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Before we dive head inside and explore this phenomenon that ever-so-lovely plagues the life of a music aficionado whose passion is the collecting and curating of physical music media, let’s take a look at the term and where it actually originates from. The term or name, “ Ultimate goal ” is, in actuality, medieval terminology (from about the 13 th century), used to describe either the goblet [cup] or dish that Jesus Christ used in the company of his disciples during the Last Supper. It is also associated with which, by myth and tradition, the same “cup” that Joseph regarding Arimathea (who was awarded the burial of Christ) was given Christ’s blood in, at the Cross. The latter of course (with the exception of Joseph of Arimathea) having no Biblical, scriptural or canonical basis of truth. It is simply understood as legend created by middle ages knights more than likely during the particular Crusades, who wreaked havoc throughout the Holy Land looking for religious artifacts — ‘this’ being the pinnacle and most elusive involving them all… the Holy Grail.
Now since then, the phrase Ultimate goal — or simply “ Grail ” — because it will be applied found in this sense, pertains to the seeking-out and/or typically the acquisition of something elusive, overtly special, plus in some sense unobtanium, while collecting any type of item(s) in the hobby or such. Since we are music collectors, in order to us this means visiting every record store possible, countless hours of digging through bins, garage sales and thrift shops; and/or diligently searching every possible online dealer or even retail songs venue. And, this “activity” [Grail seeking] will perpetuate, even if it’s intermitently, until you can locate a copy connected with whatever you’re in search of, and only then if it fits your qualifications regarding which pressing it is usually, your grading standard, in addition to if it can be acquired without your bank account screaming bloody murder! … or perhaps maybe at least negotiate a price down to be able to the point where your own wallet is definitely only giving you ‘dirty looks. ‘
What qualifies as a Holy Grail ? In a general sense, there are a few qualifiers that will stipulate whether any piece of music press can be assigned this accolade for Holy Grail . Now, a few might say that often the qualifications for calling some thing a “Grail” are 100% subjective together with respective to the individual [collector]; however , that is not entirely true, but we may discuss of which further along in the article. One of the most (if not thee most) commonly assigned qualifications for acknowledging something since a Grail, is Rarity . Now the rarity of an album can come in the form of how many (or how little) copies were pressed of the original issue in totality (private pressings are a new good example of this). Or it can be anything even more specific while a pressing with some sort of ‘misprint’ (e. g., side label text , album cover textual content , recording cover art , etc . ), and how many copies had been pressed [and released] before manufacturing was ceased in order to correct the misprint and continue manufacturing. Another qualifier where something might be called a Grail may fall under the guise of Special Editions or Limited Releases . While this example has a thing slightly to do with rarity, it is more based on producing and additionally marketing a good re-release — reissues that are more than often remastered towards the tune of “audiophile, ” packaged in gorgeous box sets with exclusive additional material, and numbered, with low count pushing runs, set at exuberantly high prices to be able to entice the feeling about “exclusivity” with regard to the consumer [collector]. One last example that I will give is Monetary Value . Who sets your prices?… that the hell knows, yet regardless, high dollar pressings can not to mention often do drive your collector to seek ownership just to be able to win the bragging rights the fact that $3000. 00 was paid for a particular record. As I continued to dissect the idea of some Holy Grail in regards to tunes collecting, and also gave this deeper consideration, I realized that there are really only two categories that host this trend — and for the sake of titles we’ll call one in them the exact Personal Grail , and the other, a fabulous Universal Grail .
Personal Grail – we can probably assign that ‘Rarity’ will almost always apply in some level, even in the slightest, regarding either type from Grail. Monetary value can also be considered even with deeming a little something a Personal Grail. But yet, there is one very strong and powerful characteristic that distinguishes a Personal Grail from an Universal Grail, as well as it can be the nine letter word – Nostalgia . “Nostalgia” really is a beautiful word with interesting root meaning: It derives from the Greek words nostos meaning “to return”, and algos meaning “pain. ” In short, it means the pain of longing to return to the origin of something personal. I can’t tell you how many times I have earnestly plus painstakingly sought out a record that held very little monetary value, in addition to wasn’t typically considered for you to be overloaded rare, but yet was attached to some thing so personal and endearing to me, such as several memory of a person or a place or maybe life event. And, to help top that off, no matter how many report stores I’d visited as well as how numerous eBay sellers I searched, it eluded me so fervently, that will when We finally found this inexpensive and not-so-rare record, the idea immediately was awarded Grail Status and will remain of which until it or I actually return to dust. And sometimes, even a Personal Grail can be characterized simply by all the qualifiers mentioned, and even yet none of them — rarity, special or limited releases, or dollar signs — can trump the value of nostalgia .
