It’s been a while since I wrote a blog, however given recent changes in my life, I figured now was the best time to do so. I’ve noticed a sharp rise in the attention that my hobby of collection and digital restoration of 78rpm records has been giving me. It’s quite literally taking me around the world.
It started with my brush with Japanese national television recently, quite a surreal experience in itself. I now expect to see my face beamed to a few million people at the other side of the globe.
A few weeks ago, I was contacted by a chap in the US, Rick. Rick’s a retired school psychologist and, like me, he has an avid interest in 78rpm records – he’s got a collection of around 40,000 discs. We got talking, shared some files and generally got on very well.
Things changed when I informed him that I was coming to the US to work for the summer: “We have to meet whilst you’re there!” he exclaimed, so I agreed to that – it would be a shame not to meet new friends whilst I’m in the neighbourhood so to speak! At the same time, Rick recommended a friend of his, Gerhard for some more conversation.
Gerhard is a lovely bloke, and like Rick we got talking and shared various record files. Gerhard has a collection of 16 and 35mm film reels, and has built a cinema in his house to display them all. “We have to meet whilst you’re here!” he exclaimed. I agreed, since like with Rick it would be a shame not to whilst I’m in the neighbourhood. So at his very generous expense I am flying over to California for a few days to see his film reel collection and to meet him and Rick.
I’ve also just started contact with a chap called Mike. Unlike Rick and Gerhard, Mike lives in the UK and is relatively young like myself (at only 26!) He’s quite shy, however I watched one of his video logs this morning and I am glad that his records comfort him when he’s not going through the best time in life at the moment. Like the others, I hope to meet him one day, because he has one of the best Al Bowlly collections in the country.
Developments have really taken me aback – I honestly rip my records as a hobby, because whilst I have the technological knowhow to do so, I’m determined to share as many songs to as many people as possible. Gramophone discs are fragile things, and numbers of them are literally dwindling every day. Good music is being lost forever.
When I started my hobby in September 2009, I didn’t think that I would be on Japanese state television, or flying half way around the world to meet people with the same hobby. One thing that has struck me is the incredible generosity of every collector I’ve met so far.
The sea of grey hair at the most recent City of London Phonograph and Gramophone Society
I believe they look at my young face and see hope for the future. When the current generation of record collectors dies (and most of the current generation are unfortunately already in their 50s/60s), people like me will be ready to carry on the hobby. Consequently, offers like the visit to California, sending me CDs for free of new music and the like are offered to me and I am touched by peoples’ kindness towards me.
This really goes to show the true power of the internet. Without my YouTube channel, this would not have been possible, and I wouldn’t have met (and unintentionally cheered up) the many collectors around the world who see that the hobby has a future in myself.
This blog posting is dedicated to the many collectors and friends I have met throughout the world because of my hobby: Sean, Richard, Emrah, Rick, Gerhard, Mike, James, Geri and Confetta. You’re all such wonderful people and I am honoured to know you all!
