VAN DYKE PARKS

pop singer-pianist

“My first 33 1/3 RPM record purchase was ‘Eine Kleine Nachtmusik.’ I bought it in 1955 (along with a portable player) on my first trip to California at Sam Goody’s record store on Sunset Boulevard.

“I’d listened to many records before that time. My uncle had the ad account for RCA Victor and was given their entire Red Seal catalogue by General Sarnoff himself. They were all in the 45 RPM configuration, so the works were truncated, but I memorized them through that listening experience. My uncle also was given a Magnavox record player. The scrupulous General (at least in this respect) wanted my uncle to have the best, and Magnavox (as in ‘faithful as a Magnavox’) was the article.

“Soon, ‘hi-fi’ galvanized my interest in being a serious collector, and I studied music seriously, subscribing to RCA and Columbia record clubs.

“I just bought my 16-year-old son a turntable, so we have returned to the medium, and it brings us trans-generational commonality.”