Old LPs and New Discoveries

Poco’s “Under the Gun”

It is quite possible that I am dating myself with this posting.  For those far younger than me, and who listen to music via a digital streaming platform, I want you to know this is not always the method for playing recorded music (I could go on about smart phones, but I won’t do so).  In my youth the only forms of recorded music were from vinyl LPs (standing for “long playing”), cassette tapes, and 8-track tapes (the latter being unbelievably annoying).  

Recently, my wife and I inherited the bulk of my late brother-in-laws large collection of LPs.  Some of them were purchased when he was a teenager.  He continued to add to his collection for decades.  I am now sorting through his collection, and I am selling the great majority of them on EBay.  Some are in such bad shape that they must be tossed out.  Others that are in sound condition we have kept, and those being the recordings of artists we know and, thus, are familiar with their music.  Among his collection are artists and groups whose names and music are unknown to me.  Concerning the mystery bands my initial plan was to sell every LP in good to excellent condition.  However, as I continued in the process of listing them for sale, I began to become curious about them:  “Why not  research the bands and listen to them?”

Poco circa 1969 -70

Poco is one such band.  My brother-in-law was obviously a huge fan of their music:  he owned many of their recordings, even multiple copies of some of them.  The band’s musical genre is a blend of country rock, pop rock, and folk rock.  The original lineup of the band  consisted  of Richie Furay (from Buffalo Springfield), Jim Messina (later of Loggins and Messina), Randy Meisner (later of the Eagles), Rusty Young, and George Grantham.  Their musical career began in 1969, and continues, it seems, to the present day.  My wife and I remember two of their songs for the late 1970s:  “Heart of the Night,” and “Crazy Love,” from the album “Legend.”  My youngest son, now aged 28, began listening to Poco’s music, and is now himself a fan of their work.  We have since kept several of their LPs which we now appreciate. 

We are all creatures of habit:  we gravitate to what we already know and of which we are familiar.  We stick with the known commodity.  We make choices based upon what has proven to be satisfying to us in the past.  We frequent well proven restaurants, and order satisfying dishes from the known menus.  We take the familiar route to a familiar destination.  Additionally, when in church, I know where every person and family will likely position himself, herself, or themselves in the nave on any given Sunday morning.

Yogi Berra

But, it’s good to shift away from the habitual and seek new experiences.  I have to urge myself to do so and seek sources of inspiration.  Yogi Berra gave this advice, “When you come to a fork in the road — take it.”  Robert Frost was a bit more precise (and I paraphrase his words in summary):  “Take the road less travelled.”  Even the Swedish pop band ABBA gave sage advice:  “Take a chance on me!”

Life, especially the life of faith lived in Christ is to be a life of discovery.  Discovery demands taking the road less travelled.  Discovery and growth demand stepping boldly out of our comfort zones.  Discovery and growth demand taking a chance from time to time.  I return to Robert Frost’s poem, “The Road Not Taken,” and I quote from its ending:  “…I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference.”

The following link takes you to Poco’s “Crazy Love”: https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=https://www.youtube.com/watch%3Fv%3D8GY_orHl_sI&ved=2ahUKEwjUx4CUz5ePAxXXLTQIHdQ5Nt4Q78AJegQIFRAB&usg=AOvVaw02YJ5VjvjC0avdt-I0jC0K

In Christ who leads us along the way,

Fr Irenaeus