Vinyl Records Section Synopsis
This section outlines the origins and growth of the vinyl collection begun in the 1970s. It describes the first albums purchased, years of recording pirate radio on reel-to-reel tape, and the later routine of visiting record shops for classic rock releases. The focus eventually shifted to collecting variations of Pink Floyd albums and exploring 1980s Heavy Metal. The website presents photos, pressing details, and collector notes gathered over decades, serving as a personal archive of the records acquired and documented.
Johnny Winter Section Synopsis
This section explains why a major part of the site is dedicated to Johnny Winter. The author first encountered Winter through the “Rockbuster” compilation and later saw him perform on Beat-Club, an experience that left a strong impression. Collecting his albums became a long-term interest, leading to the creation of “The Johnny Winter Story” website in the 1990s. Fans worldwide contributed information and material. The current section continues preserving album details, photos, and memories connected to Winter’s music and legacy.
The vinyl records section of this website is built around my own collection, which I started in the 1970s and have expanded ever since. Over the years I’ve gathered albums across different genres, with a focus on Pink Floyd and 1980s Heavy Metal. This part of the site brings together detailed photographs, pressing information, collector notes, and variations I’ve documented while building the collection. It’s meant as a reference for anyone interested in albums, labels, and pressings, and simply reflects the records I have found and studied throughout my time as a collector.
I started collecting vinyl records in the 1970s. The first albums I bought were “Paranoid” by Black Sabbath and “Piper at the Gates of Dawn” by Pink Floyd. Those two records set the foundation, even though for a few years after that I couldn’t afford to buy much new music. Instead, I recorded songs from the offshore pirate stations Radio Veronica and Radio North Sea. I used a reel-to-reel tape recorder, and although the quality wasn’t always great, it was the only way I could keep up with the music I liked.
Later on, when things improved financially, I got back into buying records regularly. Visiting the local record shop became a weekly routine. I focused mainly on classic rock — bands like the Rolling Stones, Deep Purple, and Led Zeppelin. These weekly visits weren’t about collecting yet; they were simply about keeping up with the music and enjoying what I discovered.
My collecting habits became more serious when I started focusing on Pink Floyd. I didn’t just want the albums — I wanted every version I could find. Different pressings, slight label changes, small variations in artwork or text. I found those details interesting, and that turned Pink Floyd into a long-term collecting project.
In the 1980s my interest expanded into Heavy Metal. That period introduced me to a whole new range of bands and releases, many of which I still follow today. Over time my collection settled into two main areas: Pink Floyd and 1980s Heavy Metal, both of which remain my core interests.
In the early 1990s the internet opened new possibilities. I started using eBay to buy and sell records, which allowed me to find pressings I could never locate locally. Around the same time I began organising my collector notes digitally. This eventually grew into the website you are reading now. It became a place to store my notes, document pressings, and share photos from my own collection of albums.
The site reflects decades of collecting, from the earliest purchases to the more specialised areas I developed over time. It is simply a record of what I’ve built as a collector: the albums I’ve found, the differences between them, and the music that has stayed with me throughout my life.
This section is dedicated to the music and legacy of Johnny Winter. My interest in his work started in the 1970s, and over time it grew into a long-term project of collecting his albums, documenting their details, and gathering information from fans around the world. The content here brings together the material I have collected over the years, along with contributions from many people who shared the same appreciation for his music. This part of the website simply offers a place to revisit his albums, performances, and the stories that came with them.
The second part of this website is dedicated to Johnny Winter, and that section has its own history. I discovered Johnny Winter’s music through the double LP “Rockbuster”, the compilation with Arnold Schwarzenegger on the front cover. At the time, I didn’t know much about the artists on it, but Winter immediately stood out. His guitar sound and energy were unlike anything else I had heard.
My first time seeing him perform was on German television, on the show Beat-Club. The program was directed by Bob Rooyens, and even though more than fifty years have passed, those names and that performance stayed with me. It was the kind of moment that leaves a permanent mark: you hear something once, and from then on it becomes part of your personal soundtrack.
After that I began buying Johnny Winter records whenever I could find them. His albums weren’t always easy to track down, but that made the search more interesting. By the time the 1990s came around, my shelves were filled with his LPs and I had collected a lot of notes and small details about each release. That eventually led to the idea of building a website about him.
I had been thinking of doing something on Stevie Ray Vaughan, but when I saw how little material existed about Johnny Winter online, I decided that’s where I could make a real difference.. That decision led to the creation of “The Johnny Winter Story”, one of the earliest fan-built sites about him. Fans from all over the world sent in information, stories, press clippings, photos, corrections, and small details they thought might help. Over the years I received thousands of contributions. I can’t list all the names anymore, but I remain grateful for every single one of them.
The Johnny Winter section on this website is a continuation of that early project. It brings together album information, photographs, and material that I have gathered over decades. It also keeps the spirit of those early contributions alive, even though the internet has changed a lot since then.
If you visit the Johnny Winter part of the site, you’ll find a mix of personal notes, collected details, and pieces of fan history. It’s there to preserve the music and the stories that came with it. That section is simply a place to explore and enjoy the legacy of an artist who made a strong impression on me from the very beginning.