5 comments about Goldmine Record Album Price Guide.

1. THE PRICE GUIDE IS OK BUT IT IS NOT REALLY THAT ACCURATE AS I HAVE FOUND MANY ERRORS AND THERE ARE LOTS OF ALBUMS THAT ARE NOT LISTED AT ALL.



2. All Goldmine guides are very useful in both case: 1) to determine optimal buying' and sellin' costs. Also it's exciting reading. That edition lavishly illustrated. Thanks.
   Will buy also American records 1950-1975!
   Hope, it will be great!



3. When my mom died, she left behind around 400 LPs and another 150 45s from the 1950-1960s. It was a mess of mixed genres, variety of artists, and varying conditions. Since we're a fan of CDs and MP3 players, the records took up a horribly large amount of space and we wanted them gone. After calling a dealer, who suggested pulling out the Elvis and Beatle records and tossing the rest, I decided to do some research and see what I'd need to do to sell them on EBay. During my research, I found a record guild site with an incredibly helpful forum http://www.recordcollectorsguild.org They listed several price guides, but with warnings about their pricing accuracy. Until I tried to sell the records, I didn't fully realize how inaccurate they really are. While this book was not particularly valuable when it came to pricing, it was helpful in letting me know if I had any records that were worth pursuing. However, guides in general tend to have some problems and this one is no different. Some of the problems include:
   
   1) Do NOT expect to get the list price. It is a best case scenario. The introduction to this book is very clear that these prices are mint condition prices. However, the amount suggested to deduct given their condition, is not accurate. The prices really reflect what you could expect to pay at an antique dealer's store, not what you can realistically expect to sell them for.
   
   2) The price guides do not reflect a changing market. At one time, a mint version of Chantilly Lace might have brought 500.00, but not now. The interest in this record is not as great as it once was. However, the price guide is not updated to reflect that change in market. http://www.popsike.com better reflects the current market and it's free.
   
   3) This book does not give you the knowledge you need to accurately grade records. Granted the purpose of this book is pricing, not to teach grading, but grading is integral to pricing. See, collectors want to listen to the records they're buying. So if the record pops or has any static, the record is of little to no value to them. If you're not an experienced collector, what looks minor to you, might be a huge deal to a buyer. Since the selling price of the record depends heavily on the condition of the vinyl, a book that doesn't give a proper education on condition is not too helpful for selling. Furthermore, this book suggested weighing the condition of the vinyl and jacket equally. That is not accurate. The condition of the vinyl is much more important than the jacket.
   
   Again, where this book does excel is in having a large quantity of records, with a very good description to know which pressing you have, and is easy to use. So if you have a few records and you want to know if it's even worth the effort to try to sell them, this book is very helpful. However, if you're planning to use this book to sale, first see if you can get an experienced record collector to help you out. For us, two experienced collectors were able to accomplish in 3 hours, what would have taken me probably 500 hours to do.
   
   Would I have bought this price guide again? Only if I couldn't find it at the local library. For a price guide, it's probably very good, but the main reason I wrote this review is so people won't get the idea they'll have all the information they need to sell in this book. You're really not going to be able to get the information you truly need to value records from this book or any price guide. So, you'd be better off saving your money and doing some research online.



4. this is a great book for music collectors, or someone who likes music. It's very interesting and informative



5. I should have had this book long ago, not because I needed to sell records from my collection, but just for its endless knowledge of artists, their "family trees", their recording labels,their time zone, the variety of recordings they produced,etc., etc... This is the what,when, where,why, with who,and how long, of the L.P. world. Everyone having anything to do with music, either today, yesterday, or in the years leading back to when the record was introduced, needs to have a copy of their own.You will look at your copy for countless hours, as did I... Thank you Tim Neely, and crew!

5 comments about The Official Price Guide to Records 18th Edition (Official Price Guide to Records).

1. Several years ago I bought Osbourne's 2001 guide to records and I couldn't have been more pleased. So when it was time to update the guide I was a loyal consumer and bought the newest edition. Too my suprise, many of the listings in the 2001 guide are missing and a lot of popular and valuable records aren't in the new guide at all. You've heard the phrase 'less is more'? Well in this case less is less. I can't recommend anyone buy this guide since even novice collectors will find huge gaps in 18th edition of 'Offical Price Guide to Records'.