Universal Grail – What we are defining as a Common Grail in this article is a bit simpler in a sense that there is, the majority of the particular time, no deep nostalgic personal attachment, but instead, a general consensus within the popular music collecting community world-wide, associated with the ‘prestige’ of any particular bit of music mass media. These are vinyl record releases, or even 7-inch singles, 78 rpm shellacs, compact disc or perhaps cassette release, etc., the fact that appeal to the masses as “something to be obtained, ” or maybe something elusive, or anything monetarily out-of-reach of the majority. More often than not, Universal Grails are usually much more common, but usually are often much more regarding a mountain to climb, financially. General Grails quickly gain notoriety (especially along with the advent of the internet) amongst those serious enough to keep their collectors-antennae up and looking regarding the many elusive as well as expensive or rare piece of song.
The following are some examples of Common Grails held in high regard by most of the music gathering community around the world, and sought after by an important countless amount of dedicated music collectors:
Beatles – Yesterday and Today – 1966 Capitol Records, LP (a. k. a. Butcher Cover)
Led Zeppelin – Led Zeppelin II – 1969 Atlantic Records, LP (“RL” Robert Ludwig master)
Rodriguez ( Sixto Rodriguez ) : Coming from Reality – 1971 Sussex/A& M, LP (South African pressing)
The Who ~ The particular Who Sell Out – 1967 Decca/Track Record, VINYLSKIVA (UK 1 st pressing run with poster, 1000ct. instructions 500 Mono, 500 Stereo)
Madonna – Erotica – 1992 Maverick/WB/Sire, 12” picture disc LP (erotic image recall)
John’s Children : Midsummer Night’s Scene ~ 1967 Track Record, 7” 45rpm single (UK 3-prong push-out center, approx. 50 copies in existence)
Queen – Bohemian Rhapsody – 1975 EMI Records, 7” 45rpm single (blue vinyl fabric with match book, pen, event ticket, menu, etc . ) given to attendees involving special launch event
Robert Johnson – Terraplane Blues /Kindhearted Woman Blues – 1937 Perfect Records, Shellac 10” 78rpm solitary
Typically the Quaary Men (pre-Beatles) : That’ll Be This Day – 1958 Kensington Information, 10” 78rpm mono acetate single
Wu Tang Clan – Once Upon a Time inside of Shaolin – 2015 artist-released, 2xCD album box set (one copy within existence… find Mr. Shkreli, and offer your price)
Eminem – Slim Shady EP ~ 1997 Web Entertainment, small disc (approx.. only 500 pressed)
Coldplay – Saftey EP : 1998 artist-released, compact disk (only five hundred pressed, just 50 made it in order to retail)
Bob Dylan – 50th Anniversary Collection – 2013 Sony Music Ent., compact disc (only 100 copies ever released)
Although I’ve given many solid parameters to what constitutes a Holy Grail at regards to be able to the aims and desires in typically the realm from the modern day collector, these categories and additionally qualifications are not this ‘end all be all’. Anyone [collector/music fan] who is seeking something that is to them, elusive, carries great individual worth not to mention desire, and so forth, or any kind of other guidelines that want for you to be applied, can deem almost anything that they arranged their sights on, “a Grail”; this really comes down to being about what enters into the cross-hairs of your own personal favorite songs collecting scope. And moreover, seeking out music that, to you, falls in to the category of Ultimate goal , is one of the greatest and most adrenaline-fueling activities in which we are able to participate, in our lives as music collectors. What constitutes a Grail for you? Have you had the opportunity to lure anyone of those elusive treasures into your current personal collection? Whatever the case, keep searching, keep digging, keeping collecting, nevertheless most importantly — preserve listening.
Collectors Resources
Below is a queue connected with content creators’ videos — members with the YouTube Vinyl Community ( including one coming from myself) — in which usually examples of seeking-out and/or obtaining a “Holy Grail” are shared and also discussed.
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YouTube channel instant Often the VC Ambassador / 1933 78rpm Jazz Rarity!
YoutTube channel tutorial Norman Maslov / Too Many Grail Status Records To Mention!
YouTube channel – Seeking A Thread / Psychedelic Rock as well as Jazz Grails!
YouTube route – Rob Paneeks (Boston) / Finally! A UNITED KINGDOM Original Pressing of Pet Sounds, Mint!! (time @ 17: 09)
Youtube . com channel help Comic Rhema Data / Rare Rich Mullins Christian Record, Obtained! (time @ 3: 00)
YouTube channel – Nico Malcolm or Year Long Search Unvails Rare BRITISH 1st Pressing!!
YouTube station – Aaron Mutha Alamare / Hard Rock and Heavy Metal Grails!
Facebook channel aid TONE Scott / Latin Soul & Psych Folk, A Personal & Universal Grail!
YouTube route – Blues Guy Vinyl / Robert Johnson Grail! (time snabel-a 8: 50)
Thank you for the host of great and experienced music enthusiasts and content material creators who else contributed imagery and lovers resources by way of video content material, which assisted me inside completing this article – Norman “Mazzy” Maslov, Stephen Alexander, Chris Buddy, David Gibson, Dom Gagliano, Nico Malcolmsen, Junior Sandoval, Aaron Katsilometes, plus Rob “The Mayor” Panico.
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Contact TONE Scott at [email protected] com. Please put Adventures in Songs Collecting inside the subject line.