I was listening to some music the other day on my Disc-man and started to mess with the little ear-buds hoping to get just a little better sound, when I had a great Flash; I’m gonna get out my 35 year old Radio Shack Real Earphones and listen to my stuff like I did a long time ago. Now these are the real-deal; earphones that cover your entire ear, with big strap over your head and give you a fidelity and fullness of sound you just ain’t gonna get out of two little “buds” ( of course there are “buds” that actually enhance all musical experiences, but that’s the subject for another post).
Earphones used to be the ultimate in stereo listening 40 years ago. And wow! Powered by my 40 year old Pioneer SX770 tuner amp, the Fabulous Thunderbirds never sounded so good; except when seen live. This whole thing got me started thinking about re-visiting Old Pleasures; stuff ya used to do in the past but just can’t find time for now. Gawd, Jimmy Vaughn was great as a T-Bird.
So, when was the last time you actually sat down and just listened to a whole album? Not just in the background, but with room shakin’ fidelity pumped out by 2 or more 12 inch speakers. Been a while? Seems like Classic Rock satellite stations and the I-Pod have ruined music appreciation. Try re-visiting Hendrix, Zeppelin, Cream and Credence. Yeah, you hear that stuff all the time on those stations, but their familiarity is only breeding contempt as far as I’m concerned.
I mean if I hear Santana’s “Black Magic Woman” one more time I’m gonna puke. It’s actually a great song, blending the work of British blues-man Peter Green with jazz guitarist Gabor Szabo’s Gypsy Queen. But damn, I just don’t want to hear it again. Same thing with Elvis (before he went into the Army); he cranked out some of the best rock and roll of the 50’s, great stuff, but lame now that you heard it a million times.
Old pleasures are still a rich experience. Things like reading a book (not Kindle), going to the movies (not renting them), or just hanging out with a friend are all rich experiences, worthy of re-exploration.
Speaking of old pleasures, the wife just walked into the room with a friskie look on her face. Gotta go now. But take time to enjoy this old pleasure from Fleetwood Mac (before the chicks showed up). In fact, if you still have it, give their “Then Play On” album a listen; well worth it.
Hansi's Hallucinations 
Comments on: "Old Pleasures" (11)
Hansi,
You old dog! Your wife still gives you frisky looks does she? Those meds must do good by you. But back to the music. You make an excellent point that escaped me- nobody listens to the whole album any more. Heck, for all I know, maybe nobody makes an entire album these days. We used to put the record on the turntable and listen to the whole damn thing- the songs we liked and the ones we didn’t life but it put you in the right frame of mind.
BTW, I remember a lot of songs that I have no idea who performed- like that Fleetwood Mac clip. I know the song but had no idea that it was FM. All I know about FM is Stevie Nix but FM with Stevie is a whole nuther animal.
Ralph…glad you can relate to this one. Fleetwood Mac,the Peter Green group, was a great British Blues Band. They had a lot of albums, can’t forget “Rattlesnake Shake” by them. Green had a schizophrenic break and left the group, in the very early 70’s, and they had many subsequent incarnations, but were basically dying on the vine until Lindsey Buckingham and Nix came along, and they changed over to ‘Pop’. Still a great band, but different and more well know.
I would like to re-visit old pleasurers (I mean pleasures) Hansi, but her indoors wouldn’t approve. It’s not that I can’t find the time, the old equipment isn’t what is was.
Back to music, not entirely my bag but I did think Albatross was a great number by FM.
Agree with you on old pleasures being a rich experience.
Bill
Ashton-under-Lyne, UK
Bill, I know what ya mean about old equipment….Nothing that a good tune-up wouldn’t help. Albatross was one of my F M favorites too.
As usual, I’m slow on the pickup. I don’t have my old turntable any more and I gave away the vinyl so that equipment is gone. Some of the more personal equipment I still have but it provides little more than sentimental value.
Ralph, I still have some vinyl, and a huge collection of 45’s from the 50’s and early 60’s (collectors items now). But I’m not an analogue purist, and prefer the ease and clarity of sound now digitally available.
If only I still had that equipment! I’d crank up Gypsy Eyes by Jimi Hendrix and time travel back to the 70s
Hendrix set the mark for everyone to shoot for. A re-listen in full window shakin’ fidelity will still blow your mind. Does mine 🙂
LOL! So true. Imagine all the people who grow up never hearing anything with better fidelity than an MP3.
Glad you agree. A lot of old stuff (technology, and some of us men) still works pretty good. It’s just not fashionable in this age when everything becomes obsolete (including us old men) within a few years.
You apparently haven’t been paying close attention to music delivery systems. The ear buds of today’s Ipod and MP3 set is giving way on some fronts to youths wearing isolation-style headphones. The next generation of self inflicted deafness is upon us, listening to everything… from Elvis P to Elvis C. and beyond, adored with cushiony clam-shells.