The albums are gone.

[valis2]

I remember sitting next to the speakers in the living room, their dusty fabric covers faded from the sun. I remember kneeling on the wood floor with my ear next to them. I remember the exhilaration of "Bring the Boys Back Home" and I remember lying on the floor crying and listening to "Comfortably Numb." I remember playing "Grover Sings the Blues" over and over again. I remember what the Revolver album looked like. I remember wearing out "Yellow Submarine." I remember the sound of the needle hitting the record. I remember dancing and jumping around so much that the penny fell off the arm and I had to balance it again. I remember the velvet sweep of the record cleaner. I remember listening to the Bankin-Rass "Hobbit" album and knowing every word of the dialogue. I remember "Silver Bells" and grocery store Christmas albums. I remember the unmistakable sound and feel of pulling an album out of its cover, finely grooved and gleaming, and how it was a secret treasure in a paper sleeve. I remember lying on the floor, reading the liner notes. I remember my dad dancing with my mom in the living room. I remember the first time I heard "Nebraska," it loped into our house like a rangy wolf. I remember singing "A Chorus Line" from beginning to end with my sister. I remember listening to "Brer Rabbit." I remember the insanity of opening "The Wall" for the first time and seeing the inner drawings. I remember listening at night to "Pimpf" with only candles lit. I remember singing "There's Wolves in the Kitchen" and dancing about so enthusiastically that the record skipped.

The guy who picked them all up is a collector, and very, very nice. They will be treasured and catalogued.

I feel sad and happy all at once.

Comments

Treasured Albums

[(Anonymous)]

I remember creating lovely dance numbers to Disney's "Sleeping Beauty". I remember singing duets with Mom and "The West Side Story". I remember putting up the Christmas tree year after year listening to "The Christmas Song" and "Deck the Halls" while KM would sleep under the tree (such a good boy) and Pita would eye the very top of tree looking for the exact point to knock over the tree. I remember listening to Joan Baez and being creeped out by the woods at night. I remember Dad listening to the Moody Blues, the Doors, Bruce and John Stewart over and over again - each time bringing new emotion to the context of their magical songs. I remember singing Pat Benatar songs at the top of my lungs. I remember sitting on the deck listening to AC/DC's "Hells Bells" and wondering what the neighbors thought. I remember, as well, singing "The Hobbit" and "Chorus Line" with my sister. I am very glad that our family albums have found a new home.

Re: Treasured Albums

[valis2.livejournal.com]

Aw, that was so sweet, sis. I'm glad you chimed in. Now if we can just get Mom and Dad to comment...ha!

I think I'm going to miss the Christmas albums the most.