Are there any artists that you just buy records by without hearing them first because you just know they are going to be good or because you just have to have everything the artist has ever made? I know HMHB and Shirley Collins are the obvious choices (or is that just me?), but what others ......

If Donald Fagen and Walter Becker of Steely Dan put out an album of the sound of themselves tuning their instuments I would probably buy it.

Joe Jackson falls into this camp for me, along with Over the Rhine. Not complete-ism just confidence borne of positive experience. :-)

If I can I may end up with the complete [known] works of JS Bach. This is the only case which interests me in this respect.

George

I buy many CDs without hearing them because of the musicians involved. For example, I'll happily buy anything involving the jazz pianist John Taylor, as he always brings something special to the mix.

As far as my aspirations to completism are concerned, a couple of artists sprang immediately to mind, both of them already mentioned: Bach and Steely Dan.

Regards
Nigel

Good thread. I think in their day, I would have bought anything Free released.

These days, James Taylor probably. But it's not quite the same commitment now, is it? You can often get CDs for a fiver, so no big disaster if you get it wrong.

I have bought several CDs because you guys recommend them. They don't all work for me, but enough do to make it well worth while. Especially that guy Munch. He seems to know what I will like.

Steve

Richard Thompson, but the keeping track of the bugger isn't easy. He seems to have taken on the mantle of the hardest working man in show business.

For me its late 80's and 90's House and Techno 12" ones I should have bought them when they first came out, some are now fetching 30 to 50 quid each but I'm waiting to see them in second hand record shops that don't know what they've got.

Just got a original Model 500 EP in mint condition for £8 and I know you are all thinking bloody hell what a bargain and what fantastic toons



Dean..

There are quite a few artist that fall into that category for me (e.g. Miles Davis, Bob Dylan, Van Morrison). It holds true as well for certain labels (e.g. DCC, MFSL).

Cheers ... Oliver

Radiohead. I'm not a fanatical completist, but I do have all their mainstream stuff. I don't chase bootlegs, though. Can't wait for the August concert here in Vancouver.

I have lots of complete sets of many artists.

I generally buy all new releases of artists that interest me whether I have heard their new album or not and will very regularly just buy new CD's of bands I know little about to see what they sound like.

As for label completism, I am currently collecting every ECM CD that has been released. I am close to having the full set of 900+ releases on CD.

quote:

Originally posted by GFFJ:
If I can I may end up with the complete [known] works of JS Bach. This is the only case which interests me in this respect.

George

Dear George

155 CDs - I know this is not the set you meant and you would have preferred performances for each work.

The Naim HDX with the complete works of Bach, Haydn, Mozart and Beethoven on it would be full. It is quite stunning how much great music these classical composers wrote.

ATB Rotf

Dear Rotf,

I have toyed with that the idea, and the pieces I have almost unrepresented, the cantatas are are apparently very find, so one perhaps?

ATB from George

Yup, I always buy Morcheeba and Faithless and used to buy Terrorvision and Dodgy when they were still together.

I have been more reserved with some of my more recent favourites, such as Portishead and The Zutons, I listened to some of the new Portishead stuff first and haven't yet succumbed to putting my hand in my pocket for The Zutons....

Completeism is a form of OCD.

Anything by James Taylor is OK with me, would buy without a listen born out of positive experience. Can't think of anyone else, perhaps the Floyd because they are the Floyd...........mmmmmmm thats blind faith isn't it!!!

Thats right Nigel.

The best aspect of my OCD is my vinyl collection.

New Order and Talking Heads when together including side projects, but less and less these days.

Perhaps the OCD thing is recceding as I get older?

Jono

quote:

Originally posted by Nigel Cavendish:
Completeism is a form of OCD.

OCD is a key reason for ownership of Hi Fi equipment, and the main reason why anybody is here in the first place. I would have thought. Better ask Rockindoc.

Anything by Will Oldham (AKA Palace Brothers, Palace, Bonnie "Prince" Billy)-- all his main and sideproject albums have been good so far-- so I buy the new ones as soon as I see them. (He puts so many albums out though, that there are a couple I haven't even listened to yet-- but I'll get to them-- probably when his output slows a bit and I can get caught up).

Beyond that, most rock/folk artists I listen to seem to be better on their first three albums or so, and then not so good after they achieve fame and fortune or whatever it is that happens.

Then there's the Beatles-- at one time or another, I think I've had all their albums up to Let It Be and Abbey Road-- but it has never made sense to me to obtain any of the (seemingly endless stream of) repackagings.