A NEW RECORD
In October we went to see The Who at Toyota Center in Houston. The band opened with a lengthy but incomplete selection from Tommy. After a few minutes, I realized I was singing along, easily recalling all the words even though I probably had not listened to the album in its entirety in years. As I looked around, it was clear that 20,000 other people had joined me.
In the late 60’s, the dawning era of album rock, a new release by a favorite band was an anxiously awaited big deal. And the first of the group to acquire the record was a momentary celebrity. Usually, we would gather in Bobby’s room, a legendary place, for a first listen, appraisal and discussion. The album cover would be passed around and examined in great detail. Double albums were especially appreciated since they had double the space for art and information. We also discovered that they had a secondary function. Albums that contained the words on the album cover, interior jacket or sometimes on a bonus insert, were especially treasured.
The second most valuable possession of the day, after exclusive use of a car, was the component stereo system. The system consisted of a turntable, receiver and most importantly speakers, preferably as large as possible. The systems were zealously guarded. One simply did not touch another’s stereo without permission, instruction and careful attention to the owner’s detailed procedure for handling records. Scratching another’s record was a particularly egregious offense.
On the occasion of the release of Tommy, it was announced that the debut would take place on a Saturday night at Gary’s basement. This was an upgrade of sorts since Gary had a proper component system with bigger speakers and generally more room. It was important to arrive in a timely manner to claim a priority piece of floor space midway between the speakers. This allowed for the optimum appreciation of the stereo effect.
It was believed that optimum appreciation also required the ingestion of certain mood altering substances. This had to be accomplished prior to arrival since parental units occupied Gary’s first floor. This meant meeting first at Bobby’s room or simply imbibing in the car on the way or sometimes both. Bits of lunch money would be collected unti
l there was enough for a nickel bag. Someone would be dispatched to a nearby McDonald’s parking lot to score and return with the goods. The goods would be dumped into the center of double album mentioned above and the seeds and bits of stem would be separated out. The useful product was then rolled into cigarettes for immediate consumption, the product of the day being of mediocre quality by today’s standards.
All of this came flashing back as Pete and Roger performed, magnificently as expected. Unfortunately, the concert was cut short with the rapid onset of a bout of bronchitis, rendering Roger speechless.
In recalling all this, I am struck by the ceremonial nature of these events, often repeated over a number of years until we all drifted into adulthood and the accompanying separation of distance. We remain close in heart, a tribe of the times, a family of choice, even after 50 years.
Next up the Rolling Stones, if this damn virus would go away.
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