Loss of an Icon

When Ann and I were visiting Mike and Tammy recently, we got a chance to relax and listen to some albums on their new turntable. They have a very nice set-up and, although they don't have a lot of albums yet, there are enough to easily fill an afternoon of playing board games.    

 I have been fascinated these last few years as vinyl becomes a thing again. We were in the Barnes and Noble store a few weeks ago and found a selection of albums prominently displayed back in the music section. Some albums from newer artists like Kendrick Lamar and Taylor Swift were there, but David Bowie and Chicago were in the mix as well.   




I use my Kindle quite a bit to read, but still go to the library every two or three weeks because I enjoy having a physical book to read, with pages to turn and a place to put my bookmark. I get that same feeling when I handle a record album. Seeing the artwork, looking at the list of songs and composers on the back side, reading the liner notes to find out what's new with the band. That was very much a part of my high school and college days. I have albums from The Association, James Taylor, The Kingston Trio, and even an Aaron Copland classical album.   



So I'm excited that the kids are into vinyl. Nate's collection is pretty large. He has been buying albums for quite some time. Unfortunately one of the best places to look for albums is now gone. The Jazz Record Mart, which long billed itself as “The World’s Largest Jazz and Blues Record Store,” closed its doors due to rising rents at 11:30 a.m. Monday, 10 minutes after a deal was completed to sell the business, according to the Chicago Tribune. Wolfgang’s Vault – a Reno, Nev., operation that buys and sells music, film and other cultural items – has acquired the store’s inventory and the Jazz Record Mart name and web site.   

I've been in the store once or twice in the past when I've been downtown for something else and I know Nathan goes in whenever he has time and a little extra money, so The Record Mart will be missed. The Logan Hardware is still open on Fullerton. Its website promises:  

Looking for a working Fun Chicken? We have one. Looking for that Polish language LP from 1971 about the goat and the ostrich? We've got it.   

Old School Records in Forest Park is not a big store, but I enjoyed looking through their albums last time we were out in that direction shopping. And just down the street is Defiant Comics, which is also a fun place to stop.   

Mike asked for some advice on picking a jazz album to add to his library, so when we got home, I ordered him "Kind of Blue" by Miles Davis. It shows up on most top five lists for best jazz album ever. If you don't know it, here's a sample. Enjoy.