A trip down memory lane .... do you ever?

[Saracen999]

Obviously, this applies more to those of, ummm, more advanced years than the younger, but do you ever?

I mean, the lockdown has given me much more time looking for things to do with it, and one thing was to start exploring my old music collection but really listening, and not doing anything else.

It started with a coincidental listening to Tubular Bells, and I ended up really listening to it to really appreciate just how clever it is.

And that led to reminiscences about what I was up to when it first came out. It started a series of music-inspired relaxed strolls down memory lane.

It's actually nice to hop off the rat race, and take time to really enjoy things, to relax into them. For me, a lot of it is music but for others it could be anything.

So .... do you?

So, I suppose, I ought to thank Covid for that.

[Helios451]

I have found myself turning from the more modern music that I usually listen to on Spotify with things I almost lived by over the last 45 years; Frank Zappa, Tangerine Dream, Bowie, Pink Floyd, Donna Summer, Yello, Grace Jones etc.

All evoke memories of time and place, to be re-examined with present perspective and maturity.

[Ttaskmaster]

I always have done, mainly when the family goes away for a few days to visit the in-laws and I get life to myself again.

[Galant]

Very much so.

Although I also find a lot of music by just having Youtube 'mix' playlists on where I start with an interesting track and let it throw stuff at me. It's often brought me back to older music that I was aware of but never took note of. Something strikes me about it, then I give it a proper listen and have found a new appreciation for both individual pieces and genres and sub-genres in general.

[AGTDenton]

I didnt really start exploring music until the mid-late 90s. I was a late bloomer.

I like a lot of genres of music and yes I often listen to or watch some DVDs which take me back to happier times.
One such mention is AC/DC Live at Donnington, very entertaining watch including the Live album CD.

More recently I've been exploring swing - oddly inspired from re-watrching The Mask with Jim Carrey

[Phage]

It's the quiet. A walk in the country with birdsong and no contrails - amazing
(Love some big band and swing)

[Saracen999]

I agree, enthusiastically, with the delightfulness of quiet, birdsong and no contrails. It's an idyll .... until we remember the economic cost, both in money and lifestyle-wrecking job losses. While that isn't me (retired, effectively) I do end up feeling guilty about enjoying that idyll so much while knowing so very many are pooping themselves with worry over the future.

But I don't think it's the quiet that's got me reminiscing - I think it's spending much more time at home because so many things I might have done (visit B&Q, visit garden centre (several times), visit trade plumbing place for the valve I need, etc) aren't available, meaning I have time on my hands I wouldn't normally have.

[Phage]

Unfortunately working from home (Finance waits for no one !), The inefficiencies of that mean that I'm working longer hours than ever.

[Zak33]

Warning-IM using voice to text software so this may seem a little garbled
(slipped disc, can't reach keyboard)

Yes memory lane his place i frequent

Prog rock, eighties metal, some Mozart, and R. E. M. To amaze me more and more the older I get

I guess the most important component really is good headphones all speakers because without them you genuinely do miss 3/4 magic

[hb904460]

Faithless - insomnia live at v99 - i was there man(!) and got on the video for C4 coverage!
Laidback Luke - show me love - Sensation white 2010 - first gig with my wife
Idlewild - paint nothing - first gig and crowd surf, in Hull somewhere chased through the streets by angry locals after.

[CAT-THE-FIFTH]

I dream of the time I could actually visit the Kebab shop!

[Saracen999]

....

I guess the most important component really is good headphones all speakers because without them you genuinely do miss 3/4 magic

Funny you should say that. I am expecting new 'phones to be delivered within the next couple of hours.

[Ferral]

I still buy CD's and the occasional vinyl. I am playing these on a 90's Philips stacking system with the CD player being a separate. Speakers sound great on it regardless of whether you listen to vinyl or CD. The tone arm though is a straight one which apparently isn't as good as the S shape but I have found the audio quality on this system better than the 70's model I had and sold on.

I tend not to buy re-release vinyl if possible and source original as I have found they are spreading the music over 2 discs with a lot of re-releases. Yeah that is fine if it was released like that when first released like U2 : Rattle & Hum or Iron Maiden : Fear of the Dark but having to flip a disc or change a disc every 10-15 minutes is a bit silly.

I love sitting in the converted loft reading 2000AD/Dredd or maybe an old Bash St Kids annual or firing up the C64 or Spectrum (or something else loading from cassette) while listening to some music, just relax and feel quite content with it all.

[Kovoet]

I have ther original vinyl of Mike Oldfield tubalar bells. I have to be in the mood to listen to it though. I mainly listen to have since 76 to BOSTON. But mainly like there first two albums.

[Saracen999]

I have the original TBells too, and bought it again on CD (as I did a good many of my LP's) when I got my first CD player. I still like the sound of the vinyl but I tend to regard my vinyl as a precious resource that will take a tiny bit of damage every time I use it, despite using a pretty high-end deck (J.A. Mitchell). So I treat that as a luxury and only ever use vinyl when I want to seriously listen. If it's casual I use CD and if it's background, probably MP3.

That said, I recently extended my options with some Amazon Echo devices and their 'Unlimited' music service, and some Good Bluetooth headphones .... which I have to say are really very good, sound-wise. Very good indeed. IMHO, of course, sound quality being ultra subjective.

And I can wander surprisingly far from the Bluetooth source with them. Anywhere in the house for sure, and a good way down the garden.

[Saracen999]

Oh, and Tubular Bells is one of my go-to test.tracks, especially the last few minutes of part I, starting with the really deep bass rhythm, the bit where he names the instruments up to the guitar ending.

Speaking of guitars, another test piece is John Williams and Segovia dueting, as is Chet Akins and Mark Knopfler in Neck and Neck, and soprano Emma Kirkby in (excuse spelling) Jauchzet Gott in Allen Landen (Bach BWV 51??). And some Bach Organwerkes (like Tocata and Fugue in D minor) which has phenomenal bass. And yeah, I know Tocata's attribution to Bach is .... questioned .... but I just take it as granted until someone proves otherwise.

More good bits are the opening few minutes of Acoustic Alchemy's storm sequence in Against the Grain, and for that matter, the 'atmospheric' nature of MJ's Thriller. Great sound staging.

There's a few more, but anything coping well with that lot is immediately short-list qualified.

Talking of Boston, I saw them at Bingly Hall in Staffordshire many moons ago. Round about '79, I think. And for a US rock band, they did a captivating (and pretty true) rendition of Bach's 'Tocata' .... on a bleeping huge portable pipe organ. Bingley Hall has a solid concrete floor, and that organ made it vibrate. Not something you get in yer average rock gig.