Mix tapes - the final part
It's been great hearing the mix-tapes all this week. Next week we are back to the usual mix of themes which I'll post on the blog over the weekend. In the meantime here's the final list which belongs to Liz from Peebles.
How do you choose 12 tracks/records/songs? Well here goes. I'll keep the explanations brief, for your sake.
1. I'll start with the Rolling Stones - 'Little Red Rooster. It's not my first record, but it's the first one that had a meaning, if you know what I mean, but it was the first time my older sister sat me down and said "listen to this!" It was the start of a love affair with music - particularly Blues and Rock.
2. To my eternal shame, I was a big fan of 'The Monkees', in my early teens. I can only plead that the music 'wasn't half bad.' Let's have 'Last Train to Clarksville'.
3. By my later teens, I was more into the likes of Pink Floyd, Wishbone Ash, Stone the Crows and the Sensational Alex Harvey band. But what I really remember is the teenage, female 'angst', so let's have 'Tuesday Afternoon' from Justin Hayward. 'cos the boyfriend would take me to concerts by all of the above except the Moody Blues......
4. Moving from the West of Scotland in my late teens/early twenties to London and a different scene. Sunday afternoon concerts at the Rainbow. Sunshine, walking inthe parks in my barefeet and listening to Lou Reed - 'Perfect Day'.
5. Back to Scotland as it's time to 'get an education'. Popular music was changing and, oh boy, did I like it. Bring on The Clash, The Jam, Stiff little Fingers, XTC and the rest. let's have 'Rock the Casbah', or, if that's not pc, you can't go wrong with 'London Calling'.
London may have been calling, but I didn't go back for many years.
Now life got a bit messy, so it was time to move again. Off to the Borders to live near my sister - so she could keep an eye on me?? A brief flirtation with the ra-ra skirt and college 'discos'. I can't say I really liked any of the music, though, so let's move swiftly on.....
The life changing moment happens. I'm working in a 'mill shop', feeding tourists by the score. This lady working in the shop invites me to a party. "Come and meet my 2 unmarried brothers", she said, and showed me a photo. "I'll have that one", I said, poointing to the darker haired one. So I went to her party, and I did! I met him. We danced the night away. (Ever tried to do an eightsome reel with just 2 people?) I went to visit him in his flat in Edinburgh, the next evening, and never went home again.
25 years and 3 children later, here we are. Back in the Borders for 19 years, now. I'm still with the man who expanded my musical horizons. (To be fair, I expanded his, too, if not as far.)
6. I have a whole world of music to choose from and what do I think of? Well, it's Neil Young and I really love 'Hey Hey, My My (Into The Black) from 'Rust never Sleeps' or possibly 'Wrecking Ball' or...... too many to mention!
7. Gerry, for that is his name, has shared his music with me, as I have shared mine with him. He loves to play guitar, just for himself, and now, for me. We go to concerts, we have children and introduce the children to our music. He still plays guitar.Please - will he stop trying to play along to 'Down in the Sewer' - The Stranglers.......
8. Now the children are almost grown - 21 years, almost 19 years and almost 17 years. They are sharing their music with us. It's not always a happy meeting - i can't get used to some of it, but at least it's not Pop. I have to say that I'm most comfortable with my daughter Karen's, choices so let's something from Muse - 'Knights of Sidonia' or 'Supermassive Black Hole'?
9. I Suppose the boys should be represented, to, so what about 'Holding out for a Hero' from Jennifer Saunders for Martin. He would really prefer a jig or a reel as his preference is for ceilidh music.
10. The youngest, Graeme, listens to far too much. He is the stereotypical teenage boy. Online gaming, chatting to his friends via webcam etc. I can't keep track of what his favourites are so i'll go and ask him......... Ok, it's 'Amaranth' by Nightwish. (He has added them to my mp3 and I've heard much worse!)
11. Only 2 to go. What do I choose? Gerry and I don't have an 'Our Tune' as such, but I have fond memories of his introducing me to J.J.Cale. So what about 'After Midnight'?
12 The last one. I'd like to finish with one my late sister loved. She died before she could see the new century and I still miss her. If any one song sums up her life it's this - 'She Belongs to Me' - Bob Dylan. It's all there in the lines
She's got everything she needs,
She's an artist, she don't look back.
So. That's my list. It misses out almost all of the records/tracks I love and listen to on a regular basis. What it does do is to capture some of the important times in my life.
Liz
