Bottlehead Forum
General Category => General Discussion => Topic started by: earwaxxer on August 09, 2013, 04:05:08 PM
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I was just reflecting (remembering), I guess, about how things used to be in "the old days", when it came to how we listened to our music. Of course, we listened either to a radio or a "record player". Thats all there was. We listened to "albums", or in some cases 45's. They were a total composition that had to be consumed accordingly. Not only was it difficult to skip over songs but it was sacrilegious. If there was a song that was in the middle of the album that we didnt like so much right away, then that was our problem. We needed to give it time to "understand" that song. If we couldnt "get it", then again, it was our shortcomings, not the artist. We also learned to appreciate those compositions that took time to appreciate and assimilate.
As I flip through my 1200 albums now as I write this, I see how this has changed. It reminds me how important it was, for example, to hear a given Beatle album in the right order. Out of order listening (ex. the UK edition) would not do! I guess I'm an old fart.
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"I guess I'm an old fart."
Copyright infringement! Somebody tell Grainger.
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True... I'm not that old! I dont think I will ever be THAT old!
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There were so many differences that came and went. I am amazed at how easy it is for me now to turn on a machine, "look" through the albums-artists-songs, and then hit play. Don't like the song? skip it. Don't like the album, or genre? move on. I used to look for certain CD's for awhile, and then accidently finding another that had to be heard. Not like that anymore, eh mate?
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I still only listen to complete albums. I hate listening to random songs from different artists, or even the same artist but different albums.
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Yes! Adam is truly the brother from another mother! What do you think Greg? Add him into the clan?
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Only if you go easy with the paddle during the initiation rite...
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I am sticking with the album-centric mode. Those were the days.
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Yup. And those were also the days when artists could actually make a living on royalties and not need to be out on the road filling a lot of seats in bigger and bigger venues to pay the bills, maybe way more often than they want to. Not that live music isn't a wonderful thing. But how can a record label rob, cheat and steal enough money from a band so the executives can buy those fancy cars and nice homes in Malibu when you can download a single song for a buck or stream it for basically nothing? What is the world coming to? Oh well, there's always sharing in the revenue from swag, etc.
Sorry for going OT. I had a client who had contempt for the label he recorded for, despised the (iconic) manager for his group, and especially the lawyers and accountants he (the manager) hired to represent them.
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Wax, your post was perfectly written and exactly what I have always said also.. And 4k, so is yours.. I do all those things myself.. That is exactly what I love about the vinyl days that the youngsters just dont experience today and thus can get trained into the "throw away", "get bored quick" , superficial "what's next, it's been a month already" mentality. And truly dont REALLY enjoy and savor things completely.. ie. less satisfaction... I dont know how many times, I bought an album as a kid, and maybe even seriously disliked it at first.. But, kept putting it on and eventually liking it alot... My Keith Partridge album comes to mind... just kidding!... And yeah, a weak track in the mix eventually became a good track later on.. It also taught me to relax and just gives things a chance.. and now with cd, I have become the superficial surfing monster... next, next, ok this one for 20 seconds to enjoy the astounding resolution of the opening sequence and then NEXT!!!.. Its terrible... hahaha What's even worse, and DONT tell me that I am the only one!, when, I moved to Florida from England, I set up a new amp, cd/reference dac and bookshelfs in my computer room.. And I had the greatest resolution of any system I have had, or frankly, heard as well.. And so , I was a nut case..I was hearing detail in ALL of my music that was previously not heard before..I was loving it, BUT, I was CONSTANTLY hitting the reverse button just to hear that new detail. And MANY times reversing to the same note or cymbal crash etc. maybe 20 times before moving on.. Hahaha, I was asking myself if I am enjoying or just analyzing.. The answer was both, But, I have to admit, If I had a vinyl piece playing, I would just enjoy the new detail and let the music keep flowing and not be the maniac I was with the remote!... When I am back up and running again, I plan to move into the digital server realm as well as vinyl. so, with vinyl , it will not be a problem, but with the server, I will try to not return to the previous habits and just kick back......Sorry, I am long winded, but, yes! to the great attributes that vinyl brings to us and/or MAKES us do......in just relaxing and giving it ALL a chance, and again to what it can teach us as well as help shape our behavioural patterns...So, yeah, I am right there with all of you back then experiencing and doing the very same thing.. And I am looking very much forward to getting back to doing it all again soon!!....
