My mum was a piano teacher (to my shame I never was able to learn any musical instrument, but I like to think I gained a good love of music) so I grew up listening to her practising Mozart, Schubert, Beethoven but also to the pained and irritating mistake ridden tinklings of her pupils. I guess that was my first introduction to music. My other first memories of music would have been long drives in the car up to Scotland or down to Cornwall on holiday where we'd have a small number of cassette tapes - Burl Ives was one I remember vividly, he was an American folk singer with a vast discography ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_works_by_Burl_Ives#Albums ) but he did an album of Americana kids songs like 'She'll be coming round the mountain' that we all knew off by heart and loved singing along to. Then I bought my first album on a trip to Scotland, a cassette of the Massed Pipes and Bands of the Highland Regiments - I just loved the skirl of the pipes and the beat of the drums, amazing, I must have been about 8 years old at the time, but it has stayed with me, one of the amazing things I love about Scottish rock bands is how they can make their guitars sound like bagpipes. Then my music desires went a bit fallow for a few years, I loved Bad Manners and Madness and the whole Ska thing but just as a kid to dance to, I could never but their music, I didn't have the resources. Then I got into rock music in a small way, My first single was to have been by Gillan (solo project by Deep Purple singer), I sent my older sister off with my pocket money to Casa Disco but she came back with Shaddapa Your Face by Joe Bloody Dolce! Then around 1984 I discovered some cassettes my sister had been sent by her German pen pal, full of electronic bands like OMD, Depeche Mode, and German new wave like Kraftwerk, Nena, Alphaville, DAF and Propaganda and I loved it. I've never stopped loving stuff like that and Depeche Mode are my all time favourite band. Then I went to uni in Oxford in 1989 just as the Thames Valley scene was taking off so I was filled with bands like Thousand Yard Stare, Curve, Catherine Wheel, Lush, Swervedriver, Chapterhouse, Slowdive, the Purple Rhinos and most importantly Ride. Ride seemed to be on every week at some venue in Oxford around that time, they were massive. But at the same time I was also into the American post punk/pre grunge scene so Pixies, Dinisaur Junior, Black Flag, Sonic Youth, Pere Ubu were big influences. Al this was learned from Peel (a godlike being who kids of today should have a version of), Out in Blue Six and reading NME< Melody Maker and Sounds from cover to cover.
I saw Shonen Knife back in the early 90s. I think I've got "Let's Knife" somewhere. Was surprised to find they were still going!
A diverse route to finally arrive at the preaching of a musical god ! My path actually started with John Peel in the late sixties and continued until he started to wander into other tastes which didn’t suit like reggae etc.
I met a Japanese kid at a recent event and we got chatting. He recommended this band (for fans of psychedelia):
I'm flogging my deluxe copy (NM/VG+) of AM if anyone is interested, open to cut-price offers from fellow reds: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/18559243...1zViP98RqG&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY
The first records I remember listening to and being enthralled were Holst's The Planets and Jeff Wayne's War of the Worlds: the first being this immense symphony that being fascinated with space, I visualised gas giants to. And War of the Worlds with that creepy gatefold full of cities being smothered by red weed. I remember being left on the settee with big headphones on, probably like you so my parents could have some peace hah. Later in the 90s I discovered my Dad's record collection, great albums like After the Gold Rush and Moody Blues records. After appropriating those I got a cheap record player and in between college lessons started browsing Barnsley's Tuesday market which was brilliant in the 90s- I'm sure a lot of you went! I picked up albums like Sticky Fingers , Dylan albums, even Loaded by the Velvet Underground for £3, Bowie albums, amazingly cheap as nobody except the hip kids really played vinyl in that early CD age. There was also a guy who used to get CD promos and sell em really cheap . That was cool as you could find new bands on record labels you liked.
I don’t share much common ground with my dad but music was a constant and still is. I grew up to the sounds of Blondie and the Stones. He loves Dr Feelgood and Hendrix and was a keen devotee of reggae with loads of singles. Later when I got into music my memories are of trips to Casa Disco to see how far my measly money would get me. Sometimes I’d overspend and not have the bus money home so have to walk the 6 miles but was always worth it for the music. The first singles I bought were Going Underground the Jam and Ace of Spades by Motörhead both of which I still have and play often. First album was All Mod Cons which remains in my top 5 so a pat on the back to 11 year old me. music isn’t music to me unless it’s on vinyl. My Discogs page tells me I own over 3000 records. Probably the same number of CDs but I haven’t catalogued them because well they are CDs. Most vinyl records are precious to me on one level for another. Lots have stories. Like the Johnny Cash Live at Folsom album. I never met my grandad dead of the pit disease before I was born my Nan told me of his love of Johnny and I felt like I got to know him sitting talking to her about him with Johnny as the soundtrack music is with me through good times and bad. It has taught me. Soothed me. Mended me. Leads me to the light however dark it feels. It’s healed my broken heart and shone a light on new love. Music to me is constantly evolving. At 52 I buy more new music than I ever have. My tastes have always been pretty varied but getting older has opened me up even more to music I never thought I could appreciate particularly electronica. A twinge of sadness hits me when I think I’ve probably listened more music than I will in whatever time is left. I also wish people had music to inspire. As a kid during the strike people like Weller reached out to me and showed me the better way. It’s a shame no one these days wants to live up to The Redskins motto of ‘walk like The Clash sing like The Supremes.
