Old Rock Rolls Nicely on iPod

Old Rock Rolls Nicely on iPod

My son bought an iPod several months ago. Since that time, we have revisited some of the greatest songs to rock, crank, schmooze and snooze the music scene of the last four decades. On his current playlist are artists as diverse as Louis Armstrong and Lenny Kravitz, Steve Perry and Brad Arnold. If you don’t know who Brad Arnold is, just ask the folks in Escatawpa, MS about 3 Doors Down.

Lots of things happen when middle-aged mamas and daddies listen to the music of their youth. One of the more remarkable results is that their children are forced to endure lots of air guitar solos and sad attempts at dancing. The look on their faces resembles a mixture of pain and unmitigated mortification, which is not far removed from the expression on our faces when we try to bust a move.

Sam’s iPod has brought about another phenomenon. His dad introduced him to Led Zeppelin. The kid took to it like Jimmy Page on a Gibson guitar. Now the two of them bob their heads in unison to tracks like “Whole Lotta Love” and “Living Loving Maid,” oblivious to the fact that they’re cruising in Mom’s seriously uncool minivan. Recently at their parents’ place in Virginia, my husband and his brother faced off in a round of “Name that Tune” of nothing but Zep. Most of the time, all they needed was a single note to rattle off the song and album title. It’s a skill that my son is developing with amazing alacrity.

The more we download, the more I realize what a huge influence music has on what we remember and why. I hear “Desperado” by Don Henley and recall dancing with my dad on my wedding day. “Groovy Kind of Love” by Phil Collins reminds me of college weekends on the Coast, hanging out at Gorenflo’s. Billy Joel’s “Piano Man” brings back memories of high school and days spent wondering what the future would hold.

And now each time “When the Levee Breaks” pulses from the iPod, I always think of how Katrina rocked our world here in the Gulf South and how Led Zeppelin brought a new level of understanding between a dad and his son. Leather Lungs can still work his magic.

Elvis and Jerry Lee Lewis bridged the gap of two generations, one steeped in the conventional and the latter charged with the rebellious roar of rock and roll. My parents loved the music, and so did we. And now with online downloads of music made before they were born, today’s kids are finding out that those about to rock have been doing so for a very long time.

Sam has observed that some artists produce “one hit wonders” then simply fade away. One of our favorite songs is “Spirit in the Sky” by Norman Greenbaum. Curiosity had me look him up. At www.spiritinthesky.com, Norm is still creating and reports that he continues to write songs, another lesson in how the joy of music is in the making, not necessarily the fame and fortune.

Several years ago, my daughter and husband created a CD mix of songs by artists like Roger Miller and Patsy Cline. They sang loudly and passionately about trailers for sale or rent and walking after midnight. There is no doubt that when that girl of ours marries, somebody will request a Roger Miller tune at the reception, no matter what the in-laws think.

Thanks to computer technology and music lovers online, we can compile the soundtrack of our lives. When my son sings along with an old Kansas hit or jams to a little ZZ Topp, it’s like time travel. I remember how that music set the tone for my youth, how the lyrics sometimes felt written just for me. I am glad to see that the rockers of my generation hold their own with today’s hottest musicians.

So, as Mr. Bob Seger suggests, just take those old records off the shelf. But don’t sit and listen to them by yourself. Today’s music may not have the same soul. Give your kids that old time rock and roll along with some memorable riffs on the air guitar.