I’ve got fifty free eMusic downloads to use — part of their make-up-for-the-mess-we-made-of-recent-price-changes strategy — and I’ve been noodling through their lists working out what to get. I thought I’d top up some of the back-catalogue and so have been checking out the likes of Eno, Tom Verlaine, Lou Reed and co, Jefferson Starship and a bunch of other stuff.
What I’m finding is that with this older stuff, I have an overwhelming desire to own the physical album, preferably vinyl, and that downloading a bunch of files and a picture of the cover doesn’t really cut it. I’m left empty, empty I tell you, waving my hand through the space where my leg used to be…
I’ll get over it, I guess. Sigh.
5 Comments
nostalgia?
To some extent, I guess. But it feels more like wanting to the real Mona Lisa rather than a brilliant holographic reproduction
That’s what I was telling you on Monday! You gotta have your record stores for that! Nothing better than the crackle and hiss of the vinyl leading into the treble twin guitars of Marquee Moon from Tom Verlaine and Television. Block off 3 hours this weekend, grab a bean bag, and position yourself right between your speakers with the album covers of your 3 favourite records. The sit and really listen to what it is we’ve lost. The sound AND the experience. Convenience ain”t always superior to experience.
Tim
I am not a downloader but I need to buy some credit to get the one off songs I love. eg The devil went down to Georgia and its Travis Tritt sequel, The Belle Stars-The clapping song, Love is all from the butterfly ball and so on. Try to think of the songs you would never buy an album of like Nik Kershaw – The Riddle, Deelight-Groove is in the heart etc.
Enjoy
John, I guess you are right! I do love the whole experience of album, cover, sound etc. Of course, the eMusic downloads in question are free, so I can’t complain too much.
Heathdon, that’s a good idea and in fact, I have done that to a certain extent. Just got Patti Smith’s versions of The Doors ‘Soul Kitchen’, for instance. Wouldn’t want every song on her cover album though.
Anyway, it’s kinda fun just cruising through all this stuff. But my phantom limb does act up occasionally.