When I traveled for work I'd find the local CD shops and check out their selections. It's cool to have a place to go when you're far from home. Most times I carried away some treasure, five or ten at a time.
Nowadays I keep up a collection of the ECM label by buying online from big jobbers like CDNow and Tower. I'll only buy in shops if they're on sale or I find some oddity by a jazz magician like Sun Ra. For new stuff my game is finding out what's released, who's stocking it and surfing for the best prices and shipping.
Shops seldom reorder the more obscure titles if they carry them at all. Some titles slipped literally thru my fingers because I was low on dough or justification. Those few are the ones that got away never to be seen again.
For ECM titles not yet available stateside I'll let the list build until it hits about 15 or 20 and then splurge by ordering direct from Munich. They'll usually throw in the shipping on largish orders. It never hurts to ask.
For pop, female vocals and old favs I only buy used, usually on a whim, and recycle whatever's lost its flavor.
Nowadays I keep up a collection of the ECM label by buying online from big jobbers like CDNow and Tower. I'll only buy in shops if they're on sale or I find some oddity by a jazz magician like Sun Ra. For new stuff my game is finding out what's released, who's stocking it and surfing for the best prices and shipping.
Shops seldom reorder the more obscure titles if they carry them at all. Some titles slipped literally thru my fingers because I was low on dough or justification. Those few are the ones that got away never to be seen again.
For ECM titles not yet available stateside I'll let the list build until it hits about 15 or 20 and then splurge by ordering direct from Munich. They'll usually throw in the shipping on largish orders. It never hurts to ask.
For pop, female vocals and old favs I only buy used, usually on a whim, and recycle whatever's lost its flavor.