Liner Notes:
Johnny Discovers Music
1970-77
I’ve always loved music. Some of my earliest memories revolve around a small record player only large enough to play 45s. The first records I remember spinning were hokey kids versions of “Paper of Pins” and “John Jacob Jingleheimer Schmidt.” I’d sing along with the records for hours. I loved when cartoons would have a band or use a rock song in their episodes, and even watched the WB cartoons when Bugs Bunny would lead the symphony. Music attracted me in ways which I had yet to understand. I just knew I liked it. I’d go “junkin’” with my mom in summertime–visiting garage sales to find more 45s to add to my collection. My mom introduced me to the Beatles when she found their singles at one sale–I loved the irony of the letter a in their name to make it rock and roll. The yellow and orange label spirals carried titles: “Eight Days a Week,” “We Can Work It Out,” “Yesterday,” and “Twist and Shout.”
The B-sides were just as good as the A-sides and the labels looked psychedelic spinning around on the turntable. The first 45 I bought with my own money was “The Cover of the Rolling Stone” by Dr. Hook and the Medicine Show. Only later did I find out that Shel Silverstein had written the lyrics.
Personnel:
Scott—wide-eyed music lover
Patt (mom)—driver, money-lender
Soon, our family had a large am/fm stereo with good speakers that could play LPs. My mom and dad loved the crooners: Perry Como, Dean Martin, Engelbert Humperdinck, and Sing Along With Mitch. I especially loved their Peter, Paul, and Mary albums. We kept that stereo in the living room, so I had to put on headphones while everyone else watched the TV. My mom found Beatles albums at some sales; my collection grew. My friends and I would swap records, make trades–whole days were often committed to trading and listening to these 45s. We all had carrying cases for our records and, though rarely, the cases (example below) would even be part of a trade.
In the mid-70s, my interests expanded: Elton John, Alice Cooper, Willie and Waylon. On family vacations we always listened to country artists, CB radio songs by CW McCoy and Red Sovine, and maybe some Johnny Mathis on the 8-Track tape machine installed in the pick-up truck. We all sang along as best we could. If I was riding in the camper, I’d fire up the little transistor radio to see if I could find a decent station for a few miles.
By ‘77 I was buying my own LPs down at the Red Owl grocery store: Fly Like an Eagle by Steve Miller was the first album I ever bought with my own money. I’d sneak listens to the records my older brother and sister owned that I wasn’t supposed to touch: Boz Scaggs, Bob Dylan, Jerry Jeff Walker, Johnny Cash. I just couldn’t stay away from music.
Personnel:
Scott
Patt (mom and snack maker)
Bob Hall (dad and driver)
Bobby (older brother)
Terri (sister)
Denny (younger brother)
Popular 45 inchers to Trade
“Why Can’t We Be Friends” by War
“Hocus Pocus” by Focus
“Jet” by Wings
“Crocodile Rock” by Elton John
First Albums I Bought with My Own $$
Fly Like an Eagle by Steve Miller
(1976)
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Book of Dreams by Steve Miller
(1977)
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Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band by The Beatles
(1967)
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Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo! by Devo
(1977)
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Scott.Hall.Music 