Here’s a little something that’s totally unrelated to the holidays or all the stuff currently going on in my daily life – a draft post conveniently available for pubbing!
Note: my longstanding and growing personal list of ‘White Albums’ are albums inspired by the literal color-aspect of the Beatles’ White Album. Here’s one for you to enjoy.
October 1972
Okay, it’s December, 2024 – not October 1972. But the earworms I allowed into my brain following the last post are unrelenting. Nicely so. 😊
As I wrote my last post, I uncovered an entire musical soundscape I forgot was birthed in real time. Part of that setlist includes Pete Townshend’s first solo album, Who Came First.
Turns out, Who Came First was released in October of 1972.
I was introduced to the actual album by my boyfriend at the time. A college Senior to my Freshman innocence, he was more attuned to the happenings of the world. 😊
I had heard a few of the singles on the at-the-time underground FM station KLZ but didn’t know there was a full album forthcoming.
One day while on the hill in Boulder, browsing the music album bins at Albums on the Hill my boyfriend pulled out a white album and exclaimed, “It’s here!”
Yes, even then it struck me as a ‘White Album’ with Pete suspended upon a field of eggs.
Clever.
Not knowing I was living in a world of historic importance – musically and otherwise – this and other albums released that year and beyond were my companions as I walked those first years of young adulthood.
Two of my favorite tracks were and still are Pure and Easy and Let’s See Action.
Pure and Easy
These days I hear the echo of the phrase from the lyrics, ‘there once was a note‘, as literal as well as altruistic.
The path my music has taken is reflective of the literal aspect of inference. I have taken control of my life path in that I am not subject to the public’s perception of success. Instead, I have made my dent and continue to do so in the niches upon which I chose to focus. Touching (he)arts and getting to do what I love most…play, teach, collaborate, create, compose, record, perform – in ensemble as well as solo…
“I listened and I heard music in a word
excerpts, Pure and Easy, Pete Townshend
And words when you played your guitar
The noise that I was hearing was a million people cheering
And a child flew past me riding in a star…
…We all know success when we all find our own dream
And our love is enough to knock down any wall
And the future’s been seen as men try to realize
The simple secret of the note in us all
In us all”
Let’s See Action
As a basic call to action for change within and without – with a carefree attitude – the attraction of the message lies in how it plays out in life.
I’ve been on both sides of this.
- The not knowing of where I’m going or where it leads.
- The confidence in knowing ‘I’ll get to where I’m gonna end up’.
Relevant reminders then and now!
“Let’s see action
Let’s see people
Let’s see freedom
Let’s see who cares……I don’t know where I’m going
I don’t know what I need
But I’ll get to where I’m gonna end up
And that’s alright by me”
Thanks for introducing me to Who Came First, I’ve never heard of this album and I do enjoy classic Rock albums! Thanks for the music sample. I appreciate your comment: “I have taken control of my life path in that I am not subject to the public’s perception of success.” Sounds like a very true way to live one’s life 🙂
Thanks, Tierney – have a great Holiday!
Well you know that I’m absolutely au fait with The Beatles’ White Album, but I’m not too familiar with The Who (beyond a few of the hits) or any of that band members’ solo albums. I will seek this album out – I particularly liked the second song that you’ve included in this post.
I also followed the link to the news of the record shop in Boulder that has closed. You can’t beat a good second-hand record shop (maybe on a par with a good second-hand book shop). I don’t have a single vinyl record myself now, but I have great emotive memories of the ones I collected when embarking on my journey of musical discovery. And of course I’m still on it. You have in this post furthered me along in it.
Happy to introduce you to my self-named ‘White Album’ list! 🙂
The fact that ‘Albums on the Hill’ morphed from active ‘first release’ record store to a second-hand record shop over the years is a testament to its survival skills and the community which it served. Like you implied: flipping through aisles filled with bins of records is part of the journey of musical discovery that makes memories! 🙂
Thanks for introducing me to Pete Townshend. I’ve never been as involved in music as you, but Cat Stevens was my guy in the 70s. Best wishes for the holidays!
You’re more than welcome.
Cat Stevens is certainly part of the mix of the times! Enjoy the Season, Zippy!
Thanks for the memories! I’d nearly forgotten the lyrics, and they are lovely. I still treasure my ‘Live at Leeds’ Who album.
Oh yes!!!!
😀
Thank you for sharing these songs and lyrics, Laura. I don’t remember hearing them back then, but I probably did. I was a young mother, my son 8 months old then.
But I love these lyrics especially:
We all know success when we all find our own dream
And our love is enough to knock down any wall
And the future’s been seen as men try to realize
The simple secret of the note in us all
In us all”
Knowing what success looks like and defining it ourselves is so important, and it doesn’t always follow the expected or popular path.
You know these principles, well, Deborah. Enjoy your foray into self-publishing!
A beautiful post, Laura. I especially like this, “I have taken control of my life path in that I am not subject to the public’s perception of success.” It’s powerful. And you’re touching (he)arts, indeed. Thank you for the music!
Thank you, Khaya!
The joy of finding that place where you use your gift in the best way, by sharing it with others and finding contentment in the simplicity and quietness of life. We impact more people than we realize, I think.
Absolutely – we make a difference in ways beyond the norm, beyond the noise of the world around us!
Just in case you didn’t know: your gift(s) are freely shared and touch others, Wendy!
Aw, thanks! 😊
You have introduced me to music I have never heard (dare I admit this?). Thank you for this. But the messages in the lyrics resonate.
I knew from reading your previous posts that you are a quiet trail blazer. This confirms it. Go Laura!
I am touched to be named a ‘quiet trail blazer’. Thanks for that! 😎
I have to admit this is the first time I’ve listened to either of those songs, but I can see why you like them so much. I was in 8th grade in 1972 and not into music that much at the time. I certainly listened to The Who over the years and have an appreciation for Pete Townshend’s talents. Thanks for sharing, Laura.
You’re welcome, Pete. I suspect you were 100% into sports and can quote stats like a pro! 🙂
Haha! You mean knowing Pete Rose’s batting average in 1972 didn’t impress the girls? 🤣
LOL!
I love those lines from Let’s See Action! Indeed, “let’s see who cares.” I’m thinking of how helpless people might feel right now, and I haven’t really found any advice for action that I, as an introvert, would be comfortable with. But “let’s see who cares” sounds like a rallying cry, that if in my daily life, I show that I care by how I treat and support people, especially those most vulnerable, those simple actions might amount to something bigger. Thanks for sharing, Laura!
Marie, you’re so right about ‘let’s see who cares’ being a rallying cry. Simple, genuine actions do make a difference – as do you!
Ah, thank you xo
Thank you for this. It brought me back to my childhood bedroom, lying on the floor listening to music and memorizing every inch of album art and liner notes. This album came out when I was entering adolescence and the music, the lyrics, the abandon with which the songs were performed all spoke of freedom to me. I could feel The Who energizing me. Sometimes I opened my window because my little room couldn’t contain all I felt. And then, yelled at for letting the heat out, I closed it again glad to be angry for the yelling because I needed something to rebel against.
You’re welcome, Laura!
A perfect vignette of shared experiences during adolescence and the power of music, art & lyrics…The bit about being glad to be angry for the yelling as a reason for rebelling is also ‘perfect’. 😉
Great songwriting days, Laura. I’m glad you’re still “touching (he)arts and getting to do what I love most…play, teach, collaborate, create, compose, record, perform – in ensemble as well as solo…” That’s a response to “let’s see action . . . let’s see who cares.”
L. Marie – you always get me! hugs