Indulge me once again if you will (or won't)...
<TCK>in 1985, when I was about thirteen, I was walking past a record store and saw a record in the window with three smiling fellows on the cover...it looked like the kind of thing I had to hear. I had already been buying punk records that I liked from the late nights listening to the college radio station, and of course I had heard some reggae on there- but I have no idea what this was...it was so different from the roots stuff played on the radio. In any event, it was used and $3, and I had $4 on me, so home it went.
That record was The Pioneers "I'm Gonna Knock On Your Door" and when I played it, I was knocked over. Knowing what I do now, it was mostly an attempt to cross over to American audiences (ie. watered down pop soul) but I thought it was the best thing ever...So I hit the reggae stacks next time I had cash in my pocket.
Next up was a compilation on Trojan of Desmond Dekker's work, suggested to me by a very pretty mod girl who was much older, and again- I was floored (strangely enough the singers on these records were brothers), so I went to do some reading.
By the time 1987 rolled around, 15 year old me had a Vespa, a crombie coat I bought second hand, a ton of Fred Perry shirts, and a freaking tonic suit (I was the bees knees I thought)...some ridiculously expensive boots and a short crop (I still have that part...LOL). I had found that Britain had once had people who liked this reggae thing, and back then they were called "skinheads". Mom and dad were so proud (NOT-at least I had a job. My records demanded it). In spite of the fact that this music was made a few years before I was born (I was born in 1972), and my version of the scene had long since been turned into this very odd racial thing (I understand it...and how it happened...maybe I just don't like it...OK, I totally don't like it- those guys are jerks) for me it was always the music which immediately takes me to my own personal happy place every time. There is something so delightful in early Reggae, especially if it was popular in England during that short window (1968-1971 or so). I have always loved it, will always love it, and yeah- it makes me wanna dance even though me dancing is like watching a train wreck.
I bought this in 1989...back when I used to write things down. It is an INCREDIBLE side from the Bleechers that I can't even attempt to do justice, but I chose it because it has a historical origin.
Come Into My Parlour- The Bleechers. Inspired by The Spider and The Fly by Mary Howitt, 1829. I searched and searched until I found one our host would enjoy for it's historical relevance...maybe. This was it, and boy do I love this song. I still play these records in the city sometimes, and on the radio...I reckon I always will. I do so enjoy being the "old guy" in these stupid supposedly orthopedic boots that hurt my feet. </TCK>