A 33 1/3 Vinyl Time Capsule

It's Roger Ebert's fault that I'm sneezing tonight.

Last week I read his brilliant blog post called "Clinging to the Rear View Mirror" about living in the techology of the past. A better piece of writing you will not find this month. Go read it.

I found myself transfixed by a photo of an old turntable playing an LP album that illustrated the article. Wow. I was instantly transported back in time to junior high when I would sit in my room upstairs and listen to albums. Later in my teen years. Even later in my college dorm room - circa late '70's.

I wish I still had a turntable. Because I still have LP albums. Vinyl. Unplayed and boxed for at least the last 10 years since I moved into this house, and probably a long time before that.

So, tonight I went into the garage and got the albums out of the crumbling box and catalogued them.

Here are the roughly 80 LP albums resting leisurely on a shelf in my garage:

Amy Grant                                   Age to Age
America                                       History: Greatest Hits
Applegate & Co                            Live (Peoria,IL bluegrass band)
Barbara Streisand                         A Star is Born (Soundtrack)
The Beatles                                  Love Songs (Double Album)
Bee Gees                                     Here at Last: Live
Bee Gees                                     Saturday Night Fever Soundtrack
Billy Joel                                      Piano Man
Billy Joel                                      Songs in the Attic
Billy Joel                                      52nd Street
Cat Stevens                                 Teaser and the Firecat
Crystal Gayle                               Classic Crystal
Dan Fogelberg                             Netherlands
Dan Fogelberg                             Phoenix
Dan Fogelberg                             The Innocent Age
Dan Fogelberg                             Windows and Walls
Dave Loggins                               Apprentice
Dave Loggins                              Personal Belongings
Dave Loggins                              One Way Ticket to Paradise
David Grisman                             Acoustic Christmas
David Grisman                             Quintet '80
Electric Light Orchestra                A New World Record
Elton John                                    Blue Moves
Elton John                                    Caribou
Elton John                                    Greatest Hits (1974)
Elton John                                    Honky Chateau
Emmy Lou                                   Harris Angel Band
England Dan & JFC                     Nights are Forever
Firefall                                         Firefall
Harry Chapin                               Dance Band on the Titanic
Harry Chapin                               Greatest Stories Live
Harry Chapin                               On the Road to Kingdom Come
Harry Chapin                               Living Room Suite
Hoyt Axton                                  Snowblind Friend
Jethro Tull                                    Heavy Horses
Jethro Tull                                    Repeat: Best of, Vol 2
Jethro Tull                                    Songs from the Wood
Jim Croce                                     I Got a Name
Jim Croce                                     Photographs and Memories
Jimmy Buffett                               A1A
Jimmy Buffett                               A White Sport Coat & a Pink Crustacean
Jimmy Buffett                               Living and Dying in 3/4 Time
Jimmy Buffett                               Son of a Son of a Sailor
John Denver                                 An Evening With John Denver
John Denver                                 John Denver's Greatest Hits
John Denver/Muppets                   Christmas Forever
John Denver                                 Windsong
John Michael Talbott                     Songs for Worship, Vol 1
John Michael Talbott                     Troubador of the Great King
Journey                                         Evolution
The Judds                                     Greatest Hits
Kansas                                         Point of Know Return
Leo Kottke                                   The Best (Double Album)
Leon Russell                                 Stop all that Jazz
Loggins & Messina                       Full Sail
Loggins & Messina                       Native Sons
Mac Davis                                    Baby Don't Get Hooked on Me
Mac Davis                                    Stop and Smell the Roses
Michael Jackson                            Thriller
Neil Diamond                                Jonathan Livingston Seagull
Paul Williams                                Phantom of the Paradise
Pat Benatar                                  Crimes of Passion
Poco                                            Head Over Heels
Quarterflash                                 Quarterflash
Simon & Garfunkel                       Greatest Hits
Three Dog Night                           Coming Down Your Way
Waylon Jennings                           Greatest Hits
the Who                                        Tommy

Some pics:

I lived it up in the 70's, when music was so much better than it is now.

Note to self: buy a turntable.