G45 GBase Thinktank

[MopTopMike]

Don't wanna rain on the parade here, but I think 99% of people do not realize just how much time and effort a project of this scope will require to be done in the "right" way. I'm sorta qualified, for I know how long it took to do a big project, and even then, not everyone stayed on board for the long haul, or even bothered to purchase the end result - you know who you are .

I think that limiting focus, at least from the start, is the way to go, and then, other features can be added once the main concept is up and ready for presentation. It's nice to have all the bells and whistles from the git-go, but trying to add frosting to the cake before you even mix the ingredients and bake it ain't gonna work. What I've read so far is a Blues Magoos "Pipe Dream". Let's drop it back several notches and create a worthwhile project that won't take 5 years to be up and running as a work in progress.

 

[mr. splendid]

I think that limiting focus, at least from the start, is the way to go, and then, other features can be added once the main concept is up and ready for presentation.

I would be happy with a TBM like searchable database , label shots would be a plus . A counter ( anonymous ) for members that own a certain 45 would be helpfull for a G1000 . Also "Garage" for me means the records that are covered in TBM , no more no less !

 

[diggingtheslowness]

agree with Mike even though doing it like a database where everyone can fill in information can make it pretty extensive pretty quick wth many people having soundfiles/scans/info avaliable on their computer already.

45cat.com is a prime example for a userbased database

 

[Derf66]

This sounds like a great idea! I love the idea of labels, sound clips and band photos this could be amazing. My collection is not as deep as some others in the rarity department, but I would certainly contribute to this.

 

[bosshoss]

Apart from the difficulty in setting up the site, there is the obvious difficulty in deciding how to verify the data.

 

[Laurent Bigot]

Apart from the difficulty in setting up the site, there is the obvious difficulty in deciding how to verify the data.

Discogs use a vote system.

 

[AZ54]

I've already been dreaming about such a site - never even dreamt that dream to come true.

Verification is very important and time consuming, but when contributors are known people it could be possible.

It's also a means to assemble and verify all the information that's floating around.

Great idea!

AZ54

 

[gregk25]

A change history like that at discogs (or wikipedia) would be a useful verification tool. More so, if the changes could be linked to members. I dont see a problem in doing the contributions to the database under the forum IDs. The trade/sell-entries - which would be a highly appreciated but secondary feature it seems - would possibly be better linked to anonymous IDs to guarantee privacy.

As MTM states, it seems like quite a task, but other than TBM one could start with a (highly) unfinished project and see it grow into something more complete over the years.

 

[Berman]

I thought the last day about this project, I guess one way is to split the project in a seperate Forum and a "Database" part, of course for every 45, song or band you have to made up one threat only for this to collect info and you need time.
If you have enough info copy and paste it in the Database-part were you have the features: ratings, comments and whatever... with thepossibilityto revise the info later!

This could be a great Garage-Wiki + features (so I'm thinking about it actually)

Let's start

 

[Myskatonic]

Boss idea, Boss !

For me, the knowledge base would be far more important than selling & trading. Along with TBM, this would be a fine tribute to the teens & scenes that produced these fine records.

You might have to spend a lot of time weeding out dealers selling anything 60s/70s and labelling it Garage.

 

[Laurent Bigot]

You might have to spend a lot of time weeding out dealers selling anything 60s/70s and labelling it Garage.

if one of a group of selected people has to vote for any submetted record to be included, that won't be much of a problem. as long as the record is not accepted, it won't appear in the data base and if it is unknown, the member of the board can ask the dealer for a soundfile to give it the green light.

 

[BBTD]

...and extend it to worldwide 60's beat 'n' garage 45's.

 

[bosshoss]

It would be possible to get this up and running quickly, by keeping it simple to start. Aaron (our tech expert) told me he could create an online database with password which could be accessed by g45Central members only. Anyone could add a record to the database, including a label scan, or add details to an existing record.

What I need to decide, is what info fields we need to get the database up and running. Here's the fields that come readily to mind :

Label scans of both sides
Label name
Catalog number
Country of origin
State of origin
Town of origin
Artist name
A-side title
B-side title
date of release (if known)
G45 ranking
song rating (A-side)
song rating (B-side)
overall rarity rating
overall sound quality rating
overall legend rating
"hot" designation (currently in-demand with DJs etc)
A-side is a cover/remake of....?
B-side is a cover/remake of...?
picture sleeve (yes or no)
scan of (both sides of) pic sleeve
verified by (selected forum member or members)
date added (automatic)
basic info complete? (yes or no, automatic)

