Summer ’17 we had the first swap. No theme was set, just whatever participants wanted to put on their discs.
Spring ’18 was Swap No. 2. This one was themed and the theme was “Cold”.
Autumn ’18 was Swap No. 3. The theme this time was “Space”.
Spring ’19 brought Swap No. 4 and the theme was “White”.
December ’19 gave us Swap No. 5. The theme was “Change”.
Now it’s the Autumn of 2020, we’ve shaken our fists at a plague and, while sitting at home twiddling our thumbs we’ve debated whether the CD is dead or struggling on life support.
Should we swap or not?
Well thanks @mike_H myself and @kid-dynamite had great fun organising them, roughly two a year for the last three years. My own thoughts were – has it run its course, and do people want to go to the Post Office in the curent climate.
I think if we can have a brief show of hands here then if we have a viable number (ie 3 or more!) then we can get with organising it.
A brief primer if you are starting here: a CD swap is where you pick 12 tracks around a theme, burn them anonymously to a CD and post two copies to two other people. You then get two of their anonymous mixes to listen to. Everyone writes an anonymous review , then you post the ‘reveal’ of your tracks a few weeks later. The whole thing requires two blank CDs, a burner and a visit to the post office. I discovered Josh Rouse’s Nashville through this which has to be a good thing. New participants are exceptionally welcome as well as loyal swappers.
(raises hand)
The CD is not dead.
I would be willing to compile another 12 tracks of limited interest.
The recipients reviews are always good reading as the tracks are provided blind/deaf.
And my wallet will take another bashing as I’m introduced to new stuff
I always liked the sounds of it, but as I don’t have a CD burner, and don’t often get the chance to play CDs, I can only applaud from the sidelines*.
(*autocorrect wants to make this ‘sidelined’, but that would be inaccurate, as I don’t feel that way. I put this here to raise a smile, not to have my Johnsonian** cake and eat it)
(**autocorrects to journalism, which can’t be right).
I’m in the same boat, unfortunately.
I’m up for it.
The initial “oh bollocks I have no songs that in anyway represent the chosen theme” then spending hours trying to whittle down 100’s of possibilities that I have decided do fit the theme down to a mere 12, agonising over the running order, trying to shoehorn a Jackie Leven tack into the selection even if it has only the most tenuous of links to the subject matter. The sleeve, will Mrs B croquet one or do I have to get glitter stickers from the pound shop, sending them out into the cruel world not knowing if they will they be loved and appreciated or if they will be ridiculed and abused (generally the latter….which is fair enough given my selections)
And What Do I Get?
The disc you sent out you gets wonderful honest insights into the tracks chosen, be they positive or damming, it’s good to hear what others have to say, whether their opinion is right or wrong, it is generally thought provoking and insightful. And it warms the cockles when occasionally a reviewer may pour scorn and vitriol on a particular track, once again I’m a snotty self righteous teenager all over again, basking in the perverse joy that you got when a song you’d play would be capable of upsetting your Dad. On the other hand when a track chosen receives high praise or provokes the listener to seek further music by the artist it takes you back to the old gramophone and the warm glow you felt when you’d play something to the old fella and he’d praise it and for a second or two you would feel on the same wavelength in a way that only the shared joy of a piece of music can do.
And what’s more you get two or three CD’s of (mostly) new to your ears music that is often excellent and necessitates investigation the artist, that is sometimes dreadful, but that’s fine as music should cause a reaction be it positive or negative. Very rarely you may get a track that simply exists for no apparent reason than to fill up space, but they just make the good/bad music even more enjoyable.
The beauty of these CD’s is that they are not like a covermount magazine which is all down to money and advertising, these CD’s are complied by somebody that has given time and thought to the tracks, chosen them for a reason, mostly because they like them, sometimes because they simply fit the theme or on the odd occasion to elicit a reaction
It’s a win win.
If it helps, I’m in for another round. I regularly play several of the “swap” discs I’ve received – one is in the car right now. I fondly imagine that the ones I’ve compiled and sent out are, even as I type, twinkling in the pale sunshine and frightening away the sparrows from someone’s veg patch.
PS Theme suggestion: The Grim Reaper
The Grim Reaper as a theme should have a qualification (but not the Blue Oyster Cult track – we’re more imaginative than that)
I enjoy reading the reviews and trying to guess what it the music is. I don’t participate due to lack of CD functionality chez where I live.
