I plan on doing a several part series here on the bands, albums, and songs that transformed my outlook forever. This is part 1. I’ll try to do 10 or so. These are in no particular order. All have been monumental to my life in some way.
U2
In 1987 I was in 7th grade, and was just beginning to develop my own musical taste. I had enjoyed music all my life, but only because someone else told me what to enjoy. My dad liked Motown, so I followed. My friends were into punk, so I liked that, too. Just a few months early, I was talking to a friend, Larry Jeter, about how cool Jazzy Jeff’s “Rock the House” album was. He disagreed. Said Jeff was old news. New thing was the Beastie Boys. So, I walked down to the corner record store and bought “Licensed to Ill”.
I was shocked at how horrible it was. Don’t get me wrong, I learned to like the Beasties. The following morning, I made sure to tell Larry, and everyone else, just how awesome they were.
Gimme a break. I was 12.
But anyways, that lets you know where I was musically at this period in my life…nowhere, really.
One day while in Roses checking out the $3 cassette tapes, I spotted Led Zeppelin (4), and thought the cover look cool, so i bought it. Didn’t really like it either, and since none of my friends were into Zep, I didn’t really try. My sister’s college boyfriend, however, was on a classic rock kick, so I thought he might be interested in a trade. rummaging through his tapes, I saw this:
The black and white sleeve looked cool. The name “U2″ sounded kind of punky. “The Joshua Tree”…well, my name is Josh. Get it? “Who is this?” i asked.
“It’s the new album from a band I saw on campus a few years back. They were pretty good, and it looks like they are making it big.”
I decided “The Joshua Tree” would be a fair exchange, so without hearing one note, I handed over Stairway and got Streets in return. When I finally got around to listening to it, I was stunned. I liked it…a lot. In fact, it wasn’t even that I liked what I heard. I liked what I felt. I couldn’t even help that i liked it. I knew my friends were gonna think it was fruity, but there was nothing I could do. I loved it.
I ran Joshua Tree into the ground for the next few months, and still listen to it occasionally. It is probably the single best rock disc ever. Fast Fwd to my family beach trip that year. Standing in the record shop looking at the sale rack, and what catches my eye?
That night, I layed in bed at the Summer Cottage condo and let songs like “New Years Day” take me to a different world. The passion and anger displayed in songs like “Sunday Bloody Sunday” was unlike anything I had ever heard.
“These guys are singin about something”…
I went back and bought everything they had done before, and have bought everything since…and I learned to like a lot of other music too, for myself.
But U2 was first, and they still have a special place in my heart.
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