(20 Weeks)
Christmas 1970 I received what was probably one of the greatest gifts I was ever given relevant to its size. It opened a whole new world for me, one where I could explore who I was as an individual, while learning about the world and a myriad of emotions – both mine and that of others. A vehicle through which I could find words to express myself, and melodies I could meditate on, or through which I could find pure joy at precisely the right time.
The gift was a little RCA transistor radio. Only AM. It was only a little bigger the size of a current smartphone. Powered by a 9-volt battery, it had a wrist strap that fit nicely over the handlebars of the little bike I had received for my 5th birthday the previous May and had just learned to ride without the training wheels.
Not that I didn’t always love music. I always remember having a little record player in my room and a bunch of 45s and a few LPs with children’s songs and nursery rhymes. I had Camp Town Races “on repeat” and could probably (to this day LOL) recite verbatim the complete soundtrack of Hanna Barbera’s New Alice In Wonderland (1966). I also loved an LP called “The Teddy Bear’s Picnic” (1967) which I wore out too.
My parents, both born in the 1920s, were listing to Frank Sinatra, Bing Crosby, Perry Combo, and big band music like Guy Lombardo. But while they were still a little stuck in the 1950s, for me, the 60s (or at least my nursey rhymes and sing-a-longs version of them) were over.
Earlier this year, Kurt and I watched the 8-episode documentary “1971: The Year Music Changed Everything” (2021) and I began to realize just how significant the timing of my introduction to pop and rock radio was. There were so many (now classic) songs that I heard for the very first time on my little transistor radio when they were new releases.
Topping the charts the week of December 26, 1970 was My Sweet Lord (George Harrison) and following closely were songs like The Tears of a Clown (Smokey Robinson), and Black Magic Woman (Santana). In 1971, we were introduced to Billy Joel. Bonnie Raitt, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Bill Withers, Carly Simon, and ELO through their debut albums.
Songs that we were all hearing on the radio for the first time that year included Me & Bobby McGee (Janis Joplin), What’s Going On (Marvin Gaye), Brown Sugar (The Rolling Stones), Maggie May (Rod Stewart), Won’t Get Fooled Again (The Who), Get It On (T Rex)…OMG, I could fill this entire post and several others.
I have a very vivid memory of sitting in the backseat of my baby-sitter’s car. We just pulled in the driveway as Don McLean started singing, A long, long time ago I can still remember how that music used to make me smile… And we were mesmerized, not moving from the car while we let the 8-minute song play out in its entirety. Recorded and released in 1971, the single was the number one on the US charts for four weeks in 1972 starting January 15. That was the first time I ever heard it.
The first rock album I owned (gift from my aunt) was Kiss Destroyer. The first album I purchased for myself was Fleetwood Mac Rumors, followed closely by Meat Loaf Bat Out of Hell in 1977. My high school had a juke box in the cafeteria where Free Bird (Lynyrd Skynyrd), I Don’t Like Mondays (Boomtown Rats), Working in a Coal Mine (Devo cover), and every Bruce Springsteen song recorded up until then, were overplayed.
Music has made many parties and road trips what they were. Although my parents and I didn’t have the same taste in music, like everything else, they gave me the tools I needed to do my own exploring and discover my own appreciation. I will be forever grateful for that little transistor radio.
Did you really think this wasn’t going to include a fundraiser? It’s me. Of course it is! Over the course of these 60 weeks, I am hoping to raise $6000 for the children of Mercy Home for Boys & Girls (that’s just $100 a week!). To learn more about Mercy Home and my why, please visit my fundraising page. Thank you.
