Vinyl Stained Memories of Radio-Activity

Posted by Toni | on December 26, 2007

I found Radio-Activity by Kraftwerk on vinyl at a St. Vincent de Paul shop somewhere in the suburbs near Detroit. It was 1994, I was…

Radio-Activity - Kraftwerk I found Radio-Activity by Kraftwerk on vinyl at a St. Vincent de Paul shop somewhere in the suburbs near Detroit. It was 1994, I was 16… it was the 25th anniversary of Woodstock. Nancy Carrigan had recently been clubbed in the leg, and Clinton yet to share a cigar with Monica.

Vinyl + Kraftwerk =Rare Find.

I can’t remember what else I bought that day at the thrift shop, but I shuffled home quickly, lit a special cigarette and put on the record.

The sound of a faint Geiger Counter started creeping in…

Radio-Activity
Is in the air for you and me
Radio-Activity
Discovered by Madame Curie

The album was released in 1975 — a few years before I was born. I found it incredible and couldn’t fathom a band making such a record in an era filled with hits from ABBA, John Denver, and Lynard Skynard. I decided that if I was around in 1975 that I would want to be hanging with whoever was listening to Radio-Activity.

I lent the album to my high school crush and he cherished it enough not to give it back. I’ve since owned the CD and have it my mp3 collection’s permanent rotation.

But my true nostalgia belongs to the warmth of Radio-Activity on vinyl.

In a similar way a candle lights flesh like — like only candle light can: the vinyl medium brings out Radio-Activity’s most intimate beauty. Sorry, that is the best simile I produce off-hand…

I’m the Antenna
Catching vibration
You’re the transmitter
Give information

Ok, I admit it, I want to make love to this album.

In candlelight.

Bookmark: Del.icio.usSpurlFurlSimpyBlinkDigg
RSS feed for comments on this post