Name: David
Location: Cohasset, MN
Relationship to music: life-long listener, audiophile
Industry: retired
Now it is time to talk to my dad. One of the things I learned from him is to really appreciate music. Not just feel a beat or listen to the lyrics; but to really analyze a song, be in awe of a curious or impactful turn of phrase, listen for how tight a band is when they play, or how you can hear whether or not people are musically talented. I learned that you may not be a fan of a style of music but can still appreciate talent. When I come home we usually spend a couple hours playing songs that we have recently discovered to each other.
The songs that remind me most of my Dad aren’t the ones that are listed here, but through the list of these songs, I have learned more about the music that has influenced my dad.
5songpjct: I am still of the generation where if you wanted music you had to go to the store and actually physically buy it. There weren’t options like there are now, to instantly have all of the music of the world at your fingertips. You can hear anything you want right at this very moment, all for the low cost of ten bucks a month, if you are even paying anything. How does it feel, especially as someone who has collected music for years to not have to wait to get your hands on music you want?
Dad: I would say right now for research it is great, but the thrill is definitely gone. As far as cracking open a new album or the anticipation of waiting eight months for the new Beatles album to come out. Just going shopping for a record was a whole different experience. We didn’t have Best Buy, we went to Ma and Pa record stores. That feeling of cracking open the plastic wrapping, looking at the cover art, and reading the lyrics on the inner sleeve of the album. Just putting the record on and letting it spin. I remember listening to every note on every side of albums. Now with the onslaught of the music at your fingertips services, something might start out in a way that I don’t like and I will just skip it, instead of letting it play. You have to just let it play with records. No fast forward and if you wanted to skip a song on an album you may damage the album, or your stylus. I don’t remember skipping any Beatles song, well, I guess with the exception of “Revolution 9.” I never got that one. Just going shopping then was a different experience. Records were something to own and take care of.
It is great in a way, to remember a song and to be able to just play it on YouTube or Amazon Prime. I can ask Alexa to play it. Nine times out of ten she can. I like that part, but I miss the way it used to be. I miss the ownership of a vinyl record, it’s cover art and liner notes.
5songpjct: Back then an album coming out was almost like an event. You are waiting for that certain day, in a few months, weeks, or days from now for that specific album to come out.
Dad: A record store was a place to hang out. You would get the album and talk to people. Have a good time. The owner would have a turntable and they would let you listen to the newest stuff. They usually had an owner’s copy. They would play a few songs to get you hooked into buying the album. I remember that I bought an album or two just for the cover art.
5songpjct: Now the cover art is just this small little thumbnail. The inside and the guts and the smell is gone because it it all digital.
What is the theme of your five songs this week?
Dad: British guitar invasion.
5songpjct: Why did you gravitate to the guitarists? Like with the Jeff Beck Group, Rod Stewart is a huge powerhouse of a singer and Robert Plant of Led Zepplin is this charismatic epitome of cool, what was it about the guitarists in particular that spoke more to you?
Dad: They played guitar so well that I stopped what I was doing and needed to look up who they were. I have always been into a good guitar. The late 60s was about the time when wah wah pedals and good distortion was being used more in music. These guys were starting to use crude electronics to make a new sound. I also picked these songs because all of the musicians are still relevant now.
The songs I chose started me in a direction to listen to certain types of music. I can’t say that these songs defined me. All I can say is that these five songs probably got me completely interested in music. The Beatles did too, but I would say that the Beatles tapped into feelings. They also spoke to a specific moment in time. The were like Elvis to my sisters or Sinatra to my mom.
5songpjct: Have you seen any of these artist in concert?
Dad: I have seen Jeff Beck and Robert Fripp. Mom and I saw Jeff Beck together a couple times, we went to Chicago in the 70s and saw him. Living near Chicago there was easy access to seeing a lot of artists live. You and I saw King Crimson together.
5songpjct: Did you ever play guitar?
Dad: Yeah, but self taught. I knew a few cords and a couple of songs, I think most boys back then knew a couple of guitar licks stretching the strings that lasted maybe six seconds and that was it. I had an electric guitar and a little amp when I met your mother. I would sit and try to make it sound good. My best guitaring was air guitaring.
Assignment June 24, 2018
Your assignment today is to listen to the following six songs. Like my mom, I gave my dad some extra songs that fit with his theme. This songs are available on the Spotify playlist for this blog and when they aren’t, I try to find them on YouTube or Vimeo. You can launch the song by clicking the song title.
[1] Jeff Beck, Eric Clapton, and Jimmy Page (All in the band but not all at the same time)
The Yardbirds. “Over Under Sideways Down.” Roger the Engineer, Columbia, 1966
[2] Eric Clapton
Cream. “Crossroads.” Wheels of Fire, Polydor, 1967-1968 (Written by Robert Johnson)
[3] Jeff Beck
Jeff Beck Group. “I Ain’t Superstitious.” Truth, Columbia, 1968 (Written by Willie Dixon)
[4] Jimmy Page
Led Zepplin. “You Shook Me.” Led Zeppelin, Atlantic, 1969 (Written by Willie Dixon)
[5] Robert Fripp
King Crimson. “21st Century Schizoid Man.” In the Court of the Crimson King, Island, 1969
Giles, Giles, and Fripp. “Suite No. 1.” The Cheerful Insanity of Giles, Giles, and Fripp, 1968
TOMORROW… My dad’s first song and the band that started it all
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