I liked to go to my Aunt and Uncle's house for a lot of reasons.
I loved my Aunt's cooking, I loved the gathering of family, and I loved my cousin Cliff's toys (awesome blog post to follow on those magnificent playthings). They also had 2 cats and humongous ant farm I totally dug.
Woefully, though, my Aunt Ellie owned a mid-sized German Shepherd named Hookie that looked forward to my visits because she would bite me. I mean, legit biting. Like, scarlet pools of blood and get out the gauze and squeeze the first aid cream and wrap it up and elevate it and watch it for a few days in case the welty punctures became infected kind of biting. But weirdly enough, as a group, we barely skipped a beat and I didn't hate the dog. I creatively learned to engage her by keeping pastel Jordan almonds in my pocket and tossing them far away from me every time I needed to make a move without getting chomped. I tried speaking nicely to her. I even let her masticate my Peter Benchley JAWS novel instead of my arm one time even though I hadn't yet finished the book (a little unbelievable irony there but nonetheless...). Anyway, no offense toward Hookie or that noble breed (dog lover, here! DOG LOVER); the spectacularly silver lining to having a dog that wanted to snack on a tasty 8 year old was that I got to spend some visits upstairs where Hookie was not permitted to go. In particular, I was allowed to hang out in my 16 year old cousin Suzy's groove-tastic bedroom listening to her record albums!
If you've been reading my stuff, you know there is a list on deck! Buckle up! Here it comes!
Suzy had a shit ton of cool albums. My favorites and those most memorable to me are as follows:
1. I have to start with The Beatles' Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band. You scoff...of COURSE the Beatles, Jesus, does she even need to include the artist? YES! Yes I do because it was 1978 and Peter Frampton and the Bee Gees had just released not only their Sgt. Pepper tribute but also made a Sgt. Pepper MOVIE. What? I know! The freaking 70s, man...if you lived it, high five my friend. High freaking Frampton five.
Anyway, back in the era where bands released primarily on vinyl, and 33 rpm albums were habitually purchased and enjoyed, I could sit with a stack of 12 by 12 album covers for HOURS trying to figure them out, memorizing every last detail. I loved SPLHCB because I could spy something (or someone) new every time I scoured it. I spent a lot of time looking for Jesus and Hitler on there as it was rumored that they were included but reportedly nearly impossible to find.
I loved spinning the fab four, imagining Lucy with her jeweled eyeballs and newspaper taxis appearing on the shore while I lounged in a trance-like state on Suzy's purple batiked comforter (purple! WHAT? I know!) looking up with frightened curiosity at the ceiling where a poster of Kansas's Point of Know Return album was hung. Flat watery earth, sea monsters, and a ship going over the edge? Definitely the last thing you want to see before falling asleep at night, am I right? You know I'm right.
Three things I like to muse/contemplate/turn over in my mind about SPLHCB:
a. I did an 8th grade presentation on the song A Day in the Life that resulted in a standing ovation and a request to accompany a boy to a dance later that month (declined).
b. When I'm 64 appears a lot less cutesy when you're married to a guy who is 11 years older than you and you just turned 50; but the clarinet, the clarinet! I love it...and I love my husband. He's amazingly tolerant of me and my musical follies. And when he's 64 he'll probably still be taking care of my lazy ass.
c. With a Little Help From My Friends by Joe Cocker and Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds by Elton John are two of my favorite cover songs. They are so different from the originals with unique rearrangements and even improvements, in my opinion, in a place or two.
2. The Rolling Stones Some Girls was my next favorite. It was the art that sucked me in, honestly. I feasted my eyes upon the black, white and red cover with the Stones wearing wigs alongside celebrities like Lucille Ball on the front and in girdles and conical bras on the back. I was confused, then delighted. Upon hearing the album while reclining on the bedspread and getting more used to the ship going over the edge of the ebony saltwater above my head, I leaned into the beat and heard the raunchiest, most plaintive, bluesy album I'd ever experienced. Puerto Rican girls are just dying to meet you? What? Yes! But why? What is going on? My 8 year old mind had no idea what was happening but I could feel the groove in my soul and desperately wanted to know about blottin out my mind and foolin on my time and learned all the words. Baby, yah. Miss You remains one of my most favorite songs.
3. Frampton Comes Alive. Oh my Jesus. Where do I even begin? First, the cover art. When I opened the double live album, a sound gurgled in my throat caught somewhere between a sigh and a squeal. He was bathed in a rapturous glow of stage light in a smart, very English, yellow suit; unbuttoned low enough so that he could breathe easy, play the guitar, show off his fancy Portobello Road fashion necklace and well, make 8 year olds stay in bedrooms while the rest of the family tossed jarts around the yard, almond-eating shepherd close at hand. Live albums were new to me and I was like, I NEED TO GO DO THIS. THIS SCREAMING STUFF. I NEED IT.
Suddenly, I couldn't wait to attend a rock concert. It became my mission in life, along with procuring Jox sneakers and trying to get Mrs. LaCroix to read randy Judy Blume novels out loud in class during our post lunch rest time.
It's Frampton, man. Something's Happening! Hold tight it might be lightening! I feel like dancing! It had lyrics that made sense and screaming fans and so much electrical energy, I was enraptured.
I got my Jox and Mrs. LaCroix shut me down firmly (albeit kindly), but it'd be another year before my parents took me to see Rod Stewart in concert - my first show! Since then, live music is where I come blissfully unglued and then piece myself back together song after precious song.
P.S. That image of the Frampton album includes ring wear...ring wear is a sign of an album well worn and lovingly pressed between other albums; as they should be.
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