| While living in my parents home as a child, 50's and | | | | enhancer. I've had several people out on the boat with |
| 60's rock and roll was the music of choice. My father | | | | me. Everybody enjoyed themselves. |
| had kept some record albums he collected while in the | | | | I finally bit the bullet and purchased a new stereo. I |
| army. My sister and I were never allowed to touch | | | | bought a tuner/amplifier, a two cassette tape player, a |
| them. This rule was in stone. | | | | turn table, and a CD burner. Something I learned was |
| Elvis Presley, the Beatles, The Mamas and Papas, | | | | the amp had to be specific for a turn table because |
| Gene Chandler, The Drifters, The Shirelles, The Beach | | | | the necessary ports had to be compatible with the |
| Boys, Del Shannon, and countless others sang to us on | | | | table. It wouldn't work, for instance, to plug the turn |
| a regular basis. We were dyed in the wool rock and | | | | table into a tape player port. |
| rollers. I knew the words to songs many of my friends | | | | Right away I started burning CD's. I now have over |
| never heard of. | | | | 1000 albums so I wasn't lacking music to choose from. |
| When the day came for me to leave home, I found | | | | Because of the oil from fingers on the albums, I |
| myself depending on either the radio or cassette tapes | | | | needed to clean them. What I came up with was using |
| I had collected along the way. I never expected it but I | | | | a soft sponge and a very gentle liquid soap. I used |
| actually missed the distinctive sound of a vinyl record. | | | | soap designed for elder care so I knew it was gentle. |
| Granted, there is a slight hiss in the background, but, the | | | | Rinse the album in luke warm water. Do not soak it in |
| music was clear and sharp. | | | | water. The label, which often is separate from the |
| In my travels, from time to time I would be in thrift | | | | vinyl, could peel if soaked. I lay a soft towel on the |
| stores which sold used vinyl albums. I started looking | | | | counter and set the record on it. After putting soap on |
| through them. Finding records without scratches is a | | | | the sponge, I give the record a bath, as one would a |
| chore. Each store has a core of albums that every | | | | baby. I have never hurt an album doing this and I've |
| thrift shop carries. (or is stuck with, as the case may | | | | done hundreds. I wash each side with the sponge, |
| be) Christmas albums, Mitch Miller, Lawrence Welk, | | | | always going with the grain of the record. Next I rinse |
| Ray Coniff, and several others were in great supply. | | | | the album off and pat it dry with a soft cotton cloth. |
| As I was looking through the records, I began noticing | | | | Nothing must be done which will scratch the vinyl. |
| older country albums I had heard of but never seriously | | | | I carry the record back into my office, letting it air dry |
| listened to. Hey, I was rock and roll, not country. Some | | | | as I go. As soon as I put it on the turn table, I crank it |
| of the records were in pretty good shape so I bought | | | | up and start recording. When I'm recording, I have |
| a few. I took them home and started playing them on | | | | nothing else going on. I don't take chances by leaving it |
| my pieced together stereo. Before I knew what was | | | | alone. First I record on a rewriteable CD. If I make a |
| happening, I became a country & western fan. | | | | mistake, I can erase that track, or the entire record if I |
| The new country is different from the older artists. | | | | decide I don't like it after all. Then I transfer the music |
| George Jones sounded like nobody else. Today, it's | | | | to a permanent CD. |
| hard to tell one from the other. Their styles are similar, | | | | All of my records are standing up on shelves. Laying |
| not distinctive. Don Williams, Willie Nelson, Johnny Cash | | | | them down is what causes the album jackets to |
| were like nobody else. And then I discovered Tanya | | | | telegraph the shape of the record inside it. My only |
| Tucker and Tammy Wynette. Those two ladies | | | | problem has been coming up with more and more |
| confirmed me a country fan. Loretta Lynn didn't hurt | | | | space to put the albums, and then the CD's. I try to |
| matters, either. | | | | keep the various styles together which makes it easier |
| Then an amazing thing happened. I brought home a | | | | to find something I'm looking for. My rock and roll and |
| few orchestra albums and found that I liked them as | | | | country are even alphabetically placed. |
| well. They're not Tammy, but good to listen to when | | | | If you would enjoy something to read while listening to |
| the mood is right. I even started listening to Andy | | | | music, check out Loren Douglas' lastest detective book |
| Williams doing Moon River. Talk about a mood builder. | | | | entitled "Verifiable Evidence." It can be found at: |
| One of my favorite albums is of a wooden sloop | | | | Thank you for spending a few minutes with me. I'm |
| going up the East Coast. Turn out the lights, adjust the | | | | sitting here right this minute with my head phones on |
| volume, and I'm out on the ocean. I pass two buoys, | | | | listening to a rock and roll compilation CD I made. I'm |
| with bells clanking, along my way. Definitely a mood | | | | lovin' it! |