{"id":885,"date":"2012-10-26T15:26:17","date_gmt":"2012-10-26T21:26:17","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/musicexcite.com\/?p=885"},"modified":"2024-06-27T12:54:03","modified_gmt":"2024-06-27T18:54:03","slug":"the-suitcase-of-wonders","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/musicexcite.com\/?p=885","title":{"rendered":"The Suitcase of Wonders"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>As I mentioned in one of my previous posts, I\u2019ll expand my words about my musical birthplace &#8211; My first record player. It accompanied me, placed in the room\u2019s corner on some cabinet while it plays and plays\u2026 My parents taught me how to turn it on since I remember myself. The amazing thing is that I didn\u2019t have a clue then that this is a changer turntable, one that can play six records continuously, as a matter of fact, six sides of records. You can watch this clip with my lovely first record player:<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"embed-youtube\" style=\"text-align:center; display: block;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"youtube-player\" width=\"700\" height=\"394\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/Fj4VVw-Z2SI?version=3&#038;rel=1&#038;showsearch=0&#038;showinfo=1&#038;iv_load_policy=1&#038;fs=1&#038;hl=en-US&#038;autohide=2&#038;wmode=transparent\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" style=\"border:0;\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups allow-presentation allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox\"><\/iframe><\/span><\/p>\n<p><center><\/center><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft wp-image-279\" src=\"https:\/\/musicexcite.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/10\/Hits-Hots.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/musicexcite.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/10\/Hits-Hots.jpg 591w, https:\/\/musicexcite.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/10\/Hits-Hots-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/musicexcite.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/10\/Hits-Hots-300x300.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/>I discovered this trick only much later. As a child, I listened to the records in the usual way &#8211; one by one. A typical picture you could see if you entered my childhood room in my parents\u2019 home was a small child sitting on the rug and playing with Lego for hours while listening to records from the 1960s. In much fewer times I listened to some children records, especially the Israeli Children Music Festival records that were very popular in Israel while my sisters and I had grown. These were the only newer records that my parents bought beside those 1960s records my father purchased in his teens. One of my first memories as a young child was that I wanted to have a good stereo system. (How many toddlers in the age of 2-3 you know that wish for a good stereo?) Probably at this age, I was already aware of the existence of lower and higher frequencies that this record player couldn\u2019t produce. It is a device that plays through one built in speaker (as is, it is Mono), the sound quality is minus mediocre, especially because of the use of a <a href=\"https:\/\/audiokarma.org\/forums\/index.php?threads\/magnetic-vs-ceramic-cartridges-can-you-tell-the-difference.824271\/\">Ceramic cartridge<\/a>. In general, this piece is very primitive built, even though it contains vacuum tubes (something that considered good these days), it has a small diameter speaker that can\u2019t provide impressive sound quality. I must point that the suitcase and the internal amplifier built in Israel (there is a label of the manufacturer inside the case). The turntable itself made by Garrard, which was one of the most famous British brands that era. <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright size-full wp-image-275\" src=\"https:\/\/musicexcite.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/10\/Naor.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"283\" height=\"122\" \/>It is an \u2018autoslim\u2019 model which means it senses the size of the record automatically while it drops down through the long spindle. There is a side lever that moves while the record falls to the platter, and then the arm knows where to land, whether it\u2019s a 7, 10 or standard 12-inch record. The wish for a good stereo system fulfilled in a later age, and maybe because of this first absence, I collected (fixed and also gave to others) many types of record players through all the years.<br \/>\nAnd now for the music itself. The small record collection I had back then (which still exists in my current library) included mainly Rock\u2019n\u2019Roll, Twist, Blues, Soul, and some Israeli music that my father bought as a youngster from the early 1960s until 1966. After that, he was drafted into the military service and didn&#8217;t buy any new records. When I was ten, I started to buy my own records.<\/p>\n<p>Here are some things he shared in response to my questions:<br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft wp-image-278 size-medium\" src=\"https:\/\/musicexcite.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/10\/Chubby-Checker-300x300.jpg\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/musicexcite.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/10\/Chubby-Checker-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/musicexcite.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/10\/Chubby-Checker-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/musicexcite.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/10\/Chubby-Checker.jpeg 600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/>\u201cThe first album I remember having was by Chubby Checker, the singer of &#8216;Let\u2019s Twist Again.&#8217; My exposure to new music, especially from abroad, was very limited. In Israel, we only had three radio stations back then, and they played western pop music very sporadically. There wasn\u2019t a scheduled radio show for this music or a special DJ that played it. We occasionally listened to some broadcasts from abroad, like the BBC stations on shortwave, and got some exposure from there. I don\u2019t remember any specific record purchasing experiences. In the Qrayot area (Haifa\u2019s suburbs), there were no record stores, and in Haifa, there was the \u2018Hataklit\u2019 record shop on Herzl Street, which was quite modest. Some non-dedicated stores, like toy stores or stationery shops, also sold records. I remember visiting a record store on Ben Yehuda Street in Tel Aviv, but that was it. Unlike what today\u2019s media say about the 1960s in Israel, that the establishment was against pop culture from the USA and UK, I didn\u2019t feel it. I was a cadet in the social youth movement and then a guide. At youth movement activities, we had a very ideological environment, yet I remember a club called \u2018Fulfillment\u2019 [how ironic\u2026]. In this club, they played dance music, and we went there right after our meetings at the youth movement house, so I don\u2019t remember any sense of rebellion among the youth. On the other hand, there wasn\u2019t a typical engagement or craze for the culture or fashion from abroad, especially not for Rock music. I don\u2019t remember any Rock concerts in the Haifa area, and I don\u2019t recall anyone having an electric guitar at home or any groups playing around.