The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Group,

After restoring a number of Edison Music Songs and considering the sale of the music, I was wondering how you buy your music today ?

Personally, I have always bought CD's of the music I want, yet today, many people use the Internet to buy and download music. Also, people have told me that they use "Youtube" as a way to just listen to music.

One of my neighbors had a large collection on a computer server and played his music using his own LAN (Local Area Net).

Comments ?

Marc

CD's, 78's, cylinders, YouTube, XM satellite radio.

78s and cylinders, and that's it. I don't even own an electric record player; everything here is hand-cranked.

As far as more modern stuff goes I do listen to broadcasts on the radio sometimes--My newest is a 1954 model.

You could say I tend to live like it's the 1900s and you'd not be wrong. I like it better this way.

Here in s.e. Pennsylvania we are blessed with no fewer than four (4!), count 'em "four," classical music stations on ordinary FM radio. I know of no other region anywhere that can make that claim. The calls are WDIY Lehigh Valley Public Radio (classical on weekday mornings), WWFM Trenton/Mercer County (NJ) Public Radio, WRTI Temple University-Philadelphia (classical and jazz), and WVIA Scranton-Wilkes-Barre Public Radio. Even major metro areas like Boston and New York don't have this abundance of musical riches on radio. I also listen to CDs, YouTube, LPs, 78s, DVDs, and (rarely) cassette tapes. Away from recorded or broadcast media, I generally always have something playing in my head as well (I'm a retired classical musician). Otherwise I listen to SportsTalk radio and watch Eagles games!

My collection comprises 78's, Pathé discs, Blue Amberols and CD's. I never liked vinyl, and gradually replaced all my classical LP's with CD's.
My wife is also a collector. Her interests are in mechanical music, including disc and cylinder musical boxes and an organette. We compete for space!

On the radio I listen to BBC Radio 3 and Classic FM. Radio 3 features too much modern atonal noise by talentless charlatans, and Classic FM is spoilt by crass commercial breaks. My ideal listening would be Classic FM without the adverts.

On TV the Sky Arts channel has recently become available on Freeview, screening some operas and ballets. Unfortunately many of these are set out of period. For example, Il Trovatore was set by Verdi in the 15th Century. It does not look good set in the 21st.

Anything and anywhere I can get it. On nearly every format I’ve collected so far.

I listen to my machines, I listen on YouTube, I listen on archive.org, I listen on the USCB cylinder site, I listen on the National Jukebox on Loc.gov.

In the car it’s FM radio is constant with the occasional CD (dollar CDs from estate sales).

At home my primary enjoyment in music is via 78’s and the occasional cylinder on wind-up machines. The specific 78’s I want are primarily obtained via record auction sites. My secondary method is from picking local sales. Just the stuff I want to hear again and again.

Also at home, radio, CD and on-line music are occasional.

James.

78s, cylinders, LPs, open reel tapes, CDs, MP3s, Sirius, FM radio, internet radio—lots of formats, but almost all of it classical music (including opera). Did I forget anything? Most listening involves 78s and LPs.

Bill

My monthly splurge is a YouTube Premium subscription. I’ve been having a lot of trouble sleeping lately, and playlists of soft classical piano (Debussy, Satie, etc.), with no commercial interruptions, has been very nice.

Other than that, I buy very specific 78s for my windups, played with bamboo at home.

I play 78's.