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Vintage Vinyl

In this episode - Vintage Vinyl . . .

Turntables are making a big comeback; why? Listening to music should be a multi-sensory experience.

Harmony, rhythm, and the deep expression of emotion. Like a warm, gentle rain in the springtime cascading around you the room is filled with a resonant, rich, melodic sound. My emotions welled up, and tears come to my eyes.

Ok, I get it, we need to step back to get some perspective here.

Recently a visit to Lou's Records in Encinitas, California, inspired me to dig out my Vintage vinyl LP record collection. I selected the Carpenters Singles 1969- 1973. This musical duo reigned from 1969-to 1982 with the rich, full melodic voice of Karen Carpenter.

They were one of the biggest-selling groups of the 1970s. "No fewer than ten of their singles went on to become million-sellers, and by 2005 combined worldwide sales of albums and singles well exceeded 100 million units."

The tactile sensory experience of music begins with the album cover itself, carefully slide the record from its sleeve, place it on the turntable, check the playback speed, clean the disc with a DiscWasher (remember those), place the tonearm, and enjoy!

The song I selected was Superstar written by Bonnie Bramlett and Leon Russell. This Richard Carpenter arrangement became the duo's third No. 2 single on the Billboard Hot 100.

"One of the elements that made the music of the Carpenters distinctive was Karen's use of her low register," says Richard Carpenter. "Though present in jazz and country music, there were few contralto singers in popular music at the time. However, Karen's wide vocal range spanned about three octaves."

Wow, what an engaging sound!

Sitting quietly, listening, my thoughts whirled through time. Reliving the feeling of pure joy that transcends the present and suspends you in space looking at yourself from the past.

Huh, all those years wasted, experiencing the music through earbuds - headphones that became smaller and smaller. It was easy to rationalize then. Technology provided you the convenience of carrying hundreds of digital albums in your pocket, the iPod. No hassle just plug in and turn it on.

To paraphrase a quote from Field of Dreams, "It's expediency we have and peace we lack."

But there's more - technology now allows you to get unlimited music on-demand through Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, Pandora, and many other streaming services. Don't forget that monthly fee!

However, while transferring my original LP recording to digital MP3 files I fell in love once more with the sonorous sound that emanates from a turntable, stereo amplifier, and quality speakers. An experience simply not possible with CDs or MP3 files.

The hectic pace of life had robbed me of the true joy of a rich, full, musical experience.

So, if you have a Vintage record collection do yourself a favor. Pull out one of your favorite albums, clean it, place it on your turntable, lean back in your easy chair - relax, transcend time, and relish the experience all over again.

I'm Patrick Ball; thanks for listening. See you in the next episode.

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Anonymous said…
The Carpenters? Yes...her voice is unmatched...a true love of N.R. But you I think are more entranced by Elton John with lyrics by the great Bernie Taupin. How well do you remember the Chicago concert? Did you go alone or with someone else to enjoy the experience? What was Elton wearing? Did you have front row tickets or more toward the back? Did you stay the night in Chicago go or travel back to your home town? What are your favorite Elton songs?
August 31, 2020 at 1:04 PM
Anonymous said…
I'd like to be a guest on your show but it could only be on Wednesdays and you'd have to tell me how to do it...I'm elderly and don't understand today's tech...
August 31, 2020 at 1:49 PM
Patrick Ball said…
Hello Anonymous, Who are you? I've been trying to figure this out from your comments. More information, please.
August 31, 2020 at 2:49 PM
Anonymous said…
I'm shocked and appalled that you've failed to recognize me. I'll give you two clues that will clear things up. In our youth when entering your parent's home it was imperative that one removed one's shoes. It's becoming obvious now isn't it? Clue number 2....this was many years later...you'll remember my surprise when you told me about meeting the actor (now deceased) Claude Akins. A great character actor. I also remember him in the tv series called 'Movin On'...it only lasted one season but was a superb program during its short run.
September 2, 2020 at 8:34 AM
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