2. This book is by one of the best music collectors in the business. I bought it as a reference guide for a future music store I want to start, as well as a general guide for my personal collection. Their are more detailed guides, at much greater prices, so this is great for the beginner and just general information. Highly recommend.



3. Jerry Osborne continues to provide the best and most unbiased price guide in record collecting. He started in 1974 and remains the authority. There's no hidden agenda here. If you're buying just one record price guide, THIS IS IT.



4. This is a another in a long line of great Record reviews and price guides. WE use it every day in our little record (antique) business. We sell vinyl in downtown Kalamazoo. Thanks!



5. No single record price book provides everything a guy wants but Jerry Osborne consistently comes closer than anyone else. Highly recommended!

5 comments about Goldmine Price Guide to 45 Rpm Records.

1. This book is a fantastic resource for any collector, especially an amateur like me. After I learned how to "read" the entries, it was very easy to get the information I needed, and I learned quite a lot about the valueof the records I grew up with, as well as the picture sleeves which are often worth far more than the vinyl!



2. over and over,neelys guides come out faithfully showing all the wonderfull records you would love to own,stating decent prices anyone would wanna pay for them ..and then hits you in ther gutt by telling you they arent worth a third of that amount to dealers.
   when it comes to books like these everyone suddenly becomes a dealer.
   or else the near mint pricing is all anyone looks at.
   its a good book but its repetitive of all the other books hes done.and in fairness,all the other writers books too who do yearly record guides.
   and when it comes to showing scans of rare records..welp..it looks good but it doesnt make me wanna run out and buy them.
   in other words a collector can own one of these..preferably this book..and never buy another one because the info will not change much.
   just the packing and covers.
   still..a good xamas gift ands hard work involved.



3. Not relevant for todays market !
   I whis I could buy some of the soul, garage and freakbeat records listed there for the prices they estimate !! And the mainstream records are listed too high ! Buy the Jerry Osbourne price guide instead !!
   (and the colour section section pages fell out after one read)
   Avoid this !



4. Has just about every record ever made with its corresponding value. Only thing not listed are instrumentals.



5. I have found this to be the most informitive book on 45's that I have ever read. Not only does it give you a guideline on the value of the records in your collection, but it also gives you information on the artists such as other groups the artist has been with and the groups that have changed their names over their careers

5 comments about Vinyl Junkies: Adventures in Record Collecting.

1. This book made me break into a grin-and-nod combo more than once in recognition (frequently scaring other subway passengers). No matter. Reading about others chasing the elusive high of the vinyl dragon was comforting - and totally entertaining.
   
   I also liked the fact that this book that this book bemoaned the rarity of female collectors (Crumb's quote, "it never gets them hot," is hilarious). I'm one of those rarities myself (26 and trolling flea markets for records since I was 9 or 10), so it was interesting -if not really particularly surprising - to find out there's not a lot of us out there. "There's not many women who want to sit around and debate the best Elvis Costello album" line made me laugh, too - `cause I do!
   
   I'd recommend this for anyone who's ever collected anything - you're likely to find kindred spirits within these covers.



2. If you read and/or watched High Fidelity and thought, "That's me!", then this book is for you. Keep a pad of paper with you as you read, because you'll learn about some interesting collectibles you never knew existed. The segments where rock stars talk about their personal history/obsession with record collecting are particularly fun. Milano has an easy-going style that makes it feel like you're having a private conversation about a topic close to both your hearts. The best place to buy this book would be a used record store, but do get it.



3. Reads like a magazine article padded out to book length. Completely disposable. For record collectors like me, it says nothing new. For the rest it won't mean much. Don't bother, unless you see it in a bargain bin for $2 (which you probably will.)



4. The velvet underground & nico _ joe harvard
   
   Vinyl junkie _ brett milano
   
   If you consider yourself addicted to vinyl & those around you see your passion as something strange. This book is a treat, in it you will read stories about people who would need 2 or 3 life times to just hear the records they have accumulated or others that would fork out $4.000 for an odd 7 inch, not to mention one unbelievable story about a Hendrix collector who has in his prized record collection one that could contain Hendrix's dna.
   Yes, vinyl record collector you are not alone.



5. Vacuous, mediocre, trite, cliched, dull. Attempts and fails to be breezily hip and humorous. Skims the surface, never goes in-depth. A book for TV watchers, not readers.

5 comments about Price Guide for the Beatles American Records.

