This summer has been a scorcher. 109 F is forecast for Saturday and 118 F for Sunday. Sorry, I just don’t want to go outside.* The golf clubs are buried in the garage. The shrubs and trees all need trimming and the yard looks horrible. When is that trip to the beach coming?
The heat is the bad news. The good news is, as I have stayed hold up inside, I rediscovered the record player. This summer I have played albums that I haven’t put on the turntable in a very long time. Some are scratched, a lot are warped, but some are playable. Maybe it was a little sense of nostalgia that led me to grab a few records that belonged to my parents as we cleaned out their home this past winter. Even they have served as a distraction from the heat.
So, I am trying something new. I am going to YouTube to see if I can find a few links to share some of the songs. I hope this works, although the reader may need to do a little copy and paste. I hope you have a little fun with it. Maybe in the end, even if your turntable doesn’t spin, you will find a way to listen to some of your old stuff and stay out of the heat at the same time.
First, from the early 1960’s. My parents (dad more than mom) listened to quite a bit of folk music. The Chad Mitchell Trio, The New Christy Minstrels, and Peter, Paul and Mary made up part of their library. This one is short and sweet… https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FsQ-DwHTcgI
Among my treasured records I found what was left of a collection of 45’s. Some of you may think they should have remained a hidden treasure.
Stevie Wonder- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0CFuCYNx-1g
Allman Brothers- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jUTORC4eoGc
Also found albums from high school and college days. Looking back, not exactly an investment that appreciated in value. Still, there were a couple worth listening to. Kansas put together a couple pretty good records. Some cuts still play over the airwaves.
Kansas- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2X_2IdybTV0
This Eagles album also found its way into my cassette and CD collections. I am sure they are in some box or stack somewhere in the house. How about my favorite song from my favorite album? Eagles- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O8wOWNnQJgU
Hope you enjoyed this. At least I was inside writing and not outside mowing what is left of my lawn.
*For some of you, this exercise may work better in the winter, when it is too cold to go out and you just don’t want to shovel the driveway.
Peter, Paul and Mary was in my Dad’s collection too. Turntable works but the collection is buried in basement and I haven’t been motivated enough to go through parents stuff yet.
No basement here. I step over their stuff twenty-five times a day.
Ha! Too funny! My oldest just asked for a turntable for a graduation present. She’s been scouring Goodwill stores and her grandparents closest looking for music.
This was awesome, Wyck! I enjoyed all of the songs, but I especially love the Eagles. What a great way to spend a hot summer day. We miss you at PV.
The relationships formed over the years at PV are still precious to me. GLAAZ did turn out to be a pretty dynamic place to teach with an equally caring community.
One of my best childhood memories was listening to my dad and uncle sing folk songs of the 60s. Their favorites were the Chad Mitchell Trio and Joan Baez. I have all the albums and still listen occasionally.
The heat has been unbearable! My husband reminded me that we used to acclimate better when we were younger, but seem to be less tolerant as we age. I think he is right. I remember getting out much more and hibernating less in years past.
Hope your beach time was fun. I went to the Gulf Coast of Florida for a fun filled week with 5 high school girlfriends. We were 17 again for a few days, but just couldn’t understand why we didn’t get any attention when we walked down the beach in our bikinis.
Counting the days until temperatures are under 100.