“My parents owned this turntable with a radio. We’re talking late seventies-early eighties here. I’m old. My folks weren’t what you would call dedicated music fans, but they had a few records I could take for a spin. They weren’t that heavily into one artist rather than the other, and their collection was more of an assembly of greatest hits records.”
“The LPs I remember most vividly are the red and blue Beatles collections, 1962-1966 and 1967-1970. I loved how they posed the same way on the cover photos, which were probably taken in ‘62 and ‘70. Looking back on it, you realize how short that interval is. McCartney was 20 on the red one and 28 on the blue one. Granted, a lot happened during that period!
This was the beginning of my foray into Beatlemania, although it wasn’t until I was fifteen that I started to buy every record I could and read every book on the Beatles I got my hand on. My admiration was undivided and this was a very formative period for me as a songwriter, although I rarely listen to those guys any more.
Another one I loved was Discovery by the Electric Light Orchestra. I’ve never got away from my love of ELO. In my opinion Jeff Lynne is one of the unsung heroes of contemporary music. His arrangements and sense of melody are fantastic. I still love me a little ELO every now and then.
When I was around ten I discovered a gem in my parents’ collection: Beethoven’s fifth. My god, what a revelation this was. He is still one of the most talented artists of music history, in my opinion. His music is so emotive and grand. I got totally immersed in this strange and beautiful musical world.
In hindsight, I think Beethoven may be my biggest musical influence.”
—Ívar Páll Jónsson
Revolution in the Elbow of Ragnar Agnarsson Furniture Painter is a rock musical and concept album by Ívar Páll Jónsson, opening in New York City’s West Village, August 2014.
