I'm the product of two parents who completely adore music. They're divorced now, sadly...but when I look at them, and what they had, I can imagine that a love of music was something that ititally bonded them together. As far back as I can remember, the stereo system has been a fully-recognized member of my single-parent family...maybe even like a father
Some of my greatest memories are of falling asleep while my mom sang over records that were played long into the night. I'd keep listening after I was tucked away in bed...it was comforting in a way I can't really describe. She came of age in the early 70s, so her tastes reflected that: David Bowie, Dire Straits, Supertramp, Genesis, Pink Floyd...The Beatles. She also really loved Heart...Seattle's first great "grunge" band
The Moody Blues were always played. Oh, and Jackson Browne...he was big, especially Running On Empty. I have a strange, total recall of every lyric on that album. There was also the edgier stuff like Iron Butterfly and The Clash.
The music was great, but one of the other things that fascinated me was the imagery on the album covers. I guess I'm lucky to be old enough to recall the final moments of the turntable's glory days, and how so much interesting art went into the album jackets and fold-out displays. Whenever I was sick, or bored, I'd pull them from the shelf and just pour over them.
When John Lennon died, that was a massive moment for me...a spark. I was six, and I vividly remember my mom crying, and lighting a candle for him that night. I was so moved that I wanted to learn everything about him, and just what he did to move so many.
I've had a few weak moments, like lip-syncing to Wham! outside in the middle of a thunderstorm, with my Walkman in tow (pretending to be George Michael gave me invincibility and 'special powers,' I remember thinking)
Music
Bonochick said:
My parents loved Huey Lewis and the News, especially my mom. Whenever they were on tour, my sister and I had to spend the night at Grandma's so our parents could catch a show. I remember Mom yelling, "HUEY!!!" when they'd come on the radio.
There was one summer where I spent a lot of time with my dad...Sports was played over and over in his car. I'd love to listen again, just to see what songs I recall. The other thing with Huey, of course, is his big involvement in Back To The Future