Her dead father left her 10,000 records. Sharing them online helped her grieve – and get to know him

Jula with her dad’s record collection. Photograph: Jula

Jula began sampling albums from her father’s extensive collection on Instagram. Her ‘listening parties’ connected her with people who shared his passion

(via The Guardian) by Alaina Demopoulos

When Jula’s father died, he left her his vinyl collection – close to 10,000 records that included everything from opera to 60s psych to prog rock to new wave. At first, it felt overwhelming to look at shelves and shelves of records. But this summer, Jula, who is 24 and lives in Canada, decided to “sample” a few records. A friend suggested she post the process on Instagram. “She said, ‘There are people who are your father’s age who would recognize the records, and maybe you could find a small community of people who you can connect to, to keep that alive,’” Jula said.

Jula with Lou Reed’s 1984 album New Sensations. Photograph: Instagram user @soundwavesoffwax

She started randomly pulling records, recording her reactions, thoughts and commentary for albums beloved by boomers from artists like Harry Nilsson, the Moody Blues, Santana and the Beach Boys. Since first posting in September, Jula, who prefers not to give her last name, has amassed more than 322,000 followers on her account, @soundwavesoffwax.

Jula grew up in a house full of sound. Her father, Richard, was a lifelong music lover who played multiple instruments and wrote songs. “He told me that when he was five years old, he would do little chores for his grandfather, and use the allowance to buy records,” Jula said. She remembers him spinning the Archies, the Monkees and Frank Sinatra when she was a child. (Jula now makes her own music under the moniker Juli.Jeli, which she describes as “experimental electronic”.)

When Richard died a few years ago, those records became the only physical thing Jula had left of her father. “It’s like the last thing we have left of him, so even though they take up a lot of space, I knew I didn’t want to get rid of any.”

Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/music/2024/nov/21/father-vinyl-records-instagram

See also: https://www.discogs.com/digs/features/a-daughters-journey-through-her-late-fathers-record-collection/

Songs You May Have Missed #767

Warren Zevon: “Splendid Isolation” (1989)

Michael Jackson in Disneyland
Don’t have to share it with nobody else
Lock the gates, Goofy, take my hand
And lead me through the world of self

Following 1987’s return to top form with the great Sentimental Hygiene album, the Excitable Boy unleashed the less commercial–and less commercially successful–Transverse City LP.

“Splendid Isolation” was actually one of the more cheerful tunes on a bleak, at times dystopian, rumination on cultural collapse at the end of the Reagan era.

Although I must say I much prefer the more playful, poppier Sentimental Hygiene, Transverse City in retrospect is certainly one of the most ambitious, uncompromising, and ultimately overlooked albums of Zevon’s catalog.

See also: https://edcyphers.com/2013/04/29/recommended-albums-45/

See also: https://edcyphers.com/2012/11/11/songs-you-may-have-missed-224/

Songs You May Have Missed #766

Works Progress Administration: “Already Gone” (2009)

Former Toad the Wet Sprocket singer/guitarist Glen Phillips here fronts an LA supergroup featuring Nickel Creek members Sean and Sara Watkins, Benmont Tench of the Heartbreakers, drummer Pete Thomas (Elvis Costello & The Attractions) and fiddle player Luke Bulla, among others.

Named, for some reason, after FDR’s 1930’s Depression-era work program, the band bring a rootsy blend and nice harmonies to this one.

20 Acts Whose Biggest Hit Was a Cover Song

(via Loudwire) by Graham Hartmann

Whether they turned a good song into a great song or just reinvigorated an old classic, these 20 acts secured the biggest hit of their career (so far) with a cover song.

Elvis Presley’s most successful song was a cover of Big Mama Thornton. The crown jewel of Elvis’ untouchable body of work, “Hound Dog,” sold over 10 million copies globally and topped the U.S. pop chart for 11 weeks, cementing a record that stood for a staggering 36 years.

Fellow Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Joan Jett created one of music’s most illustrious solo careers after leaving the Runaways. However, her only No. 1 hit is “I Love Rock ’n’ Roll,” a cover of an Arrows song from the ‘70s. Most people don’t even know Jett’s mega-hit is a cover, proving how synonymous the song is with rock’s leather-clad queen.

Tesla’s “Signs” is instantly recognizable, but it was the second time the song was a huge hit. Five Man Electrical Band popularized the cut in 1971, selling half a million copies of the single. When Tesla made their version of “Signs,” it peaked all the way at No. 8, besting the original, which only hit No. 24. Thanks to “Signs,” Tesla sold a million copies of their 1990 album, Five Man Acoustical Jam.

Read More: 20 Acts Whose Biggest Hit Was a Cover Song | https://loudwire.com/biggest-hit-cover-song/?utm_source=tsmclip&utm_medium=referral

Video of the Week: “If I Fell” – Alan Parsons & David Pack Acoustic Duet for CADA event

Alan & I wanted to share something we’ve sung privately for decades, this all-time Beatle classic for such a worthy cause. Hope you enjoy it.

Santa Barbara’s CADA Council on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse has helped thousands of people regain their lives.

https://cadasb.org/

Alan and David’s performance captured June of 2020 by Noah Bruskin / Parsonics Santa Barbara

Russell Wiener & Stacey Pack/ Pack Studio Napa Valley

Please stay safe everyone and imagine that a better world tomorrow starts with each of us.

Follow Alan   / alanparsons   Instagram + Twitter: Alan Parsons and The Alan Parsons Project

Follow David   / davidpackmusic  http://www.DavidPack.com Instagram + Twitter: David Pack Music

Recommended Albums #94

Mariachi El Bronx (2009)

Just your typical Los Angeles punk band named after a borough of New York City playing music in a traditional Mexican style.

Actually, that is pretty punk.

The Bronx have been recording since 2002. After three eponymous releases under that band name they released the first of (at this writing) three albums of mariachi originals.

Not what you’d expect from a punk band, but said singer Matt Caughthran, “[Mariachi El Bronx] was something that was a part of us that we didn’t really realize. I mean, being from Los Angeles and, you know, growing up and surrounded by Mexican culture, it just kind of happened […] We were writing two or three songs a day for that record, and the lyrics and everything just kind of shit out of all of us […] it was the funnest and easiest record we’ve ever made.”

Fun to listen to also. Hope you agree.

Listen to: “Cell Mates”

Listen to: “Litigation”

Listen to: “Despretador”

Listen to: “Clown Powder”

Listen to: “Holy”

Listen to: “My Brother the Gun”

See also: https://edcyphers.com/2019/04/19/songs-you-may-have-missed-635/

See also: https://edcyphers.com/2015/01/16/songs-you-may-have-missed-519/

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