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ifchildrenhadwings · 01-23-2008, 09:38 AM

Thank you all (y'all) for the warm welcome. Speaking of looking for GL tapes or records in odd places, I recall finding a stash of Summer Side of Life 8 track tapes in a Newberry's store (locally called "the Dime Store") in Pineville, KY perhaps 25 or 30 years ago. I think I went back a couple of times, and finally wound up buying three or four of them, either at $1.99 or $2.99 each. I sure didn't have a lot of disposable income in those days, but I would always tend to buy any GL record or tape I would find in a bargain bin, partly because I couldn't bear to see his stuff so disregarded. I used to be so puzzled at how he wasn't better known, and didn't get more airplay, more Grammys, and more awards. It took me a long time to realize that the broader public really has poor taste in music (just look at some of the garbage that wins awards), and almost always goes for the novel, the catchy, the bubbly, the superficial... It also took me a long time to realize that it really doesn't matter that much - music is so much about personal preference anyway, and what resonates with one may leave another cold, etc., etc.

It must have been so frustrating for the artists like GL, to see schlock get all the record sales and awards, while his great stuff got very little notice. I would guess that it's better now, with fan groups like this one, showing their appreciation to the artist. I hope GL peruses this and similar sites sometimes and feels the love...

To hell with the Grammys anyway - Bob Marley defined a whole genre of music, and he never won any - at least while he was alive.

As far as my user name, If Children Had Wings is one of my top five GL favorites. I think it is pure genius, and it comes from a tremendous album, though one that is much maligned. I seem to have been shortened to "wings", and that's fine - the whole name is kinda unwieldy.

And, no, I didn't get to see GL in KY last year, but I'm going to make an effort to see him this year at one place or another. I'll let you know, and would be glad to meet any other fans.

01-23-2008, 09:38 AM	#12
ifchildrenhadwings Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Bledsoe, KY Posts: 5	Re: Hello Thank you all (y'all) for the warm welcome. Speaking of looking for GL tapes or records in odd places, I recall finding a stash of Summer Side of Life 8 track tapes in a Newberry's store (locally called "the Dime Store") in Pineville, KY perhaps 25 or 30 years ago. I think I went back a couple of times, and finally wound up buying three or four of them, either at $1.99 or $2.99 each. I sure didn't have a lot of disposable income in those days, but I would always tend to buy any GL record or tape I would find in a bargain bin, partly because I couldn't bear to see his stuff so disregarded. I used to be so puzzled at how he wasn't better known, and didn't get more airplay, more Grammys, and more awards. It took me a long time to realize that the broader public really has poor taste in music (just look at some of the garbage that wins awards), and almost always goes for the novel, the catchy, the bubbly, the superficial... It also took me a long time to realize that it really doesn't matter that much - music is so much about personal preference anyway, and what resonates with one may leave another cold, etc., etc. It must have been so frustrating for the artists like GL, to see schlock get all the record sales and awards, while his great stuff got very little notice. I would guess that it's better now, with fan groups like this one, showing their appreciation to the artist. I hope GL peruses this and similar sites sometimes and feels the love... To hell with the Grammys anyway - Bob Marley defined a whole genre of music, and he never won any - at least while he was alive. As far as my user name, If Children Had Wings is one of my top five GL favorites. I think it is pure genius, and it comes from a tremendous album, though one that is much maligned. I seem to have been shortened to "wings", and that's fine - the whole name is kinda unwieldy. And, no, I didn't get to see GL in KY last year, but I'm going to make an effort to see him this year at one place or another. I'll let you know, and would be glad to meet any other fans.