Saturday, January 26, 2008

It's Saturday! Let's Play!


For my 15th birthday I received a record player. Yes. For vinyl. And along with it, the coveted Bon Jovi Slippery When Wet album. Although, Bon Jovi himself did not inspire me to want to 'hit that'. Not that I'm dissing the Jovi; I just liked my bad boys with a little more badasserness *cough*Nikki Sixx*cough*. Anyway. As I was saying. The album. I knew every song by heart because I wore this thing out. At some point my parents gave me a set of headphones because they also knew all the songs by heart. There were many other bands whose songs I could recite. I had many other albums. There were also some that I probably liked more *ah-choo*Motley Crue*kazuntite*. But this one is special. It (and the record player) were given to me by my step-father; who was new to us at the time. And at the time, I was fifteen an insufferable asshole. He tried. Bless his heart. He tried the only way an early thirtysomething year old man who'd never had children and finds himself a father to a jerk teenage girl, knows how. With presents. And while I certainly probably didn't outwardly acknowledge my appreciation for it then; every time I hear any song from that record, it generates fond memories of my father (I've long since dropped the 'step' part). And I also wonder...all of my Captain Craptacular teenage attitude aside...if just the fact that I listened to it endlessly; was enough for him to know that I DID appreciate it. And him. Thanks Dad.

So friends and lurkers (I adore comments!), what was your favorite album? And for bonus points, why?

18 comments:

Texasholly said...

I would have to admit to Meatloaf, Bat out of Hell for best album to crank up in the car and sing all the words very loudly. That is so sweet about your dad. How cool is he?

Karen said...

I have to admit to a certain amount of lameness here. I was graced with a record player at an early age, but the thought never occurred to me that I could purchase my own records for it. My parents would have fallen over dead on the spot had we listened to anything modern. It was Smokey Mountain Hymns and The Gaither Band all the way.

Funny how I don't remember playing with that record player much...

Unknown said...

Aww, that almost made me cry! :)

I'm too young to have a favorite record. But I used to be obsessed with the Backstreet Boys! I even had a poster in my room.

Madame Queen said...

Oh, Strip by Adam Ant, no question. I listened to that thing umpteen gazillion times! But my first ever album (besides my Elvis albums which I don't count for some reason) was ABBA's Dancing Queen. Ahhh, the good old days.

Maremone said...

What's a record player?

Anonymous said...

REM. Chronic Town. It was 1982, I was in my college dorm room. I heard it on the college radio station and I thought it was the most perfect collection of sound I had ever heard. Twenty-six years later, I still believe it is some of the best music ever. EVER.

There is something incredibly missing in this world without albums. I still have my collection, but nothing on which to play it. One day we will hook up one of those gadgets what transfers vinyl to mp3, and join this century with last century's music.

Monica said...

Uh. Can you say 8-track? Juice Newton, my friend. NOT sure why or how that freakishly happened, but I'll tell you, I STILL love to hear that girl singin' bout the Queen of Hearts! Ha ha.

JCK said...

You can take Nikki, cause I've already claimed Bon Jovi as MY boyfriend.

Beatles "Let it Be" was my first album. 1971. Yes, I am THAT old. But, my face is youthful!

Really sweet tribute to your dad.

Anonymous said...

Mine was Def Leppard's Pyromania. I think i was in 4th grade or something when that came out. An older family friend gave it to me because she didn't like it. That was around the time I started listening to the radio, and I had heard some of their songs before, but they kind of scared me because they sounded like "bad kids." These bad kids grew on me quick, and before long, I had their logo down pat. I drew it on everything I owned (my book covers, my backpack...). Then that whole rock pin craze happened. That was my favorite pin. Denim jacket with rock pins - the epitome of cool. Ah the memories...

AutoSysGene said...

Goodness, I know I had a record player but about the only thing I can remember was my Grease album and my Barry Manilow album. Hmm, I think my mom bought me both of them, any surprise there? ;)

Mrs. G. said...

I shudder to admit this: The Bee Gees' Saturday Night Fever. Don't judge me.

Nora said...

Great post! The first album I ever bought was Rick Springfield, the one with Jesse's Girl on it. I played it into the ground. Also loved Chicago and all their sappy love songs, and the soundtrack to "Robin Hood" with kevin costner. I'm sure my family were ready to throw that cassette into the river.

Fannie said...

Ahhh, John Denver, Back Home Again. Thanks for the memories.

Anonymous said...

My fave was Madonna's True Blue album. I played it on my "stereo"--that combination turn table/dual cassette deck thing with the HUGE speakers. I was so cool.

carmen said...

The first album (actually it was a cassette) I ever purchased was Thriller! I can't believe I just admitted that!

Tootsie Farklepants said...

Great selections!

carmen~ My first concert was the Victory Tour so you'll get no judgment from me!

Anonymous said...

My first album was Grease. I knew every song by heart. And I also had Funnybones, which was a collection of songs like Disco Duck and Love Potion #9. I am old and have strange tastes in music.

Anonymous said...

I remember getting my first record player for Christmas. My mother must have thought I was an angel, because she picked it up and put it in the back seat with me and told me not to look (WTF?). Anyway, my favorite and first alblum was Michael Jackson's Off the Wall. I also loved Stevie Nicks Bella Donna. I, too, loved Bon Jovi's Slippery When Wet. Unfortunately, I was able to buy in on tape when it came out, so you know how old I am!