I like to think the focus of my thoughts are worthwhile or important. Many times, I am drilling down into my own intellect or moral fabric to answer tough questions or just to ponder. Even during the deepest of these thoughts, there is something else on my mind, or playing in the back of my mind. It’s a soundtrack, literally. I have written about my love of classic country music but music allows more than one love. One of those passions would be 60s and 70s music. I have always liked singer/songwriters; Jim Croce is one of my favorites. When I need courage, I pull up the lyrics to the Croce song, “I Got a Name.” It’s beautiful and motivates me with the lyrics “they can change their minds but they can’t change me.” There are too many factors in life that want our silence and our minds, this song reminds me to guard them both. I also like some of his lesser-known songs like “Roller Derby Queen” and “Rapid Roy That Stock Car Boy.” He sang about the things he saw around him and took everyday events and made them into a good story.
Another singer/songwriter I liked is Carole King. I think most of her songs have a few piano chords that so fully announce what is about to burst from that vinyl record that they give me chills. A great example of this would be, “I feel the Earth Move.” The chords are so simple but they are powerful because they aren’t covered with anything fancy to soften the impact of the bold melody. It is raw, truthful and human stuff.
I wear headphones while I work out. The mix of music anyone listens to while they work out is a very personal choice. I know some people like heavy metal or something very loud to keep them inspired while they pursue their physical fitness goals. I work-out best when I am happy and emotional. “The Association” has a lot of good music that checks the box for both of these elements as does “The Grass Roots.” I especially like the Grass Roots as it reminds me of driving around with my brother, Steve, and listening to them on his 8 track.
Finally, I like some of the Christian music from the 60s and 70s. “They’ll know we are Christians by our Love” or “Day by Day” would be good examples of what I first heard during Vacation Bible School, and still listen to now. I liked Lowell Lundstrom’s music which probably was meant for an older group of people but I still listened to my mom’s records. The Lundstroms don’t make it onto my gym work-out mix but other Christian music occasionally does.
80s music should really be my background music as that is where I spent my teenage years. I think music from prior decades was the music of my older siblings which explains why some of it plays in a loop in my mind. I admired them and wanted to be like them and enjoying the same music was a short-cut to being like them. I don’t try to make too much sense of it, I just enjoy it.
