“Everyone in the room was passed out except my friend Adam who was outside in another friend’s jeep and supremely drunk. He woke me up telling me I had to listen to a particular song by the Velvet Underground. The song was “Heroin,” written by Lou Reed.
“Soon “Heroin” was blaring inside a jeep being driven down a dirt road, quickly spiraling around but not too erratic. Soon after this great night I purchased Velvet Underground’s first album on record, the one with Warhol’s banana cover. The whole record is great to me because of the honesty, the freedom, and the innovation that was created with simple two to three guitar chord arrangements in the songs. I still play that album once a month or so.”
—Billy Muncy, guitar/vocals
“The first record I listened to back to back was a Spanish folk artist named Jose Luis Perales. I think his most well known song is probably ‘Y Te Vas.'”
“I was hanging out and with a group of people at my friend Mario’s house. His dad Raul had a stack of Spanish and Mexican albums for the most part. I think there may have been an Abba and a Springsteen as well. But being a 15 year old stoner the first ten seconds of “Y Te Vas” played and the accordions sounded like washed out synthesizers and his voice is so haunting. I was by myself in his attic listening to this record for a good two hours straight before anyone else found me.
I remember that night because I also found his father’s stash of booze and porn hidden under a loose floor board. A good night turned immortal cause of Jose Luis. And for that I am grateful.”
—Ron Boling, bass
“I remember I bought my first record player with my dad after a guitar lesson about twelve years ago. The player was a Goldstar that looked like an 80s production. I’d already bought a couple of records that I’d found around in antique and pawn shops.”
“One particular record that I can recall was Cream’s second album Disraeli Gears. Jack Bruce, Ginger Baker, and Eric Clapton created something quite powerful together. Jack Bruce laced the music with a jazz feel with the help of Baker, while Clapton of course put in the heavy blues with his lead guitar. The songs that stand out for me in this album, besides of course “Sunshine of Your Love” that we’ve heard a million times, are “World of Pain,” “Dance the Night Away”, Tales of Brave Ulysses”, and “We’re Going Wrong.”
There is something special about hearing the original vinyl as released and enjoying the cover and sleeve. It’s a more tangible way to understand music.”
—Dustin Coker, drums
