FAQ

Before Discology, my first management tool was called GDC (‘Gestion Disques et Cassettes’), which I’d programmed in QBasic. But with the advent of the internet and, above all, PHP/MySQL, the possibilities open to me became limitless.

When I created Discology in 2005, I’d never heard of Discogs, which had been launched five years earlier, in 2000, but hadn’t yet achieved the prominence it enjoys today… I chose this name because I wanted the word ‘disc’ to feature clearly in it and, as the site showcased my collection, I liked the idea of a play on words: ‘disques au logis’ (records at home).

So, to answer the question clearly: no, on the contrary, the name of my site was carefully thought out and, before launching it, I’d carried out research to make sure the name didn’t already exist… Although I later learnt that there used to be a piece of software for copying floppy discs on the Amstrad.

Discology displays album covers for illustrative purposes only; these remain the property of the rights holders.

To ensure compliance with copyright laws, Discology does not provide song samples. However, for your convenience and enjoyment, links to YouTube and Spotify will allow you to listen to the vast majority of tracks.

Historically, I only entered a single year into the database: the year of release. But I realised this was leading to inconsistencies and oddities… So I added the option to record the year of publication as well, to improve accuracy.

Since then, I’ve been doing my best to be as precise as possible with the years of release and publication. If you see a CD released before 1983, bear in mind that this is more likely to be the year the album was released rather than the year it was published.

I’m not averse to the idea of providing song lyrics, although this does raise copyright issues. Furthermore, entering details of the records, song titles and biographies is already a considerable amount of work.

Gems are characterised by their rarity (which does not necessarily mean they are expensive) or are limited and/or numbered editions.

Whether it’s for development, updating information or adding new records, I spend several hours a week on Discology, though it’s hard to put an exact figure on it. What’s more, one could also factor in the time spent in record shops, at flea markets or at conventions, or even the hours I spend reading… But ultimately, when you love something, you don’t keep count ;-)

Amplifier

Technics A700 MK2 MOS class AA, 2 × 40 W into 8 Ω (or 2 × 50 W into 6 Ω)

Turntable

Technics SL-3300 Direct Drive

CD player

Technics SL-PD687 5-disc changer

Equaliser

Technics Digital Sound Processor (D.S.P.) SH-GE90

Speakers

BBS (Brendel Speaker System) Studio Monitor S-300300 W – 25–25,000 Hz – 8 Ω

The answer in pictures… or the evolution of a collection.

I’ve had a go at playing the guitar and have, in particular, tried my hand at covering a few ‘modest’ tracks such as Radiohead’s ‘No Surprises’, the Rolling Stones’ ‘Paint It, Black’ and The Who’s ‘Behind Blue Eyes’. But when I say ‘cover’, I really mean ‘ruin’!

As for singing, I can put a lot of effort into it, but my friends and family are quick to bring me round to my senses…

So, to answer the question: no, I’m not in a band and I’m not a musician – much to my despair, incidentally – but I have too much respect for music to carry on.

I’m therefore simply a music lover, and I remain eternally grateful to the artists who bring me so much pleasure and comfort.