Bach’s Little Fugue in G-Minor as played by E. Power Biggs on the Flentrop organ at Harvard.
I was in music appreciation and kind of fell asleep. The prof put this one on and I heard it in my sleep, causing me to wake up. It was awesome, so awesome I asked him to play it again.
Imagine my surprise when he told me it was on the set of CD’s I bought for the class. :o Who knew?
I, er, wasn’t the greatest student in the history of mankind. But that moment launched a decades-long love affair with Bach’s music. I even wanted to learn to play the organ so I could play that song. Ahhh, youth, when you think anything’s possible, even taking up the organ when you’re 20 with no musical experience whatsoever.
However, nowadays, I prefer his other organ fugue in G-minor, the “Great” (BWV 542), especially the version by Mr Biggs on the same organ.
Wow! I have been disappointed in music for that long? Amazing. However I just want to second the vote for Solomon Burke. He is a vastly underrated American treasure.
Yeah, I remember when we all looked down on The Eagles as pretentious, LA cocaine cowboys. Especially here in Texas. But every time I hear “Take It Easy” on the radio, I want to put the top down & head West. (Too bad I don’t have a convertible.)
In those same old days, me & my pals mostly played & listened to “Roots Music”–before the phrase was invented. But Fleetwood Mac’s “Go Your Own Way” blew me away. I actually went out & purchased an LP that was in the Top 10!
In the days before the earth’s crust cooled, my teenybopper self loved “Do You Believe in Magic” by the Lovin’ Spoonful. But the liner notes led me on the winding path towards Jug Band Music & the Holy Modal Rounders. And I only caught “For What It’s Worth” a few times on the radio–but it sent me in search of Buffalo Springfield.
Note to self: Start listening to some of the more “up to date” music channels that come with my cable TV. Yes, I was sad when they dropped Americana. But I already know about those guys. Time to hear more new stuff.
Most recently: “Cinnamon” by the Long Winters. The drummer in my band played it for me in the car, mainly for the curiosity of the song being in 6/8 but the drummer playing most of it in 4/4, but despite this bit of trickery it’s a great song and I’ve listened to it at least a few times a week since.
I was stunned the first time I heard Queen(which was the first greatest hits album) ,became a lifelong fan.
One song I just heard for the first time the other day is I Was in the House When the House Burned Down by Warren Zevon.Really neat song…opening verse is
I had some shit til’ it all got smoked I kept the promise til’ the vow got broke I had to drink from the lovin’ cup I stood on the banks til’ the river rose up I saw the bride in her wedding gown I was in the house when the house burned down
While I am on Zevon he recorded an album with REM minus Stipe under the band name Hindu Love Gods ,which I loved instantly.Songs are all covers including Prince’sRaspberry Beret (which charted) and Georgia Satellites’ Battleship Chains. Awesome album!
