First, a question then an explanation.
The question: How long has it been since you listened to a favorite album, CD, or cassette from beginning to end, without stopping? I’m wondering if our rushing, ever more “productive” tendencies are taking the good out of our life.
The explanation: I got the idea to use a song lyric as the title of this post after I thought for a while about my recent (and very unusual) twelve day stint away from work. I had taken a few days off during the holidays, resulting in almost two weeks of vacation. After the first day off, I began to forget about scheduled duties and my concept of time and itineraries soon slipped away. I even stepped outside my house without wearing my watch a couple of times – the equivalent of being stark naked for me at any other time.
So, what did I do with this newly liberated time? Many things, but one of the long lost joys that I revisited was listening to music. Not just throwing a CD in while I’m exercising, or taking the mp3 player with me as I run out the door, but really listening, and sitting down. Relaxing and trying to figure out what an artist had in mind with a particular song. In the case of a concept album, what did s/he intend to convey with the whole work?
To say that my musical taste is varied would be accurate, but I listened to a relatively narrow range of music between Christmas and New Year’s Day. Frank Sinatra’s Las Vegas box set was high on the list, while a Dropkick Murphys CD also made the cut. Shannon Brown is a country favorite (she also has a very nice name) from here in Iowa, and her last album was produced by John Rich of Big and Rich fame.
Eventually the whole experience took me back to a time, around ten years ago, when I sat with a friend of mine who also has a fairly eclectic taste in music. That night, we discussed the merits of Texas Swing as a style of American Folk Music and whether or not Bob Wills was and is the King of Swing. I’m not sure which was more valuable to me, the relaxation of the present time or the memory of the past. I’m glad I got to enjoy both.
Tags: Bob Wills, Chicago, Dropkick Murphys, music, Shannon Brown, Sinatra, Texas swing
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If Bob Wills isn’t the King of Western Swing, who the h*** is?
“Bob Wills is Still the King” – Waylon Jennings.
Nuf Ced
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Johnny, this is a pleasant surprise – we haven’t seen each other in way too long, but it’s nice to know we can “meet up” electronically. Very good to hear from you!
For everyone else, Johnny is the friend I was talking about in the post – one of about five people with whom I’ve truly enjoyed taking in live music and whose musical opinions command my respect.
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Hello.
I don’t remember that specific conversation, but I assumed and hoped it must have been me. Just in case it wasn’t, I wanted to put in my 2 cents!
Coincidently, I just let Bob & his Texas Playboys out of their jewel boxes the other night for the first time in quite a while and had a fine time.
While I’m still fairly entrenched socially & technologically in the 20th century and thus don’t quite “get” blogging, I have stopped be here once or twice since you provided the link.
I enjoyed and empathized with this piece on listening to music. And was touched by your pleasant recollection of my company.
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You’re way too kind – thanks. I appreciate your comments and you’ve given me a couple ideas for future posts, too (you will definitely recognize them when you see them, so I’ll let the details be a surprise for later).
As for being entrenched in the 20th century, don’t feel alone. It’s unlikely you’ll find someone who is more of an anachronism than me.
I’m no blogging expert either, nor do I conform to the mold that has created the brightest lights in this strange, wonderful, large community (or subculture or whatever).
I’ve always loved reading and writing. I’ve also found inspiration in a couple of people I’ve met who are doing this so very effectively, and yet have retained a strong awareness of self and sense of normalcy – that’s maybe what you and I are referring to as being entrenched in the 20th century.
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