This Is (My Dad's) Story

So, everyone knows and loves the Proclaimers. If you don't who they are (and presumably live under a rock), they're the Scottish lads that did the song "I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles)". This was their only hit in America, even though they have found more success in the UK since then. It's a real shame, because their other work is AMAZING.

I'm talking today about their first album, This Is The Story. Personally, this is one of my favorite albums of all time. The songs are wonderfully well-crafted with inventive lyrics and wonderful vocals. Even though the only instrument for most of the record is just a single acoustic guitar, it fits the music so well that I can't imagine adding anything else and it being as good. The songs have creative energy and range from poking fun at Scottish accents ("Throw the 'R' Away") to stories of abuse at Catholic school ("Over and Done With"). Each song stands on its own and comes together to create a fantastic album.

This is what it looks like:














Anyway, onto my dad's story. He actually discovered The Proclaimers back before their big hit through this album (acting like a hipster before it was cool: the ultimate hipster). Back in college (around '87 or '88), he had a friend who had made a cassette tape of this album. On the way to Taughannock Falls to go hiking, this friend played this cassette tape in the car. My dad, being the lover of music that he is, was astounded at the album and asked his friend who had made it and had to have it. So, later, in the late 80's/early 90's when all the cool kids were switching over from LP's to CD's, this album became one of the first CD's that he ever bought. This CD has some memories for my dad. So not only is it an awesome album, but there's a story behind it. That's the best kind of experience for an album, and it's pretty cool that it was with this one.

Autographs #1

Autographed items have a strange appeal, even if it's totally irrational that by scraping a Sharpie on it, the artist confers some sort of aura on your copy. Certainly, the vast majority don't have any huge monetary value, and judging by how many I've found recently in used bins and tag sales, the owners who got them signed weren't terribly attached to them. For me, its the enjoyment of stumbling across something cool.

This I found randomly in the bins at Princeton Record Exchange, probably $7.99. Though I am a Tull fan, my brother is moreso, and so I gave it to him. Nice live recording, but I'm holding out for the Steven Wilson remasters.... Aqualung is out and Thick as a Brick on the way.

More to come,
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