I used to buy lots of LPs on spec. But they were cheaper than CDs. And I was hungrier for new performers than I am now.
Long before my time, record stores used to have listening booths. Nowadays you can get song samples on the web. Or, if your connection is as slow as mine, you can go to Barnes & Noble and listen to 30-second clips from every CD in print on their little headphones. This helps, though it's impossible to judge the quality of a classical performance this way.
Re: Singer-songwriter
Long before my time, record stores used to have listening booths. Nowadays you can get song samples on the web. Or, if your connection is as slow as mine, you can go to Barnes & Noble and listen to 30-second clips from every CD in print on their little headphones. This helps, though it's impossible to judge the quality of a classical performance this way.