Thursday, July 16, 2009

Sometimes, don’t you wish you hadn’t started?

Recently for my birthday (April 1 – yes I know, April Fool’s Day), Sue presented me with a 350 gigabyte portable hard-drive. I actually took this on our recent trip with the little Eee PC so we would have music on our travels. I’d been a bit of a music freak prior to entering my teenage years.

I guess my mother influenced me by allowing me to watch all those musicals starring Judy Garland, Bing Crosby, Dean Martin and Frank Sinatra, not to forget the great Sammy Davis Jr.
My first two LPs were of Sammy (I still have it) and the other, a Bill Haley release which came with my first record player. Being a portable player of the era it looked like a large make-up case. What did I know (or care), I was probably seven years old at the time!!!
Anyway that was the start of the rot.
Later came Elvis Presley, Little Richard, Chuck Berry just before I entered my teenage years. That’s when I moved on from my parent’s music – much more exciting and of course, rebellious.
The Study needs a bit of a tidy up, but I know where each CD is placed.
Amongst the few LPs I had were many 45s which these days are probably landfill somewhere.
My first real foray into an obsessive music collecting mania was when I had my first job and money burning a hole in my pocket. The LP collection grew dramatically with the latest releases from the Beatles, Rolling Stones, The Who, and many other British bands along with the many black blues artists that they drew their influences from.

Now where am I going with all this????
That’s right I remember now, Sue bought me this 350 gig hard-drive and I thought, “why not put my CD collection on it”.
My collection of CDs has reached around 1500. I’m not sure why I bought some of them as there are some truly dreadful examples of poor music amongst the collection. Also some very dated music, which at the time seemed great.
But, yes there are some unbelievable classics that bring joy every time I play them.
Like catching up with old friends, they give a satisfying moment when enjoying a bottle of wine or a well made coffee over some reminiscing conversation.

After three months I’m just about to add Warren Zevon and the Zombies to the hard-drive. From A to Z has been a long journey but I’ve re-discovered some great memories.

But, sometimes, don’t you wish you hadn’t started?

3 comments:

  1. Hi leon,
    I came across your blog by doing a google search on a criterai that my friend Leigh suggested. I assume your friends Leigh and Sophie are my friends Leigh and Sophie? Leigh, who used to play table tennis with me as a junior, and is now cycling? We went to uni together and played TT for the same team for many years. I am visiting L&S in Jan.
    Cheers,
    Ron
    email me on ronlel@msn.com

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  2. I need to start -- and dread starting -- the same kind of project. We have about 500 CDs that need to be "ripped." Do you hire out your services?

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  3. Haha, you have to be jokin'
    I started before we left for France.
    Just make a start and look at it as a long term project - taking music with you anywhere you go is a plus anytime.
    Looks like we might be looking at travelling to New York next year due to an unexpected bonus.
    Any advise. I would still prefer France but maybe 2011 when I have some more long service leave.

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