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ROBYN DONNELLY
@r0bynsrecords
Robyn splits her time between Liverpool, where she is originally from, and Leeds where she is studying at university meaning she has access to some great record shops to go digging for records.
Robyn might be the youngest collector I’ve featured for The Record Collectors Club, but she’s got a fantastic music knowledge and chatting with her, it was evident she was extremely passionate about vinyl records. I wonder what her collection may look like in another ten years time? I’m pretty sure it will have grown excessively!
How long have you been a record collector?
I’ve been collecting records since I was around twelve years old, so that’s about eight or nine years now. I got my first turntable and The Specials’ self titled album for Christmas which basically started this whole collecting thing going. I’ve always been obsessed with collecting things since I was very young, but vinyl is the only thing that has stuck with me for so long. It started with me just getting records on my birthday and Christmas but now my collection has evolved massively as I’ve grown and it’s something I’m very proud of.
How many records are in your collection currently?
I have 1,040 records I think currently I think. I’m constantly buying records so the number grows by the day. It’s quite the obsession really!
What was the first record you bought with your own money?
That was “Louder Than Bombs” by The Smiths. I walked into HMV with my Christmas money and picked up the first record I saw by The Smiths and I was so excited to get home and play it on my new record player. I can still remember being that excited!
So why vinyl then? What made you choose this format?
I don’t really know how I decided I wanted to collect records, but I was a big fan of The Smiths at the time and thought that the blown up album covers looked really cool compared to CD’s. That probably had something to do with it I think. I collected CD’s before I started collecting records so I think I just moved on to something that cost more and was more addictive.
Do you have a favourite genre you like to collect?
I love anything Alternative Rock, Goth, Post Punk, Soul, but I think it all depends on what mood I’m in. I have so many favourite bands and artists that I think it would be impossible to choose just one genre that’s my absolute set in stone favourite.
How big is your want list?
It grows by the day! There must be at least a thousand records & singles on there that I want. If I like an artist, I won’t be satisfied with my collection until I have their entire discography. For example, I’ve been collecting Siouxsie & The Banshees since I was twelve years old and I’m nowhere near completing my collection. It’s frustrating sometimes but I can’t wait until I finally own all of the seven - inches and rarities.
Do you have a certain space you listen to your records in?
I live in Leeds at the moment because I’m at university here, so my flat is very small. I just listen to them in my living room usually. When I go back home to Liverpool I listen in my bedroom. My collection is basically split between two households at the minute, which is fun because I’m never really away from my records wherever I visit. To answer your question, though, I guess it’s mostly my living room in my flat. That’s where I spend most of my time listening to records and chilling out.
What do you think of Instagram for sharing our record collections?
I think it’s brilliant! I love looking at everybody else’s collections and sharing my own. I also get loads of new listening recommendations and speak to other likeminded individuals about music. I think it’s a great way to meet new people and it’s just fun to share pictures of records. I love seeing other women who collect too.
How do you organise your collection? Do you use Discogs at all?
Honestly, my collection is so unorganised which is terrible really. There’s no alphabetical or genre organisation on my shelves at all, I just seem to know where everything is. I use Discogs all the time. I’m constantly scrolling my want list looking out for any bargains. I think Discogs has been really useful during lockdown, since I’ve been able to keep collecting even though the stores are shut. I honestly don’t know what I’d do if I wasn’t able to buy records, collecting them fuels me to carry on!
Finally, what’s the best bargain you have managed to find?
I got a 2004 European press of Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds “Abattoir Blues / The Lyre of Orpheus” for £20 from a guy who was desperate to downsize his collection. Definitely one of the best bargains I’ve had since I’d been desperate to get an original issue of it for a long, long time but it was just too expensive.
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