Not in exactly the same boat, but I’m actually glad there’s no music I associate with my father (he seems to dislike almost all of it with the exceptions of Mercy, Mercy, Mercy by Cannonball Adderley, and Bach’s Tocata and Fugue in D Minor, which is a wild combo)
2 Likes
One of several Max Boyce albums, usually accompanied by him snoring after a heavy drinking session. Good times, indeed.
1 Like
Irish rebel songs. And Glen Miller.
A Boy Named Sue by Johnny Cash
My dad was a big fan of Cash and he had this, along with other JC tracks, on a tape which I used when I was younger and had my first Walkman copy but only owned about 2 albums. My Mum bought me the Deluxe San Quentin album after my Dad passed away.
As a big Nine Inch Nails when JC covered Hurt it always reminds me of him - his favourite artist with one of my favourite songs.
My dad’s still with us thankfully. Born in 1944 he had two older brothers who very much influenced his musical taste. Early rock and roll with a bit of country on the side is the order of the day.
Pretty much anything by Berry, Holly, Elvis or Cash.
The two that really stand out are
Charlie Pride Snakes Crawl at Night
Little Richard Tutti Frutti
Still can hear both pretty much every Saturday night at their house after my parents return from their Saturday afternoon trip to the pub for lunch. He’s usually singing along although he’s tone deaf! Wouldn’t swap it for the world and I know I’ll miss it terribly when he is no longer with us.
2 Likes
The only record I ever remember my Dad playing was this - which is weird as he was a Captain in the Army in the war! Never thought he had any other IRA connections.
“We’re off to Dublin in the green”
… Oh, I am a merry ploughboy and I plough the fields all day
Till a sudden thought came to my head, that I should roam away
For I’m sick and tired of slavery since the day that I was born
And I’m off to join the IRA and I’m off tomorrow morn
… And we’re all off to Dublin in the green, in the green
Where the helmets glisten in the sun
Where the bayonets flash and the rifles crash
To the rattle of a Thompson gun
1 Like
That song (and many similar) was very much part of my childhood, but I never heard it from my Dad who was an English Protestant.
That would have been from the other (Irish Catholic) side of the family!
2 Likes
Yes my maternal grandparents were Irish Catholics and my Dad side were Catholic.
Locally I’ve moved on.
I read that whilst singing it in my head.
“We’re off to Dublin in the green” is always followed by a resounding “fck the queen” and “Where the helmets glisten in the sun”…" fck her son/fck the huns" in these parts.
3 Likes
My parents listened to a bit of big band music, which I don’t remember any names.
But I do remember him playing, Mr. Sandman by The Mills Brothers, a lot.
My dad died when I was 21. I inherited his LP collection.
The record I most associate with him is this:
A wonderful double LP set, which includes a fantastic live recording of Petite Fleur. Listening to that is like having my dad back in the room.
Spooky.
2 Likes
My dad bought a decent (for its time) hifi system in 1973. I know this because I found the receipt for it shortly after he died. It included a pair of Acoustic Research AR2ax speakers, which I remember being really good. I kept them until the cones rotted and the tweeters failed.
Sometimes, the music itself is far, far less important than the people and memories it connects you to.
2 Likes
You should - it’s good.
Ah … it’ll be Beethovens 9th choral …memories of dad getting all excited. His friends coming round…lots of marching up and down. Sadly ending in dad loosing it somewhat and the occasion would end in a fearful outburst of rage …aimed at his spittle flecked friends …
1 Like