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I Just Inherited 4,000 LPs

My longtime friend just passed away, leaving me his 4,000 LPs. 

I haven't had time to really look, I know there is a ton of jazz. He lived in New Orleans for many years, we went to the music festival together twice, listened together here often over the years. The LP's are only 5 minutes from here.

And serious wood library shelving, each self-contained 3 ft wood shelf has a partial back and recessed metal tracks for adjustable metal dividers. They can be put individually on top of any shelf, I will leave the too tall uprights, put the shelves into new wire shelving.

Our house is a small split level with an internal garage full of 42 years of junk as well as our existing 2,500 LPs.

OMG, what a project to rearrange, discard long dusty stuff, (Donna’s 100% on board) assemble new wire shelving to condense stuff we keep and new wire shelving to fit the LPs here.

Then: how to merge them with my 2,500 LPs which are alphabetical. Logistical Options keep me up at night.

Twenty 3 ft shelves, I will use 3 bankers boxes per shelf to get them off the shelves, leave 60 boxes over there, get the shelves over here on the wire shelving, finally the LPs over here. I believe his are generally alphabetical, perhaps Donna and her twin sister Effie can find what's out of order over there while I am working here.

A labor of love, and a lifetime memory and gratitude to my friend Roderick.

Elliott




elliottbnewcombjr
audio2design
1,351 posts
 
Made my day Elliott. Thank you for sharing.

I am sure many would not understand the significance of what you inherited (people here will), but your friend passed along his happiness. It's a special gift.

I am sorry for your loss, but think that will be softened by the memories when those records are played.
davehg
89 posts
 
Elliott,

to be gifted 4000 lps is a testament to your friendship. When I think about how much time it would take to collect and curate, let alone enjoy a collection of that size, he clearly wanted them to go where they would be loved and appreciated as much as he did.

I have a number of objects I’ve collected over the years, cars, bikes, audio gear, cameras, watches. They have value but they mean more to me to give to those who would find joy in them.

so good for you, and make a plan to listen to them.
elliottbnewcombjr OP
7,825 posts
 
davehg4

I am emotionally very pleased my friend chose me, I know he did have an idea to give them to Tulane University in New Orleans.

My step-father (the evil one) kept admiring a house with plentiful landscaping and gardens, frequently asking the owner to sell to him. Finally he got it.

After a few years, he said he felt like a slave to the gardens, living someone else's life.

At first I wondered, where will I put them, will I be a slave to all these? Perhaps I should simply cherry pick. Every random pull was a keeper, so it was off to the total rearrangement of the garage, nearly done.

I like to keep one small thing I can hold in my hand of anyone I want to remember. His DUFF Beer glass does that, I better get a spare, he has many.
elliottbnewcombjr OP
7,825 posts
 
thanks to everyone expressing condolences. 

I've dealt with some serious loss, it hurts, then comes 'Beautiful Pain', Along with the tears come beautiful memories.

When someone else is in so much pain that you think in a small way 'better off' I always play this song in my head

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UIH1KccVlHk
elliottbnewcombjr OP
7,825 posts
 
Bill,

I'm waiting for you to have a fight with that girlfriend of yours, then you come spend a few days here. You can act like the teenager we all think we are, and I'll rest my herniated discs, bulges, pinched nerve, small tear.

I'm actually searching for a back surgeon now, thinking, I have to finish this project first!
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