Your First Album Never Fades Away
That first purchase is special for a lifetime
I was a teenager in the early 1970s, when Vietnam, hippies, rock ‘n’ roll, Motown, Watergate were mainstream in the USA. War and politics took center stage before the fall of both Saigon and President Richard Nixon by 1975.
And of course, TV shows reflected the times from All-American Happy Days to war weary M*A*S*H, with social conflicts revealed in All in the Family and Sanford and Son. For comic relief, the upstart show, Saturday Night Live, debuted with George Carlin hosting.
I lived on a military base in the middle of nowhere Missouri, while my dad served a tour of duty in Vietnam with the Air Force. It was a simple life of bussing to school, playing basketball and trying to make sense of the war, drugs, music and cultural upheaval engulfing the nation.
We wore bell bottom blue jeans with patches covering the worn out spots. Red, white and blue flag shoes trended too. So we took to heart songs like Oh Very Young by Cat Stevens (Yusuf Islam):
Oh very young What will you leave us this time You're only dancing on this Earth for a short while And though your dreams may toss and turn you now They will vanish away like your daddy's best jeans Denim Blue fading up to the sky And though you want him to last forever You know he never will (You know he never will) And the patches make the goodbye harder still
The national intensity ratcheted up because we were all watching the same news and TV shows and listening to the same radio stations and records. It was a collective catharsis, more so than today with the availability of digital downloads to slice the populace pie into slivers of individual interests.
As a caveat, this was before the rise of disco, punk rock, MTV and AIDS.
I didn’t play guitar until 19 years old in 1977. As a young teen though, I listened with intent. Most albums came with liner notes and photos that highlighted the musicians, the lyrics and gave insights into the hitmaking process. I devoured these details. Lyrics read like short stories to decipher.
We bought records like kids today purchase new digital games for PS4. Some teens preferred to buy the double-sided 45s, released early with the hit song on the A-side and a lesser known song on the B-side. I always waited for the entire album to come out. I wanted the full story, the full experience of 8 to 10 songs and that coveted album cover. Hit songs were always played on the radio; albums allowed you to discover other gems that didn’t climb the standard industry charts.
In the early 70s, supernatural music flooded our senses and took us on alternative journeys, with or without the weed. It came at us from all spectrums of the American landscape with a large dose of British artists adding to the cacophony. Geography showcases, and sometimes defines, where distinctive sound originates from. It’s a variety pack of Detroit rockers, Southern rock, Motown sound, California sound, Texas rhythm and blues, Nashville vs. Austin country, Delta Blues, Heartland rock and much more.
Here’s a small sample of the playlist:
Lynyrd Skynyrd - Free Bird Led Zeppelin - Stairway to Heaven Allman Brothers Band - Jessica Marvin Gaye - What’s Going On Steely Dan - Reelin' in the Years Rolling Stones - Angie Jackson Browne - Doctor My Eyes Doobie Brothers - Black Water Bruce Springsteen - Born to Run Stevie Wonder - Living for the City Bill Withers - Ain't No Sunshine
For reasons unknown, I gravitated toward songwriters. I was born to reflect. So when it came to spending hard-earned cash from odd jobs, my selections were streamlined. The first album I purchased was not a common choice, but it set the pattern for my love of lyrics.
Songs for Beginners by Graham Nash of Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young (CSNY), as well as, The Hollies fame, was my first album pick. I can’t really recall how this came to be other than Nash was my favorite of the group early on. It was akin to liking George Harrison as my favorite Beatle.
Nearly 50 years later as I embark on my songwriting journey in earnest, I can see why Songs for Beginners stood out. It’s odd that I can’t remember which album was second or third. I guess the tone was already set by the first one, so the others - Neil Young, Jackson Browne, Stephen Stills, John Prine, Joni Mitchell, Joan Armatrading, Guy Clark - fell in line.
Here are the tracks from Songs for Beginners:
Side One: Military Madness, Better Days, Wounded Bird, I Used to be a King, Be Yourself Side Two: Simple Man, Man in the Mirror, There's Only One, Sleep Song, Chicago, We Can Change the World
I can still sing these songs in my head. They are embedded for life. Military Madness mirrors my own journey and current views on war.
Military Madness was killing my country Solitary Sadness comes over me After the school was over and I moved To the other side I found a different country but I never Lost my pride Military Madness was killing the country Solitary sadness creeps over me And after the wars are over And the body count is finally filed I hope that The Man discovers What's driving the people wild Military madness is killing your country So much sadness, between you and me War, War, War, War, War, War
For me, songwriting reaches back to every album, 8-track, cassette, or CD purchased. There are countless moments etched in the brain ether that come to the fore to help guide the process. It is a mystical brew that tastes different every time. I hope to shake up the senior years with a little youthful expression.
A few years after buying this album, I drove with my older brother to attend a Crosby, Stills, Nash (CSN) concert at the Tarrant County Convention Center in Ft. Worth, Texas. As the arena filled up, I was people watching and took notice of a certain couple headed my way along the concourse walkway. As they got closer, the man, wearing a red windbreaker, walked in slow step with a women who was pregnant. It was Graham Nash, no doubt. He probably assumed no one would recognize him as he took a pre-concert walkabout. I did. I’ve known that album cover face for years.
I soaked in the moment without alerting my brother or his friends. I watched them stroll by just ten feet away from our seats and then head down the stairwell. It was magical in a silent, undisturbed way.
Now I’m finding my own magical moments with songwriting.
Songs Update:
While I have a dozen or so songs already written, I’m finding that the recording and singing elements of production tend to slow me down. Also, April is the fasting month, so my energy levels are low too. I’m not looking for perfection, but I do want to do these songs justice. I’m anxious to get these tunes recorded and am trying to figure out my singing range and the dynamics of key selection. I appreciate your patience and hope these essays suffice in the interim.