Thank You For The Music

I am a music “fan” and have been seriously for over 40 years. I had a Saturday job in the year when I sat my O-levels in John Menzies in Queen Street, Cardiff. If you’re not familiar with this long gone (from South of Hadrian’s Wall) retail chain they were similar to WH Smith although the parent company still exists.

I used to forgo my lunch hour so that I could provide cover on the record counter which was usually staffed by scary older girls (they must have been at least 18!). To be able to look at the LP sleeves and read the sleeve notes was a joy. Sometimes I got to play the albums over the PA, but my tastes didn’t tend to meet the approval of the “management”.

A month ago I entered a competition via the online music magazine Properganda and won 50 “Americana” CDs. What’s great is to listen to music for the first time mostly without any preconceptions because even if I had heard of the artists before I wasn’t familiar with their output. I realise that I don’t envy A&R men at labels & Radio DJs who get boxes and boxes of this stuff every week and have to take decisions about what to book or play. For a fan it’s fun!

Thank you for the music Properganda.