Music Players Memoir

A week ago I was having a break in a town called Candeleda where apart from having had a most enjoyable time, I visited the museum of tin toys and other old-fashioned domestic appliances.

Apart from the tin toys dated from as old as WW 1 and 2, I saw some of these domestic appliances that may put a smile on everyone's face whether one used them or not.

The old-fashioned music player showed bold in one corner of the cheerful and well lit room. The guide told us about it, saying that it was one of those pieces that the English were so fond to take with them in their outings in the countryside to listen to music and to dance. The whole set was very well kept despite its old age.

I think I can remember having seen it in old films or paintings, set on a table or on the grass while people danced around.

But what really put a good smile on my face was the portable record player very much fashionable during the 60's. and, perhaps, early 70's.

At home, there had always been one. My sister bought one with the first extra payment she achieved to have while working at Phillip's. 

As there was an age gap between my sister and I, I recall having peeped through the gap of the door of the spacious dining room how my sister and her friends danced maddly. One record followed to another till late. They had wrapped the bulbs with thin and coloured paper so as that room ressembled a disco. It was Elvis and Rock 'n' Roll time.

Then, my sister married, left home to live with her husband and I inherited that litle portable record player. Elvis was still the king of Rock 'n' Roll, but four hairy guys from Liverpool had taken the musical scenery by storm. It was the time of Love Me Do and A Hard Day's Night that would make fans like myself to burst out into tears and cries.

With that record player, I and my friends would also organise our own parties at home -few drinks, a good amount of records as everyone brought in its favourite one and there we went to spend our leisure time dancing away. 

Or, I and a small group of close firneds would sit on the floor around The Thing to listen to more thoughtful or romantic songs in a candle lit room. It was Leonard or Bob's time. They had to be listened to carefully. Their songs were to think or day-dream.

In the background, the Vietnam war was in progress.

Years have rolled on. I have moved house very often and I have even lived abroad for some periods of my life. I have also changed my music players. I don't particularly miss my old vinyl discs that we had to clean with a soft cloth before playing them and they spoilt very easily, but I do sometimes wonder where that little and portable record player ended up.

Copyright. Vicky Pino. august 16th, 2012. Rights reserved.