1. This 6th edition from Mr. Perry Cox & Frank Daniels continues the long tradition and reputation of Perry's top price guides with the highest degree of research, knowledge, sources and listings available anywhere!
   
   First, I give my strongest praise and congratulations to the co-authors (Perry and Frank), along with additional kudos to Mr. Bruce Spizer who contributed the Foreword, layouts, editing and publishing in this beautiful edition (and yes, I own most of his incredible "labor of love" books surrounding The Beatles records). These gentlemen are what we collectors consider "The Source" when it comes to being specific, detailed, precise and answering the tough questions that come with collecting what I consider "the greatest music memorabilia of all time".
   
   Secondly, I would like to take a moment and get personal about Perry Cox and what he means to me in this business. I have done business with Perry since the early 1980's (when, at that time, I was just a young sailor in the U.S. Navy and spending as much of my extra money on my #1 passion - Beatles records and memorabilia). Perry immediately befriended me and has been more of a "mentor" and a "personal confidant" during these 25 years of our friendship. He has yet to steer me wrong or not provide the tough answers throughout all these years and I greatly admire his passion, dedication and genuine love for the hobby more than anyone else that I have had the pleasure of sharing this excitement with in this hobby. I remember back in the 80's and most of the 90's when I would receive Perry's "mailer lists" that he religiously mailed out to those of us on his distro list. Receiving those lists in the mail has long been replaced with the technology and real-time convenience of the internet (specifically Ebay), but I will never forget what those first 15 years were like when we couldn't see the items and relied on Perry's specific details on each item for sale in his mailer list! Times they were a-changin'. Regardless of the resources, Perry has always been top-notch and quickly became my favorite source (which he remains to this day). I have since retired from the U.S. Navy after 21 years service and now live in the Tampa area - but I still email Perry whenever those technical questions need to be answered (or merely for his advice on items I am considering for my personal collection). Bottom line is that I give my full and unconditional recommendation (without hesitation) to any source that Perry endorses in this hobby - and his price guides are legendary among the amateur and professional collectors alike - across the board! Thank you Perry for your deep friendship over the past 25 years my friend.
   
   Next, I would like to humbly thank both Perry and Frank for recognizing me under the "Acknowledgements" section in this price guide. It is a labor of love for all of us and all I can say (after all these years collecting and sharing knowledge, experiences, etc.) is "How cool is it to have your name inside the actual book of your favorite lifelong hobby?" It is a dream come true and I am touched for that recognition! I have had the unbelievable fortune of meeting all four Beatles in person throughout my life, along with being stationed in London for two years with the U.S. Navy, and having my name mentioned in this book completes a long journey for me (for a little boy from Flint, Michigan who originally watched those "four lads from Liverpool" tear it up on that black & white television while dancing with my mother and older sister)! Little did we "Flintoids" know that we would also be treated to our own hometown heroes just six years later from "Grand Funk Railroad". Imagine that...
   
   As for the 6th edition of "The price guide for The Beatles American records", I would like to echo some of the wonderful comments from Mr. Robert York of Tacoma, WA (scroll through the reviews and you will find his detailed analogy of this new guide). I agree that it is very fitting that this book is the same size and lines up beautifully on the bookshelf with Bruce Spizer's books (not a coincidence I assure you - these gentlemen do all the extra work to ensure high quality products from start to finish). This new guide also has more colored photographs and layouts than I've seen to date and it is absolutely gorgeous. It starts out in the inner cover with many of the single (45's) in their respective picture sleeves in bright colors - and ends on the back inner cover with all 24 American Beatles' albums (in order of release) all in color as well. Everything in between these covers is simply magic and very nicely laid out! I am a stickler for detail and for making things "make sense" and this book does exactly that. One of my favorite things is the color-coding throughout the book. The authors got it right and made this very easy to use for all hobbyist - and the outer edges of the pages are actually color-coded so that the user can go right to the appropriate section he/she is seeking (without having to thumb around and find things aimlessly). The guide is broken down into sections, starting with Beatles singles and EP's, then Beatles albums, George Harrison, John Lennon, Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, Pete Best and George Martin, Apple, Dark Horse Records, Compilations, and ends with Vendors (and those who paid to be sponsored in this publication).
   
