How many albums is too many?

A side conversation in one of the threads recently got me to thinking about this. How many albums or cds is too many? Does anyone really have enough time to listen to their collection if they have a lot of albums? The way I see it is unless you are really old you have the rest of your life to listen to whatever you have and you have less chance of getting burned out on stuff. For me personally though I have decided that a collection of between 4-5,000 is good enough for the big music fan. I'm not there yet but plan on stopping at around 5,000(I might even stop at 3 or 4,000 but haven't decided yet). A good chunk will be prog(and already is)since I like other stuff. 

I do admit there are factors in how much you listen to such as work or social acitivites you might have including marriage and or family life, etc. I don't think it's that difficult to fit music in there though but how much would obviously would depend on those factors.

Any opinions on any of this?

Edited by AFlowerKingCrimson - October 01 2020 at 15:32

In my case, I don't think I can ever have too many CD's. Whenever I buy another bundle of CD's, it's always a question of where I'm going to store them, instead of whether I'll have time to listen to them all. Five thousand albums sounds like a good figure to aim for, and I'm currently three-fifths of the way there.

Edited by Psychedelic Paul - October 01 2020 at 15:50

Too much is never enough.

It's rumoured that Elton John has the largest private record collection in England with well over 25,000 albums, although I very much doubt if he's listened to them all.

Psychedelic Paul wrote: It's rumoured that Elton John has the largest private record collection in England with well over 25,000 albums, although I very much doubt if he's listened to them all.

Also to note, most of these "newer" collectors did not do this 3-4-5 records at a time.......They bought existing collections at estate sales or private sales. At a Steven Wilson concert about 6-7yrs ago I was talking to this older man about his jazz collection which numbers in the 1,000s, he was willing to let me come over and browse and possibly give me some and sell some. We could never make the time work but he got 80% of the collection from a jazz radio station in NYC that shutdown.

Edited by Lewian - October 01 2020 at 17:05

Between CDs, vinyl, and albums that I have digitally downloaded I probably have between 7,500 - 10,000 albums.  Mostly CDs.  I might have 200 vinyl records, which were mostly bought back through record clubs in the 80's and 90's before I switched to CDs.  I have a used record store that I will buy used vinyl from once in a while, but mostly things that I haven't been able to find on CD.  I also frequent their used CD bin where they generally charge $4 per cd if you buy 10 CDs or more, which I usually oblige a few times per year.  Most of this stuff is general rock or jazz, but once in a while I find a prog gem within. :)  I have been purchasing music for close to 40 years now and have managed to accumulate lots of it.  My problem is that I am very rarely willing to part with CDs by selling them back.  I figure for as little as they will give me for them, I might as well keep them.  I listen to my music alphabetically and I'm on my 2nd time through my collection.  It takes me between 7 and 10 years to listen to everything....but that is mostly because I try and listen to as much new music as I can every year too.  It is my vice, obsession, and addiction, which I justify to myself by figuring I can afford it with the monies that I might otherwise spend on cigarettes, alcohol, and drugs; other vices from which I don't partake.  I have music playing from the time I get up in the morning almost until the time I go to bed at night...sadly much of the time it is just background music while I am working or doing other things, but I need to have music going.  I can't stand being in silence.  

Edited by rushfan4 - October 01 2020 at 17:09

rushfan4 wrote: Too much is never enough.

Edited by AFlowerKingCrimson - October 01 2020 at 17:11

AFlowerKingCrimson wrote: ^Yeah, I just said that. I like how his sister mentioned David Axlerod. :) For the record I'm ok with having stuff that I only play 2 or 3 times and never play again. I may want to get rid of them or not. Lot's of people have open your eyes or union in their collection or calling all stations or from genesis to revelation. How often do you play those?