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Crikey, I just read my post for spell checking and boy, what a tough read! haha , sorry, I will go to sleep now and be all better later.. God willing that is.... Later dudes.....
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well said Chris and others above... We do, in fact get it. I feel that the satisfaction we get from hearing an entire album from front to back is something real. The artist intended it so. In the early days it was a crucial mix. You expected the good stuff in the first few songs. If they could hold it together for the whole side then that was truly special. That was a masterpiece. When I listen to albums now I still judge them the same. There is a special thing when an entire album, or side, can captivate and consume a consciousness or frame of reference throughout.
I always found it interesting that early on the critics were, well critical, of The White Album. They found it "disconnected" or in some way not consistent for one release. I thought it was perfect. Its the fucking White Album!
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Yup. And those were also the days when artists could actually make a living on royalties and not need to be out on the road filling a lot of seats in bigger and bigger venues to pay the bills, maybe way more often than they want to. Not that live music isn't a wonderful thing. But how can a record label rob, cheat and steal enough money from a band so the executives can buy those fancy cars and nice homes in Malibu when you can download a single song for a buck or stream it for basically nothing? What is the world coming to? Oh well, there's always sharing in the revenue from swag, etc.
Sorry for going OT. I had a client who had contempt for the label he recorded for, despised the (iconic) manager for his group, and especially the lawyers and accountants he (the manager) hired to represent them.
I still think, despite the more recent negatives, that it's become a very exciting time for music lovers. In the age of information, we have access to so much music that we could never get through it all if we listened to it every minute for our entire lifetime. So many bands out there doing it on their own, without a label and the corporate backing. The money may not be there in spades for many artists, but they still are out there putting their soul into their records and playing small venues where only several dozen may stand there to listen to them. I think that's what it can mean to be a real, dyed-in-the-wool artist; to often sacrifice to fulfill your need to create. If these guys expected to make big bucks, they would have gone into investment banking ;)
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I got it now. I didn't miss this thread, Eric started this thread at my bedtime. I didn't go to bed then but I didn't go back online either.
I admit to taking the time and effort to skip "Baby Driver" on the Simon and Garfunkle album, "Bridge...". I still don't know why it is there. But it is true, we got to listen to the collection of works and consume them as a single work.
How few of us know the title track to Spirit's "Clear" album. Almost no one.
The first two Chicago (Transit Authority) albums could be stacked and played in order. Same for the 3 LP "Woodstock" album, "Tommy" and all others from those days. And I stacked them, I had a nice Dual table.
I'm not sure that most of today's artists compose as an album. The Wailin' Jennys "40 Days" is certainly one that is a well thought out collection.
I still don't have a music server like Greg, but it might happen. As I get older I get lazier.
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"Whutcha takin' 'bout Willis?" "Ize not krazy" "ohhh...la-azy, yup that be me alright."
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Me? Well, I never learned how to make a playlist in any of the music server packages I've used. Still don't have a clue to use it and generally delete all the playlist categories from iTunes when I setup a new system. And I really have to seriously dislike a tune to skip it -- but I did that with albums and casettes as well. And I had one album that I only ever played one song from -- actually listened to the whole thing once through and decided that the one track was all that was worth listening to. No, not stairway to heaven :-) or free bird.
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Chris,
Your post, reply #9, could be in my thread about what counts when listening? Too often we fall into the "audiophile" pit. We listen to tiny details and miss the music.
When I realize I'm doing that, and I DO, I have to stop and reassess.
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I used to make "mix tapes" back in the day. For parties, camping, listening in the car etc. It was like the "best of" from all my albums. This is before digital audio anything of course.
I am also from the school of listening to the entire album. Skipping cuts on vinyl is a pita, you have to actually get up off your favorite listening perch and move the stylus. Then you miss the blank bit between cuts and have to scramble back to your seat to get back in the sweet spot.
I like digital for the sheer convenience. I can carry half my music library in my pocket. But, like waxxer, I have ~ 1500 albums right now. So digital can give me both worlds. I've actually embarked on digitizing my collection and have positive results. From a sound perspective though, it is definitely NOT analog. However it is great sitting on the skytrain listening to Mahavishnu Orchestra, Savoy Brown, or many of my other classic fav's from vinyl. And my car deck has a usb port so that's also works as another digital advantage.
Aural Robert.
... you can feel the difference ...
