FAQs

Why is the blog called Wonders of Stereo?
I was thinking of those stereo sampler records that have all kinds of crap the record company could get for cheap to show you how amazing the new stereophonic sound was

Where do you get the records from?
Mostly from charity shops, junk shops, boot fairs and street markets and bargain buckets in second hand record shops. Friends give me records too sometimes.

What are the criteria for the buying them?
Just anything that catches my eye and looks interesting or funny and only costs a couple of pounds.

What's your favourite type of charity shop record?
The library records of things like sound effects or music for school music and movement sessions. Probably because we used a lot of them at junior school.

How did you start buying records?
I started collecting records when I was a teenager (I'm 29 now). I had a turntable since I was about 8 after getting my sister's hand me down 80s stereo, but I stuck to playing the 70s Motown and Wombles records we had lying around the house (my family never throw things away) until I got more interested in music aged 13-14. I always liked rummaging around in second hand shops, and there was a really good used record shop called Magic Discs in my hometown. I used to go every Saturday to spend my babysitting money, and got to know the owners. They had really good stock, and an interesting rummage box of things with damaged covers for £1, so I discovered a lot of good bands by taking a risk buying something I'd seen vaguely mentioned in Melody Maker. Sadly that shop's gone now. I miss it.

What are your tips for second-hand shopping?
I would say visit the shops quite regularly, and only when you're in the mood for browsing. I only look at what I'm in the mood for looking at that day, so sometimes I don't even look at the records. I just think it should be fun, rather than a grim-faced bargain hunt.

Are any of the records for sale?
No, I want to keep them. You can probably find them on ebay, none of them are valuable or rare to my knowledge. Trunk records do some really good compilations of forgotten strange records.

Do you buy vinyl to listen to normally too?
Yes, I often buy records of modern and classic bands I like too. A good independent record shop is a real pleasure. Obviously I'm willing to pay a lot more for those records!

What bands do you like?
I could fill up a huge amount of space with this list, but here's some long-term favourites, arranged alphabetically:
Animal Collective, Arab Strap, Syd Barrett, Belle and Sebastian, Björk, Boards of Canada, David Bowie, Kate Bush, Can, Cap'n Jazz, Cat Power, Codeine, Leonard Cohen, Shirley Collins, the Cure, Datblygu, Deerhunter, Nick Drake, Do Make Say Think, Echo and the Bunnymen, the Fall, Faust, Felt, Godspeed, Gorky's, Guided by Voices, PJ Harvey, Hüsker Dü, Kraftwerk, Love, the Magnetic Fields, Modest Mouse, Mogwai, My Bloody Valentine, Nirvana, Neu!, Neutral Milk Hotel, Jim O'Rourke, the Pastels, Pavement, the Pixies, Pulp, Sebadoh, Silver Jews, Slint, Elliott Smith, the Smiths, Sonic Youth, Super Furry Animals, the Velvet Underground, Wild Nothing

Do you update on a schedule?
No, just when I feel like it.

How do you digitise the music?
I have one of those record players that will save onto a usb stick. The resulting sound is a bit tinny, and I suppose I could adjust the levels a little, but I can't really be bothered. That record player isn't particularly great, but the MP3 feature is pretty handy. I had a very nice 70s Sony stereo until recently, but the amp gave up the ghost, and repairing it turned out to cost £250, so I'm stuck with this record player until I can afford something better.

Do you have another blog?
Yes I do, emmajanefalconer.blogspot.com, where I write about all sorts of things like crafts, travel, zines, photography, books and films. There's a link on the sidebar.

Do you ever DJ?
Yes, from time to time, but not as a regular thing. I'm not sure I'd choose to play some of these records in public though!

Do you run adverts or do sponsored posts?
No, I do this blog for fun, not to earn money. I don't use affilate links either, because I think they're shady, and places like Amazon already have enough of a market share.