   I would also like to add that just before the color-coding starts in this publication, the authors have compiled some of the most important pages that will benefit collectors ten-fold (these pages are priceless, trust me). They have added sections on introduction, Market Analysis, Beatles records worth $1,000 or more, Grading records (very important especially for newcomers in the hobby), Acetates and Test Pressings, Promotional Records and Markings, Sealed Albums (which I have been involved in with Perry over many years), Capitol Inner Sleeves (nice explanations on what sleeves go with which albums, etc.), Records from other countries, Capitol-Apple Labelography (these are truly valuable pages here because it is so detailed and collectors need to become aware of all the differences on these labels), Capitol-Apple Tapeography, Pressings of "A Hard Day's Night" on UA (this is not testable, because 99% of us would fail the exam), Beatles U.S. Discography (you'll love this section and is perfect for "quick reference" or when creating your own personal spreadsheets, discography, or collections), and the last item in these white pages before the color-coding starts (and perhaps among the most important of all) is the "How to read the guide listings" section. This section specifically educates the reader on the Spizer Identification Number (which Beatles author/historian Bruce Spizer developed this numbering system for identifying items pictured and described in his books on The Beatles American records). This numbering system is quickly becoming popular among collectors and I would not be surprised if Mr. Spizer's system will one day be the universal standard for identifying all Beatles' American records (I have almost finished numbering my own personal collection with his numbering system and it just makes good sense)! Again, those white pages (pages 1-43) are some of the most valuable and educational sources that you will ever find on collecting Beatles American records (the price guide is worth its price for this information alone, not to mention pages 45-316 "the meat and potatoes" of the entire price guide).
   
   Lastly, I highly recommend this price guide to everyone interested in gaining knowledge on Beatles American records, their history, how to identify exactly what you have, and it is simply the top-notch book available anywhere on this subject. A superior book cover-to-cover and I am so impressed with various elements throughout this guide. It takes the reader on a journey itself and you will experience the roots, growth and unbelievable spectrum that The Beatles records went through from the start to present day. After traveling through these pages several times I found myself in many different stages of my life, in retrospect, thinking about where I lived when a certain album was released or what girl I was sharing those moments with, etc. An incredible 5-star book which should be owned by all Beatles hobbyist (I own three myself and had to ensure I got the low serial #'d edition in the slipcase signed by all three gentlemen mentioned above). Purchase the guide, you'll be amazed at the weatlth of knowledge, perspiration, inspiration, dedication, and how cleverly laid out it really is! "I read the book today, oh boy..." and Perry, Frank & Bruce "made the grade". Cheers!



2. Now, let's face it; you won't be carrying this price guide with you to garage sales. No, this will be the reference book that stays at home. And what a book it is! Similar in size to Bruce Spizer's record books on the American Beatles' releases, this baby is published in a hard-cover format on nice glossy paper. The color photos are wonderful for fans to view the items, and the whole book is entertaining as well as informative in terms of accurate prices. Some of the color on some pages seemed to have a purplish haze to them, but hopefully that is remedied on new issues. Overall, a top-notch job by Perry. Now, Perry, what I would like to see from you is a price guide on international pressings. Maybe concentrating on the UK and Japanese pressings since many of these are collectible. Also, tell Bruce he's not done yet. He may have called his last book "Swan Song" as a way of saying goodbye, but I'm sure many fans, including myself, would like to see him tackle all of the British pressings.



3. for many many years,perry cox and bruce spizer have done thier best to uphold great quality items on beatles reference subjects.
   they have finally started to do it in a very good way by showing COLORFULL scans of every capitol or apple product you can think of is the united states.
   perry worked his butt off on this book.
   why am i giving it 4 stars instead of five?
   one reason.
   nothing is included from canada(he gives credit to another book on that subject)which would have really been helpfull on the capitol issues..but spizers books covers canadian lps and 45s.
   also bootlegs are missing..and many times there were infamouse ones that would make a good fan laugh ..like "how do you do it" on the swan label which was never released but would have been a hoot to see here.
   knowing this book was never intended to show boots it is forgivable but two or three pics wouldnt have hurt.
   other than that,there are guides to show you what lps were issuerd on what label variations and finally some good pricing.perry has been a seller of beatles records for many years and in this book he shows you just how incredible the beatles were to not only groove to,but to collect.a MUST for any beatles fan or collector!
   also other formats are finally addressed and treated with respect(reel to reels and 4 tracks especially!)



