I'm aware of the dilemma I find myself in. I'm totally opposed to "ripping" artists off, which also includes most of the illegal downloading going on, but in the case of the Beatles we don't really have a choice, do we? If we do want a decent-sounding copy of basically any Beatles session, we have to turn to shady sources to get it. That is, in a nutshell, the sorry and sad state of affairs in the music business.

As I've stated before, no matter if one even likes the Beatles, they are a cornerstone of 20th century music and as important as any major work of art. It makes me endlessly angry to see how the industry (and perhaps even the surviving band members and their relatives themselves) is (are) treating the back catalog.

And, yes, I'm egoistic in the extreme here. I do believe that everyone has the right (!) to decent-sounding copies of this music, just as I believe that humanity has the right to have somewhat normal access to any other major work of art.

Foolish, I guess, but I can't help it.

P.S.: I'm totally into “Ahmad Jamal Trio. Cross Country Tour: 1958-1961. Chess Jazz/Universal 1998″ at the moment. That is some seriously cool stuff!!!

re Beatles: just thought I'd mention it... :)

Nice to have you around again. I'm still a regular over at your site as well. :)

Storage problems suck. I recall seeing some photos of your CDs/Benno shelves on the floor somewhere? No matter how, as long as the CDs are kept out of harm's way, any improvised solution will do.

I'm thinking of further reducing my collection by getting rid of a ton of fusion CDs I bought in the 80s and 90s, all of which I haven't touched for a decade or so. I just got fed up with it all and have the distinct feeling that I won't be hitting that kind of music again in my lifetime. So, if I get rid of it, I've got about 5 meters of extra space. :)

Years ago I got rid of most of my heavy metal stuff (I regret having done so for some artists ... but I did keep digital copies) years ago which allowed me to add on a lot to the jazz section.

It's a dynamic /passion/hobby we have

Cheers!

Only the ones I mentioned in my last post:

"I walked away with “Ahmad Jamal Trio. Cross Country Tour: 1958-1961. Chess Jazz/Universal 1998″ (which includes most/all? of his famous Pershing Lounge 1958 recordings!) and “Ahmad Jamal. Chamber Music of the New Jazz. Argo/Verve 1955/2004″."

The Beatles are bootlegs?
Ooops.
;)

Great to see you back online and posting!

I just wanted to comment on your storage problem because I am in the same boat as you.....out of space! My music room is part of our re-done attic and I have the diagonal ceiling making my beautiful 6ft tall wood cases too tall. I had two that held 750 CDs and one that held 900 and they looked great in our apartment but now they are obsolete. I resorted to lying the 2 750s on the floor and I bought some Benno wall shelves from Ikea (they hold 100 CDs each). The idea was to line the walls with the Ikea shelves but we figured the space needed was too much for the walls so I put the 3 shelves on the floor too. I have 2000 discs on display and another 2000 in rubbermaid totes, cardboard boxes and in piles on my desk and stereo table. Start adding my growing vinyl collection and its complete madness!

My wish is still the Can-Am Cabinets, they provide the perfect solution for my space but the price is too high (thousands for what I need) and I can't spend big $$$ in this economy. Hopefully you will post what you find online, your storage columns are always the best.

Steve
Heavy Metal Addiction
http://hardrockheavymetal.wordpress.com/

Which Ahmad Jamal CDs did you pick up?

By the way, I suppose you're aware that those "Dr Ebbetts" Beatles discs are bootlegs.