[pjchappy]

When did you all first get into music?  I've noticed that many of you are into classical.  For me, I can't get into it. . . not sure if it's my age (28), or what?  Anyways, I guess what my question is (repeating myself). . .what first really got you into music??. . .and if this applies as a second part, what first got you into this hobby?

For me, I started digggin Pink Floyd early in college. . .but, I just knew their basic, radio played stuff. One night, I was near passed out at my future brother in law's house. . .and he put on Meddle. I remember being in a 1/2 comatose state. . .then, the bass line of "One of these days" kicked in.  Needless to say, my thorough obsession w/ PF kicked in the next day, w/ me going out and buying Animals and Meddle (having already owned the obligatory DSOTM and The Wall). For me, PF takes me places (even chemically free  )....and so do many other bands. . .  Regardless, I'm just curious.

On a side note. . .  it stinks so many of my friends that dig music have NO CLUE the potential their music has.  Meaning so many listen to shit on their PC, etc.  I've had a few people listen to my modest system (which is way below modest right now) and they had no clue just how enveloping it can be.  Again, on the same side note, that just stinks that it seems like 99% of the world have no clue the potential of the sound on a little disc. (and I was for sure there).

p

[kirch]

In 1970, when I was 10, I would sneak into my older brother's room, turn on his black light, look at the cool stuff in his room and listen to his Radio Shack "Hi-Fi" - I usually used headphones so as to remain undetected.  His tastes were Jethro Tull, Black Sabbath, Spirit, New Riders and Grateful Dead.  So I got the bug pretty early on.

Bought my first stereo from Pacific Stereo in St. Louis when I was 16 (1976), on money I saved being a dish-rat at a local restaurant.  It was a TransAudio receiver, EPS speakers w/a Technics turntable.  I think I spent $2-$300.  First record I bought was Traffic's John Barleycorn Must Die and Pampered Menial by a local band named Pavlov's Dog.   Spent a ton of time in the cut-out section of one of the local music stores, buying great albums for a buck a pop.  Really built up the collection over time.  Mistakenly got rid of almost all of my vinyl during the late 80's, early 90's because I got tired of moving the stuff and was collecting more and more CDs.  Sure wish I hadn't done that. 

Music is responsible for my livelihood as well.  Got into radio in 1981 because I liked music.  Boy was THAT the wrong reason.  Did that for 15 years - got into computers and multimedia for a number of years following that, and now do voice work exclusively - all outta my home.   . . . I see that I've gotten off subject.

Currently into many kinds of music, and love discovering artists that may not be new, but are new to me.  I've always liked "well done art rock" (oxymoron, I know), Yes, Genesis, Pink Floyd, Roxy Music (a favorite), Camel, etc.  Started getting into fusion as a late teen, Return to Forever's Romantic Warrior blew me away the first time I heard it, and is responsible for my tastes moving towards what they are now.  Hard Bop, Bop, the whole mid to late 40's to early 60's jazz scene, Miles, Evans, Coltrane, Shorter, that list goes on and on.  Dug Pat Metheny the first time I heard him in '82 or so.  Think I have everything he's done to this point. 

Re your side note: The cool part of being an "audiophile" is that we hear the subtle nuances and recording techniques in music that most of our friends (or wives) either don't hear, or don't really care about.  And this enhances our experience as active listeners.  Most folks are passive in that respect.  Their loss in my opinion.  That's my story, and I'm sticking to it.  How about you?  (Good topic pjchappy.)

[PaulFolbrecht]

Cool thread.  I've been soo into music since mid-childhood.  Here's the first big laugh of the thread - I recall being absorbed into my first "own" music, Queen, Air Supply, & Paul McCartney on LP, played on my parents giant "console" 70s stereo when I was 8 or 9.

One thing I noticed early on about music & me was that I was the ONLY person I knew out of all my family and friends who could & would spend time doing NOTHING but listening to music.  It wasn't background music to me, it was EVERYTHING.

Got my 1st decent mid-fi system in high school.  Spend about $1500 in '87 which at the time was by far the most expensive purchase I'd ever made.  Yammie CDP, 35W receiver, equalizer (!), and "American Acoustics" speakers - which I still have. 

It's been upwards since then though I did go through a period of about seven years, 97-04, with no system changes.  I was definitely "out" of the hobby then and didn't worry about equipment, only music.

Then, two things happened: I discovered whole categories of incredible music I'd never appreciated before - mostly 50s-60s jazz (Brubeck, Coltrane, Monk, Rollins, etc. etc.) and I discovered tubes (and then SETs).

I've had a lot of gear through my place the last 18 months and a lot of new music to enjoy.  My problem now is I'm tied to the system.  It's all I want to do with my free time, and that's not all good.  'Course, I do pull myself away.

I'll avoid rambling on forever and end this now. 

Paul

[WEEZ]

I think I posted this story before, but I'm so old I don't remember where...

When I was maybe 2 or 3 years old, my mother would sit me down in front of a 45 rpm RCA record changer; put like maybe 8 or 10 records on and there I sat...watching the records go 'round and 'round. I was mesmerized. My dad had some jazz records he used to play. (I had my 'kiddie' records..one of them was yellow, I liked that one best). This was in the '50's. A few years later, dad brought home some 'pop' records; Danny and the Juniors; Elvis; Little Richard. Man, I was hooked.

Then dad got a Magnavox console stereo for the living room. He began collecting jazz and classical records as we now had a 33 1/3 stereo! I'll always remember the 'smell' of both the little record player and the console..they were tubed units. I guess it was the varnish they used on the transformers, or something.

Both my parents were music lovers. Dad used to play the french horn; mom played the piano. When I was 8; I started music lessons. Piano lessons seemed like a 'drag' back then...but I continued thru high school. Played cornet in the school band; trumpet in the school jazz band. And later, played keyboards in a little rock group with 3 other friends. All this while, collecting records to play on dad's 'stereo'.

Bought my first 'system' when I graduated from high school. My part time job and money from a few gigs with my friends allowed me to buy an AR-XA Turntable; Large Advent speakers; a Pioneer receiver; and an open reel tape deck. I was cool. The sound was more cool. And I was in college now..so I was really the shit.

There was a fm radio station...WAPL in Appleton, WI that played jazz; blues; fusion; and album rock that I listened to all the time. I used to buy 4 or 5 albums a week back then. So I am (was) a music lover and audiophile from waaay back.

Fast forward...the disease never went away. Analog is still my preference. (I didn't buy a cd player 'till early in 2000!!). I've collected music now for over 35 years; been thru lots of gear (both tubed and solid-state); and it's still all about the music, for me. I like all kinds of music. When you study it, you gain an appreciation for the classics (I confess to liking the louder, more 'energetic' pieces than small quartet or chamber pieces) but blues, jazz and fusion are my favorites. And some rock.

It's no wonder I hang out here. Music and gear; if I'm not listening to it...I'm talkin' (writing) about it.

WEEZ