4. Great book, fulled with information and high quality pictures. What makes this book nicer than the previous book is that the pictures, which correspond to the description, are on the same page. The only negative comment I have is that it's a hard cover book, that's too big and bulky, making it more difficult to flip through the pages and quickly look up an item. The last edition was a nice, small paperback book that I kept at my desk to flip through for a quick reference. This book is big, and heavy, and not made for flipping, but rather individual page turning. Being too big for the desk, I keep it on a book shelf, and more often than not, find myself thumbing through the more convenient last edition, rather than the new one. It went from being a guide to a reference book, but a great reference book!



5. It was an earlier edition of Perry Cox's Price Guide that originally got me started on collecting Beatles records again. I had been collecting since 1974, but had stopped around 1979. When I picked up Perry's book in 1992 at Rockaway Records in Los Angeles, I realized all the things I didn't have!
   
   Perry Cox's Price Guide is the best way for any fan interested in collecting Beatles records to get familiar with what's out there, what's worth what, and what's worth having or not having. Even for the fan who just wants to learn - it's the best way to see - this time in brilliant color, thanks to Bruce Spizer's top-quality publishing - everything in the American Beatles record/tape/CD world. From the most common of 45's to the rarest of vinyl and CD's, the Price Guide is the "bible" for the Beatles record collector - bar none.
   
   Matt Hurwitz

5 comments about 1000 Record Covers (Taschen 25).

1. I wish it were more descriptive but the images of the covers make the purchase worthwile for the collector. It have does have some great images of hard to find covers from the 40's 50's and 60's.



2. As an absolute lover of music, I have come to miss that era of the vinyl album cover, when we rushed to the record store and purchased someone's long awaited first or follow up album. We then rushed home and played it on the old component set while reading the liner notes on the back of the album. This book reminded me of that time and many pages were a nice walk down memory lane for this music lover. I guess if I had a complaint, perhaps the authors could have divided the book up into genres as opposed to time period. It would have been nice to see various R&B, Country, Blues, Rock, Disco albums.
   
   I will say this, when I saw it in the store- I bought all five copies and then used them for eventual gifts to people. Everytime, I have given one away, it was a hit because everyone is some form of a music lover and everyone can appreciate the vinyl era. Buy this and then buy it again.... for someone else.



3. This is really a great book for those who miss the great art we used to get with vinyl albums. Unfortunately, I just purchased this book on vacation, at the Hard Rock Hotel/Casino in Las Vegas for $40! And my book wasn't hardcover! I should have come home and looked for it on Amazon. Now I know that Amazon is the place for great deals.



4. As soon as I saw this title, I plonked it onto my amazon wish list, as it combines two of my main passions (music and design). But after flipping through a copy, I had to remove it from my list - maybe if rents plummet and I can afford more space for bookshelves it'll make a reappearance, but until then I'll do without it.
   
   The title - "1000 Record Covers" - at least makes no false claims, e.g. "1000 Great Record Covers", or "1000 Essential Record Covers". However, such a claim is made on the back cover, and I must refute it. Too many of the entries are mediocre, and there are too many masterpieces that are ignored. I would blame this less on the author - all the choices come from his collection, which is by its nature limited - and more on the editors, who should have realized the shortcomings of such a scheme. My personal interest would be in covers from the 70s, 80s, and 90s, and I can't forgive the absence of (for starters) Joy Division, Cocteau Twins, Gang of Four, the Slits, Buzzcocks, the Fall, Wire, the Pixies, Eno, Magazine, the Cramps, the Residents, the Pop Group, Pere Ubu, Avengers, Angry Samoans, Siouxsie & the Banshees, Romeo Void, Monochrome Set, Throbbing Gristle, Psychic TV, X-Mal Deutschland, Coil, Chrome, Crass, Delta 5 - all of whom released LPs with compelling cover designs.
   
   Labels such as Z, Dischord, les Disques du Crepescule, Two Tone, Rough Trade, Factory, Postcard, TVT, are virtually or completely ignored, and designers such as Malcolm Garrett (his Duran Duran work doesn't count - not at the expense of "A Different Kind of Tension"), Vaughan Oliver, tomato, Peter Saville (Roxy Music's "Flesh + Blood" gets in, but it's one of Saville's weaker efforts and his name is misspelled!), Barney Bubbles, Neville Brody are similarly slighted.
   
