“The first memories of vinyl for me were my mothers records – Frank Sinatra’s ‘Fly Me to the Moon,’ and the ‘The Lady is a Tramp’ and Nat King Cole’s ‘Unforgettable,’ ‘Mona Lisa,’ and ‘Nature Boy.’”
“These magic round heavy plastic discs had the ability to transport one’s imagination and emotions to many different places. I would spend a lot of time playing them on that turntable—they seemed to produce imaginary pictures and sound that danced on the air. Her collection soon grew—to include the early Elvis and Stan Freeberg singing “Heartbreak Hotel,” Johnny Ray, Ray Charles, and Frankie Laine—to name a few.
Time passed and I got to the stage of ‘Well, it’s time to buy my own records.” The one, the catalyst that sent me spiraling into wanting a career in music, was the Rolling Stones first album with songs like ‘I’m a King Bee,’ ‘Can I get a Witness,’ ‘Mona,’ etc.
I soon discovered they had gotten their inspiration from the greats—John Lee Hooker, Robert Johnson, Howling Wolf, Muddy Waters, BB King—the list seemed endless. So, I stripped off and swam in those wonderful waters.
Did I mention the album artwork and liner notes? No! Well they were also another part of the experience—delving into every little scrap of information that they contained, and really appreciating every photo, back and front.
A wonderful experience—indelibly etched into one’s experience and being.”
—Russell Morris
Russell Morris’ Sharkmouth arrives in stores on September 30.
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