Old School

With all of the new technology and the way it changes, sometimes it's nice to have things be a little simpler. Though I may be young, I don't entirely understand the way some technology works. I've been called "technologically illiterate" more than once, but hey, I'm learning.

In my last post I showed a picture of the record player my mother received for Christmas. As I still live at home, I view her record player, in many ways, my new toy. So far she doesn't seem to mind. The first time I put a record on, I dropped the needle. That was just before she swooped in, moved me out of the way, and did it herself. Who knew dropping the needle could hurt a record? Since then, I've improved, and can almost put the record on without injuring it. For the most part.


After listening to the same ten records repeatedly, my mother and I decided to venture out in search of new listening experiences. So today, we left for Jellybean's, a music/book/collectible store on Court St. in Flint. This was the store where her records came from originally.

This isn't a commercial by any means. Actually, the store smells of basement, which I attribute to all of the materials that probably came from a basement. However, it is possible to find some really cool stuff. Among others, you can find The Beatles, Elvis, Van Halen, Queen, Boston, and Blondie, as well as others like Nat King Cole, Bing Crosby, and Frank Sinatra. It definitely spans the decades.


My mom's purchases consisted of artists such as Bobby Darin, Doris Day, and her favorite, Elvis. These purchases all seem strange to me, since she's only 38, but, who am I to judge? My purchases didn't reflect my age, either. I came out with a Billy Idol album, CCR's Cosmo's Factory, and The Beatles 1962-1970.

I really feel that as we progress into a more technologically advanced society, some of the nice things of the past are being lost. I was fortunate enough to be raised in a family where the "oldies" were played regularly, and records were an acceptable form of listening technology. I really feel that, to some extent, the progressing technology of iPods and mp3's loses something along the way.

Don't get me wrong. This new technology is definitely convenient, and you'll for sure see me with my iPod on for the better part of the day. Mp3's are easy to acquire (sometimes, too easy) and offer more flexibility. It's nice to be able to take your music with you. Arguably, this new technology is better than the old, because you can have more music, anywhere, and anytime you want it.

However, somehow, there's also a warmness lost. A personalization, I guess. I'm not even old enough to remember when records were popular (I wasn't the one that roller-skated to the Pretty in Pink soundtrack, like my mom), but I still feel that there's something there that's lacking with cd's, mp3's, etc. The skips and pops, while annoying, also add a character to the record. I guess it's different, in a way. At least to me.

I guess after a long day, it will be nice to come home and listen to something soothing, like Dean Martin, maybe, and feel like he's singing for me.