Hey all,
I was thinking this might be an interesting topic:

How did you get into a particular band or artist?

What made you look into this artist? What was the first song you heard by them? First album purchased?

I think it would be interesting to compare stories of how we came across some of our favorite artists. I'm thinking that we could pick artists that are generally liked by a majority of people here, and switch artists every few days.
This topic is designed to share stories about the music we love. If someone is talking about how they discovered Pavement, don't start writing about how you hate Pavement. Save that for the "Overrated Artists" or "Who Do You Not Get" threads. I'll start with who I presume to be the most universally beloved band here, there, and everywhere; The Beatles.

I was a definite late-comer to the Beatles. I was certainly well aware of them growing up. I knew most of the hits at least. I remember my dad always hated the Beatles, (I'm not sure why). However, I also remember my mom making me watch the Beatles Anthology when I was in high school.
Although I had gotten into some more "alternative" stuff at that time, it was their earlier period that really appealed to me when I watched Anthology. I was 16 and was in a band, and their enthusiasm is what really grabbed me. Strangely enough, it was the song "It Won't Be Long" that really got my attention.
When I was in college, I started really getting into "older" music; Bob Dylan, The Who, The Kinks, Van Morrison. For some reason, I held off on the Beatles until halfway through my sophomore year. I think in a way I felt like I already knew everything I needed to know about them. My first Beatles album was "Sgt. Pepper". Hearing a Beatles record in it's entirety for the first time just blew me away, and I never looked back. Within six months I had every Beatles album. I even managed to get my dad into them.
I guess you can teach an old dog new tricks.

My best friend and I used to listen to AM on our transistor radios. I always listened to Vin Scully call the Dodgers, Chick Hearn call the Lakers, Dick Enberg call the Rams/Angels. In 1964, when I was eight years old, 93 KHJ and KFWB 98, L.A.'s two big Top 40 radio stations, went crazy with a whole lot of Beatles songs. They were also on the "Ed Sullivan Show". My parents always watched that show, and with just one TV in the house, sure, we all watched all the Beatles' appearances. My pop always said, "They paid all those kids to scream like that!"

Anyway, my friend and I both had inherited old box record players from older siblings, so we walked on over to Sears to collect all the Beatles 45s. We seemed to be in a competition to be the first one to get each one. We also played over and over all the LPs, but you have to remember that we only had the U.S. versions. As youngsters, we had no idea we were missing out on certain songs on the albums. But we weren't really missing them because we had all the singles, which were the ones which were being omitted, apparently to make more money for Capitol Records.

Later I found out that some essential songs, which weren't released as singles, were missing on Revolver, but hell, I was an old fart by then. Shut up, mark.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: mark f,

My first foray into the Beatles was when I was around 10 or 11, and I got their "Blue Album" singles collection on vinyl at a garage sale, which I used to play over and over. Going through some of my dad's old records, I also found "Abbey Road" and "The White Album" on vinyl. I like both of them, but was especially drawn to the "White Album". Later in college, I got into the other albums in the Beatles catalog, most of which are pretty great, but I still love the songs on the White Album the best.

I haven't really got into the Beatles yet. I own two records, SGT Pepper and Abbey Road. I'm waiting for the albums to be re-mastered before I start digging more into their past. I never got into the Pepper album, but I do love Abbey Road.

What I have heard comes from working at Publix Supermarkets, which like most supermarkets I imagine, subscribes to Muzak; and the Beatles practically corner that market. What I've heard I've liked.

How are going to know when to switch bands? Like taking the last cookie, I don't want to be first to change bands.

quote:

Originally posted by musicfanatic:
How are going to know when to switch bands? Like taking the last cookie, I don't want to be first to change bands.

Good question. You pick the next one. How about tomorrow?

I'll talk about my discovery of the Beatles before tomorrow. When I was younger and my hearing was worse I thought I hated the Beatles (don't ask why, it was a rebellious teen thing or stupidity) and was determined to prove they sucked. In a sophmore English class (this was in 1983) we were invited to write an essay about something in popular culture so I chose to write about the "undeserved" attention afforded Sgt. Peppers. I found some primary source material (a couple Life magazine articles and the album itself) and some secondary stuff. Anyway, before I began to write I read the stuff (good move, eh) and then listened to Sgt. Peppers all the way through (for the first time). I immediatly listened again, and again. Needless to say, the topic of my paper changed as my opinion about the power of music changed. Thankfully, my ears were opened. Oh, I got a B- on the paper.

