Wax Trash and Vinyl Treasures: Record Collecting as a Social Practice

The term 'record collecting' is shorthand for a variety of related practices. Foremost is the collection of sound recordings in various formats - although often with a marked preference for vinyl - by individuals, and it is this dimension of record collecting that is the focus of this book. Record collecting, and the public stereotypes associated with it, is frequently linked primarily with rock and pop music. Roy Shuker focuses on these broad styles, but also includes other genres and their collectors, notably jazz, blues, exotica and 'ethnic' music. Accordingly, the study examines the history of record collecting; profiles collectors and the collecting process; considers categories - especially music genres - and types of record collecting and outlines and discusses the infrastructure within which collecting operates. Shuker situates this discussion within the broader literature on collecting, along with issues of cultural consumption, social identity and 'the construction of self' in contemporary society. Record collecting is both fascinating in its own right, and provides insights into broader issues of nostalgia, consumption and material culture.

'While the cultural analysis of popular music has been routinely consumed by consumption, few have taken the time to research how we acquire what we listen to and why some of us engage in that process compulsively. What might seem like an undirected act of ceaseless acquisition, record collecting can be, as Shuker illustrates, a process of self-definition, critical analysis and canon formation. Wax Trash and Vinyl Treasures: Record Collecting as a Social Practice is a readable, informative and insightful consideration of the social dimensions of commerce and the sometimes complicated ambitions of those record fanatics who might shop 'til they drop or their eardrums suffer damage.' David Sanjek, University of Salford, UK 'In Wax Trash and Vinyl Treasures: Record Collecting as a Social Practice, Roy Shuker captures both the passion and the precision that makes record collecting the enduring global phenomenon, community, and business it is. From his detailed history of various forms of collecting to his engaging case studies of contemporary collectors, Shuker's book is sure to engage the reader as much as would a day rummaging through a city block of used record stores!' Russell Reising, The University of Toledo, USA ’... In this long-overdue study...Roy Shuker...expertly develops a historical overview that explores changes in format and shifts in canon, and the impact these have on issues of taste, economic and cultural capital, and collecting practices.’ Times Higher Education ’This book is a fascinating social study of people like us. ... Wax Trash is a compelling look at the male (and sometimes female) obsession with rotating discs.’ 4 Stars, Record Collector

Roy Shuker is Associate Professor in the School of English, Film, Theatre and Media Studies at Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand.