In the pages of the Brattleboro Reformer last week, I asked readers to give me suggestions for what music I should put in the iPod I was given for Father's Day. I received a number of e-mails and a wide range of suggestions, everything from Mozart to Dylan, Springsteen to gospel. If anyone is listening out here in the blogosphere, I'll put the same call out to you.
This is your big chance ... tell me what music you think I should put on my iPod. Throughout my life, I've always had a musical mentor, someone whose explorations ran much broader and deeper than my own and who liked to share their discoveries. In high school, my friend Jacques filled that role. He was always bringing home interesting records (remember those?) spanning the centuries from the Renaissance to the New Wave. He also sang tenor in our barbershop quartet, but that's another story.
After college, my musical mentor was a friend named T.R., who ran the music department at the Northshire Bookstore in Manchester and seemed to have listened to everything. He was particularly strong in jazz, especially Duke Ellington, but his tastes veered in all sorts of directions. It was T.R. who turned me on to the Seldom Scene.
When I arrived in Bratteboro eight years ago, my colleague, friend and drinking buddy Chris Nixon took over the musical mentorship role. His tastes ran into all sorts of dark corners and edgy nooks and cranies. It was Chris who turned me on to Soul Coughing, the Slip and Medeski, Martin & Wood. I still remember the bleak mid-February night Chris played the Eels' "Electroshock Blues" for me. That CD remains one of the best I've ever heard, definitely one of the 20 CDs I would take to a deserted island (that happened to have an electrical outlet and a CD player).
Chris moved away, and though he still sends me word of music he's heard that he thinks I would like, it's not the same as being there. Anyhow, I thought I would throw myself on the mercy of all you out there. Tell me what you like, what you think I should listen to. I'd appreciate it. You can either talk to me through this blog or e-mail suggestions to jpotter@reformer.com.