I do write lengthy missives on Facebook, but I do prefer the idea of my own space, that is not messed around with by the Silicon Valley mob.
Continuing a thought from WAY back, when I talked about school and Tubular Bells, I’m going to continue to tell the story of my musical development. We are at about 1975/6 now.
I’ve got two older brothers. This is important, and it’s important because without them I really don’t think my music taste would be what it is now.
As I’ve mentioned, there was plenty great music in the house, and in particular my eldest brother John had some excellent albums on constant rotation. Tubular Bells, Pink Floyd’s Meddle and Dark Side, Focus II and Genesis Live stand out in my memory (as well as Floyds “Atom Heart Mother” which I still think is pants!)
Just for a taste – check out this absolutely nuts clip of Focus on “Midnight Special”
I’d migrated from my parents “radiogram” to the record player in my brother’s room. It still had the spindle mechanism to play more than one single (even if the motor gave up if there were more than 3 singles on there!) and just a couple of stereo speakers mounted on the front of the cabinet but I was obsessed – I loved the thing!
So while John and Dave were out I would sit in Dave’s room, listening to Gilmour’s solos, and Focus yodeling….yes I was about 6!
I loved Genesis Live, and when a “record voucher” landed in my lap as a birthday gift, off I trotted to “Tony Greenwood Music” in Wilmslow and purchased my first record. Not the Bay City Rollers or Top of the Pops compilation
...but Nursery Cryme by Genesis. I don’t want to dwell on the significance of this TOO much, really I was simply intrigued by Genesis Live (Musical Box in particular) and wanted more, and the nice man at Tony Greenwood recommended it, but as the world was about to go disco and punk, six year old Ian bought a 1973 progressive rock classic!
If you don’t know, or need reminding, this is the nuts (and possibly quite inappropriate) type of thing.
The fascination did not last too long …only about a year later I sold the album to one of my brother’s friends and bought a number of singles with the proceeds.
Where things went from there gets really interesting…more next time, but a footnote that bears telling.
When MY son Marcus sat as a young toddler in his car seat, he became absolutely obsessed with…..yes….Musical Box from Nursery Cryme by Genesis. I always tried to vary the music as much as possible, but the “now, now, now” climax (possibly pun intended) of the song caught his attention, and, as kids do, he asked for it to be played again and again – genetics? History repeating? Strange whichever way you look at it.
So lets hear from you as well....what was your first album, can you remember any background as to why you bought it?
More soon....(promise)
