Angie and I have recently made an effort to spend more time listening to music that inspires and encourages us. Over the past few years, we have streamed music and listened to whatever was convenient to access. Where in the past, we used to choose things to listen to based on what we were doing at the time, perhaps things we were experiencing at the time, emotions we were working through, or a particular time of year. We both have a passion for music from years of being band geeks, to music lessons, to a shared love of Broadway musicals and movie soundtracks, to experiences where music has been integral to times in our lives. We both felt it was time to return to that love of music in our home with less time watching tv or online vides, or streaming random music. We have a massive collection of CDs we have built up over the years from early purchases and gifts, to being in CD clubs back in the day, to recent rummage and Goodwill purchases.
As we have been flipping through our CDs and selecting CDs for our five disc player, I have been reflecting on the music that influenced me the most throughout my life. I thought I would share with you a similar series as I did on books that influenced me over the years. This week, we discuss what music was filling my ears in the 70s and early 80s. What sounds captured the attention of this young nerdy kid? I wasn’t as much into lyrics at the time as I was what sounded cool to me.
My parents vinyl 45s of 50’s to 70’s Rock & Roll
Growing up, my parents had a large stack of 45s they let me enjoy on a small portable record player. I listened to so many great bands of the 50s, 60s, and 70s. I have a passion for such bands as the Beach Boys, Jan & Dean, The Beatles, and The Byrds because of hours and hours of listening to those records. My two favorite records, though, were “Surfin’ Bird” by The Trashmen and “Woolly Bully” by Sam The Sham & The Pharaohs. I can still hear those songs in my head.
My own vinyl 45 – Waylon Jennings theme from The Dukes of Hazzard
I was REALLY into the tv show The Dukes of Hazzard. So much, I spent my hard earned allowance on my own 45 of the theme song so I could keep listening to it over and over. Listening to that record and watching the show probably is what started an interest in country music for a while. I am not as into it today, but I really like Waylon Jennings, Kenny Rogers, and Alabama there for a while. To this day, I can still sing much of “Good Ol’ Boys” from memory.
My neighbor’s 8 Track Tapes in his car
My neighbor was really into 8 track tapes and had this floor mounted unit (I remember it looking a lot like this picture) in his car so when we drove places we would listen to Blonde, Bee Gees, Johnny Cash, The Beach Boys, The Police, Olivia Newton John, Styx, and quite a bit of Motown. Weirdly, the song I remember the most from those car rides and instantly takes me back is Little Anthony & The Imperials “Shimmy Shimmy Ko Ko Bop” These 8 track tapes introduced me to so many new bands as I grew up, many of which I still listen to this day.
My best friend growing up loved this one song
Mari Howard (my best friend who I miss dearly since she passed away) used to love this song and would play the album she had it on all the time, I think it was a Dr. Demento album because we also listened to “Junk Food Junkie” a lot. We would dream we were truck drivers while listening to “Convoy”. We would sing it when playing with my Hot Wheels and Matchbox trucks. And neither of us knew it was from a movie. Later in life I watched the movie and that song brought back wonderful memories of growing up with Mari.
That gives you a glimpse into the #ChildKnight’s early musical tastes, many of which continue to influence and inspire me today. What music influenced you as a child?
Check back next week as we delve into the teen angst listening habits of a #TeenageKnight.