Dreams of Long Ago Painting, Norman Rockwell "The Old Cowboy"

From the Saturday Evening Post Norman Rockwell Calendar for 2016, month of April.

I first met this old cowboy on a cover of a Pure Prairie League album.  They used his likeness on several of their albums.

"DREAMS OF LONG AGO"

"Wild West.  Tapping into the public's fascination with Western lore and legend, Rockwell depicted an aging cowboy, listening to a gramophone, surrounded by memories of days gone by.

"When Rockwell met model James Van Brunt, he was drawn to his magnificent, eight-inch mustache.  'You couldn't help admiring it," said Rockwell, who used Van Brunt as a model in several Post cover illustrations."

Dreams of Long Ago appeared on the cover of the Saturday Evening Post, August 13, 1927.

--DaCoot

About Those Old Record Stores and Albums-- Part 3

I usually make sure to visit my local old record store on this special Record Store Day in McHenry, Illinois, named The Vinyl Revolution.  That is a real good name for a record store.  Even though I usually buy their used CDs much more often than vinyl.

But, I am always glad to see young people in their teens looking and buying the vinyl.  there is hope yet.

In addition to the crowds attracted to the special day, dozens of artists released limited edition vinyl for this day:

"The Night We Called It a Day"--  Bob Dylan
"Greetings from Asbury Park"  --Bruce Springsteen
Wake Up to Find Out--  Grateful Dead
"Purple Haze/Freedom"--  Jimi Hendrix
"The Family Way: Original Soundtrack Recording"--  Paul McCartney
"The Grass is Blue"--  Dolly Parton
"Songs for Young Lovers"--  Frank Sinatra
"Changes"--  David Bowie

--DaGratefulCoot

About Those Old Record Stores and Albums-- Part 2

And, you can still buy turntables.  One new one is the Criosley Cruiser for $98.  A portable vintage-inspired record player comes in a faux-leather briefcase and has a built-in speaker.

Studebaker Wooden Turntable $85.  With warm nostalgic looks, it has three-speeds, an AM-FM radio and jacks in the back to add external speakers for more oomph.

Plus, I bought a couple turntable combos at Target including a cassette player and CD player.

There is a good coffee table book called ""Dust & Grooves" by Ten Speed Press.which focuses on some far-out vinyl record collections from around the world.

--CootLPer

About Those Old Record Stores and Albums-- Part 1: Record Store Day

From April 12, 2015, Parade magazine Picks "For te Record" edited by Erin Hill.

"Remember records?  Of course you do.  Happily vinyl is still spinning its way into the hands of music lovers--  whether they're 16 or 60--today.

"April 18 is Record Store Day--a global celebration of independent record stores, where vinyl is still king--  and the Foo Fighters' Dave Grohl, 46, is this year's official ambassador."

He said: "Growing up in the '70s and '80s, my local record stores were magical, mysterious places that I spent all my spare time (and money) in, finding what was to eventually become the soundtrack of my life."

--CootLPer

Remembering Columbia House Record Club

Back in the 70s and again in the 80s to 90s, I belonged to the Columbia House Record Club so I could get a lot of albums for the cheapest price possible.

You'd join with at least 13 albums for free, just postage and handling, and then would have to agree to buy seven or more albums in the next 2-3 years at regular price (and, of course, always that pesky p&h, I really hated that). I also belonged to BMG Record Club.

I wrote about this in one of today's posts to my Down Da Road Blog.

But, Don't Forget That Reply Card. Otherwise, You Get Sent The Select Album.  --DaCoot