Amen! "Once recreational, now medicinal" is basically my life now. Thanks so much for this—you've given voice to a throughline of my musical thinking. It all points toward our need to become better listeners in general. But I must respectfully disagree about "The Crunge." I'm a sucker for funk in any form—even if attempted by Led Zep!
Yet another reason to be grateful I grew up in an era where album listening was commonplace. I'll never forget my parents' stereo console and the artists whose albums were played -- all of us together at their cocktail hour which was when they'd play the records. This week while decorating my house for Christmas I listened to several Leonard Cohen albums in their entirety via AirPods. It was meditative.
Thank you! Indeed, we were lucky to come of age in the Album Era! Even though we have so many options, the albums - both old and new - remain for us to enjoy. Their power is undiminished.
Thank you so much for this Robert, very inspiring. My favorite quote from this essay: As I recently wrote about Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers’ work: “ …the good stuff from the past not only takes you back, it meets you wherever you are, and clarifies some aspect of your present life. A truly great work evokes more than mere nostalgia.”
Hey Robert, I bookmarked this to read properly - a little like when I occasionally wait to listen to a new album, so I can do so in full. I thoroughly agree with the overall assessment; indeed, it's something we talked about on the last Crossed Channels, how the long player format hasn't been bettered, even though acts experimented with it in the early 2000s when Napster and co. first threatened the medium.
If I have a musical regret for 2024 it's that there are some albums i just did not get to spend time with. (Yet: if they are good, they will sound fine in 2025.) But I appreciate those that I did, and also that my younger son (you know him!), for all he occasionally dismissively reaches for the "skip" button, will occasionally turn me onto an artist and an album in its entirety, especially when we are driving.
Other great ways to immerse oneself in an album: a walk/hike/run. Unfortunately, the earbuds you want on such occasions don't help our hearing, which is an important concern given it being so much of an older sense than sight, and for all that extremely valid point you make that reading and writing is modern whereas hearing is not.
I could quibble about 50 minutes being too long for vinyl quality, or why anyone would want to listen to the entire Led Zeppelin back catalogue unless admonished to do so by a judge, but of course that's just the fun and games. I will however stand up for The Sidewinder Sleeps Tonight, which I listened to - in full - three times yesterday, BEFORE reading your article. That said, all my own fave albums are usually imperfect, but perhaps imperfection is in the eye of the listener?
Here is to more long players telling more stories, and to more people getting to listen in full.
Thank you so much, Tony. As ever, your input is much appreciated.
I reckon 50 minutes is pushing it. (I was reluctant to get into the technical weeds about length and fidelity, etc) Indeed, perhaps I should have highlighted that the Album Experience is actually SHORTER than a visit to a mental health pro. Anyway, happiest of holidays to you and yours. Hope to see you in real time soon.
"Discomfort enhancing the experience" ! When I was 9 years old I became a Beatlemaniac and bought their LPs to play on my little portable mono record player. They sounded wrong on my family's big stereo due to the wide stereo separation that the US versions had with vocals on one side & music on the other. I was intrigued when found the dual cassette version of the White Album and bought it. I listened to it all the time on my uncle's portable cassette player through a monaural/single earpiece (didn't even know they had dual earpieces!). And, like you wrote, fast-fowarding was a drag so I always listened to "Revolution #9" all the way through. I got used to the uncomfortable-ness. To this day any time I hear someone mention the words "number nine" I automatically repeat "number 9, number 9.." in my head and crack myself up. I find it very comforting.
Amen! "Once recreational, now medicinal" is basically my life now. Thanks so much for this—you've given voice to a throughline of my musical thinking. It all points toward our need to become better listeners in general. But I must respectfully disagree about "The Crunge." I'm a sucker for funk in any form—even if attempted by Led Zep!
Thank you. Even though I do not care for The Crunge, I will gladly dance to it with you if ever our paths cross in real time.