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Yeah, making mixed tapes for the car was great fun... My friend's older brother had all the cool rock that I was introduced to and recorded for my car... and Yes, Grainger, I will improve my digital listening habits in the future.. To me, a good example comes to mind was Foreigner's first album.. If it was today, and I was a teen, I would have listened to 3 of the tracks only, probably, and never gave the others the time or the chance. But, being vinyl, I let it roll. And the rest really grew on me, and many times for me, the OTHER songs (non hits or title track), I actually liked MORE and to this day still do... So, if cd, I would have missed out on alot of great music by just skipping over them all.. Blue Oyster Cult Mirrors is another one of the many I would have never gave much of a chance to, yet because it was back in the day with vinyl, I grew to LOVE it...
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For sure Chris, I am "appreciating" many more songs now than I did when I was a teen. So much from that time... Most of it I understood was "over my head". Thats cool. I can re-experience it as an adult with more patience. Dylan, Lou Reed, The Doors, The Band, Hendrix, Big Brother, The Yardbirds, etc.
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Yes, you are absolutely correct... Stuff like King Crimson, early Genesis (basically music from '68 to'76) I am very much ready to get into now, that would have never happened for me back then.. Not mature enough to get it... Funny thing, I just watched a documentary on Pink Floyd, and boy did I like the Syd Barrett Pink Floyd... I, of course, love the post Syd PF, but I am definitely ready now to explore the early Floyd and dig the hell out of it.. Emily will definitely be playing in my house for sure...
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Good example Chris! - early Floyd with Syd. What a Prophet! Too bad. Amazing talent! So the best talent form that area goes...
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Original vinyl may be hard to get.. But, even with cd, I will just let all that great stuff roll as if it were the black discs.....
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From the era of Crimson and Genesis, you have to check out Gentle Giant, Manfred Mann, there was a band from England called Flash that was insanely good, Jade Warrior, Emerson Lake & Palmer, Jeff Beck, AIIIIIEEEE there are just sooooo many.
Aural Robert.
... Neuro-surgeons scream for more ...
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Ok, thank you for the suggestions. I will check them all out.. ELP will still be a tough digest for me I think. I always thought Keith took a good thing and would go WAY too far with it and ultimately ruin it for me ie. the end of lucky man, wasnt even remotely close to the melody, tempo and vibe of the song and then here comes this "somebody help me, I can't seem to stop" garbage... But that is just me...
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ok hold on one doggone minute: You're telling me Flash was a music group? With a real LP inside this jacket? After having this stuck to my bedroom ceiling all those years I had no idea! But you're right; there's an LP in here!!! :o ;)
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I thought their second album was better. :P ;D I wonder if it's the same model.
To those who may not know, the original album is a gatefold and the back half is the right mammary, similarly posed. Very nice.
Aural Robert.
... Frankie says relax ...
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Speaking of old farts ... I remember attending the Engineering Fair (or whatever it was called) at the local university and being - for the first time - exposed to the notion of "Stereo-phonic" sound. Shortly after that the local classical music station (still in business, KING-FM, now also on the web) had a special program broadcasting STEREO music, for one hour per day. Very exotic. Much later I managed two (quite dissimilar) speakers and a stereo amp. Something like 6 years before I actually built an pair of identical speakers to hear the real thing.
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Paul.. You ARE the old fart! Thats crazy old. I remember when quadrophonic hit. Now, thats back far enough for most!
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I had a kenwood kr-7340 quad receiver that I bought new probably in 1974. Used it until a couple of years after I moved to az in 1992. Something died on it a few years later....guessing the power supply...I was very proud of that unit for quite sometime. I spent some hard earned income on that. Still have a few quad LPs that I don't even know if it would be safe to play them today w a current cartridge.
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. . . I remember when quadrophonic hit. Now, that's back far enough for most!
I was talking to an engineer at work late last week. I mentioned the Quadraphonic fad in the mid 70, as, "you remember the short fad of Quadraphonic in the mid 70s, don't you?" He said, "I was born in 1979." I felt old.
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I remember my father and I going to hear stereo for the first time in the mid 50's. I was probably less than 10 years old so I enjoyed the record of trains going past. I seem to remember there was a bit of music as well. We were impressed.
Getting back to how our listening habits have changed. I mostly listen to classical and the biggest change that using a music server (JRiver) has brought to my listening habits has been the investigation of the minor composers. Many CDs in my collection have tracks on them that are not by well known composers and once I got the collection digitized and appropriately tagged, it has been a pleasure to explore the byways.
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