   The book could also use an index of designers.
   
   It may seem like I'm harping on about bands from mainly one genre (punk/new wave/whatever), but the truth of the matter is that much of the really innovative cover design in the last 30 years has come from that area.
   
   To be fair, the book does include covers of LPs by the Dead Kennedys, Clash, XTC, Ramones, Echo & the Bunnymen, Teardrop Explodes, Public Image, Patti Smith, Altered Images (yay!), so some credit is certainly due.
   
   Also happy to see the a Soft Machine record in there.
   
   And this book did make me recognize what a subtle piece of work TheCure's "...happily ever after" is.
   
   I'm writing this review not to slag the book off, but to inform people with similar expectations to what I had that while there is a lot of good material in here, there are gaping holes as well. Again, I think the weakness lies in limiting the choices to one person's record collection instead of directing the author to choose from the entire gamut of record covers available to him.



5. Just as the title suggests, this book is full of 1,000 record covers. Full color and in all their glory. Page after page of beautiful, quirky, innovative and just about any other adjective you can think of, album covers. Some will bring back memories, some will make you want to search the record stores so that you can own the album again or for the first time. I keep this book handy and find myself thumbing through it all the time. It's also a great conversation starter when it sits on the coffee table.

   My only complaint is that it isn't full record size! That would have sent this review into 7 stars!

3 comments about Understanding and Crafting the Mix, Second Edition: The Art of Recording.

1. This is the kind of thing that makes so many college graduates drift to other pursuits far away from what tormented them in the primes of their youth. The professor is a wretched and self-loathing individual who failed miserably and is intent on having everyone else fail as well, by sucking the air and life out of a topic, but in a way that the wretch can defend in academic discourse.
   
   If you are a masochist or wish to be dissuaded from ever enjoying the process of making music, buy books like this one and attend college programs that rank you based on resistance to natural and crushing boredom. If you want to enjoy this as a career just buy the gear you need to get started, read the manuals and try everything you can think of, copy the masters, and hang out with cool people doing it as well.



2. there are many books out there that are full of information, but few that are actually "life-changing." if you are serious about music, i highly recommend this book. this book was very intimidating for me at first. most of the first chapter seemed to be over my head. but it made me dig deeper into the text, which i believe is what the author intended. he admits himself that this is not a book full of quick tips and tricks that most of us often look for. it is designed to teach concepts, principles, and practices that promote better understanding of the whole recording process. it even goes into to talking about human perception of sound and how the brain interprets it. knowing how to get into the very heads of the consumers is an obvious advantage for an engineer who wants to guarantee that his mixes are pleasing to the ear. also, each chapter comes with a list of exercises designed to develop critical listening skills. to sum it up, consider this to be a college-level course that will serve as a foundation for everything you will be doing in the recording world.



3. while it may be a little dry and hard to understand at first, it is well worth the time investment necessary to get this stuff. entirely life-changing material. 20 million stars.

1 comments about Brambly Hedge Collectors Book & Price Guide.

1. What is the greatest boondoggle/stumbling block to the run ofthe mill avid Brambly Hedge aficionado/collector?
   Hands down, ithas to be a lack of information.
   
   Whether you are speaking of pieces ever done, dates of release, or countries availabe, it's all here in Louise Irvine's outstanding work. The photographs are well worth the price of the book, but on top of those is the documenting of the very complex and phenomenal merchandizing tale which is so indicative of not only the tremendous enthusiasm which exists for Jill Barklem's world of characters/stories/artwork, but this day in age in which it is occurring....ie the tail end of the 20th century.
   
   In America, when it comes to obtaining Brambly Hedge merchandise, we are at a big disadvantage compared to most of the other markets, that is the UK, Europe, Canada, Australia and Japan. In those places when you ask after Brambly Hedge Items at a gift or china shop there is instant product recognition. Here you are more likely to get a response like: "That's those little bunnies, right?" Louise's book somewhat levels the playing field for us poor Yanks with previously unavailable information.
   
   Louise Irvine has taken on the daunting task of identifying and photo cataloguing every item of major significance related to the community of English mice, known as the Brambly Hedge. These critters first appeared on the literary scene in 1980, in the form of the first four books by authoress, Jill Barklem. Since the introduction of the Spring; Summer; Autumn; and Winter "Stories" there have been no fewer than 2 dozen companies from all over the world with lines of merchandise with everything from China plates, figures in china, resin, and pewter, to stationery and even cosmetics in which to feature the mice made famous in Ms. Barklem's extremely eloquent and exquistitely illustrated children's books.

