Although there is little to be gained from scrutinising end-of-year stats, it’s hard not to be a bit curious about what was viewed. It’s also tempting, on New Year’s Eve in particular, to reflect on the year in blogging. So let’s have a very brief look at the bar chart, make a couple of all-too-obvious comments, and move onto something much more fun… Photos Of Records!
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The first thing that jumped out at me was the upcoming anniversary. Vinyl Connection turns 10 in 2023! That feels quite an achievement, notwithstanding the inexorable decline following 2020’s COVID peak. (Cue wry grin).
An associated observation reveals that, of the eight most viewed posts this year, only one was actually posted in 2022. Clearly my best days are behind me, in blogging as in life. (Cue rueful smile). Still, it is heart warming to see that there are still visitors, and that many are willing to have a bit of an interchange about the music. Thank you all.
The top post of the year was a collaboration. The Art On Your Sleeve series has remained popular, with this year’s instalment continuing that gratifying trend. Huge thanks to JDB of the criminally overlooked Augenblick blog for her enthusiasm, loyalty and insights into art.
That’ll do for the review process, I think, other than to note how album covers—that is, posts with little writing—continue to dominate the view count. Something to think about as I’m sweating out yet another album review or planning yet another marathon series.
In passing, with over 1700 views, 10 Ripping Roger Dean Album Covers is the all-time most viewed post at Vinyl Connection.
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For more than four years it has been my pleasure to write a regular album review for Discrepancy Records. It’s often great fun, sometimes a challenge and always enhances my appreciation of (or, very occasionally, disappointment with) the album in question. Part of the gig is to take a photo of the week’s feature for the home page of the web site, a thumbnail of which also appears at the top of the post. As I want the blog articles to visually distinguish themselves from the run-of-the-mill product images, I try to make them a bit different. Here are a few of my favourites.
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I liked the idea of a candle in the blackout. The flame being the only colour seems to make it more dramatic.
David Bowie – Welcome To The Blackout (Live London ’78) (Discrepancy Records album review here.)
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A couple from former Beatles. The Lennon shot used the LP poster and two copies of the album with different colour saturations. Using objects is something I enjoy a lot. The Egypt Station shot utilised a paint splattered Thomas the Tank Engine.
John Lennon – Imagine (Discrepancy review here)
Paul McCartney – Egypt Station (Review here)
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When I requested to review this ‘demo’ version of Dylan’s classic Blood On The Tracks I hadn’t realised that the original title did not appear on the cover. But I couldn’t resist the laying of OO gauge tracks.
Bob Dylan – More Blood, More Tracks: The Bootleg Series Vol. 14 [Album review here]
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Despite active research that included joining an Australian frog identification facebook group, I was unable to discover the genus of frog on the album cover. Nor that of its furry friend.
Silverchair – Frogstomp (Review here)
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Posted just after Valentines Day, I was rather chuffed with the way this came out. Let it also serve as a tribute to Christine McVie, 12 July 1943 – 30 November 2022.
Fleetwood Mac – Rumours (Album review here)
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There is something pleasing about the interplay of textures, isn’t there? We changed the blinds, by the way. The were too dark.
Joy Division – Unknown Pleasures (Review here)
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Finally, one of the first ‘add some relevant objects’ photos, and still a favourite. Here the wine glass and lighter mirror objects in the foreground of the album cover.
Oasis – Definitely Maybe (Discrepancy Records review here)
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The feature image is another Dylan album, with a lot more Dylan albums as backdrop. (I have not yet assimilated the feature image change in format that WordPress unilaterally instituted recently. Apologies)
Hope you enjoyed these. Let me know if you would like to see more.
vinylconnection.com.au 
I’m not surprised that posts comprised of photos generate the most views; social media and the omnipresence of smartphones has made people increasingly distractable, off in search of something else to get that all-important hit of dopamine. *Love* the ‘object images’ (yes, more please)! I especially like the Rumours and the Oasis. (Glad you didn’t dribble any actual blood over the tracks you laid down on the Dylan…). And *thank you* for the shout out. Our cyber friendship/collaboration has been one of the really rewarding things to befall me in the last decade. And I’m ready for another Art On Your Sleeve installment whenever you are!
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From the very beginning when I started my blogging adventure, I told myself I’m doing this for myself first and foremost since I love music; and it’s also nice to have an escape hatch from less than glorious things everyday life can throw at you. Total views, total visitors and the number of followers are secondary. While I still largely stand behind these words, I can’t deny deny it’s nice to realize some folks are paying attention to my writing. As such, I keep an eye on my numbers as well! 🙂
After six years of continued growth between June 2016 and December 2021 (obviously, growing from nothing to something is relatively easy), most of my numbers for 2022 are down as well. I’m happy to report the two metrics I find most meaningful, comments (0%) and likes (-3%), are nearly unchanged.
When it comes to blogging, I mostly enjoy the engagement with fellow bloggers. I also feel I learn a good deal about music in the process. “The further one travels, the less one knows/the less one really knows…”
When I read your blog, Bruce, it oftentimes feels like looking at a music encyclopedia. And while perhaps I no longer should be surprised, I’m still amazed every time I read about yet another German krautrock or other act I had never heard of before! And I’m like, ‘how does this dude know all these groups that came/come from “my country?” 🙂
Well, 2022 has been another year I greatly enjoyed reading your blog. Keep up the great work, Bruce, and have a healthy and happy new year!
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Thanks for sharing your reflections on your own blogging experience, Christian. I like the interactions too, though I don’t always find space to respond in as timely a fashion as I would like, nor with as much depth as the comments deserve. And of course, the more co-follows one embraces, the greater the reading and commenting commitment. It’s a tricky one, for sure.
Thank you very much for your kind words. I think my affinity with German indi music may well have begun when I learned rudimentary Deutsch at high school. I wasn’t very good, but something stuck. When I was at Uni the first time I really got into the music, and that passion was long-lasting. Getting on for half a century now! I hope I can continue intriguing and entertaining you (and others!) for a little while longer.
Many thanks, and have a terrific 2023.
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Thanks, Bruce! I totally hear you regarding lack of time. Today is the last day of my Christmas-New Year’s break from work. Once I’m back on the job, unfortunately, time for reading posts by fellow bloggers and leaving comments will be much more limited.
Sometimes, I don’t get to these activities at all during the week and use the weekend to catch up as best as I can.
At the end of the day, blogging should be about fun, not some sort of an obligation or added stressor. I think the fellow bloggers with whom I interact frequently know that my occasional “silence” doesn’t mean I’ve lost interest in their content.
Once again, all the best to you for 2023 and looking forward to more blogging! 🙂
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Very clever settings for the album shots. I’ve enjoyed reading your reviews even when the album is completely unknown to me, hope you’ve re-upped for another ten.
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Another ten might be a tad ambitious, Robert. But a few more, with a little luck.
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Happy new year! I like the stuffed frog and the Rumours photo.
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Cheers Graham. All the best to you too; hoping it’s a good year (with the new job).
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I like everything about that Silverchair section – that 2nd frog may prove to be a tricky one to determine! And although records are fun, I must admit to finding bar graphs equally diverting, Happy 2023, Bruce!
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Thanks Geoff. All the best to you, partner, and the kids.
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