I still remember the words to most of the songs — “Convoy” by C.W. McCall … “Fox on the Run” by Sweet … “King Fu Fighting” by Carl Douglas … “Rhinestone Cowboy” by Glen Campbell … “Band on the Run” by Paul McCartney and Wings.
Those are just a few of the 45s that I used to spin on a 1970s-era record player. It sat over in the corner of my bedroom next to a cardboard box designed to hold records. The box had inserts with tabs so you could sort them alphabetically.
I inherited the record player from my older sister, who had moved on to an 8-track player. I also ended up with most of her records, so the collection included singles such as “Dancing Queen,” by ABBA, “Angie” by The Rolling Stones and a live version of “My Ding-a-Ling” — a sort of novelty song by Chuck Berry. (And yes, I know the words — I listened to those records many times as well).
As I grow older and get my tunes primarily through YouTube Music, I’m starting to ponder the possibility of finding an old record player and starting up a vinyl collection. The sound is obviously nothing like what we have today but it doesn’t matter. I’m kind of feeling a sort of longing to listen to an old 45 on the turntable. And it might look cool sitting in the corner of my office.
I think the sounds will take me back to those wonder years — to borrow a phrase from the popular television show. I’ll remember the neighbor girl that I had a crush on sitting next to me on the floor of my bedroom listening to records with me (and no, I didn’t get a kiss). I’ll remember the other neighbor kid who was a little rough around the edges hanging out with me and making fun of some of the records in my collection.
“Love Will Keep Us Together” by Captain & Tennille, “Wasted Days and Wasted Nights” by Freddy Fender and “I Write the Songs” by Barry Manilow were also in the collection. OK, maybe I can see why he picked on me.
Yeah, maybe I’ll pick up an old record player.
(Brad Fuqua is publisher/editor of the Philomath News. He can be reached at News@PhilomathNews.com).