As you say, the trade-off was worth it.

Maybe we can leave a band up more that eight hours, especially on a weekend? Some of our regular regulars don't even show on a weekend. Maybe 24 hours is legit, but I honestly don't care. However, I enjoy the stories so far, and there's only five (pretty good for a Saturday ) Come on, dive in!

Well, we can just see how things happen. Once the discussion dies down a bit we can pick a new band. I've already turned it over to MusicFanatic. Just start the next one whenever it seems right.
By the way, excellent stories so far! This is what I was hoping for when I introduced the topic.

quote:

Originally posted by superabound:
How did you get into a particular band or artist?

What made you look into this artist? What was the first song you heard by them? First album purchased?

As regards The Beatles? I honestly don't have an answer to any of those questions.

I was born in 1967. My parents weren't particularly big fans of The Beatles, but I can say in all honesty, I cannot remember a time when I was not aware of them. Obviously I must have been exposed to their music at an early age, but I cannot remember when that was. They've always been a part of my musical landscape, even long before I took a serious interest in music.

Now, I can say that my interest in The Beatles became very focused in the mid to late 80s when I was working in a record store. One of my closest friends there was a fan who has gone on to become a highly regarded Beatles scholar. For several years running I accompanied he and several other friends to Chicago for the annual convention then called Beatlefest.

Beatlefest remains both one of the geekiest (and I've been to science fiction conventions) and most intersting experiences of my life. As I mentioned before I attended with one friend who has come to be known as a scholar of the band and an acquantaince who is well-known for having one of the largest collections of Beatles film and video in the world. We always rented a suite, which pretty much meant the party was at our place and that gave me a chance to meet and talk to other fan/experts like Wally Podrazik, author Mark Lewisohn (who expounded on the fact that it is possible to hear too much Beatles), and Lennon biographer Ray Coleman, with whom I had a lovely conversation one day about our mutual love of Ella Fitzgerald.

I don't keep up on the current state of Beatles scholarship as I once did, but I have to say that my experiences dealing with such a group of fanatical and educated enthusiasts really informed the degree to which I consider music in all its myriad forms something worthy of serious study and scholarship.

Now Playing: "Graffiti Girl" Mark Pickerel Snake in the Radio

quote:

Originally posted by superabound:

What made you look into this artist? What was the first song you heard by them? First album purchased?

I'm not sure what the first Beatles song I heard was though I somewhat believe it may have been either "She Loves You" or "I Want to Hold Your Hand". Many 60's songs I first heard through the wall of my room that bordered the room of my oldest brother. He would listen to the radio in the late evening and the music drifted into my room. I also recall hearing early Beatles songs for the first time at a local Dog'N'Suds drive-in. Those tabletop jukeboxes contained some great Beatles tunes.

I was given The Beatles' Second Album as a gift several years after it was released. The first Beatles albums I bought were the two great red and blue compilations, 1962-1966 and 1967-1970. Eventually when the first used record store opened up, I purchased the entire back catalogue.

Well I'm only 19 but I equally had an experience getting into them even though I'm so young. My parents never really educated me properly in music in any way so I had to do it myself.

It was around Christmas about 3 or 4 years ago or so. That #1 comilation with the big yellow 1 on a red background had just come out and they were playing it over the speakers in this Barnes and Noble. I knew it was the beatles because I heard 'Yellow Submarine' and I had already known that song, though most of the songs were new to me or I just hadn't heard them in so long that I forgot the beatles wrote so many amazing songs. My mom bought the CD and I became an immediate fan. I now own 7 of their albums. Because I had listened to that #1 compilation so much I now associate it with Christmas and shopping. I know, it's weird.

I am an only child, and my parents (they never listened to music) drank and fought a lot. Consequently, I spent a lot of time at my best friend's house. She had two older brothers with an amazing music collection. One of the brothers was taking guitar lessons, and he was learning the guitar riff to "Dear Prudence." He played the song over and over and over. That was the first song by The Beatles I ever heard, and I was hooked.

That explains why you love "Dear Prudence" so much. Well, it's an awesome song from my fave album, so God Bless You! and everybody who doesn't like it too.

