As any reader of this blog knows–and by that I mean my mom (when I remind her) and whatever friends I have chosen to browbeat–I tend to be a little obsessed with the past and the passing of time. Even with something as seemingly now as kayaking, I become wistful watching green trees turn to black and then back to green again. It has always been thus.
At its root is an anxiety that I am losing control of my life, that what is past will be forgotten, etc., etc. I dealt with this early on by becoming a pathological collector: of records, military metals, shoes, even phone books (I am not kidding). I wanted the artifacts, don’t you know. That way I could lock down the sum total of my experience? Right? Nope. Ever seen an episode of “Hoarders”?
So imagine my joy at finding that this “Years” series on my radio show I have been relentlessly flogging has been pretty damn good at representing
whatever year I have chosen to represent. “1975” took me back to my Toughskins with the reinforced knees and “1994” reminded of the first year I was determined to stay “current” (well, not the first year). In fact, there is something completely present when I do two full hours of a single year’s music. Hearing one song is nostalgia, but hearing 30 songs is to be transported to the past and the now at the same time. For those of you with a garage band and Hammond organ fetish, check out this Monday’s next installment…1966 (which just happens to be the most stylish year ever).
Note: Also check out the new tab up top where I include links to all previous “Years” playlists.
liveoakblues
Live Oak Blues 
Posted by NJ Gator on April 13, 2011 at 3:48 pm
I cannot get enough organ in rock music. Wait a second, that didn’t come out the way I’d hoped.
Posted by liveoakblues on April 13, 2011 at 3:51 pm
Then the back cover of any Journey album should be right up your alley!
Posted by Afrobutterfly on April 13, 2011 at 4:12 pm
This reminds me of a ‘would you rather’ my friends and I were chewing on last night: Jump right to age 45 with full memory of every experience or jump back to 0 with full knowledge of the next 24 years, but no ability to change any of the subsequent outcomes.
I think maybe the answer relates to the concept of regret. Also, I have a very large collection of baseball cards rotting away in my closet.
Posted by liveoakblues on April 13, 2011 at 4:23 pm
I wouldn’t go back to 0 for all the tea in China, yet I would readily jump BACK to 45!
Posted by DesertRavyn on April 15, 2011 at 9:39 am
I, too, am obsessed with the passing of time. Estate sales always make me sad: all those things so important to a person with all the stories behind them abruptly lost with the person’s passing.
It’s great you’re doing the Years series. Always interesting to discover what the music summons forth!
Posted by liveoakblues on April 15, 2011 at 9:53 am
I know exactly what you mean. Not only that but they hold those IN THE HOUSE THE PEOPLE ACTUALLY LIVED IN.