<br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-276\" src=\"https:\/\/musicexcite.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/10\/1-300x298.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"298\" srcset=\"https:\/\/musicexcite.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/10\/1-300x298.jpg 300w, https:\/\/musicexcite.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/10\/1-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/musicexcite.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/10\/1.jpg 591w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/>About the record player, it was placed in my room; my parents didn\u2019t care much about music. I knew about the automatic record-changing function, but I didn\u2019t like it as I thought it could damage the records, so I didn\u2019t use it. Later, I had a reel-to-reel tape recorder and liked the idea of choosing the music myself <strong>[My father made mixtapes!!].<\/strong> I didn\u2019t have to depend on the fixed playlist of a record, which sometimes included songs I didn\u2019t like. I recorded music from the radio or borrowed records from friends, and that was enough for me. The songs were what mattered, not the audio quality. That\u2019s why I never bought a stereo system. Even though I always found music entertaining, it has never been a high priority. When I went to military service, I visited home only once a month. Besides relaxing, I had other things to do that were more important than music.\u201d<br \/>\nA significant number of records in this collection were various artist compilations edited in Israel and published under the \u2018Hataklit\u2019 label in Haifa. I found an interesting interview with \u2018Hataklit\u2019 owner, Dov Zeira, who briefly talks about his pioneering efforts in distributing such music in Israel. He said, \u201cI had the sense to know what would be a success, that\u2019s all.\u201d<br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-277\" src=\"https:\/\/musicexcite.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/10\/For-you-only-text-230x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"330\" height=\"430\" srcset=\"https:\/\/musicexcite.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/10\/For-you-only-text-230x300.jpg 230w, https:\/\/musicexcite.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/10\/For-you-only-text.jpg 630w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 330px) 100vw, 330px\" \/><br \/>\nIn this picture, you can see the back of the sleeve of one of these records, which says:<br \/>\n\u201c<strong>For You Only!<\/strong><br \/>\nThat\u2019s our slogan!<br \/>\nThis record is designed and produced for you only!<br \/>\nYou can say \u2013 every record is created for me \u2013 I\u2019m the customer.<br \/>\nAnd therefore \u2013 we wouldn\u2019t contradict your words, the customer\u2026<br \/>\nBut go out and see how many records can\u2019t adjust themselves to the average music lover. \u2018For You Only\u2019 is produced just for you, whether you like Dion\u2019s singing or the theme from the film \u2018The Guns of Navarone,\u2019 or if \u2018The Shirelles\u2019 voices are your favorite or Craig Douglas or John Leyton.<br \/>\nThis record contains a song like \u2018Teen Queen of the Week\u2019 together with the fantastic tune from the movie \u2018The Singer, Not the Song.\u2019<br \/>\nThis record features Twist with the voice of Jack Scott; this is a record for you, and for you only!<br \/>\nWe hope that you will enjoy the songs as much as we did while compiling this record.<br \/>\nSincerely,<br \/>\n\u2018Hataklit\u2019 LTD Haifa\u201d<\/p>\n<p>As Dov Zeira\u2019s words suggest, like my father, there was a lack of particular interest in that era for this music. They probably accepted things as they were and didn\u2019t feel that something new or important was happening. Interestingly, those collections primarily shaped my music taste and helped me understand how music has profoundly changed over time.<\/p>\n<p>Hearing these insights from an authentic source who lived through those days gives me a stronger and more accurate perspective compared to the nostalgic portrayal of the 1960s by current media. There wasn\u2019t a significant resistance to things from abroad, but people, especially youngsters, weren\u2019t running after it either; they were busy with other things. I feel lucky to have been accidentally exposed to that kind of music. Here is a nugget containing a good selection from the soundtrack of my childhood. Most of these songs didn\u2019t become classics, but they hold a lot of musical value for me, more than just personal nostalgia. I made this nugget from the actual records, which, to my great pleasure, survived the years, even after being handled by a small child. I even connected my old record player to the computer to transfer this experience in the most authentic way possible, with limited monophonic sound. For those with sensitive ears, you might notice the slightly faster playback speed. That\u2019s how this record player works; it doesn\u2019t have a pitch knob like advanced turntables where you can adjust the speed accurately.<br \/>\nThat&#8217;s it, now click the <em>play<\/em>:<\/p>\n<p><center><\/center><\/p>\n<div><iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.mixcloud.com\/widget\/iframe\/?feed=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.mixcloud.com%2Famirnir2%2Fsuitcase%2F&amp;light=1\" width=\"500\" height=\"500\" frameborder=\"0\"><\/iframe><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>As I mentioned in one of my previous posts, I\u2019ll expand my words about my musical birthplace &#8211; My first record player. It accompanied me, placed in the room\u2019s corner on some cabinet while it plays and plays\u2026 My parents taught me how to turn it on since I remember myself. The amazing thing is [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":true,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[57],"tags":[16,12,10,17,15],"class_list":["post-885","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-english","tag-60s","tag-mixtape","tag-musicexcite","tag-oldies","tag-vinyl"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p2RLO3-eh","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/musicexcite.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/885","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/musicexcite.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/musicexcite.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/musicexcite.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/musicexcite.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=885"}],"version-history":[{"count":13,"href":"https:\/\/musicexcite.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/885\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1197,"href":"https:\/\/musicexcite.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/885\/revisions\/1197"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/musicexcite.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=885"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/musicexcite.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=885"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/musicexcite.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=885"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}