A Mind of Winter

As soon as it began snowing, I pulled "Dis" by Jan Garbarek from the pile and put it on. There's no sleighbells, nothing remotely "holiday" about it, but it reminds me of bone-chilling cold. Garbarek's sax playing is bracing, and several tracks feature Aeolian or wind harp, large harps situated near cliffs whose strings resound from the air rushing off the coast. It reminds me of a winter storm -- but of course, I'm enjoying it in a warm, well-lit house!

The Record That Changed My Life

The album was "Music for Monsters, Munsters, Mummies & Other TV Fiends" by Milton Delugg and His Orchestra. I saw it advertised in a magazine circa 1964 and I just had to have it. The album itself was pretty forgettable -- versions of TV themes of "The Munsters", "The Addams Family" and assorted related titles. So how did this LP change my life, you ask? Because I had to have my parents take me to the store that sold LPs, stereos and phonograph needles -- and I asked them to special order it for me. Why is that a big deal? Up till then, I never realized you could do that! I was no longer bound by what I could find in Woolworths or Sears -- I could ask someone to order just about anything I wanted! (Later, when I started working in record stores, I discovered label catalogs with every single one of their releases listed -- I was in heaven.) It may not seem like a big deal now, with mega-online stores and downloads, but for a kid itching to discover the wide world of music, it was momentous, as if a hidden door suddenly opened. I never looked back.

Oh No -- Holiday Music!

Yes, as soon as the Halloween stuff comes down, stores begin playing Christmas music, because really, is there any Thanksgiving music? I think for many of us, our "taste" (if that even applies in this case) in Christmas music is based on what we heard as kids around the house, so for me, despite the fact that I know better, there's a soft spot in my heart for Andy Williams. My legacy to my son? The "Santa Clause Blues" collection on Jass Records (woefully out of print) -- mostly jazz and blues that are either out of copyright (or just booted). More on all this as we get closer to the real holiday season (not just the retail version.)