   The Collector's Book has an introduction of the general story of Jill and how she came to write and illustrate her stories. The chapters are then listed in descending order of the most prolific of the Brambly Hedge Licensees....32 pages devoted to Royal Doulton, with pictures of everything ever available from them, followed by a 27 page chapter devoted to Border Fine Arts and Enesco, on down the list to a final chapter of "Useful addresses". Included with each book is a very helpful price guide insert.

   Thank you, Mrs. Barklem, for your creativity and magnificent artistry captured in your eight wonderfully illustrated children's books. Thank you Louise, for the dogged persuit needed to put this fantastically documented and illustrated volume out there for the the consuming Brambly Hedge public to 'devour', as I am sure that they will. Best of luck and fortune to you and the Publishers of this volume. From a devoted "Brambly Hedger", Jo Ann Travis, USA

3 comments about Goldmine Standard Catalog of Rhythm & Blues Records (Goldmine Price Guide to Collectible Record Albums).

1. finally a book thats afordable about soul and real r&b recvords?
   welp..almost.
   not quite enough though because somhow towards the end of the listings it makes disco and hip hop rhythm and blues thereby scarring any well meaning attempt to show wonderfull people like ray charles,the robins and maybe even the hollywood flames respect.
   no real r&b artist deserves to be scraped into a book with all that crap.
   but neely did aGREAT!!! job on the early and scarcer records.
   unlike the kreiter guide which is nearly impossible to find and usually trashed,this bbook is more afordable and gives good insite to the music.(untill like i said..disco hits home).
   but its a good start.thanks tim!



2. Goldmine is to Music like what sports Card Magazines are to there Sports.very detail&tell you what to look for&how certain covers or records are more valuable than others.I've always dug Goldmine&this along with other collections from them is a must have.



3. being that there are no other books of this type out there to choose from, this book is essential for the discography information. gripes: 1st: there's too much recent muck listed in with the good stuff . 2nd: as usual, some of the prices these guys come up with are extremely debatable - but then, these guides are SUPPOSED to be a rough "guideline" to appraise lp's . 3rd: didn't find much on the rare soul and funk 45's & lp's i bought this book for. 4th: got a question: why are EXTENSIVE elvis presley and beatles discographies in every one of these price [...]guide books? geez! get over it already! both of those artists ALREADY HAVE THEIR OWN PRICE GUIDES and tons of books out there already covering every thought in their drug addled brains. i would have rather seen reproductions of some rare or unusual picture sleeves or lp covers. thank you. p.s. wouldn't all the price guide books be excellent if they were just music discography books instead of [...]price guides? yes, they would.

2 comments about Goldmine Standard Catalog of American Records 1950-1975 (Goldmine Standard Catalog of American Records).

1. What a letdown! While this book purports to cover the period 1950-1975, I was sadly disappointed to find that it completely omits one of the most important musical influences of that period, DON COSTA, who was a noted arranger-conductor, master of the 12-string guitar, a performer in his own right, and a man who influenced the careers of many well-known performers like Frank Sinatra, Steve Lawrence & Eydie Gorme, Johnny Mathis, Ferrante & Teicher, Paul Anka, and the list goes on. Don Costa's fabulous arrangements have appeared on labels such as ABC-Paramount, Columbia, Mercury, United-Artists, and his own label, DCP-International. Don Costa was a true musical genius and as such, he was hired to be the musical director of a major Boston, MA radio station when he was only 15 years old!... One can only wonder what other important performers or facts were left-out of this book, and such omissions only serve to cast doubt on the seriousness of the data that did manage to find a place between the covers of this publication!



2. This is one of the best price guide books for American records. Due to its detailed information and clearly organized listings, it surpasses all previous publications in its scope and usefulness. It adds artists not previously mentioned in past price guides but does omit artists on a somewhat arbitrary basis. Why Getz and not Gillespie etc.? For the artists it does include, much hard work is reflected in the thorough discographies which list reissue information and pressing chronology with great accuracy. Obscure artists with limited product are, as is common with books of this type, omitted. For the money, this is the best book. Only Osborne's Rockin Records covers more ground, but in less essential detail.