Take Those Old Records Off The Shelf

I was 14 when I bought my first record. It was Crocodile Rock by Elton John, purchased at Roberts Brothers in Doniphan in 1972. My sister had given me a record player and a stack of 45s that I wore out. That’s when my love of the Beatles began. I memorized all their pre-Maharishi songs and most of the Beach Boys hits.

I later received a box of 33s that were constantly on the turntable. When I holed up in my room and played In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida, burned incense, with my black light on, I felt like a hippie, even though I knew no hippies for comparison.

My brother-in-law Dave had a good record collection and speakers with colored lights synced to the music. His album library included Moody Blues, Cream, Blood, Sweat & Tears, and Bread. He always sang along, but badly. He and my sister Juanita had an apartment with a sunken living room and pop art on the walls. They dressed stylishly and were the epitome of cool in my teenage eyes.

Eventually records were out, eight tracks were in, then cassettes ruled. My neighbor Bobby brought his new cassette player to my house with songs he’d recorded on WLS late at night when reception was good. Cassettes were a game changer, having seen so many eight track tapes brutalized by their players. If your Peter Frampton cassette was eaten all you needed was a pencil to reel the tape back in. Compact discs were next, then everything became high tech and digital. Music didn’t feel as personal.

The vinyl revival started a few years ago and became very “on trend” with the younger generation. Being a nostalgist, I was happy to see the return of the record player. My husband gave me one for Mother’s Day one year and my collection and love of vinyl grew.

The artwork of the album covers, the lyric sheets, the smell of the sleeve as you remove the album, the hum of the needle along the grooves of the record, and the occasional crackling sound all contribute to the aesthetic of the whole vinyl experience. Add the memories that each song evokes and you’re transported back in time for a little while, around 22 minutes per side.