A Legendary Record Collection: The Story of Paul Mawhinney and His One-of-a-Kind Sound Archive
Notable Antiquarian - A Glimpse at Paul Mawhinney:
Born in 1939, Mawhinney, an ardent music enthusiast, cultivated his obsession for vinyl records from a young age. Over the years, his love for physical music grew unabated, transforming into a veritable treasure trove of tunes by the time he was a married man. With space becoming a precious commodity, his wife gently prodded him to sell the records or turn them into a profitable venture. Choosing the latter, Mawhinney established Record-Rama in 1968, thereby kickstarting his record-based empire.
In the mid-1990s, Record-Rama flourished, fetching a staggering $5 million annually. Consequently, Mawhinney’s record collection swelled to over two million titles, earning him the distinction of possessing the largest single collection of records on the planet (temporarily, at least). To catalog this colossal collection, Mawhinney recruited personnel who made daily digital notations of over five hundred records each day.
Mawhinney compiled an exhaustive guide called 'MusicMaster: The 45 RPM Record Directory' containing music from 1947 to 1982. Alongside Record-Rama’s success, Mawhinney also collaborated with renowned record label RCA on various music projects. Interestingly, it was Mawhinney who advised RCA to reissue David Bowie’s album Space Oddity in 1972, following the initial release's failure to meet sales expectations.
The early 21st century, however, brought an unwelcome challenge for both Mawhinney and the record industry. The advent of the internet and the prevalence of cheaper-to-manufacture CDs led to a significant drop in record sales. With younger music enthusiasts gravitating towards digital platforms, Record-Rama’s sales plummeted to a mere half a million dollars annually by 2003.
Although Mawhinney's collection remained unrivaled, the financial woes of Record-Rama forced him to sell the collection. In 1997, an offer of nearly $29 million materialized, only for the prospective buyer to file for bankruptcy shortly after the deal was finalized. Undeterred, Mawhinney attempted modern methods to liquidate his collection, listing it on eBay in 2008. However, the sale was marred by eBay suspending the winning bidder’s account, leaving the collection unsold.
All hope seemed lost until 2013, when Mawhinney's close friend drew his attention to an advertisement in Billboard Magazine placed by Brazil-based collector Zero Freitas. A deal was brokered, and the collection was shipped to Freitas' vault in Brazil using no fewer than eight, 16-meter-long semi-trucks.
Fun Fact: Did you know it took eight, sixteen-meter-long semi-trucks to move the remaining part of Mawhinney's record collection to Freitas' warehouse in Brazil!
Curiosity Corner
Ever wondered what it's like to browse through Mawhinney's record collection? Watch this video for a tour of the historic sound archive!
Mawhinney, in an effort to diversify his collection, expanded into the realm of home-and-garden publications, amassing a vast array of magazines and books on home improvement, gardening, and interior design. With his collection now spanning across multiple genres, Mawhinney's lifestyle evolved into a unique blend encompassing both music and home-and-garden interests.
Influenced by his vast record collection and the organization that came with it, Mawhinney transformed his home into a sanctuary for his treasured items. He meticulously cataloged and displayed each record, often arranging them by genre and artist, creating a harmonious living space that embodied his love for music and served as a testament to his legendary collection.
