but of course not all bands have these. I also don't need every single compilation album ever made by/for the band. I don't mind lives, but they are usually second rate compared to studio albums on my priority list unless they're exceptionally good. I don't care for live DVDs or VHSes unless they're acquired for dirt cheap. I am not into that. I also avoid most cover/tribute albums.

I focus mainly on collecting studio albums. If a band has a lot of live releases (hell-ooooo KISS, Maiden, Priest, etc.) I'm good with only having one or two.

I rarely bother with best-of compilations, CD singles, EPs, etc. unless I find em dirt cheap.

Fat Freddy wrote:

I focus mainly on collecting studio albums. If a band has a lot of live releases (hell-ooooo KISS, Maiden, Priest, etc.) I'm good with only having one or two.

I rarely bother with best-of compilations, CD singles, EPs, etc. unless I find em dirt cheap.

Same here, don't really care about the extras or excessive live albums. Sometimes I will buy a GH if it has a new song or two but I normally buy the studio albums, US versions.

I avoid live albums and greatest hits (unless they include new exclusive studio tracks). I do try and get the releases that have the bonus material (japanese,limited editions).That can get pricey though.

This is going to be an odd response. Quality of the product is a deciding factor for me when I'm trying to complete a discography. I can't really afford to buy new (or VG+ of originals), so, I always end up with things that people don't like first e.g. the Blaze Bayley Maiden-years stuff.

It's a pain to be honest. I have about three really nice Iron Maiden records without Bayley, but can't really afford to fill in the blanks.

For years I have always tried to buy the deluxe/diehard versions of LP's that came with bonus tracks, or a patch, sticker, poster, etc, but lately don't care anymore.
Those things are nice if I plan to re-sell an LP in the future, but when bonus tracks are not as good, now I would rather save money and buy the plain version on black vinyl.

I tend to avoid live albums and greatest hits (unless there is new or hard to find material on them).

Fat Freddy wrote:

I focus mainly on collecting studio albums. If a band has a lot of live releases (hell-ooooo KISS, Maiden, Priest, etc.) I'm good with only having one or two.

I rarely bother with best-of compilations, CD singles, EPs, etc. unless I find em dirt cheap.

What this man said.

I buy all studio albums, live albums and EPs.  I will buy singles if they have exclusive songs or something else that interests me - art, packaging, etc...  I will buy compilations if they also have something extra - new songs, different mixes, etc...  I also try to get all Deluxe Editions over standard jewel cases if they have something unique about them.  I also prefer digipaks over jewel cases.  Finally,  I will purchase the vinyl of albums I really enjoy or if they come with a download, exclusive tracks or a CD.

Studio only. Live, if the setlist/reviews/price meets my level of appreciation of the band. Singles and EPs only for bands I unconditionally love. For DVDs, it's whether it's just a live DVD or if there's some nice extras that make it worth owning (emphasis on OWNING, not just watching once). So even if it's something as dumb as all the band's promo videos, it just might make it worthwhile to own.

But no, I don't consider owning the "complete discography" of a band if I don't own every album, single and official live release on at least one format. So, to actually answer the question presented in the topic, if I actually start knowingly to "collect" an artist's discography, I do have to get all the releases. But I rarely do "collect". I mostly just buy stuff I want to listen to.

Live and studio. I avoid greatest hits like the plague. Singles aren't very important to me. I do enjoy getting EPs.

Recently since I acquire a home theater I've decided to start acquiring live DVDs. I used to be of the mind that "hey this shit's up on youtube anyway," but now with the surround sound et al quality is more of an issue.

I've actually taken a break from CD collecting to fuel my pipe smoking habit.

I don't worry about collecting entire artist discographies. If I like an album it becomes part of my collection, if I don't like it then it's pointless to own it.

Live albums and concert videos are essential in my book. Especially if it's an artist that improvises a lot in concert. I probably have 50 King Crimson soundboard recordings, not a single performance is exactly alike.

Depends on the artist... for Maiden, studio albums, live releases and comps.... Singles? no.....

Kiss - studio albums and "official" live albums (i.e. 1 through 4) - I refuses to buy a new comp every year

Studio and live albums definitely, comps I do buy them but do not consider myself a collector of comp discs, and I rarely ever buy singles.

I only collect full length studio albums & EPs. I only pick up a live album if I'm really into the band & even then, having one of them is more than enough.

I avoid tribute albums and concert video (unless its part of the cd pack)...I have several cd's with dvd's in them and I haven't watched any of them.. I also avoid old cassettes and most  remasters on labels like "Back in Black vinyl" or "Classics reborn"...

On the subject of tribute albums, I have two I really like.  The Mayhem and Darkthrone tributes.  The reason I like them so much is because the bands who play on them are so closely connect to them.  Both are 'a must have' in my Mayhem and Darkthorne collection.

I have a handful of tribute albums, but I do not collect those either.

As far as live albums, love them , love concert DVD's and collect those and watch them often

Only full-length studio albums, excluding EP's, demos, compilation's/best-of's, live albums or cover albums.

manny wrote:

I have a handful of tribute albums, but I do not collect those either.

As far as live albums, love them , love concert DVD's and collect those and watch them often

Love Concert DVD's/Blu-Rays!!!!!!

For me, the only thing essential is stuff I like. There are artists, take Metallica for example, that I consider favorites of all time...but some times that only includes certain albums. So even though Metallica if one of my favorite bands of all time, I do not need Load, Reload or St. Anger.

I don't care about live albums much, though I've grown to appreciate them more in recent years. Still, I've probably purchased maybe 10 live albums in my music-buying life, and those were either absolute favorite bands, or albums I didn't realize were live when buying them (such as my first AC/DC album at 11-years-old was If You Want Blood from a yard sale...just grabbed it, didn't know and didn't care, I knew they were supposed to be awesome).

EPs I tend to like. Hits and comps, well I'm not buying a whole album for 1 or 2 new songs. So I will either buy the songs on iTunes if available, or if I see a really really cheap copy of the CD, that makes those 1 or 2 songs only technically a buck a piece.

The only artist I really need to own everything by is Alice Cooper. And as of recently Springsteen and Dylan have started moving into that territory as well.

My general attitude is that "collecting" an artist means getting hold of all of their studio recordings. For my inner anal retentive, I may collect their live albums as well (unless they have 20 of the damn things), but I won't lose sleep if I'm missing any.

Singles generally fly under my radar, but with bands like Depeche Mode who have a bazillion b-sides and remixes, I sometimes make exception.

Greatest hits and other comps almost never make the cut unless there's some compelling extra material - see the two disc Queensryche best of from a few years back.

I stay away from Greatest Hits albums.

I stay away from greatest hits albums unless they have unreleased songs on them.

Yeah, I tend to stick to the studio albums, singles with non-LP tracks, etc. I will buy live albums, but rarely new; I usually pull those from used bins and such. I make exceptions for prog bands and such because their live takes are often quite different from the studio cuts. Bands that just do straight live renditions? Eh. For a few bucks I'll pick something up from a pure collector's standpoint, but I could live without that stuff.

Same goes for compilations and such, unless it's got a lot of unreleased material, as in never-before-heard songs, not live stuff or demos of album cuts.