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Autographs: Why Just Collecting "One" Is Never Enough

There are two questions I have been asked more than any other in my 30 years of collecting:

The first is, "what do you plan on doing with your collection" and the second is, "why do you need so many signatures from the same artists"? I'll explore this second question as to how it relates to my collection with respect to "racking" or "hoarding" or whatever name its given when a collector obtains or builds a mountain of multiple signatures from a certain artist or on a certain product.

The Eagles have, depending on how I am counting, 11 or so official album releases. Since I am a fan of the Eagles (I am using them as the example; as the example easily could be any band), its as hard for me to have decided which album I rather have signed in full, since with so many lineup changes and popularity of the band and their library being so diverse, I can make a case for having each album in my collection. Eventually, I did.

For example, when I think of the band Eagles, the obvious album that comes to mind is "Hotel California", as it probably should. Its one of the most popular and best selling albums of any band. As a collector of the group, how can I not want THAT fully signed LP in my collection?

However for me, it's their album "One Of These Nights" that I feel is their best piece of music and has always been my favorite album ever since I first heard the title cut back in 1975. Thus, I gotta have THAT fully signed LP in my collection?

Factoring in the difficulty and reluctance at signing by some members of the band, their debut album, "Eagles", then becomes as well is a real collectable. After all, its a debut album. However much more, there were only 4 members in the band at the time of it's release and 4 signatures is much easier to obtain than 5 signatures (that the band would eventually grow too on future albums). Plus, that album has a very soft blue sky cover which is excellent for signing. Thus, I gotta have THAT fully signed LP in my collection?

I also really can connect with the album, "The Long Run". It was their final album for over 25 years and received so much radio airplay. Though the album does have a difficult pitch black cover, signed in silver paint pen if done so carefully, can and does look killer! Its a beautiful display piece. Thus, I gotta have THAT fully signed LP in my collection?

Then there are song books, tour books and programs, drum heads and guitars (for the more advanced and very luck autograph collectors) as well as posters and just about everything and anything else that the Eagles and every other band has put out there in record stores and in concert halls to sell and make a fortune off of you and I, Joe Consumer, the LP and ticket purchasing fanatic.

There are two factors that I can see from where I sit.

If an artist is available and willing to sign his or her signature, I then can make an easy argument for getting as much signed on as many different "products" that these artists career has generated, and build until either I get tired of asking or they get tired of signing. Other collections, non related to R&R, have "sets" or a "series" or a group of items all connected to each other. Collecting R&R memorabilia, easy to see, simply does too. It's called an artists catalog and their career. Pick a few or pick it all. The limits have always been somewhere between my efforts and hard work and an artists generosity and willingness.

So please, quit asking me why I collect so many signatures from the same artists. Its much like asking an artists why they need so many released albums, or why they tour so many shows, or why they sell so many T-Shirts and programs or why (oh you get the idea): Simply because.

Tags: concerts, duncan, eagles, long, nights, posters, racking, run, tour

1 member likes this

Comment by Coachgd on January 30, 2015 at 6:35am: I have no problem with getting multiple items from an artist. Van Halen is my favorite band and I would love to have every album they have signed by the band in each version-David, Sammy, Gary, Wolfie. The only thing I don't like is when someone has a stack of albums, and they want them all signed while others are waiting. Get a couple, let someone else get theirs, then go back.

Comment by Pete Bendu on January 30, 2015 at 8:28am: This write up struck a chord for me, as I have heard teh same thing for decades.

I have always heard the exact same thing about Harrison Ford. But in the reality of it, how can you not get shots signed by Harrison in all his best roles. Indiana Jones and Han Solo are his biggest, but you have multiple films featuring each of these characters and multiple different scenes with multiple costumes worn by the characters. Then Bladerunner, Witness, the Jack Ryan films and so many more.

So many celebs have multiple great characters, getting more than one item signed is just normal in my mind.

Comment by Adam Halloran on January 30, 2015 at 8:35pm: Very cool albums! Thank you for sharing!

Comment by Paul on January 30, 2015 at 10:12pm: Nice one Stephen.
It's fun to collect multiple items especially if the band have been around for decades.

Comment by Ian Baldock on January 31, 2015 at 9:08am: I consider THE EAGLES the top American band. Collectively and individually (Frey,Walsh,Henley) there is no other U.S. group out there. Of course that's my opinion. I argue about this in the bar all the time, I use it as a trivia question. And no I don't think Beachboys,Chicago,Aerosmith are there. Most dopes rattle off Beatles,Stones,Zep etc.

Comment by michelle on January 31, 2015 at 9:21am: Lovely to look at !!!

Comment by Martin Georgiev on February 5, 2015 at 8:46am: Hello Stephen i have seen your site sorry for the question but are you sure that everything on site is real?Best regards!

Comment by Sports n Stuff on February 5, 2015 at 1:46pm: PHISH! They can play anyone's music to a T and have an amazing array of their own music! But that's just my opinion and taste! However I appreciate all music!!

Comment by Ian Baldock on February 5, 2015 at 2:58pm: I just don't think they have the hits that could compare to the Eagles. I have a friend who is a Phish head and whenever I wanna aggravate him I call them Grateful dead wanna bes. Drives him nuts. Just kiddin now.

Comment by Sports n Stuff on February 5, 2015 at 10:16pm: Lol! Some people are pretentious when it comes to music or any subjective matter. i actually met them all in '98 when they were at their peak, some say now is that but i dont think so. i actually just gave a friend of mine a auto as i got doubles of everyone but one. but hes a guitarist and in a band and it definitely made his day heck year! The hits don't compare because they don't get played on the radio and the eagles started in the early 70's? And you are correct they were in their early years a cover band of GD. However I'd list the talking heads but if I'm thinking their not a US band so they didn't apply??

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