GETTING MORE TALE #728: Christmas Eve 2018
Way back in the 80s, my sister and I would get so hyped up for Christmas that we would actually “play” Christmas. How do you “play Christmas”? You pretend to go to bed, then one of you makes jingle bell sounds. You run to the other’s room and tell them that Santa came! Then you leap downstairs and pretend to open presents. I swear to God, this is what we did. “Oh look I got Atari Pac Man!” Killing time was hard when you’re a kid on Christmas holidays. We’d invent anything just to kill an hour. Parents would have preferred that we help out instead of playing around.
It’s 2018 now and Sis is probably working hard getting ready to host dinner tonight. Beef fondue again. Always good. If your meat isn’t cooked right, it’s your own fault!
I’ve been off for a couple days, trying not to work too hard. This year, I decided to focus on playing vinyl during the Christmas break. As I write this, to my immediate right is a bright clear pink disc spinning at 33 1/3 RPM. It’s a vinyl exclusive, which quite frankly, is the best thing to enjoy on LP. Live From the Astroturf is a very rare Record Store Day live album, featuring the surviving members of the original Alice Cooper Group reunited. I’ve been ogling it ever since it arrived a few days ago. I finally cracked the seal and placed it carefully on the platter. I had no idea what colour the vinyl would be until that moment. There are 12 randomly inserted colours! In addition, the photo on the label B-side is random (mine is Dennis Dunaway). Let me tell you people, there is nothing like the original Alice Cooper band, playing the original songs.
Another wonderful sonic experience is playing a brand minty new record, so clean that you can’t tell it’s not digital. Contrarily, it’s also unique to play an old record and hear the same pops and ticks that the previous owner heard too. The first record I played this holiday was Jen’s mom’s old Buddy Holly Story soundtrack. Got the movie, never heard the soundtrack. It does exist on a pretty rare CD, but once the needle hit the groove I realized I’d rather listen to the same record her mom did. It creates a connection, almost like a time machine. (Even though I planned on taking it easy, I did write a review and you can look for that in the new year.)
I still have time to squeeze in a couple more records before the festivities begin. I’m sure you’re busy and I won’t take up any more of your time! For those working retail: Hang in there and it will be all over soon. At least until December 26.
It’s weird to be finishing this article while the original Alice Cooper Group sings, “School’s out for summer, school’s out forever”! That’s how it worked out though, and it’s funny enough to mention. To all of you, I wish a safe and happy Christmas. It goes by so fast, try to savour the moments.
Merry Christmas readers and friends, and remember: “School’s out for summer!”
mikeladano.com 