Outpost Record Shop

The opinions expressed in the post are mine. I know that you may not agree with all or some of what I wrote here. This is just my experience and opinions of how the music has changed over the years. This is all from memory and no research. We all have our own experiences and a reason for liking the type of music that we like. Feel free to contradicted me if you feel that I’m in error.

Growing up in the 70’s and 80’s was a lot different than it is today. No computers, cell phones, internet, or cable. No downloads or streaming services. Music was usually discovered from listening to the radio. Casey Kasum played the Top 40 every week. Every city had a rock, pop, R&B, Oldies and Country station. One radio station that I grew up listening to in the late 70’s through mid 80’s played great music, every day. This was before the Corporate take over of the airwaves. They played what they wanted, introduced new artists, featured local up and coming bands, and had a “Sunday Night Live” where they played live recordings. I’m sure that it’s the reason that I listen to Rush, Alex Harvey, Pretenders, and still hear “Born to Run” at 5:00 every Friday.

There were some TV shows that were on that exposed you to popular and new artist. Dick Clark and American Bandstand would be on Saturday afternoons, you’d see groups like KC and the Sunshine Band, Barry Gibb, Ambosia, Jackson 5, and so many more. Soul Train would follow and introduce the Archie Bell and the Dells, Dazz, Cameo, The Gap Band, Al Green, Shalamar, and on and on. Later you could see Wolfman Jack host the Midnight Special. Comedians and music artists like, Andy Kaufman, Richard Pryor, George Carlin, Bee Gees, Chuck Berry, Joannie Mitchell… This was one of the ways to hear your favorite groups, see them in real life, and discover new music.

The corner drugstore would have some magazines. Hit Parade, Circus, Song Hits…these consisted of Press Release articles and pages of song lyrics. Oh, don’t forget the quality black and white photos! These were the Record Labels way of pushing a new album release or up and coming artist.

Family and friends where another source to find music. One of my brothers was into hard rock from the 70’s and listened to Zeppelin, Thin Lizzy, Deep Purple, The Who, ACDC, Aerosmith, The Stones…. A sister loved Elton, Billie Joel, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Heart, Rod Stewart… So from them I was exposed to the varying degrees of rock and pop. My mom and aunt’s played Elvis, Sinatra, Doo Wop and “Oldies”. A friend introduced Ozzy and Sabbath while another played Meatloaf and Foreigner.

Like today, there were always the movies. You’d hear a song on the radio from the movie, or see the soundtrack in the record store and want to add it to your collection… Grease, Purple Rain, Saturday Night Fever, Big Chill, Breakfast Club, and Urban Cowboy.

This started to change when MTV hit in 1981 and videos came along. “Video killed the radio Star!” There’s a lot of truth in this. It was an event to tune in a see the premier of the a new video. Van Halen, The Police, Tom Petty… Over time it seemed that the videos become more important than the music. Bands were being replaced with electronics and synthesizers. The rock bands of the 70’s turned pop in the 80’s…Rolling Stones, The Who, Springsteen… And I tuned out. I get it, I don’t blame anyone for trying to stay relevant and meeting the demand of the times, but I also know that I didn’t have to watch or support it. There was still enough good music to be found…. Take Me To The River, Word Up, Free Falling, but these were mixed with all of the other 80’s Stuff and It wasn’t for me. And then there was the twang- A Country Boy Can Survive, so I changed the channel and found a truer sound.

By the 90’s I’d gone country. Rock was pop. Metal was so damn pretty with the glam, Metallica, Slayer, Iron Maiden where alright but it wasn’t for me. But country was real at the time…I gravitated towards the southern rock of Molly Hatchett, Marshall Tucker, 38 Special, ARS, and Skynyrd. The Outlaws of Willie, Waylan, Haggard, Hank Jr, and Cash were constantly playing. I’d dig deeper and find bands like Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Little Feat, and Graham Parsons, The Byrds, Blackfoot, and The Outlaws. It was real music not synchronized autotuned garbage (My Opinion only). And the new artists on the scene at the time where more traditional…Dwight Yoakum, Travis Tritt, George Strait, Alan Jackson, Reba, The Judds, and Clint Black.

This all changed with My Achy Breaky Heart and Garth Brooks. Pop found county and Nashville realized that they could make millions and billions. TV Specials, No Hats Tours, “Gone Country” I was done with nowhere to go. Glam Metal was coming to an end and Grung never did it for me. Rock n Roll? I’d hear a song, like it, but there was no consistency, bands seemed to fade away as quickly as they arrived-A lot of one hit wonders, an album or two and they were gone. I liked Sheryl Crowe, U2, REM, Country Crows, and Black Crows…by this time CD’s were taking over, new releases weren’t available on vinyl anymore so I really didn’t pick up many new releases since I wasn’t into collecting CD’s.

So I did what I needed to do. I dusted off my stereo, ordered a new stylus and belt, dug out the boxes of albums and 45’s and started playing what I wanted. I’d pick up a cassette or CD for the car so I didn’t have to listen to the radio. Go to the record stores and dig through the used section and find all of the artists that I liked, and played my own music again, my choice on my terms. My musical knowledge, limited as it is, really ended in the late 1990’s. I was out of the bar business, didn’t like what was on the radio, and don’t have a streaming service. To this day, I listen to cassettes and CD’s when driving, and of course, play records every day. I still don’t stream music on any digital device.

The funny thing is that years later when I go back and listen to a lot of the music in the 1970’s-2000. I actually like it better now than I did at the time. I appreciate some Disco more than I did. Yes, the Bee Gees, Donna Summer, ABBA, and Chic get some time on my turntable. I’ll listen to some 80’s and say “Damn, that’s not bad” Tears for Fears, Hall and Oates, Men at Work and Tainted Love. I appreciate metal and some grunge now more than I ever have and added, Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Sabbath, Motorhead, and Metallica records to the collection. There were always Artists/Groups that stuck with me the first time that I heard them. Regardless of how they were classified or labeled. Talking Heads, The Time, David Bowie, Sam Cooke, Linda Ronstadt, John Denver, Neil Young, Emmylou Harris, Tom Petty, Lou Reed, Joe Cocker, Van Morrison, Dire Straits, Fleetwood Mac….

So that’s my story of how I was exposed to a wide range of music over the years. I really can’t say that I have a favorite group or artist or music style. I like good music-good to me. I like songs that take me back and remind me a a time or event or a person. I still listen to crooners, Motown, Country, Metal, oldies and classic rock… I’m still finding new artists today and adding them to my collection….Kenny Wayne Sheppard, Red Clay Ramblers, Chris Stapleton…

After 40 years of collecting vinyl I’ve developed a wide range of music appreciation. Appreciation for a variety of genres and artists. I know that I’ll always collect records and will always be on the lookout for something new to add to my collection. But I’ll also still be spinning some of my favorites.