Some additional info which would be handy but not essential

name of producer
name of studio
vinyl or styrene (or both)
deadwax info (maybe...)
label color
copies estimated to exist (number)
bootleg or repro exists? (yes or no)
DJ or promo copies exist? (yes or no)
Stock copies exist? (yes or no)
CD comp exists? (yes or no)
LP comp exists? (yes or no)
collector CD exists? (yes or no)
company sleeve exists? (yes or no)
known pressing defects
quantity finds (number)
band member names
songwriter names
pressing plant
quantity pressed (number)
current g45 owners (number)
youtube link (?)
estimated values in m-, vg++, vg+ vg, vg-, g (maybe automatically calculated from m- value plus quantity existing info)

And if we really wanted to get down to details...

mood description (chosen from a drop-down list of selected words such as "melodic", "moody", "raw", etc. )
pace description (chosen from a drop-down list of selected words such as "fast", "medium", "slow" etc.)
influence description ( drop-down menu British Invasion, Kinks, Stones, Beatles, Yardbirds, Wailers, Zombies, Them, 13th Floor Elevators, etc.)
guitar (yes or no)
vocals (yes or no)
harmony vocals (yes or no)
fuzz guitar (yes or no)
12 string guitar or jangle (yes or no)
electric organ (yes or no)
electric piano (yes or no)
sax/horns (yes or no)
harmonica/harp (yes or no)
lead break (yes or no)
screams (yes or no)

What do you think of this list, and what else is needed to get going?

 

[AZ54]

It would be possible to get this up and running quickly, by keeping it simple to start. Aaron (our tech expert) told me he could create an online database with password which could be accessed by g45Central members only. Anyone could add a record to the database, including a label scan, or add details to an existing record.

What I need to decide, is what info fields we need to get the database up and running. Here's the fields that come readily to mind :

Label scans of both sides
Label name
Catalog number
Country of origin
Town of origin

Looks great, BossHoss.

I think you should add the state of origin too (maybe town and state together)!

It looks almost looks too good to be true.

AZ54.

 

[bosshoss]

Yes, of course the state. I forgot that one! I've now added it to the list

 

[Rich Strauss]

song rating would be A/B ? e.g. 6/5
Town of origin would be Town,State? e.g. Seattle,WA

Additional fields:

Town/State of label
DJ copies exist (Y/N)
which word in the Artist name to sort on - e.g. for The Beatles - value is 2; for Beatles value is 1; for Jerry Lee Lewis; value is 3 - or have a field for artistsort - so Beatles,The; Beatles; Lewis,Jerry Lee

There should be a way to do a bulk add with a comma separated list. I have my entire collection listed in a database on my PC. I could easily create a comma separated list of the fields in the online database. A bulk add would allow me to add thousands of records with no typing.

-- Rich

 

[Mr.Segment]

Looks smashing. Owning a copy of TBM should also be mandatory if contributing.

 

[bosshoss]

Looks smashing. Owning a copy of TBM should also be mandatory if contributing.

This is an obvious point to consider. I've been careful to design the concept independent of any existing book or price guide. The way I envisage it, is forum members use their own collections to contribute info. Then info could perhaps be added or verified with the express permission of the obvious author(s). I would not expect anyone who had spent years writing a book for sale, to necessarily contribute to this proposed free online database.

Also, the database could be available to all, or it could be kept hidden except to registered and verified forum members or Secret Society members. Or just to contributors. I don't know, and I'm looking for advice.

It would be hard to keep it hidden, because if it were downloaded and passed around, someone could easily publish it on another site or via a torrent.

 

[bosshoss]

song rating would be A/B ? e.g. 6/5
Town of origin would be Town,State? e.g. Seattle,WA

Additional fields:

Town/State of label
DJ copies exist (Y/N)
which word in the Artist name to sort on - e.g. for The Beatles - value is 2; for Beatles value is 1; for Jerry Lee Lewis; value is 3 - or have a field for artistsort - so Beatles,The; Beatles; Lewis,Jerry Lee

There should be a way to do a bulk add with a comma separated list. I have my entire collection listed in a database on my PC. I could easily create a comma separated list of the fields in the online database. A bulk add would allow me to add thousands of records with no typing.

-- Rich

Great points Rich.
I have already added the A/B ratings, the State/Town, and the DJ copies exist fields.
I like the idea of having a number to designate the search word. So easy! I wouldn't have thought of that.
I will make sure to add the bulk data capability.

 

[AZ54]

Also, the database could be available to all, or it could be kept hidden except to registered and verified forum members or Secret Society members. Or just to contributors. I don't know, and I'm looking for advice.

It would be hard to keep it hidden, because if it were downloaded and passed around, someone could easily publish it on another site or via a torrent.[/quote]

BossHoss, is it possible to make an open part and a closed part?
AZ54