All About Music (And Record Albums)

Now for something completely different.  A subject very close to my heart AND soul.  MUSIC, glorious music, at least what I refer to as music.  I'm fully aware there are creations out there considered to be "music" but I would have to call them questionable.  Alas, there is no accounting for taste but everyone is entitled to their opinion, I guess. (smiling) I especially want to touch upon the old album covers protecting and accompanying the old 78 rpm records, referring to the speed(meaning 78 revolutions per minute) at which they were recorded .  For some reason, as I'm living here in NC missing Los Angeles, A LOT, I think about one of
my favorite stores right in the heart of Hollywood, it's the  Trader Joes' on the corner   
of Sunset and Crescent   Heights. Blvd., one of my frequent stops on a grocery shopping day.  They have old record album covers displayed on the walls of the elevators and on the walls within the store.  It's very nostalgic of course, especially with my history of running around Hollywood in the day of the flat disc records.  I spent many an hour at Wallichs Music City on another Hollywood corner of Sunset and Vine, listening to records in the booths, I can't remember, did we have earphones then?   I used to own quite a lot of records, all various genres of music, rock n' roll, jazz, classical, ballet and opera.  As you observe, two of my favorite all time
record albums were the Beatles, Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club and Abbey Road.  Also, by far two of my favorite covers and on a list of 20 of the greatest album covers of all time. But what was inside was sublimity, actual music heaven.  No one could touch the Beatles, a major force in my development as a young person into adulthood.  There will never be a phenomenon like them again.  So incredibly prolific and culturally influential.  I would have even put the White Album up but it would have blended into the background.  The hours I spent listening to them, living in Laguna Beach, getting high and soaking in the genius of the four most admired musicians of their time.  I could certainly take up at least 2 blogs just talking about the Beatles. But I won't.  

I absolutely loved the Doors back in the Sixties and as our generation explored other alternative lifestyles, we as the first experimenters of hallucinogenic drugs, LOVED hearing Light My Fire.  If ever there was a theme song I'd attach to the crazy hippies, especially the Hollywood/Los Angeles type would be one of the greatest rock songs ever, with Jim Morrison yelling, "try to set the night on fire!"  We all went crazy! Always having to get up and dance to this song.  I also loved this album cover too you see to the left.  It came later and the most familiar song from this album,  Strange Days, was People Are Strange.  What a gift Jim had as our very own 60's crooner.  Gone way too soon like so many others.  Okay, let's move on to something a bit more humorous... and speaking 
of strange, you won't believe these album covers.  My other persona, the one that was raised listening to all classical music, piano by Chopin, ballets by Tchaikovsky, concertos by Prokofiev, wants to share a find from google searches about record albums.  The worst

classical album covers of all time.  This is hysterical.  You've just gotta check this out and have a good laugh.  Here is a sample to your right. SO SAD.  What were they thinking? http://www.classicfm.com/discover/music/worst-classical-album-covers-ever/   You  have to see it to believe it. 

But not to dwell on others mistakes, or blunders more like it. I only wanted to bring up this topic because there seems to be a resurgence of collectors of the 78 RPM album at this time(considered vintage but only a few have any substantial value). I notice DJ"s are always seeking out new records to use during their gigs of mixing and matching.  It's not unusual today to see record albums sprouting up in different music stores.  I'm only making an observation, I don't dare try and collect these rare albums until I have an actual record player.

I think one of the last record albums I schlepped around with me, (lost somewhere on the road, God knows where) were all opera, two-four disc jobs.  One with Norman Treigle on the cover dressed in a very elaborate, evil looking costume portraying Mephistopheles.  I wanted to keep this one particular album because I danced in the opera Mephistofele in Hawaii with Norman Treigle.  He was absolutely amazing. What a voice.  My fondest memory was when I had to be lying on the floor, also dressed as a debauched creature from hell, and he put his foot on my stomach and started to tickle me.  A real professional. It makes me smile.  I do believe some of my favorite memories in my life were when dancing in the operas in Honolulu.  Faust, Tales of Hoffman, the Judgment of Paris, and of course Mefistofele.  My mother also danced in the opera in  Rio de Janiero.  And my grandmother was an opera singer there also.  I really couldn't escape the influence of classical music or opera as a child.  I'm so grateful, for there is nothing like the sublime notes of a Mozart piano concerto, the peaceful and moving strains of Debussy,

the inspiring Requiems of Faure and Brahms.  I do so love and thoroughly enjoy the many compositions that will live on forever.  And I will always hold dear the songs of Lennon and McCartney and many other contemporary  composers.  My tastes are eclectic and how cool is that.  Oh, and I mustn't forget the great songs I've been privileged to sing in numerous Musical Theater shows. Wow, how rich is my life because I have so much music to keep me company.  I pray you all have an experience, the same uplifting joy and love when you hear this gift from God, coming thru his creation to touch our ears, mind, heart and soul.  Happy Listening!