It was DD’s birthday at the weekend and when asked what she wanted for a present, she said a turntable. Things have turned full circle and young people are now discovering that having thousands of songs (heck, millions of songs?) at their disposal, might not be the best way to really appreciate music. So, we all chipped in, and between us, the in-laws and Mr DD, she is now the proud owner of a turntable, speakers and a starter selection of vinyl albums. Most were recorded by current artists but in amongst those given to her by her other half was Fleetwood Mac’s Rumours. I still find it amazing that she is a fan of a band who first formed nearly 30 years before she was born. Then again I was a big fan of Fred Astaire when I was young and his heyday was nearly 30 years before I was born, so perhaps she’s just following my lead.
Anyway, on the big day we were invited across to their new house for brunch, and for the opening of presents. Although I now have nothing decent to play them on, I still have most of my vinyl albums from back in the day and I’ve decided to loan her a couple every now and again to hear what she thinks of them. On this occasion, the first “loaning out”, I brought Donald Fagan’s The Nightfly and Everything But The Girl’s Baby The Stars Shine Bright, both albums I bought when I was roughly her age. I eagerly await her judgement as she has a good ear.
I only found out about Donald Fagen’s solo career from my friend who made the “awesome mixtapes” (see link on sidebar), as back in 1986 he made me one with a couple of tracks from The Nightfly. I had always liked Steely Dan’s music but I honestly wouldn’t have known the band members’ names back then. It was a pleasant discovery though, and I immediately treated myself to my own copy of The Nightfly.
The album is full of songs that related to Donald’s New Jersey suburban childhood, in the late ’50s and early ’60s, and refer to late-night jazz disc jockeys, fallout shelters, and tropical vacations. One of my favourites is New Frontier and as you will see from the clip it involves a young chap bringing a girl home to “party” in his father’s shelter built in the back garden. Such times.
Baby, the Stars Shine Bright was an album I bought at the start of 1987, as it was recommended in the magazine The Face which I subscribed to at the time. (I went through a stage of trying to be cooler than I actually was!) It was EBTG’s third album and despite the fact it didn’t spawn any hit singles I have always really liked it.
Apparently, Tracey and Ben were following a distinctively “anti-rock” approach at this time and were unwilling to adopt a synthetic-sounding production that was fashionable at the time. Instead, the album took its influence from ’60s orchestrated music and the singer Dusty Springfield. This explains why I must have liked the album so much as since starting this blog I find myself returning to orchestral pop time and time again. This song, Come On Home, was the first on side one – I wonder what DD will make of it?
So, “What’s It All About?” – Sharing your music with the generation below I think. DD already has a good appreciation of the music we bought on CD throughout the 1990s and beyond, but my vinyl is all new to her. I’m looking forward to having music-listening sessions in her lovely new house complete with turntable and speakers. I will report back.
Until next time…
The New Frontier Lyrics
(Song by Donald Fagen)
Yes we’re gonna have a wingding
A summer smoker underground
It’s just a dugout that my dad built
In case the reds decide to push the button down
We’ve got provisions and lots of beer
The key word is survival on the new frontier
Introduce me to that big blonde
She’s got a touch of Tuesday Weld
She’s wearing Ambush and a French twist
She’s got us wild and she can tell
She loves to limbo, that much is clear
She’s got the right dynamic for the new frontier
Well I can’t wait till I move to the city
Till I finally make up my mind
To learn design and study overseas
Do you have a steady boyfriend
Cause honey I’ve been watching you
I hear you’re mad about Brubeck
I like your eyes I like him too
He’s an artist, a pioneer
We’ve got to have some music on the new frontier
Well I can’t wait till I move to the city
Till I finally make up my mind
To learn design and study overseas
Let’s pretend that it’s the real thing
And stay together all night long
And when I really get to know you
We’ll open up the doors and climb into the dawn
Confess your passion, your secret fear
Prepare to meet the challenge of the new frontier
What's It All About? 
Generational music is a fascinating subject. My youngest’s religion is Def Leppard, her damascene moment being the discovery of Hysteria (1987, the year before she was born) in my vinyl collection. It will be interesting to hear what DD has to say!
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That’s really interesting Graeme. Because the technology really moved on a pace from the late ’60s, unless it was really of its time, music from then until now is kind of timeless. These two albums I’ve given her are from nearly 10 years before she was born yet they both could be contemporary. Fred Astaire – not so much.
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Excellent Side 2 on the mixtape. Will you be featuring any of those in future posts?
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Hi Ernie – when I first started this series I had planned to but only three songs have featured so far. Have you any particular favourites on that Side 2?
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Pretty much all of them. Maybe not the Kane Gang or Tom Robinson, but only because they suffer by comparison to the rest.
Should also say that I share your enthusiasm for ‘The Nightfly’, particularly the two tracks you selected and ‘Walk Between The Raindrops.
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Have written about Whole Of The Moon and Summer Breeze before but will take note of your other likes from Side 2.
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A belated happy birthday to DD! Brilliant that she wanted a turntable and that you’ve provided some (ancient slang alert) ‘platters’ to go with it. Look forward to your report back on what she liked, it’s always heartening I think when the music of our youth is a hit with those much younger, even though they don’t have the context that we did – the music stands up. Nice choice too with EBTG, so classy, so ‘Dusty’ as you say. Oh and you subscribed to ‘The Face’! Although not a subscriber I did buy it quite frequently – it all just fitted with that time, didn’t it? Love the compilation tape inlay, beautifully handwritten to squeeze everything into those tight lines, a feat in itself, and some great tracks on it, many of which I like more in hindsight!
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Thanks. It’s Mr DD’s birthday next week and then Christmas a few weeks later. A busy time for gifting!
Platters, not heard that term in a long time. How the group got their name I imagine. Yes I’ll be interested to find out what she thinks of my collection as she’s never really heard them – only the CD collection.
As for The Face I did enjoy it back in 86/87 although not really relevant to the life I lived in Aberdeen at the time. It was good to find out about people and music I might not have otherwise heard about.
As for the mixtape with the neat writing, I of course got curious as to whatever happened to IC, so I googled him as we lost touch long ago. The latest update is in this interesting article in the Aberdeen P&J. The IC I knew was the one in the old photo!
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Oh how lovely to see that article! What an interesting chappie – and it’s really nice to connect that compilation tape with the man himself there.
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It was a good read wasn’t it. He was still working offshore when I knew him but after Piper Alpha he made that big switch. He was always really into food and was a really good cook so the coffee business suited him well.
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Mixtapes
*Sigh*
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