FoxTrot Classics by Bill Amend for April 16, 2020

I can hardly imagine my nephew (turning two years old this coming November, becoming an older brother this coming June) going to ask his father — MY older brother — what records are as my brother collects some records.

These days kids would say “what’s a CD?”

The Beatles? Wasn’t that Paul McCartney’s old backup band before Wings?

Not only have “records” never disappeared, they’re making a comeback. Audiophiles know that records have far superior sound than digital media.

One time my husband & I were eating at a diner. We were talking about music. A couple of teenage boys were nearby. One of them said, “Sorry for listening in, but…what are 45s?” I took them to the end of the hall, where an old-style jukebox stood. It was loaded with 45s (no pun intended), and I explained it to them.

They’re like frisbees, only deadlier.

The only record he is familiar with is a permanent one.

I had over 300 albums and around the same number of CDs, sold the albums and gave away the cds after getting it all in the computer (and backing it up 3 times). Between that and Spotify I can listen to anything I want and go from the house to the car, garage, lawn mower, my business, Europe…. And not miss a beat (pun intended). And without the huge rack of stereo equipment and four giant speakers, just good headphones and wifi speakers around the house. I loved albums and such at the time but I don’t miss them now.

Okay, I DO miss the album covers, reading them during the first listen. And wandering through the record store.

Just go back to your 8 tracks and leave me alone.

In the summer of 1984 I was in a local Tower Records store and there was a display of CDs and vinyl Beatles Albums and I decided to pick some up and a 15 – 16 year old girl there exclaimed to her friend, “I didn’t know Paul McCartney was in a group before Wings!”

And LP’s are being purchased by the hipsters

This joke didn’t age well.