2008
1. The number one song in America the day I was born, June 19th, 1968, was Simon & Garfunkel's "Mrs. Robinson." (If I had held out another 3 days, I would have got a Herb Alpert jam. Shame, that.)
2. The first new album I purchased was Joe Jackson's "Look Sharp." That's a fond recollection; it could have been way, way worse considering the time period in question. I believe that was 1980; the album came out in '79, according to Wikipedia, but I'm fairly certain I was 12, not 11. This is still one of my all-time favorite albums, and I think I'm on what could quite possibly be my 10th copy. Interestingly, this 10th copy is the first album I purchased on iTunes. Go figure. At least I can't wear it out now.
3. The first stadium concert I attended was the Cars "Heartbeat City" tour in 1984 at Forest Hills Tennis Stadium. Wang Chung opened. That's hard to swallow, but I think I still get karma points from the Joe Jackson purchase to cover for that.
4. The number one song the day I graduated high school (June 3rd, 1986) was "On My Own" by Patti LaBelle & Michael McDonald. In all honesty, by that time, I wasn't that interested in pop music (read: at all), so it's not a real surprise that I have no recollection of that particular gem.
5. When I was born, putting an 8-track deck and/or FM radio in a car was a pretty new idea. By the time I could drive, putting a cassette deck in a car was a pretty new idea. Now that I can go and buy a relatively expensive vehicle with many options, putting satellite radio and a hard drive music player in a car is a fairly new idea. But that car still can't fucking fly. What the hell?
6. A high-end recording console that left the factory on June 19th, 1968 that still exists today has somehow gained the ability to make songs better in the intervening four decades. I guess consoles are like wine.
Anyhow, happy birthday to me. In lieu of buying me something, you're more than welcome to just Paypal me cash.
i was 5 when that sh-- came on, and i was subjected to it daily.
posted June 17, 2008 by cl516
#6 made me laugh. in 20+ years if we aren't all radioactive, frozen in ice caves etc some guy will post a similar blog mentioning how on his DOB a small company called antares made possible top 40 hits by jennifer lopes etc.
first album i purchased w/my own money: AC/DC - Let There Be Rock. I was in the 5th grade. on cassette. About the same time i found a copy of dirty deeds on 8 track that i think is still in a box somewhere w/a bunch of other childhood crap.
first live show: Quiet Riot w/WASP opening at the sunrise musical theater. I was in 7th grade it was 1984. cringe. All i remember is the girl sitting in front of me was a little older and hot.
happy almost birthday.
posted June 17, 2008 by boobs
Of course, now my 16 year old daughter prefers Broadway show tunes - we're seeing Rent tonight. I think I'll at least play Radiohead or something in the car on the way over. Oh, but she does like your stuff Chris. Has it loaded on her Ipod
posted June 17, 2008 by pohaku
-CR
posted June 17, 2008 by Chris Randall
First real live show - some jerks who called themselves "Sister Machine Gun". I hear those guys are like in their 40s now or something.
posted June 17, 2008 by Adam Woodyard
posted June 17, 2008 by MachinePop
First album I bought myself was probably Pink Floyd's "Meddle," Followed shortly by Mr. Bungle and a variety of classical stuff.
posted June 18, 2008 by space_monkey
Your blog isn't too bad ;-)
posted June 19, 2008 by mens sana
Marvin Gaye "Heard it through the Grapevine" was #1
Kiss Alive II on cassette bought at Sam Goody in NYC
some multi band stadium concert in Dallas?
posted June 19, 2008 by Downpressor
My first album purchase was Black Sabbath "We Sold Our Souls For Rock and Roll."
I'm scared to see what song was big when I was born.
posted June 17, 2008 by BirdFLU