Over the last three months I have been steadily digging into a knee high stack of rock and roll records.  I keep them protected under a glass coffee table, but well in sight. 


Like the orange sticky note I leave for myself on my dashboard, this visual (see below pic of records) is a reminder to turn off the iPhone, email, TV and noise… and put on a record.

These albums were given to me from my rock and roll Uncle Dave.  The records looked loved. 

It’s one of the best gifts I ever received.

The process of selecting and listening to a record always (100%) provides immediate joy and a sense of being “present in the moment” (something that we desire more and more as we age).


I imagine that thumbing through a stack of records, then pulling one out like a matador drawing his sword, and finally dropping the needle with precision on the turntable… is the same kind of joy people get from reading books or running or taking photos and (unfortunately) sniffing glue.

Interesting sidebar: These activities are all quan-like for many. Simple, reflective, sensory-laden, quan-like.

Back of Aerosmith’s 1973 Album

Tonight’s main dish was Aerosmith’s first album, featuring “Dream On”. The picture on the cover of Aerosmith looks like something from the movie “Dazed and Confused”.

Holy sh#t.  The second side of this album is out-of-this world great rock and roll. 

Songs meant to be played on vinyl.

Released by CBS in 1973 on Columbia Records, the copy I have is an original Promo Copy. These songs on this plastic dish were fresh off the press when it was recorded at Intermedia Sound, Boston, Mass.


Aerosmith “Personnel:” (as it says on the backside of the album cover) was…


Steven Tyler: Lead Vocals, Harmonica, Wood Flute


Joe Perry: Lead Guitar, Backup Vocals


Brad Whitford: Rhythm Guitar


Tom Hamilton: Bass


Joey Kramer: Drums


Additional Players: David Woodford on Saxophone


The whole album rocks.  Every song. Hammering drums and a fury of a band on the edge. 


They let it all loose like a band giving it everything they got.


As Al Pacino says in the great football locker room speech in “Any Given Sunday” … They are fighting for every inch!

Click here for that video or watch below:

Listen to the album (use Spotify if you don’t have the record).


Click this link on YouTube (or the box below) to hear all 36 minutes of Aerosmith.

Aerosmith’s version of “Walking the Dog” is so powerful. 


“Write Me a Letter” is as good as anything they have ever done.  


“Moving Out” demonstrates their deep throated blues roots.


I could on for an hour… it’s better to just listen.


Wikipedia has all the details on the album (click here), which are fun to read.  I especially like the except from Tyler’s book on 
the origin of the songs…

By the way… my dogs (Fredo and Lucy) always enjoy chilling on the chair next to me whenever I’m listening to records.


Just an extra special treat and part of the Quan.

Flap your wings rancheleros!