A memoir of 25 years (1975-2000) spent working in the world of records & music in Seattle, with occasional side trips into writings on Led Zeppelin and other adventures from my musical life.
I missed the "music test" years but remember being grilled about my musical tastes in my interview--conducted by you, Steve, and Scott while Eric watched the front counter. You asked me if I had a lot of records and I said, "Yeah, quite a few." "How many?" "Oh, about 25." All three of you busted up laughing. "That's not a lot of records," you said.
So of course I immediately made Ed take both quizzes to see if he would've been a potential hire. He missed only four questions on the 1978 quiz and five on the 1979 quiz. (Record label questions 40 years later are a bit tough!) I hired him. I hope that's okay!
Yes, that was a tough time with hip hop coming in and the whole PMRC thing - I see it as similar to the 1950s backlash against the original black rock 'n' roll guys, racially fueled and born of unwarranted fear. I hated those advisory labels and Tipper Gore's grandstanding - it had some impact then but in the long run I don't think it's done much. Do those labels even show up on CDs anymore?
But also wasn’t it this whole devil thing with the heavy metal bands. There was a lot of talk about backwards masking although that goes all the way back to Led Zeppelin correct me if I’m wrong.
You're correct, in the late '70s there was some preacher that claimed there were Satanic messages in STH if played backwards, and it got traction in the media. Totally ridiculous! That guy was in the extremism camp, but it got more scary when mainstream people like Tipper Gore were involved. There was a whole lotta controversy from those idiots about Ozzy too, with "Mr. Crowley" etc.
And wasn't it Tipper that got so upset about "Darling Nikki" on the Prince album? Also big controversy at the time.
I missed the "music test" years but remember being grilled about my musical tastes in my interview--conducted by you, Steve, and Scott while Eric watched the front counter. You asked me if I had a lot of records and I said, "Yeah, quite a few." "How many?" "Oh, about 25." All three of you busted up laughing. "That's not a lot of records," you said.
Oh geez, I hope we didn’t make you feel too bad. . Obviously it was enough records to qualify for employment!
Nah, I enjoyed it. Was so happy to get the call that I was hired.
So of course I immediately made Ed take both quizzes to see if he would've been a potential hire. He missed only four questions on the 1978 quiz and five on the 1979 quiz. (Record label questions 40 years later are a bit tough!) I hired him. I hope that's okay!
Sure, Ed's got a good 'retail personality'! But can he name the entire Grand Funk Railroad album catalog in order? (new criteria) ;-)
Can anyone?!? ;)
Don't tempt me!
I did pretty well on those quizzes, though I’m glad we were doing the essay by the early 90s as I would have agonized over them at that time. :)
For the record, I missed the Tom Werman question, in part because I confused him with the answer to the next question on the 79 quiz. :)
Cool article. I would be interested in hearing your thoughts on the advisory labels Tipper Gore started. That was a wild time.
Yes, that was a tough time with hip hop coming in and the whole PMRC thing - I see it as similar to the 1950s backlash against the original black rock 'n' roll guys, racially fueled and born of unwarranted fear. I hated those advisory labels and Tipper Gore's grandstanding - it had some impact then but in the long run I don't think it's done much. Do those labels even show up on CDs anymore?
No, I don’t see any labels anymore. Yeah, that was ridiculous. Just wanted to get people thoughts on that.
But also wasn’t it this whole devil thing with the heavy metal bands. There was a lot of talk about backwards masking although that goes all the way back to Led Zeppelin correct me if I’m wrong.
You're correct, in the late '70s there was some preacher that claimed there were Satanic messages in STH if played backwards, and it got traction in the media. Totally ridiculous! That guy was in the extremism camp, but it got more scary when mainstream people like Tipper Gore were involved. There was a whole lotta controversy from those idiots about Ozzy too, with "Mr. Crowley" etc.
And wasn't it Tipper that got so upset about "Darling Nikki" on the Prince album? Also big controversy at the time.
I don't know about the Prince thing but I remember kids in high school breaking records over the backwards masking.
the GENIUS of STAN WOLOWIC... a legendary album. The WAY ROCKIN' comment inspired by GB, who introduced that phrase to all our daily vocabulary.