Tonight's Selection

[AugustWest]

Over the past several months or so, I've been engaged in a grand project.  I'm trying to digitize my music collection.  So, I'm playing all my albums, cassettes and yes my extensive 8-track collection into my computer, saving the tracks as MP3's and burning CD's.

It's been kinda fun to listen to music I haven't heard in years.  I took a break for several weeks and just started back tonight.  I've got a stack of albums 21 inches high to convert.  

I propose to share my listening experiences with my pals here on the Achewood board.  Feel free to ignore or make fun of me as you wish.

Tonight's first album was Barrett, Syd Barrett's second (and final) solo album.  I've always loved this album.  It's so goofy and weird.  Also, it's almost a companion piece to Piper and Saucerful because David Gilmour and Rick Wright produced the album and play on all the tracks.  Delightfully absurd, from Rats to Baby Lemonade to Effervescing Elephant.

I tried to record Herbie Hancock's Headhunters but had problems.  For some reason it was seriously scratchy in the middle sections.  I aborted and will try this one again later.

Right now I'm on side two of Mingus at the Bohemia.  This has long been a favorite of mine.  It's the only Mingus album I own, but it makes me wish I had much more.  The tone, the attitude is just perfect here.  Mingus is easily in my top ten jazz musicians (in no particular order -- Monk, Parker, Coltrane, Coleman, Mingus, Davis, Dolphy, Armstrong, Ellington, Gillespie) based on this album alone.  That being said, I haven't listened to it for a looong time, so it's great to hear it.

[jough]

Isn't it just Headhunter, no S?

Anyway, I have that already ripped to MP3 (I own the CD too) so, you know, if you need a backup copy...

I'm actually in the process of "backing up" my CD collection to MP3 - I did a grand sale last year, ripping 4,000 albums out of my collection and selling the discs to second spin.

Of course I deleted the files after selling the CDs.   :roll:

[AugustWest]

Naw, I've got the album cover right here in front of me and there's an "S".  No question aboot it.  There're some really stylin' hats on this cover, too.

I may want to take you up on your backup offer.  My album is awfully scratched...

[CortJstr]

<geek>What do you guys use to rip/capture and encode? How about burning?

(I'd turn the geek tag off, but honestly, who would I be fooling?)

[AugustWest]

I downloaded a very simple, straightforward program called PolderBits Sound Recorder/Editor.  It's nothing fancy, but it does the trick for me.

[Limmo]

I too am beginning the lengthy process of burning all my CDs to mp3.  
( Though my choices for yesterday were less exotic than yours - Devo's Greatest Hits and Jeff Buckley's Grace.  )  

I think it's because there's probably an Ipod or other listening device in my near future, and I want to be ready.  I'm using MusicMatch Jukebox, which so far I don't have a problem with.

[CortJstr]

I dunno if I could go all mp3. In the past I was only ripping songs I really liked. Then my HD expanded and I moved up to all but the songs I dislike. I've ripped almost all of what I want to, but now I have the problem that the mp3's I ripped in '98/99 are all crappy 128 CBR files and I just can't build up the energy to re-rip everything to VBR. I'd love to switch to Ogg Vorbis too but that's a hassle.

And I like having the discs for parties and such. I guess I could just make lots of mix CD's but that would take waaaay too much effort. Also, I suck at it.

[jough]

I use a freebie programme made by this Spanish guy for ripping - CD 'N Go  - http://cdngo.com

For burning, I usually use Nero, which isn't free but rocks the casbah.

[andalucia]

I use Nero too, and even though I still havent plumbed the depths of its extensive features, it is indeed rad.

As for Syd Barrett, mad thumbs up... I just started listening to his solo stuff and it makes my day every time.

Oh, and limmo, I really really dig your avatar.

[jough]

The only Barrett song I know is Dark Globe, which I love.

[Limmo]

Oh, and limmo, I really really dig your avatar.

Thank you, Andalucia.  I burned "The Ballad of El Goodo" and "I Am the Cosmos" yesterday, hence the avatar.

Enjoy it while it lasts, I have serious ADD when it comes to my avatar.  Next one will probably be The Shaggs.

[AugustWest]

The only Barrett song I know is Dark Globe, which I love.

How can you not like a rock star whose main influence is Hillaire Belloc?

As for tonight, I'm working on Bob Dylan's Infidels at the moment.  On deck is Little Feat's The Last Record Album.

[jough]

Last night I ripped all of the NIN CD singles (both UK and US versions, of which I have a complete collection).

Tonight I put them up for auction on Ebay.  Then I check how many bids they get every ten minutes.

I'm a little obsessed with Ebay.

Anyway, tonight I rip my near-complete (all but the latest album) collection of Blur CDs, which will be put on the block tomorrow night.

Although I am making a copy of the "Tender" single, since it has some CD-ROM content on it.

[slink]

Last night I ripped all of the NIN CD singles (both UK and US versions, of which I have a complete collection).

Tonight I put them up for auction on Ebay.  Then I check how many bids they get every ten minutes.

I'm a little obsessed with Ebay.

Anyway, tonight I rip my near-complete (all but the latest album) collection of Blur CDs, which will be put on the block tomorrow night.

Although I am making a copy of the "Tender" single, since it has some CD-ROM content on it.

Hmmmm, damn. Almost tempted to go put an order in, since I never got all of the singles due to financial issues. However, it's probably still as much an issue as it was!

[jough]

Yeah, I'd offer them to you for a deal, but I'm trying to milk as much as I can for them so I can buy this next week and not feel guilty about it:

http://catalog2.panasonic.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ModelDetail?storeId=11251&catalogId=11005&itemId=65012&catGroupId=12873&modelNo=SV-AS10A&surfModel=SV-AS10A

So I figure if I can sell this stuff for mucho bux to some collector on Ebay I can buy it without having it affect my lifestyle at all.

I'm considering parting with my beautiful Ibanez 770Lx LB electric guitar too.  It's like the one Joe Satriani used when he toured during his "Surfing with the Alien" phase.

But they're only going for around $300 on Ebay (not that anyone has the exact model, but guitars of that era) and it's a harsh come-down from the $1,200 I paid.