12 Episodes For A Penny - The Demise of Columbia House | EP 176

In this episode of Two Guys Talking about Records, Steve & Jim dig into the final chapter of a true music-biz institution: Columbia House (formerly the Columbia Record Club). After more than 70 years, the mail-order giant that once promised “12 albums for a penny” is winding down for good—stopping new orders after September 15, 2026. They cover the latest news on the closure of its remaining DVD/Blu-ray business, then rewind through the club’s history—from its 1955 launch as a way to reach rural record buyers, through the vinyl, cassette, and CD boom years, the famous (and infamous) negative-option billing, and its long decline in the digital age. The Guys also get into the collector side of things: Are those CRC and RCA Music Service pressings really lower quality than regular retail copies? What about the Terre Haute plant pressings? And how do club editions stack up in terms of collectibility and value today? Plus a quick look at how modern vinyl subscription clubs compare to the old-school model. No more 12 LPs for a penny… but the stories (and the records) live on.

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