Wax n Wane

There has always been something alluring about records. I was born in the very tail end of the 1970's where livingrooms invariably had big speakers, an amp and a turntable, ours was no execption.

In our house, sunday was the day where music was pumped through the house, my mum would have the radio on in the kitchen while preparing sunday lunch and all afternoon the turntable would be on; Blondie, Abba, Maria Callas, Queen, ELO, The Supremes.....

My parents philosophy was play anything around kids and they will develop their own style, rather than force a particular style. I have friends who can't listen to Elvis or the Beatles becase it was rammed down their throat by their parents. I was spared that.

When i was in my early teens, records and casettes were giving way to CD's but were still available and way cheaper which meant that i could amass a collection easily (mainly Iron Maiden reissues) and swap with friends. With the added bonus that i could record them onto a blank tape to play on my walkman when away from home.

Even though i sold some records in my late teens to fund university (original pressing of Nevermind, Daydream Nation and Siamese Dream - Eek!) i kept alot of my old records and even my turntable and the collection slowly grew in size and depth, Metal, Jazz, hip-hop, indie, pop, soul, R&B, soundtracks, Drum & Bass..........

I am now at the point where i negotiate space with my better half and am getting very good at sneaking in records when she is out.

At least if i write about some of them, it's a better excuse than i just like listening to them.

Or at least that is what i keep telling myself..........