I'm glad it's your birthday

My Uncle Bud is 65 (!) today! If it weren't for this man, I'd have really shite taste in music :)

You see, in the early 70s, my family and I lived above my Grandfather and Uncle Bud in a duplex on 83rd street. Uncle Bud had long hair, a corvette, and a kick-ass stereo (he still has his Marantz receiver).

My older brother George and I used to lie down on the living room floor, each with an ear to the carpet so that we could listed to whatever Uncle Bud happened to be playing on his stereo in the room below. I got my early musical schooling that way. I learned the lyrics to Rubber Soul while lying on that floor, and I'm pretty sure that's why George got the Hey Jude album for Christmas in 1974. We listened to that LP upstairs on our Zenith console stereo. The sound wasn't nearly as good, but that didn't stop us from learning those lyrics, too.

After Rubber Soul came Sgt. Pepper's and Let it Be. I also got the early Beatles stuff, along with the opportunity to listen to Uncle Bud's older 45s from artists like The Coasters and Buddy Holly. That led to my first musical obsession: the 50s. I became a big fan of Bobby Darin and Elvis, Danny & the Juniors and Bill Haley. My dad would let me get my own 45s from Sears. My first was: Splish Splash (the b-side is Queen of the Hop). Then I got Don't Be Cruel, Jailhouse Rock, At the Hop, and Rock Around the Clock. Most of the time, I didn't even pay attention to the artists, I just liked the songs: Roll Over Beethoven, Little Darlin', I Only Have Eyes For You...

I was still in my 50s phase and I hadn't even turned seven. But Uncle Bud wasted no time graduating George and I to the 60s. I'm pretty sure we were allowed to hang out downstairs by that point, as I distinctly remember looking at the cover of The Worst of Jefferson Airplane and wondering why a band would want to release a collection of their worst songs (heh). I also remember thinking that both Janis Joplin and Grace Slick were in the band (I think I was in 3rd grade before I figured that one out). We listened to Jimmy, Arlo, and CSNY. And we also got schooled in folk music that we could sing with mom: the Kingston Trio, Peter, Paul & Mary, Simon & Garfunkel.

George and I liked the fact that some of the songs we liked had "bad" words that made mom gasp. We'd sing the lyrics, and when the forbidden word came up we'd shout it really loud: "When I think back on all the CRAP I learned in high school" or "CHRIST, you know it ain't easy, you know how hard it can be..." (Of course, I realize now that this was obviously done to prepare her for my teenage years when I sang songs like: This is my Life and I Don't Need Society)

Clearly it was Uncle Bud's intention for us to sing those lyrics by Paul Simon and John Lennon! Cheeky!

During the height of the disco era, I really wanted a Bee Gees album. I think Uncle Bud was appalled, but for Christmas that year he relented. Only...I didn't get an LP of disco songs: I received a compilation of their 60's hits. Thanks to Uncle Bud, my disco phase didn't last long and I made my first real rock purchase in the 4th grade: Meaty Beaty Big and Bouncy. (I remember holding a copy of Live at Leeds, but my brother recommended against it - I guess he didn't think I was ready.)

When I was in college, Uncle Bud took us to see Roger McGuinn and we sat on a picnic table, drank beer, and sang along to Easy Chair. We took mom to see Crosby, Stills and Nash (but she didn't inhale). And we still knew all the words to all the songs.

Sometimes, I'd hang out at his house and he'd break out his LPs and continue to school me with The Great Society or introduce me to artists like Kate Wolfe. We'd sit around and smoke cigarettes, listening to tunes for hours on end.

Uncle Bud, I hope your birthday mix is worthy of the musical education you gave me. I'm only sorry that it's not an LP.

Screen Door- Uncle Tupelo
Steal A Ride - Black Rebel Motorcycle Club
Please Read the Letter - Robert Plant & Alison Kraus
Me & Julio Down By the Schoolyard - Paul Simon
My Winding Wheel - Ryan Adams
She's Gonna Two Time - The Kaisers
Mendocino - Bottle Rockets
Poison Ivy - The Coasters
I Want You Bad - The Long Ryders
Mother-in-Law - Ernie K-Doe
Second Hand News - Fleetwood Mac
I Wish I Was the Moon - Neko Case
Niteclub - Old 97s
At the Zoo - Simon & Garfunkel
Windfall - Son Volt
Roadworn and Weary - Supersuckers
I'm the Face - The High Numbers
What May Seem Like Love - Whiskeytown
Stranded in the Jungle - The Cadets
Walking My Dog - The Woggles
New Madrid - Uncle Tupelo
Badge - Cream