Yet another reason to be grateful I grew up in an era where album listening was commonplace. I'll never forget my parents' stereo console and the artists whose albums were played -- all of us together at their cocktail hour which was when they'd play the records. This week while decorating my house for Christmas I listened to several Leonard Cohen albums in their entirety via AirPods. It was meditative.
Thank you! Indeed, we were lucky to come of age in the Album Era! Even though we have so many options, the albums - both old and new - remain for us to enjoy. Their power is undiminished.
Aural pleasure is what has always gotten me through.
Thank you so much for this Robert, very inspiring. My favorite quote from this essay: As I recently wrote about Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers’ work: “ …the good stuff from the past not only takes you back, it meets you wherever you are, and clarifies some aspect of your present life. A truly great work evokes more than mere nostalgia.”
Thanks so much, Peter! And a happy and healthy new year to you and yours.
Hey Robert,
Good to meet you! Just re-discovered you when you popped up as a subscriber.
And you seem a kindred soul to this fellow bass player, lover of music, Generation Jones chopper of wood. Cheers!
Norm
If you were closer, I'd come take bass lessons!
Thanks so much for the huge signal boost. So far my favorite Christmas present.
Hey Robert, I bookmarked this to read properly - a little like when I occasionally wait to listen to a new album, so I can do so in full. I thoroughly agree with the overall assessment; indeed, it's something we talked about on the last Crossed Channels, how the long player format hasn't been bettered, even though acts experimented with it in the early 2000s when Napster and co. first threatened the medium.
If I have a musical regret for 2024 it's that there are some albums i just did not get to spend time with. (Yet: if they are good, they will sound fine in 2025.) But I appreciate those that I did, and also that my younger son (you know him!), for all he occasionally dismissively reaches for the "skip" button, will occasionally turn me onto an artist and an album in its entirety, especially when we are driving.
Other great ways to immerse oneself in an album: a walk/hike/run. Unfortunately, the earbuds you want on such occasions don't help our hearing, which is an important concern given it being so much of an older sense than sight, and for all that extremely valid point you make that reading and writing is modern whereas hearing is not.
I could quibble about 50 minutes being too long for vinyl quality, or why anyone would want to listen to the entire Led Zeppelin back catalogue unless admonished to do so by a judge, but of course that's just the fun and games. I will however stand up for The Sidewinder Sleeps Tonight, which I listened to - in full - three times yesterday, BEFORE reading your article. That said, all my own fave albums are usually imperfect, but perhaps imperfection is in the eye of the listener?
Here is to more long players telling more stories, and to more people getting to listen in full.
Cheers my friend!
T
Thank you so much, Tony. As ever, your input is much appreciated.
I reckon 50 minutes is pushing it. (I was reluctant to get into the technical weeds about length and fidelity, etc) Indeed, perhaps I should have highlighted that the Album Experience is actually SHORTER than a visit to a mental health pro. Anyway, happiest of holidays to you and yours. Hope to see you in real time soon.
100%
Not only that, flip it over a couple times. Something I rarely did "back in the day".
Insightful, engaging, and beautifully expressed as always, RBW!
Thank you, good sir!
"Discomfort enhancing the experience" ! When I was 9 years old I became a Beatlemaniac and bought their LPs to play on my little portable mono record player. They sounded wrong on my family's big stereo due to the wide stereo separation that the US versions had with vocals on one side & music on the other. I was intrigued when found the dual cassette version of the White Album and bought it. I listened to it all the time on my uncle's portable cassette player through a monaural/single earpiece (didn't even know they had dual earpieces!). And, like you wrote, fast-fowarding was a drag so I always listened to "Revolution #9" all the way through. I got used to the uncomfortable-ness. To this day any time I hear someone mention the words "number nine" I automatically repeat "number 9, number 9.." in my head and crack myself up. I find it very comforting.
Thank you so much for this. Indeed, when I hear certain songs - especially the Fabs’ - I expect them to be followed by their album follower.
hear hear!!
SAY WHAT