Way back in 2007, I posted how I play my compact discs. In general, they’re tied to an artist’s birthday, or in the case of classical albums, composer’s natal day.
By the way, when I am refiling my CDs, I don’t bother with details such as chronology. So next time I play my Beatles, it might be Sgt. Pepper, followed by Help, Abbey Road, and A Hard Day’s Night.
But what about those other albums, compilations, and the like? Some are by genre, others by record label. I have a system. But now, because I FORGET, I need to codify it.
JANUARY: Cadence Records because Julius LaRosa’s birthday was the 2nd, and Arthur Godfrey fired him for being not grateful enough
FEBRUARY: soul, rhythm and blues, rap for Black History Month, including the Atlantic R&B, but excluding Motown and Stax
Movie soundtracks if Oscars are in the month; otherwise, in March
Buddah Records, because the late Melanie Safka’s birthday was the 3rd, and I LOVE Lay Down
Louisiana/New Orleans music, two weeks before Ash Wednesday because of Mardi Gras
MARCH: Baseball, on Opening Day
APRIL -Jazz because it’s Jazz Appreciation Month. Lionel Hampton, Herbie Hancock, Ella, and the Duke were all born that month. I need to remember the Atlantic jazz albums
MAY: bluegrass for Worldwide Bluegrass Music Month.
JUNE: Original cast albums, Broadway, and others in honor of the Tony Awards. The original Jesus Christ Superstar album I play then
Blues, including Atlantic and Alligator, for African American Music Appreciation Month
Apple -Paul McCartney’s birthday is the 18th
The second half
JULY: Stax Records. Jim Stewart, born on the 29th, was the label’s co-founder. He’s in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, but shamefully, his sister and co-founder, Estelle Axton, is not
SEPTEMBER: folk music in honor of my father, whose birthday was the 26th
OCTOBER: reggae in honor of Peter Tosh’s birthday, which was the 19th
World music for United Nations Day and World Development Information Day, both of which are on the 24th
NOVEMBER: Motown. Label founder Berry Gordy’s birthday is the 28th
DECEMBER: Christmas albums; I’m now willing to start on Thanksgiving, but NO EARLIER
Red, Hot, and Blue – the original album was released on December 1
If I’m going to own all of this physical music, I need a methodology for playing them.
My cousin uses a similar system, he files his music by SEASON.