From tips for evaluating recordings, to lively discussions of bootlegs and piracy, to the history of recording formats, to collectible artists and more, The Music Lover's Guide to Record Collecting covers all the tracks. Designed for anyone who collects records for pleasure or profit, at garage sales or on eBay, this guide is both informative and entertaining. If offers a wealth of detail and informed opinion – unique in a field dominated by stodgy price guides. Engaging entries and essays explore the development of all recording mediums, from 78s to MP3; the distinctive character of imports; “most collected artists ” from The Beatles to Nirvana; collectible labels, such as Sun, Chess and Motown; original packaging that enhances collectability; and much more.

An in-depth and comprehensive guide to – and history of – music collecting, The Ultimate Guide to Vinyl and More traces the hobby from its beginnings over a century ago. The book features informative and entertaining sections on every significant format in which recorded music has been released – and some that are now almost completely forgotten. Based on Dave Thompson's original Backbeat classic, The Music Lover's Guide to Record Collecting, this revamped, colorful, expanded edition takes readers from the early days of cylinders, 78s, and Edison records on through 45s, LPs, 8-tracks, cassettes, bootlegs, CDs, MiniDiscs, MP3s, LPs, and other formats. Landmark labels, collectable artists, specialist themes, and more are explored across a series of essays, while dozens of color images bring the most obscure corners of the hobby to life. Unlike other volumes that focus exclusively on vinyl, this book caters to the audiophile whose obsession for music welcomes all formats. Through it all, the joy and fascination of music collecting in all its guises comes alive.

This book explores that idea, building a narrative around the concept of rarity and its implications both for our understanding of how the natural world works, and for what it can teach us about protecting biodiversity during a time of large-scale environmental change.

The Bootleg Guide is the ultimate in reference works for the 1960s and the 1970s bootleg recordings. Within these pages lies a history of rock at its best, as performed on stage or in the studio. Each entry is catalogued by title, date, featured tracks, and contains a quality rating and comments on the nature and origin of the recording. Cross-references are provided to other titles and extensive information is available on alternate titles of bootlegs. In many cases, quirky facts about a particular title are given-something that in itself may make a title a highly desirable and sought-after 'rarity' amongst collectors. Limited editions are listed to help the reader and collector develop a clearer picture of just how obtainable a bootleg may be. Bootlegs are unofficial 'live' and studio recordings of artists and bands that are released onto vinyl, tape or CD. By definition, most are so rare that they change hands only for vastly inflated sums or are traded by networks of dedicated collectors worldwide. Serious fans and collectors have been known to spend as much as $225 for an original, scratchy vinyl recording of bands like Deep Purple and the Grateful Dead dating back to the early seventies. The rarest of all are akin to valuable paintings as far as collectors and traders are concerned.