I am nearly speechless. (Good thing I can type...) I almost don't know what to say. I guess I had no idea my youth was the golden age of the recorded disc- another one of those things you can only recognize in hind-sight, I suppose. I remember buying albums like Neil Diamond- Hot August Night, ELO's Out of The Blue, and Chicago 4- not just multiple discs, albums were literally "albums," that had "extras" like librettos, liner notes, posters, etc. I heard someone on NPR say it best, several years ago when CD's had supplanted vinyl- the album was an artifact, something you could hold in your hand, that had some heft and substance. You got an entire experience when you bought an album- you brought it home, called a good friend who you knew would like to hear it, and got him to rush over RIGHT NOW to listen to it with you.
Once he got there (Hurry up, HURRY UP... Man, what KEPT you??) You would remove the shrink wrap and reverently pulled the paper or acetate sleeve and disc from the cardboard jacket. You got a sense of the artist's stature with the label from looking at the sleeve- some artists' records were sleeved with an off-the-shelf sleeve, promoting the label or other artist on the label, but if the act was hot, they got a unique sleeve, designed for that particular album.
Refreshments/libations/drugs were usually handed out. Then, holding the disc by the edges ONLY, you would lift the dust cover of your turntable with your elbow (we never seemed to remember to do that before we had the album in our hands,) and gently guide the disc onto the turntable. You usually had time to turn the volume up a little more in sweet anticipation, and assume the "Is it live, or is it Memorex?" position on the couch. Then, the all-important "first listen" would take place. (Only the truly obsessive would record the album to either cassette or open-reel tape on the very first playing.) Most comments were brief, either spoken in the short time between songs or after the album was played, only occasionally during the songs- I remember my friend Dan Enslen saying, when we auditioned the first Dire Straits album, "That lead guitarist doesn't have things too much his own way, eh?" Mark who?
We often analyzed the most minute detail of the album- it was a given the songs were recorded in a particular order, the only mystery was what was the intent of the order- was it telling a longer story with several songs? Usually it seemed the songs most likely to be hits were in the first and last positions, but not always- we wondered if that was because the intended hits were not as hot as the label or artist thought they would be, or were they messin' with us, just to keep us on out toes? The afternoon or evening would be spent blissfully listening and talking- I got to know my friends much better over a new album and a cold beer or hot joint.
Eventually duties or other diversions would beckon, and the little party would wind down. Empties were collected, smouldering roaches and butts snubbed out, tapes were promised, friends would head out the door. Posters, if included, were often loaned out, as a sort of "Thank you" gift to the friend for dropping everything he was doing and coming right over to share the experience. When these impromptu parties took place after I was married, my then-wife and I would often start the album over, again, and screw each other's brains out with the stereo cracked up. We were never sure if it was the music or the drugs that made us so horny...
All that started getting lost when the CD gained the upper hand. Like I said, we had no idea we were living out the golden age of the recorded disc. The generation or half-generation before us bought and listened mostly to 45's, the generation before that had 78's- both formats that were paradigm-changing during their day, but they were "singles:" they had just ONE song per side. the 33 1/3 rpm album changed all that, and we were there- but we had no idea it would peak and fade during our lifetimes.
When CD's came on the scene, we were quite impressed- better sound, easier to play, bullet-proof and forever-lasting (or so we were told.) Some had librettos, but they had to be much smaller to fit in the jewel cases, and folded in quarters. Liner notes were either shortened or done away with altogether. And POSTERS?? Yeah, right- where the label gonna PUT them?
Now, downloads are, technologically, wonderful things- they cut costs, allow us to buy only the songs we want to listen to (even stealing the music is easier- do you have any idea how difficult it is to stuff a 12-inch disc down your pants and walk out of the store without getting caught?) They are even "greener" than both albums and CD's. But the whole psycho/social/"enhanced" experience is gone. "Records" have, if you will pardon the pun, come full-circle- we buy 'em by the ones, again.
Sigh. And stop bogart'ing that joint, my friend- pass it over to me.