Eighth notes and it begins peace and joy through music

THE MUSIC IN MY HEAD

Eights were wild.  It was  July 8–1968–and I strolled from Carson Perry Scott down Jefferson street where where  my Grandmother had given me a quarter to spend at the dime store a couple blocks down and on the other side of the street.  A quarter went a long way at the dime store in those days, however, today that quarter, a special birthday bonus wasn’t going to get a soda pop and three candy bars, it was headed not across the street but down one block further on the same side to the cash register of Sutter drug.  In a display case with a few items like electric razors, new Wes clock alarms, tthere sat my salvation.  For $2.59 sat the sleek plastic and silver GE pocket transistor radio.  Oh you say...8’s were wild?  With tax of 3 cents on the dollar increasing to the full 3 cents from 59 cents and up...although some. Stores would go all the way to 60–the full price was $2.68!!!  (Battery included.  

...and there it began—you see this small golden portal to the. World came with a tiny ear piece that made it possible for the listener to  have a private concert.  So, Walking a couple of blocks away from the there I sat on the corner of 6th and Jefferson sliding the earphone into it’s spot and extending the little antenna about four inches.  I turned the little  wheel switch on and the volume up just a little and then started spinning the tuning  wheel till it hit right between 14 and 16 and the strong  clear voice of Paul Harvey’s News and Comment was.right there on KBUR about to tell me “the rest of the story.”  

I listened for a minute and then turned my. New prized  item off.  I was a small kid so I didn’t  have a pocket big enough to  hold this treasure, however,it had a cool carrying strap and that fit fine on my small wrist.  Houdini himself couldn’t have removed it on that fine day.  

KBUR had “the Trading Post” and “the Carriage Ride” and of course local news and sports and most importantly every week night at a few seconds after nine—THE TOP TEN.   Every single week night I could be  at the edge  of musical history as the station did it’s countdown and I could listen to each glorious moment.  

Now before then I had listened to  some records on  both my grandparents record player.  I had pressed 147 to hear my Grandma Ruths supposed favorite song as Winchester Cathedral blasted through the smoke and  chatter at the Iowa Tavern on Highway 99 across from Case.  In reality I think she just got a kick out of me singing. “A- DOH-DIO-DO” from the intro.  

This was different...this was mine and I could rule what came from it...well whatever  stations I could pull in.  

On that. Fine Monday night  Herb Albert  sans the Tiajuana  Brass) belted out “this Guy’s in Love With You at number one on the billboard chart.  It was a slow love ballad—not my favorite but it may as well been Gabriel playing his trumpet on the day of rapture.  

Now, I have owned a lot of electronic music devices since that Marvelous Monday and still own a few—but that one may always  be the best.  

Well.. that’s enough for one sitting...more tomorrow. On this thing called music and we’re  talking. Rock Opera to Led Zep and the songs we we weren’t allowed to play on the school juke box.  Oh and the day  them good old boys drover their Chevy to the levy singing this will be the day that I die.