Music Over a Lifetime, Part 2

As a kid, I listened to what was playing on the AM radio, and as I got older, I sought out album oriented rock FM stations. FM 100 in Memphis, TN was amazing in the early 70's. I first heard Wishbone Ash when they did an in studio mini-concert. From the first licks of "Time Was", I was hooked. The dual lead guitar approach was amazing. I might have heard other bands with twin leads (the Allman Brothers Band comes to mind), but nobody did it better than Andy Powell and Ted Turner.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wishbone_Ash

Since I was living in a very small town in west Tennessee, finding the LPs of new and/or non-mainstream artists was quite a challenge. Whenever I was in Memphis I'd always seek out a record shop to browse for those "list" items I couldn't find at K-Mart locally. I'd start with the A's, and flip through every bin looking to see what I could find. It wasn't uncommon for me to spend a few hours in a shop browsing. I had some great conversations with the sales folks in those shops. The typical worker in a record store of the day was a real music enthusiast.

Music Over a Lifetime, Part 1

I've always listened to music. Mom and Dad sang in the church choir, and we had record players in our home from as far back as I can remember. I've characterized my place in the musical timeline as "old enough to want to go to Woodstock, but not old enough to go." So, I grew up listening to the Beatles, Rolling Stones, and Cream, among others, in the last days of AM radio as a viable music medium.

I guess I'm not really into mainstream country. It's not that I don't appreciate Martina McBride, or Toby Keith...they just don't make it into my rotation much. I do like outlaw country (Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, Lucinda Williams, etc.) and bluegrass/traditional country (Doc Watson, George Jones, The Carter Family, Johnny Cash, etc.) I also like a lot of country rock type stuff (Pure Prairie League, Amazing Rhythm Aces, Lucinda Williams, Steve Earle), and I love John Prine. Prine's lyrics are amazing.

RIAA

The RIAA continues to attack the market it's trying to protect. I've now deliberately chosen not to purchase CDs I would have purchased because I'm angry with the RIAA. I don't even have P2P software loaded on my computers, and I've purchased 1200 LPs and 2000 CDs in my lifetime. They have alienated me in their single-minded attack on personal liberties and fair use of copyrighted materials. I intend to vote with my wallet. I feel sorry for the musicians; the businessmen who are responsible for marketing and distribution of their product have lost touch with reality.