Tower Records/Hollywood had š§ available to listen to new CDs. The curiosity of a large, upper-case "E" on the front of one led me to the sublime melodies of a man inexplicably called "E."
Brilliant piece, as always. Ahh... the days when we could discover music by listening to records in the manner you described so well: inside the record store, with headphones on, and only an album cover as guidance (or lack thereof!). I used to do the same in Buenos Aires as a kid growing up in the nineties. I remember in some stores the headphones were too high for my height... so I had to stand on my tiptoes!
Back to your excellent piece, it's crazy how sometimes the universe puts you in front of a record without a lot of (or any) additional clues. You start listening, one verse, sometimes even one or two lines, or bars if instrumental, and you immediately feel a connection. The beautiful, magical, inexplicable power of music. Thank you for sharing this beautiful memory!
I dig your work in Front Row & Backstage in general, Brad, but I think is one of my favorite pieces yet. I can't say I struck gold a lot, but I loved the rush of discovering an entirely new album/artist at a record store listening station. You not only highlight the album in question, but your piece really recreates that experience, which is not really something you can do anymore. Anyway, I loved the approach and thought the article was outstanding.
Brilliant piece, as always. Ahh... the days when we could discover music by listening to records in the manner you described so well: inside the record store, with headphones on, and only an album cover as guidance (or lack thereof!). I used to do the same in Buenos Aires as a kid growing up in the nineties. I remember in some stores the headphones were too high for my height... so I had to stand on my tiptoes!
Back to your excellent piece, it's crazy how sometimes the universe puts you in front of a record without a lot of (or any) additional clues. You start listening, one verse, sometimes even one or two lines, or bars if instrumental, and you immediately feel a connection. The beautiful, magical, inexplicable power of music. Thank you for sharing this beautiful memory!
I dig your work in Front Row & Backstage in general, Brad, but I think is one of my favorite pieces yet. I can't say I struck gold a lot, but I loved the rush of discovering an entirely new album/artist at a record store listening station. You not only highlight the album in question, but your piece really recreates that experience, which is not really something you can do anymore. Anyway, I loved the approach and thought the article was outstanding.
Thanks for this piece Brad, I love all things E/Eels.
He's the featured 'maverick' in the attached chapter of my music themed novel.
https://challenge69.substack.com/p/track-4
As I say in this, through all of E's many mood-swings somehow, "I just prefer it when he's miserable!"