06/04, 2007
My Musical Evolution: 1968-1972
Like many of you out there, music played a big part in how I became who I am. We all tend to attach ourselves to an artist or band. They speak to us in some way or another; be it the words they write, the sounds they make, the clothes they wear, the causes they stand for, or maybe it’s their persona or attitude. Whatever the reasons, many of us use music to define who we are.
It’s an awesome feeling finding that new band or artist that simply blows you away. This may happen frequently when you are young. There is so much music to discover. As you get older, however, this tends to happen less and less for most. I’m sure the reasons are many. For me, it is simply a matter of not being exposed to a wide range of music as I used to be. It’s so easy to dismiss a lot new music when you are older. In my case, it’s just harder for a new band to impress me. If I hear a band that sounds like Soundgarden to me, I generally dismiss them and go listen to some Soundgarden. I realize that this is not entirely fair but hey, it’s just how it is, for me at least. There have been times where I have dismissed a band only to discover them later. Maybe a friend told me about other songs on the album. Maybe I heard some other album tracks on XM. I blame the industry. Terrestrial radio might as well be a musical wasteland. I discover more cool music from TV commercials than I do from regular radio. I resent being told what is cool by a bunch of suits who wouldn’t know cool if it was oozing out of their ears. But that is another post for another time.
This article explores my musical evolution. This includes music that I remember my parents playing frequently, or songs I heard on the radio during that time. Some songs attach themselves to a particular experience that you had at the time. I’m sure many people who were kids in the 70’s will have visions of a skating rink when they hear a particular old song. Maybe you will have a flash of an old girlfriend/boyfriend when another song plays. You may even recall smells and sounds of a past experience when you hear a certain song.
Let’s start things off by recalling music from my first 5 years of life.
1968 - 1972
I was born in 1968. I don’t really recall much from my first 2 or 3 years. But around the age of 3 or 4, I can remember hearing many songs in the car or on the radio. There are 3 artists that stand out in my memory. All three of them were played frequently in the car. I can still remember the 8-tracks as if it were yesterday!
The Grass Roots
My first “favorite” band would have to be The Grass Roots. My parents had “Their 16 Greatest Hits” on 8-track, which was released in 1971. This was one of the first albums that I owned once I got my first record player. My Mom had got remarried in ‘74 or ‘75 and my stepfather had gotten it for me, as well as the “Feelings” and “Lovin’ Things” albums. To this day I will still put on some Grass Roots on occassion.
Samples of some of my favorite Grass Roots songs: (links to iTunes Music Store)
Neil Young
Another 8-track that I remember being played a lot was Neil Young’s “Everybody Knows This is Nowhere”, which came out in 1969. Great album then, even better now! Neil has had an amazing career and this album still ranks as one of his best.
Samples of some standout tracks from this album: (links to iTunes Music Store)
Neil Diamond
“Shilo” was a greatest hits package comprised of his early stuff. This album was released in 1970. Like the Grass Roots, this was mostly upbeat music that someone under 5 could enjoy. And I did. Granted, I never did become such a fan that I ultimately explored his whole body of work, but this album made such an impression on me at an early age that many of these songs remain my favorite by Neil Diamond.
Samples of some standout tracks from this album: (links to iTunes Music Store)
So there it is; music I remember the most from my first 5 years of life. Next up, I will cover the rest of the 70’s and stop in 1981 which is the year after the emergence of MTV. This era starts with Elvis, moves on to The Beatles and all things Beatles-related, Disco, and then ends with my transition into modern music which began with Blondie.
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