Ping-pong and Suite: Judy Blue Eyes
remembering how communal music could be in the pre-digital era
When I was in the U.S. for Easter last month, I asked my dad, sister and mom if they had memories of albums that they owned when they were teenagers. I was interested in the albums as objects as much as how they remembered listening to these. I sometimes forget (then remember) how communal music could be in the pre-digital era. People borrowed things from friends* or siblings and even if you had your own copy of something, it didn’t mean you listened to it privately. I figured asking about this would lead to some good stories and memories.
It took people a few minutes to arrive at a memorable album when I asked. For my dad, I asked when we were in the car in the parking lot of Veano’s, a local dining haunt in Concord, NH. His memorable album was one by Crosby, Stills & Nash. It took a few songs to identify which album, but we landed on their self-titled album from 1969 by way of “Suite: Judy Blue Eyes”. He also mentioned “Almost Cut My Hair” and probably those purple berries from “Wooden Ships”. Although “Almost Cut My Hair” is on a different album, there is a reference to cutting one’s hair (to get yourself elected) on this album in the song “Long Time Gone”.
I love this album. “Guinnevere” is my favourite for the colours it details (green eyes, golden hair, an orange tree). The wild ‘do-do-do-do-do’ down at the end of Suite: Judy Blue Eyes is pretty darn good too! 😆 Four types of birds are mentioned across this album’s songs: a chestnut-brown canary, a ruby-throated sparrow, peacocks wandering aimlessly and seagulls circling endlessly. “Marrakesh Express” is my least favourite and I can only express why by doing a funny dance - the kind where I would need a cane and top hat. 😆 I only learned recently that Cass Elliott sings back-up vocals on “Pre-Road Downs”… I still think it’s difficult to hear her though. I would have listened to this album in high school in the early 90s, in my bedroom or hanging out with friends in a car. I asked my dad where he listened to this album. I figured it must have been in a common room at home with the family hi fi system, in contrast to today where people have their own personal (and portable) devices.
“Records were played in a common room at the old house on Battle Street in Webster. This was a combo TV, radio and record player. It was in a big open room upstairs. We also had a ping-pong table up there. Dad taught Bruce and I how to play ping-pong and I think we got pretty good at it too.”
I wondered where my grandfather learned to play ping-pong.
“Probably learned it in the army. We usually had to play one of his albums too - Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass - while playing ping-pong.”
Herb Alpert energy seems appropriately intense for table tennis matches!
“Yes, good memories.”
I also asked my uncle Bruce for his memories.
“Epic ping-pong battles with Gene and Dad. Not sure we got the best of him very many times - he was an athlete and very competitive and always fun to be with.”
Some other albums Bruce and my dad remember were by Steppenwolf, Iron Butterfly and the Beach Boys.
My sister had a strong memory of Janet Jackson’s album Control. It was an album she remembers dancing to with our step-sister Amy.
My mom couldn’t quite remember a specific album she owned as a teenager though my dad remembers her liking James Taylor and Carole King.
Do you have a strong memory of an album or other physical copy of music? I’d love to hear your story!
*One of my strongest memories of a physical album was a cassette I had of Echo and the Bunnymen’s 1987 self-titled album. I let a friend borrow it after we played it in their car. They didn’t return it promptly, and I kept asking, which made me really annoyed. 😆 It’s perhaps my first memory of a piece of personal ‘property’ being appropriated by a friend. I did eventually get it back though I no longer have it.
I also remember Kim and I occasionally got the old 45s that were removed from the jukebox where our Mom worked - one was “Axel F” by Harold Faltermeyer, from the Beverly Hills Cop soundtrack. 😆 We had a portable children’s record player to play it on and I’m pretty sure I tried to scratch with it. 🤣🤣🤣