Music Mondays

I’m switching gears a bit this week, but the focus will still be on music. This past weekend was Record Store Day (RSD). Being new to the vinyl & vintage audio scene, I really wanted to get into the spirit.

This year, RSD landed it squarely in the middle of a long weekend – an added bonus. The Record Centre is in my ‘hood, but I wanted to make it extra special and decided a trip south of the border was in order. I’m not talking a long road trip, more like an afternoon excursion to the border towns of Massena and Potsdam, NY.

I figured what better way to experience RSD than to visit small town America, after-all RSD has it’s genesis in celebrating and supporting small independent record stores. I imagined walking into an ageless record store, hearing the sounds of Bob Dylan or Neil Young blasting from a pair of vintage speakers and talking with a time-weathered music aficionado about the must have records and the latest releases.

High on my list was the latest offering (posthumously) from Johnny Cash, Neil Young’s surprise release of an album of covers and some older releases from the Drive-By Truckers.

I seemingly forgot about some of the messages often heard in the sounds of Cash, Young and the Drive-By Truckers – hard times continue to cripple small town America. Although I asked – there were no longer such places of musical escapism in either town. The last one shuttered its doors over two years ago. I was too late.

Dejected and feeling a little guilty (Catholic guilt I suppose) for not supporting RSD earlier, I pointed the car north and headed back home.

Notwithstanding this disappointment, I made a mental note to follow through on an idea that has been percolating in the back corners of my mind – more on that in a later post.

Fuelled by disappointment I ventured into the basement of the ex-laws to paw my way through their aging collection of vinyl. I managed to find some some albums which fit squarely within my musical leanings and some I am interested in learning more about. I have already managed to listen to Black Uhuru and some Mississippi John Hurt.

Later today, I will put on Bruce Springsteen’s ‘Born in the USA‘, U2’s ‘Rattle and Hum‘ and Bob Marley & the Wailers’ 1973 release, ‘Catch a Fire‘. Am looking forward this journey back into our musical past.

Monday’s drawing to a close and so is this post. Before I head back home, I’ll take a stroll up to The Record Centre and say hello to John!

Take care and happy listening.