© irene waters 2015
A new coffee shop has opened in town with an ambience to appeal to the young and those that enjoy a trip of nostalgia down memory lane. I hankered after a princess when I was a school kid. All my friends had them – the original transportable.
© irene waters 2015
We had one of these at home and my parents could see no need for music in the house that didn’t come from either this or the old bakelite radio in the kitchen which, if we were lucky we could tune to pick up other countries in the world, firing our imaginations.
© irene waters 2015
Ours was also a “His Masters Voice” – I don’t know whether there were any other brands around.
© irene waters 2015
This made me reflect on the revisioning of these old musical items which once blasted out songs like “How much is that doggy in the window?” and in our family lots of classical music and operettas. And here are these machines, broken and yet in their broken state give me the pleasure of hearing the songs of the past echoing around in my head.
© irene waters 2015
The cafe is small, cosy and intimate which is lucky because if you had to look for fifty different record labels to check whose coffee you had ……
In response to Cee’s Odd Ball Photo
Reflections and Nightmares- Irene A Waters (writer and memoirist) 
A trip down memory lane. When I was growing up we had a big Art Deco style radiogram. I still remember sitting in front of it in the sun listening to the Sunday stories for children.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes the radio was the old version of a television. I can remember my father’s favourite serial was Blue Hills which he listened to every day and we used to listen to Jason and the Argonauts.
LikeLiked by 1 person
This is great, Irene! Amazing how these old-timey objects bring you right back into a bygone era 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes I was certainly transported back to remembering the records we had , and didn’t have and also the feelings that were being felt at the time. A great trip into the past for me although it really is a young persons cafe. Funny
LikeLiked by 1 person
Frankk’s Music store in Alameda had a small room where you could take a record or two to listen and see if you wanted to buy it. You needed to be fast on your feet to get in there before anyone else. The store was converted to an upscale ice cream shop some years ago. I guess there is more demand for ice cream today. I miss the teenage rapture of losing oneself in a popular love song by Benny Goodman or Pete Fountain (to whom I’m listening as I write.). Do you suppose they do it today to Rap?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Frank’s music store sounded great. Saving up to buy the single. Yes I think they do enjoy music as much today. My brother sent me links to the music my nephews are getting carried away with and it certainly didn’t have the effect of the Natalie Cole “Unforgettable” I listened to last night in the car.
LikeLiked by 1 person
On our honeymoon combined with traveling to Australia, Helvi and I had a battery driven turn table on which we would listen to a few records we had taken with us from Finland. We travelled first class on a large boat as a result of a fire on board a previously booked voyage. For the inconvenience we were given a first class ticket, so five weeks on board with vino and dancing with the captain (Helvi not me).
From memory we listened to Finnish folk music which we loved. A great memory.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thanks for sharing that great memory Gerard. I can just see the dining at the Captains table. Finnish folk music I doubt I have ever heard.
LikeLike
How cool is that? Opens the floodgates of memories forgotten by way of music.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Absolutely.
LikeLike
So interesting! Old typewriters (manual) and record players are coming back in vogue. I have one that plays 78s and a stack of old records!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Noelle, you are lucky you kept your old records. The last of mine went and shortly after Aldi brought out a record player with a USB port that allowed you to save the record to disc. That way you could listen to the scratch with modern convenience.
LikeLike
My father built our record player, and he proudly displayed the large speakers, that sat high up above, on inbuilt furniture. Such memories are easily aroused, with my dancing around the lounge to ballet music. I’m glad people are returning to the old records, as they do hold a charm a CD never had for me.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks for sharing such wonderful memories. Your Dad must have been very electronically minded to build one. I don’t think a CD gives you the musical clarity that a record did but most ears can’t pick it (including mine) so go for ease. There was nothing, though, that could beat saving for a single or if even better an LP and getting it home and playing it on the record player. I’ve never had that feeling with a CD and soon CDs are going to be relics of the past.
LikeLike
Great odd balls for this week’s challenge. I’m off to see the wizard now. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Cee. Hope the wizard helps you get back home.
LikeLike
I didn’t have a lot of albums when I was a teenager, but I sure did want more. My parents had a AM radio that had a turntable too. It sat in the basement gathering dust. Every once in a while, I’d take my albums down there and use it, more to see if it still worked, which it did.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sad your music was almost silent except for your odd trips to the basement. I didn’t have too many albums as a teenager either but my father had regular arrivals of new classical records. My taste in music included popular. But the odd one I had wasn’t played at home.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Only the music on albums was almost silent. I was a flutist back then. I not only heard music, I played it. 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m so glad music was part of your life. A big part by the sound of it. Do you still play?
LikeLiked by 1 person
I want to have a coffee at that cafe. Awesome.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Me too Sarah, what a wonderful place 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
You’d love it.
LikeLike
I never had my own turntable but we had one at home and I remember my brother and I managing to tape music from LPs onto cassette tapes. Not sure how we did it though 🙂 Ahh…great memories you share here Irene 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes I think music brings back emotion for all of us. That favourite song …. it all comes flooding back. Someone posted a supertramp track a couple of days ago and the tears were rolling down my face. The song itself didn’t warrant that but the feelings……. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh Supertramp was one of my all time favourites. I mention it in my memoir actually, as my American boyfriend and I used to listen to it on my Pioneer tape deck that he installed for me in my black, rust-heap of a mini and we used to sing along to every song. Breakfast in America…prophetic or what? Oh Irene, the memories, so, so many… 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes oodles of them with many more to come. I don’t think those days associated with music are going to return for me however, and that’s a bit sad.
LikeLiked by 1 person
❤
LikeLiked by 1 person
What a great idea for a coffeeshop! I feel a bit old, as I remember records very well. 🙂 Our younger daughter is interested in records and there are still shops that sell them. And I remember cassette tapes as well!
janet
LikeLiked by 1 person
They were the days. I’m glad to hear that you can still buy records. I thought they would all be out of business now. Good memories of the black vinyl.
LikeLike
(Had to start another thread to answer you, Irene.) No, I don’t play anymore. I had a stroke the summer before I was suppose to go to college. Two hands are needed for the flute (well, all instruments) and only one works now. I do miss it terribly.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m sorry to hear that Glynis. It would have been a really hard thing to face when you were so young. I can understand you missing the flute. Difficult only having one hand that works also. We don’t realise how much we use them until we can’t.
LikeLike
We all have our crosses to bear. Mine isn’t that heavy compared to others I know about.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m glad to hear that Glynis.
LikeLike
I loved my 45s!
LikeLiked by 1 person
That excitement to get them home and play them.
LikeLike
Pingback: Cee’s Odd Ball Photo Challenge: 2015 Week #6 | Cee's Photography
Thanks Cee. No not old, just that technology has moved at such a rapid rate. 🙂
LikeLike
No kidding. I am so far behind on most of the technology of today’s age, it isn’t funny!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I know how you feel.
LikeLike
Congratulations! I have selected this post to be featured on Cee’s Odd Ball Photo challenge.
http://ceenphotography.com/2015/02/08/cees-odd-ball-photo-challenge-2015-week-6/
I hope you have a terrific week.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you again Cee. It really is much appreciated and glad you enjoyed them.
LikeLike
What a fun place. I’d like to visit. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
And the coffee was good also.
LikeLike
Pingback: Cee’s Weekly Wrap Up – February 14, 2015 and Symmetry | Cee's Photography
These photos do take me back and reminds me of the music that filled my childhood.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Glad to be able to bring back memories
LikeLike