PS Theme suggestion: raffia doilies.
As I have have a new mac and a burner that works i will happily participate.
What’s a “CD”?
Communicable Disease. Like collecting records.
Count me in!
As the lockdown is still preventing me from returning my old work laptop (which is currently the only way I have of burning CDs) then I’ll sign-up again please.
Would love to do more. Really enjoyed them so far and appreciate all the effort put in by everyone. I will definitely participate if it goes ahead. 🙂
I’d be up for it. Some of the themes have seemed very restrictive but ultimately pulling together a worthwhile set feels all the more satisfying. Bring it on!
Seems like there is still interest, which is nice. I don’t mind helping to organise again, but it is worth pointing out that, unless we have a big influx of new swappers, people will almost certainly be matched with at least one, maybe two, people they have swapped with before – there are only so many names to go in the hat. And at least two people will be matched with me, the poor devils.
We get to have a friendy rapport with our torturers through repetition, as the torture gets crueller. What’s not to like?
I might be wrong (and at risk of being seen to be attempting to influence the draw) but I don’t think we’ve ever drawn each other have we? Which is a bit of a shame as we have fairly compatible tastes.
think we might have, or it might even have been back in the days of the Velvet CD swap!
I think you’re right actually. Even as I was typing that I was having doubts 🙂
I’ve enjoyed the swaps, so I’m still game – if there are any poor souls out there willing to subject themselves to my deliberately weird Swedish picks! 😀
@Locust – I think it was you that introduced me to Pugh, and I’ve since invested. Bonkers and full of invention! Can’t get a copy of the little five album “Original Classics” set anywhere, but I’m still trying!
Hooray! Pugh is one of a few Swedish artists that I’m forever trying to force people to listen to, usually with very little success, so I’m very happy to hear that he found a fan in you!
I can’t see that Original Classics set on any Swedish sites either, so it may have been discontinued. Perhaps you can find it second hand?
I’d be on for that. I’m out of work so I’ve got time on my hands at the moment
I haven’t done it before but I’m up for it.
Yep, count me in again if it happens!
Yes, I’m up for this. Despite being on the site for a few years now – and posting for the last year or so -this has passed me by before. Looking forward to doing my first “mix tape” for over 30 years. My previous two were a cassette mixes for objects of my desire – 1987 for the lovely Karen Smith – I can’t remember what I put on it except for probably the Triffids and also Leonard Cohen when he was at his most unfashionable and 1993 for the delectable Delfina, a Costa Rican anglophile – this was best of British indie pop/rock 89 – 93 and also featured myself playing the bass in an early version of the Rockingbirds.
I would prefer an open rather than closed theme ie something a bit amorphous with lots of room for interpretation
Yes. A reasonably vague subject, to allow plenty of leeway.
I’d rule out “raffia doilies” then. Too specific.
I’m in.
For a while I thought I didn’t care if there was another one, but now I realise I was just fooling myself. I love the process of choosing and whittling, it gets me delving back into my collection and listening to songs I haven’t played in a long time and if I get a positive response that’s a bonus.
Bring it on!
That’s exactly how I feel about my radio show!!
Exactly how it should be, IMO.
I should’ve made it clear that I also enjoy receiving and playing the CD’s from my partners in the swap, I’m not a complete narcissist 😉
*hand raised*
Enjoyed participating last year (and a couple of “Velvet” ones back in the day, too) both in compiling my own and listening to the ones I received.
I’d love to do it again!
OK there will be an official announcement type thing at the weekend with a theme and timetable and everything. Stay on this frequency. Despite the much appreciated @vulpes-vulpes suggestion I feel we will go for an upbeat and cheerful theme…
“In this world where we live
There should be more happiness
So much joy you can give
To each brand new bright tomorrow”
Hi. Another newbie prepared to throw his CD in the ring. Can I also make a plea for a theme that can be (very) broadly interpreted!
Half the fun is finding creative ways of stretching the interpretation of the rules to the edge of breaking point 🙂
I am in if you still want such a mauvais élève as I am. I was silent for health reasons but now I am back in better shape than before (it s a pity the world isn t, but that s how it goes).