Saturday, October 20, 2012

Listening to Records





George Marks photo

Do you remember Listening to Records? Sprawled out on the floor for hours reading and re-reading the liner notes. If you wanted to skip a song or listen to it again you had to v-e-r-y carefully lift up the needle and place it on the Exact Perfect Spot. There was really an art to that. And if you were inspired to get up to Dance, you had to be careful not to make the record jump. Exciting Times, n'est-ce pas?

 
These helpful instructions were on the inside of the case.
 
Our son loves music so his Old Folk Parents decided that he needed to Listen to Music on a Real Live Record Player. We gave him one that we bought on Ebay from an Old Elementary School in Texas! You can only imagine the kind of crazy cowboy stuff that was played on that thing!

 
Then we gave him all of our Old Records that had survived the sprinkler-in-the-garage incident of 2007.
The other day as I was dusting, I started listening to the Old Records. I got very Nostalgic and decided to roll off to Lou's Records in Encinitas.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 I was in search of a Melanie record. I used to listen to Melanie over and over. I Just Love Her. I actually thought Brand New Key was about Roller Skating. Oh, the innocence of youth.
Did you know that Melanie Safka dropped out of the music business to raise her children and now in her 60's is off on tour Performing Around the World?! I'd say She's Done Alright for a Girl!

 
 Pinned Image
 
Did you see Moonrise Kingdom? There are some Beautiful Record Playing references in that film.
 
 
 
Listening to Records.  I highly recommend it!
 
source unknown
 





22 comments:

  1. I'm infected by your nostalgia! I remember Ms. Safka songs. That's brilliant that she's touring again. The record player is a great gift for your son.

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    1. Thanks, Ms. Melanie. He seems to dig the record player.
      Connie*

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  2. Hi Connie, I heard so many good things about the movie Moonrise Kingdom. It must be really good. I will check it out. Growingup, I used to play our record player a lot. I was guilty of breaking the needle several times. Your son is very lucky to have that record player and experience it.

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    1. It's a very sweet film. I think you'd like it.
      Connie*

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  3. Animal crakers was by Melanie Safka, right? Funny little tune :)
    I remember record players very well since I was a kid, my mother had a few records and I would play them on weekend mornings.
    I then had my own record player when I was a teenager and my first albums were still bought in vynil format. A few years later cd came along and I stopped buying vynil. I still had a few on my collection but ended up gifting all of them to a friend, before I moved to England as I haven't had a record player in decades! Thank you for the little trip down memory lane!

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    1. Animal Crackers!! I forgot about that one. Such a funny song. Ha ha ha ha ha. Such a beautiful voice.

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  4. My almost 18 year old son, has also found an interest in records...so much so we too, bought him a record player after paying many times in vain, to have my old one repaired. It is Andy William's Christmas album with the red cover...that all of us, including my husband, have grown up listening to...making it one record that truly connects the 5 of us. thank you for sharing such a lovely post!

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    1. It seems just about everyone has a record that brings back lovely memories ;-)
      Connie*

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  5. Oh records were such a huge part of my childhood, adolescence, and young adulthood. Everything you wrote about the art of getting the needle in JUST the right place, not jumping around too much, poring obsessively over the sleeve... That was me!
    Records mattered so much more than CDs, and certainly so much more than downloading anything! I haven't had a turntable in years, yet I have hung on to all my old vinyl. It represents so much, I really invested in it as a young person, financially and emotionally, and I can't bear to get rid of that box of records in the attic...
    Good to know your son is getting the vinyl bug!
    PS. You mean Melanie's Brand New Key ISN'T about roller skating?! xxxxxxx

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  6. Hold on to all your old records. There are so many that I wish I still had. Roller Skating...tee hee.
    Connie*

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  7. I love old records and the sound that comes from a record player.
    I also love Encinitas. We vacationed there at a darling little yellow house called Hemingway Hideout. I've since wanted to return but never have. Some day again......

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    1. Please come visit some time. We can hang out!
      Connie*

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  8. I have to confess that I've never actually used a record player before... am I really missing out?

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    1. It really is something different. I hope you get the chance to just hang around and listen to records one day.
      Connie*

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  9. My boy is in love with records...so we have a lot of them at home but we don´t really listen them so much.

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  10. Connie I wanted to thank you for your encouraging comment on leaving my boys at home ...and how it can ultimately be a benefit to all. Those are just the words this mama needs to hear...thank you my dear!

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  11. You can't beat music played on proper vinyl, it's got such a deeper and richer sound and the sleeves are total works of art! x

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  12. Love this retro post:) It made me happy on a grey boring day.


    have a great week dear

    LOVE M

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  13. Nous avons eu une inspiration commune !

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  14. I saw her in concert! A few years ago, with her two daughters singing backup. She still sounded good.

    I like your blog. You have a great sense of humor and, being old, I get your cultural references. I used to spend days in record-stores just browsing and checking out the cool posters.

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