8 Track Childhood
Music made parenting easy!
It’s unclear how my love of music began, but I assure you it wasn’t because anyone sang to me as a baby. Although, my mother said it’s because the teenage babysitter I had in the late ’70s would take me to the disco on Saturday afternoon.
My mother also claimed I learned to dance before I could walk — A talent that I’ve long forgotten! But, one of my earliest memories involves wedging a butter knife, just right, into the stereo to get the 8-track to play; I was around three or four years old.
Music was my mother’s idea of a babysitter when all other options for one had failed, and something prevented me from being able to play outside. Her music collection was small, but I loved adjusting all of the shiny silver knobs and memorizing lyrics.
Aside from an eight-track tape player, the stereo also had a fancy cassette player and radio, of course. On the bottom shelf of the entertainment center, there was a record player. I had four media options at my little fingertips!
Some of what was on repeat included: Alabama (Love in the First degree, Why Lady Why), Barbra Mandrell (Sleeping Single in a Double Bed, I Don’t Want to Be Right), Lionel Richie (All Night Long, Hello, Stuck on you), Laura Branigan (Self Control, Ti Amo), The Pointer Sisters (Slow Hand, I’m So Excited), Sylvia (Nobody), Joan Jett ( I love Rock ‘n Roll), and Bonnie Tyler (Total Eclipse of the Heart).
The local radio stations also introduced me to a variety of music and more possible scenarios life might throw at me, like Ronnie Milsap, who had a stranger in his house. Eddie Rabbit, who was driving his life away. And, George Jones, who sadly, just stopped loving her today. Then there was Terri Gibbs — She introduced me to the devil.
Fun fact: I thought that the bands playing on the radio were playing live at the radio station. I was sure there was a line out the door of bands/people waiting for their turn to sing. Just me?
As you might imagine from my music selection, I had a pretty good grasp on relationships and was jaded long before my tween years set in. Somewhere along the way I changed the radio station and found Madonna and Michael Jackson. Madonna wanted to keep the baby (Papa Don’t Preach) and Michael denied paternity (Billie Jean). Whew! The drama…
My mother had a friend that was the DJ for a short while at the skating rink. I remember this because for a couple of months, every Sunday 1–4, I got to go to town twenty miles away for city fun! I listened to the continuous playlist of songs and taught myself to stay upright on wheels while my mother socialized. Wake me up before you go-go by Wham was my jam!
A few years later, a babysitter introduced me to George Michael’s solo album, Faith. Talk about a lesson on sexuality!
Around that time, we moved to town, and a bigger world opened up. I now had MTV and was given a peace offering for leaving everyone and everything I knew behind — My very own stereo with Aerosmith Dude (Looks like a lady) on vinyl and Def Leppard’s Pyromania on cassette.
The stereo lacked an 8 track player but had a double cassette and record player, all in one type. It was official — I had started my very own music collection! Perk — Recording cassettes borrowed from others, and music from the radio, of course! Napster was not the first means to free music, just sayin’!
I was dropped off at the skating rink weekly on Friday and Saturday nights, from open til close. I even attended the monthly lock-in all-night skate, even though I was only about nine. They played all of the good music to include songs that didn’t get airtime on local radio stations like Push it by Salt-N-Pepa!
In 1989 my mother married. As a result, I was introduced to a drove of fabulous artists: Percy Sledge, Black Sabbath, The Temptations, Steppenwolf, The Righteous Brothers, Frankie Valli, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Led Zepplin, Eric Clapton, The Manhattans, David Allen Coe, Van Morrison, Merle Haggard, Johnny Cash, The Doors, and many more!
And then, Pink Floyd entered my life. I have Michelle to thank for that — A girl from California who was dating a step-uncle at the time. One day, after discussing my musical interest, she insisted I listen to the Dark Side of the Moon album from start to finish through headphones.
Oh my! I needed all of the Pink Floyd albums immediately. The more I heard, the more obvious it became. There was not a group that could compete. The lyrics, the music, the artwork, the reach of depth within my soul. Pink Floyd’s offerings were beyond any artistic abilities I’d ever witnessed. I had found my all-time favorite band — hands down.
The grunge era brought Nirvana and Pearl Jam to the table, but Slaughter, Skidrow, Guns ‘n Roses, Poison, Faith No More, and the likes were also on heavy rotation. The 1990’s also introduced me to another all-time favorite, Mazzy star.
Around that time, I was also listening to Portishead, Sneaker Pimps, Sarah McLaughlin, Dido, Massive Attack, Korn, NIN, Days of the New, A Perfect Circle, and Eminem — Yes, please!
It’s impossible to mention all of the songs that have meaning or remind me of a specific time in my life. That’s another story for another day, probably broken down by volume — ha! But, what I can say is music kept me company as a child, taught me various things about life, and remains a daily staple in my household.
If you ever need a teammate for ’60s, ’70s, or (especially) ’80s music trivia, the genre is not important — Look no further! I think 60% of my brain capacity is inundated with ’80s lyrics. However, it is probably important to note that I suck at every other trivia subject though.
Thanks for reading!