TOD: I guess I've always responded to music of one sort or another. I remember playing my grandfather's 78 rpm. records...specifically, Les Paul and Mary Ford's "The World is Waiting for the Sunrise" and "Whispering Hope." I remember dancing to "The Bunny Hop" with my parents' friends.
When I got my first hi-fi record player (monaural only), I got a few 45 rpms with it including an Andy Williams 45 with Hawaiian songs, a Bing Crosby 45 with Christmas songs, and Alvin and the Chipmunks (The Chipmunk Song on one side. Don't recall the flip side title). Later, my mom ordered a box from Readers Digest and I had my first introduction to a variety of music types, including one album with film theme orchestrals.
Who can say where it really started, this film music passion, but I think it must have been the addition (by my mom) of "Exodus", the RCA LP, to my record collection. It got played to death. And, thus...."King of Kings" and "Mutiny on the Bounty" were Christmas presents in 1962. And my first store-bought soundtrack was Elmer Bernstein's "To Kill A Mockingbird".
"South Pacific" and "Carousel" were among the first film musicals in my collection, preceded by "Bye Bye Birdie", "The King and I", "There's No Business Like Show Business" (all three gotten in one Christmas!), and "Mary Poppins" (one of the rare RCA pressings...a "club" offering).
My first "theatrical" LP was likely "Greenwillow" which I found in a cut-out bin in a Walgreen's in the early 60s. Once theater became a passion, I slowly added those recordings (always pricier -- a buck higher, usually -- than soundtrack recordings). I had "She Loves Me", found in a cut-out bin in the Navy Exchange in Jacksonville FL in 1972, and never played it until I was in Washington DC, circa 1978. It had gone with me to Vicenza, Italy, Athens, Greece and Naples, Italy. When I finally sat on the floor and listened to both LPs, I was overwhelmed, overcome and full of self-chastisement. That began a lifelong love affair with Barbara Cook whom I already knew from "The Music Man".
I was also certainly mesmerized by popular music. One of the highlights was Mason Williams' "Classical Gas". And the Richard Harris recordings were also a major delight.
I'm a man of moods...many moody moods...and sometimes I'm only in the mood for the downbeat...or the upbeat....or the vocal. I prefer orchestral, as a rule, because I can "go anywhere" listening to something orchestral. Vocal performances are very specific, but there are times when nothing will do but I MUST listen to Sondheim...or Herman...or Barbara Harris...or whomever.
I also have a yen for country music, on occasion...but generally of the Randy Travis/Clint Black sort.
And I love me my Classics. Note the capital "C", please.
