In case you haven't visited the NPR site in a week or two, or you haven't downloaded any of their fine podcasts, you might have missed the stunning fact that "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" turned 40 last week. The album had a significant impact on many people, myself included. However, at the advanced age of 13 (when I first heard it), I had been introduced to the concept album as a...concept. What made me ecstatic were the individual songs, not the coherence of the album. "With A Little Help From My Friends" made me smile; "Lucy In The Sky" sent me soaring; "A Day In The Life" opened me up.
What was most interesting is that I hadn't been formally introduced to those songs earlier. My very first official introduction to the Beatles was when I was 9. It was Easter morning of 1993, and the power was out due to a late season Nor'Easter. My parents, though neither of them huge Beatles fans, recognized a classic rock devotee in the making. They gave me a cassette tape of the Beatles "greatest hits." I dug up six D batteries for my stereo (my very first one, given to me that previous Christmas) and let it play. And play. And play and play and play. I spent hours in my room that morning listening to all of their early chart hits ("Love Me Do," "She Loves You"), and their least offensive later masterpieces ("Get Back," "Let It Be,"). It was because of this tape that "The Long And Winding Road" is one of my favorite songs of all time. At 9 I could feel the tug in my chest that this song meant the end of something. At 23, the meaning stretches far beyond the Beatles and into my own life.
I didn't know it at the time, but the album featured only their chart hits as opposed to what some would be called their masterpieces. It skipped over nearly all of Sgt. Pepper, as well as a significant amount of The White Album, Rubber Soul, Abbey Road, and Magical Mystery Tour. I would have to discover these albums later; songs like "Lucy In The Sky," "While My Guitar Gently Weeps," "Something," "Norwegian Wood," and "A Day In The Life" weren't introduced to me until I got Napster and downloaded the entire Beatles catalog.
I'm lucky I turned out how I did, though. I shall now reveal my most embarrassing musical moment. More embarrassing than my intense and unapologetic love of the Monkees. More embarrassing than having seen O-Town in concert. Twice. I am going to tell you about the first music I ever owned. It was 1990 -- my 7th birthday. I had a love of all oldies music thanks to my dad and his amazing collection of 45s. So he gave me a 45 rpm record. But what was it? Something I can't explain. "Kokomo" by "The Beach Boys." Notice the quotes. The worst Beach Boys song. It's not even actually the Beach Boys! What the fuck is Kokomo? "Aruba, Jamaica, ooh I wanna take you to Bermuda, Bahama [where's the "s" on Bahamas!?!], come on pretty mamma..." That's just revolting. But now you know. Now you all know about my secret music shame.
Check out the tribute that Bob Boilen of NPR's "All Songs Considered" gave to his first listen to Sgt. Pepper. It's incredibly sweet and moving. (To listen, click on the red "listen" icon below the main title.)
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