My parents took both Yellow Submarine and the White Album on all our long roadtrips when I was a wee lad. Yellow Submarine got me when I was young (how can you NOT sing along?), and then when I grew out of that song (and thus, that album, since we weren't the track-skipping type), I was immediately taken by the White Album's thoroughness and brilliance. Helter Skelter, Why Don't We Do It In the Road immediately caught my attention (an 8 year old knowingly listening to a song about sex? Blasphemy!), and then the softer songs took me soon there after. And then, after the Grey Album came out, I had to listen to the White Album a few hundred more times to pick out the samples, and, of course, just have fun listening.

When I was 15 I started to take guitar lessons (how original!). I learned the riff to 'Walk This Way' by Aerosmith and that got me into their 70's albums. Once I got better at guitar, I started to learn a lot of Led Zeppelin riffs, and became obsessed with the Zep. Our classic rock radio station here in Halifax (Q104) played tons of Zeppelin, so I constantly listened to the station for about a year or so.

Obviously, I was always aware of the Beatles, but never really interested. One day, while waiting for the next Zeppelin tune to come on, I heard for the first time 'A Day in the Life' and it was all over. It changed the way I listened to music and I found most "straightforward" music uninteresting. The first Beatles album I bought was the White Album which blew my mind and expectations (and still does now, 10 years later). I've got all of the Beatles later material, but to this day, I haven't been too interested in the older doo-woppy, bubble-gum stuff; although a few older hits really impress me.

Suggestions for the next band to discuss: Wilco, Rolling Stones, Radiohead.

Cheers,

quote:

Originally posted by Musicalifragilistic:
Suggestions for the next band to discuss: Wilco, Rolling Stones, Radiohead.
Cheers,

Great stories, all! I've been listening to a lot of live bootlegs from their current tour, and The Eraser, so I'll switch it over to Radiohead.

I don't always want to be the first to post, but I'll go ahead anyway:

I heard "Creep" on the radio in the summer of 1993. I liked it enough to buy Pablo Honey, which I actually enjoyed quite a bit. When The Bends came out I initially passed on it. My younger brother got it from one of those CD clubs after it was out for about a year. I remember I borrowed it to use "Street Spirit" for a mix tape I made, but never really listened to the album.
Anyway, in the summer of 1997 I saw the video for "Paranoid Android" at a friend's house. I remember thinking it was the strangest thing I had ever heard/seen in my life. My friend was repulsed by the video, and in turn hated the song. I was intrigued.
I finally bought the record in September during a month-long sickness, where I barely left my bed. I was blown away, STUNNED, the first time I heard it. For me, OK Computer was the record that made EVERYTHING else seem flat by comparison. I literally listened to it, and nothing else, for at least 3 weeks. It remains my favorite album, ever...

I'm pretty sure everybody who listened to the radio way back then did hear "Creep", repeatedly, but no, I didn't bite on the album.

I was at a Music Plus before The Bends came out, but they played an advance copy, and I basically heard the entire thing. Yes, it sounded good, but my mind was on other music, so once again I passed.

By the time OK Computer came out, I had no more resistance. I gobbled it up and the other two, but I still wasn't convinced of the Second Coming.

It was only when KROQ announced that they would be playing an advance copy of the new Head album, Kid A, that I got really excited. I invited all my best friends and family over. I turned off the lights and taped the whole album in the dark, while we all basically went into a trance listening to it. It's a totally memorable musical experience, and one of the first things my daughter recalls about music. She's probably now more of a music freak than I am.

quote:

Originally posted by mark f:
I was at a Music Plus before The Bends came out, but they played an advance copy, and I basically heard the entire thing. Yes, it sounded good, but my mind was on other music, so once again I passed.

I too think I was just into other music at that time. I guess I wasn't in the mood for anything British.

quote:

It was only when KROQ announced that they would be playing an advance copy of the new Head album, Kid A, that I got really excited. I invited all my best friends and family over. I turned off the lights and taped the whole album in the dark, while we all basically went into a trance listening to it. It's a totally memorable musical experience, and one of the first things my daughter recalls about music. She's probably now more of a music freak than I am.

The first time I heard Kid A was an online stream. Initially, I couldn't stand it. I was so in love with OK Computer and I guess I wanted something else that sounded like it. However, by the time I got to "Idiotheque" I realized that I was hearing something truly special for the first time. The second time through the stream I really started to get into it. A few days later I had my hands on the actual disc after a midnight release at the local record shop. The first time through the whole thing, on real speakers, convinced me that it was a masterpiece, nearly the equal of OK Computer. I've been listening to it a lot lately, and I really feel that it had aged extraordinarily well.