Today’s Tuesday’s Tune is a guest post from Susie Lindau of Susie Lindau’s Wild Ride. I’ve been following and reading her blog for a while; I have followed her wild adventures from the mountain tops of the Rockies and to Europe and back. I admire her get up and go attitude and never letting anything hold her back; she’s more than a survivor, she’s a THRIVER and she’s been an inspiration to me. I’ll let Susie share her musical inspiration…
The first time I bought a record, they were vinyl and department stores carried them. I remember being in the 7th grade and had started babysitting for fifty cents an hour. I had some cold hard cash to spend. Okay. They were most likely coins.
My mother drove me to Gimbel’s. While she headed to women’s clothing, I took the escalator to the second floor. The music section was situated to the right. There were tables full of LP’s. I passed Carol King’s Tapestry, Rolling Stones’ Sticky Fingers, and The Who’s Who’s Next. Instead I sauntered over to the affordable 45’s. They had a recording of one song on each side. The A-side contained the hit and B-side had the lesser known tune.
What did I buy? Judy Collins, Both Sides Now. I recognized her hit tune from a couple years before. Looking back, it’s pretty ironic.
Years later, while working as a medical illustrator at the VA Hospital in Madison, I met Judy’s brother. He was a speech pathologist. Like most doctors who worked at the VA, he also covered the UW Hospital since they are physically connected.
According to her book, Singing Lessons: A Memoir of Love, Loss, Hope, and Healing, her brother developed an interest in speech from a stutter he endured as a child. He had her big blue eyes. I drew a larynx for him.
Their father was a blind disk jockey, another auditory connection, but I never met him.
All these years I thought, Leaving on a Jet Plane was on the b-side and she did sing a cover of that song, but Who Knows Where the Time Goes is on the flip side.
She was the first singer I admired from afar. There have been many since. Ironically, after writing this blast from the past, I asked myself that same question. “Who knows where the time goes?”
Judy Collins Both Sides Now” by Source (WP:NFCC#4). Licensed under Fair use via Wikipedia
You draw great larynx, Susie! That’s wild that you drew it for her brother. I remember that Both Sides Now was on Judy’s LP, Wildflowers. My sister, Dovima, bought it, but we always consulted each other on what records we bought because we shared a room. That one rated my seal of approval.
Thank you stopping by and visiting. I remember browsing and spending time in the record store. It’s all good. Have wonderful week.
Love that song and her voice.
Me too. It is crystal clear. I think she is still around Denver. 🙂
I would concur – great voice. Thank you stopping by and visiting – have a wonderful week.
Susie’s “literary music” is ambrosia for your brain.
Nice! Lovin’ my ambrosia. Thanks for stopping by, Hook!
thanks for visiting – Susie is amazing.
That Susie has done it all, and she’s still doing! 🙂
That’s the plan, Maria! Thanks for stopping by!
Absolutely! Hands down.
Couldn’t agree more – she’s amazing and inspiration.Have a wonderful week.
When I was first married Judt and Carol played constantly on the stereo. I think their 78’s were worn out. I still have them but no turntable.
They are hard to come by now, although the sound is exquisite in comparison to digital. I still have a turntable. I’ll have to see if it is still connected. Brush off some LP’s and drop the needle!
What fun that would be.
I got my wife a turntable a few years back – it has a USB port so I can record, but I rarely use it. I still have my old vinyl and pulled out a few of the records the other day and gave them a spin – brought back memories. Thank you stopping by and visiting and have a wonderful week!
You as well Clay.
My wife is a big Judy Collins fan. Susie, have you lived or what? Go getter, medical illustrator, and survivor and that’s probably just scratching the surface. Oh, and I nearly forgot, investor in vinyl. There are so few of us left. ;o)
Your wife has good taste. The plan is to keep livin’ for a long, long time to come. Imagine all the adventures up ahead! Thanks so much Attic Man!
Your welcome. :O)
Susie is amazing. Indeed. Thanks for visiting, have a wonderful week.
Your welcome Mr. Watkins and you have a wonderful weekend. :o)
I think Tapestry was one of my first records, but I also loved Judy Collins and Joni Mitchell – such powerful voices on those chicks. Great drawings, Susie!
Thanks for stopping by, Peg!
They knew how to belt it out. Give us a campfire and a guitar and I bet we could start a sing-along. 🙂
And I bet every one of your records went into the sleeve properly, BTW. Ha!
Funny you should say that. When cleaning out my basement a couple of months I discovered we had stored all the old albums with both the sleeve opening and album cover opening facing up. After 20 years of basement dust, mold and scrunge falling in there, the records aren’t much use any more. ;(
Bummer. I would use a little soap and water on them. At least they’ll sparkle.
Even though I’d heard “Both Sides Now” many times before, I now think of “Mad Men” when I hear it. No wonder TV producers will pay through the nose for an iconic song to fit the moment. And “medical illustrator” — interesting! That isn’t a job title you hear often. Great rendition of the ol’ larynx. Good post, Susie!
Thanks so much, Paul!
Special songs are pricey, I’m sure.
I drew another set of four drawings for him all larynx inspired. 🙂
So cool that you featured Susie here on your blog. She rocks!
Thanks Phil and Clay for hosting me!
I’m back east and haven’t had reliable internet. Rock on my friends…
She sure does – great story. I still have all my old vinyl and can remember going to the record store and shopping. Have a great week!
I never realized you used to be a medical illustrator. Very cool. You could’ve helped me out in anatomy class. 🙂
It’s funny how we remember our first record album purchase. Mine was Olivia Newton John when I was in elementary school. Oh, how I loved her voice.
Hey Carrie! I’m on vacation and finally have reliable internet.
I could have drawn something for you for extra credit. 🙂
I Love Olivia Newton John. She’s still rockin’ it!
I had forgotten – I remember reading a post on her blog when she shared, but i had forgotten! Mine was the Partridge Family, but my first serious musical purchase was Chicago 8 and it had a iron-on decal. Loved that album! Miss the days of listen while looking at the album sleeves with lyrics and liner notes…. thanks for stopping in.
Thanks for sharing this, it’s beautiful. The memory of buying your first music recording, taking it home and listening to it is great. I love Judy Collins’ voice and music and Susie’s drawing is amazing!
I’m back east on vacation and wasn’t able to get internet until today.
There is something very memorable about “firsts.”
Thanks Christina! It never occurred to become a book illustrator. Now that I’m a writer, maybe I’ll illustrate my own one day! Kind of like the old Nancy Drew’s…
I hope you are having a great time and adding to your Wild Ride Adventures! Travel safely.
It’s interesting how our memory works – what sticks and what doesn’t. I remember ‘Send in the Clowns by Judy Collins and I love Tapestry. Thanks for stopping in – have a wonderful week.