A is for Album

As a way to strengthen my photo skills, I am taking on an A – Z Photography Project. That means each week, I will photograph an object that begins with specific letter of the alphabet. My special take on the project is that (hopefully) the object will have meaning for me which I will then share with you. Enjoy!

A is for Album…

According to Merriam Webster an album is “one or more recordings (as on tape or disc) produced as a single unit <a 2-CD album>”.

Which is true…except it’s so much more than that.

Seriously, would you call The White Album by The Beatles, just “one or more recordings produced as a single unit”? What about Purple Rain or In the Wee Small Hours?

Think of your favorite albums and take some time to wonder why they are your favorites. Do they evoke a certain mood? Bring back wonderful memories? Or do they just make you glad to be in the moment? I have a favorite for all of those questions. When I hear Miles Davis’s Kind of Blue, it makes me think of a walk through New York City on a warm summer evening. It was vibrant and warm and so incredibly melodic. When I hear any Motown record, I am reminded of Saturday nights when my parents would throw parties and my brothers and I could hear the laughter and the dancing. And how could I help but be happy to be alive when I listen to Licensed to Ill?

There is nothing quite like getting a brand new album, whether its vinyl or CD. The thrill of pulling off the plastic and seeing the sheen of newness. The beauty of a pristine, unscratched surface. The joy of playing it for the first time and hearing the lyrics, melodies and riffs – of knowing that you have something new to add to your frequently played list or the disappointment in knowing that you’ve just overpaid for a coaster.

All I know is that albums of all genres have been part of my life for as long as I can remember. They have created the soundtrack of my life and for that I am thankful for A is for Album.

Stay tuned for B!