So four years ago I was at a convention for work, and did what I always do when in a strange town: hit up the local record store. In this case, it happened to be Electric Fetus in Minneapolis. Despite being north of forty years of age, I had never in my entire life heard an Iron Maiden song. Not just never heard an album: never heard a single song. They're obviously not a radio band, and though I had friends who liked them, nobody was into them - so I missed out. I love metal, and Queensryche being among my favorites, one might have thought I'd go for Maiden at some point, but it just. never. happened. So when I found a used copy of Number of the Beast at Fetus, naturally I took the bait. WOW. How did I never even give this band a shot? Since then, I've bought Piece of Mind, Live After Death, and just this weekend picked up Brave New World which is PHENOMENAL. So, old-timers, what are some of the artists that you've come to late in life not knowing what you missed out on earlier? [Another one for me is Marillion. I bought Misplaced Childhood in college and hated it. Never gave the Hogarth albums a try until that last couple of years. Now I can't get enough!]
Springsteen- Didn't get on board until I hit 40 a couple of years ago. Finally seemed like I could relate to many of his songs.
Well, I hope I’m not that late in life yet, but I just started listening to Slade last year, at age 44. I bought five of their records plus the Slade Box, all between late August and mid-October.
Because you can't know everything I discovered these in my 50's...: Godspeed You! Black Emperor Black Tape for a Blue Girl Wade Bowen Randy Rogers Band Reckless Kelly And I am always discovering so I don't feel like a geezer...
Off topic: how did you like Electric Fetus? I live about a 7-8 hour drive from the Twin Cities, and I’ve been thinking about trying to get there for a record-store crawl later in the year. EF is a name I’ve often heard mentioned as one of the better shops in Minneapolis. Have you been to many other record shops in the area?
I was in my late 30s when I finally recognized the blinding brilliance of Stephen Sondheim. The quality and complexity of his lyrics (and the rules he follows when writing them) was a game changer for me. It has changed the way I listen to other lyricists, and unfortunately for nearly every single one of them, Sondheim sets a bar so impossibly high, that no one competes.
Was not interested in reggae at all until I visited Jamaica. I still think you need to visit the country to 'get' the music.
I also just bought my first Slade album, but my reaction wasn't a positive one on first listen. I have to give that one another shot. Oh man... If you have not yet purchased Vol. 4, do so immediately. I liked Black Sabbath before I got that album. After that, I loved them. SO good. And every album is so different. I give it definite high marks. Aspects of a record store I value: Variety: I have musical ADD, so they have to have something of everything. Along with Maiden, I got The Weepies, Tom Waits and Megadeth's Endgame. The fact that four years later I can remember exactly what I bought tells you I was paying attention. Cleanliness: I hate stores that reek of patchouli and stale cigarettes... because that's what my purchases will smell like. Organized: Everything is orderly and well-sorted. I didn't feel like I had to bounce around too much. What I do remember is that used vinyl was overpriced per my experience, but I also live in an area where there is almost no such thing as overpriced vinyl (though I did overpay for something this weekend knowing I was doing so).
No joke: I had the same experience. Stayed in Negril for a week and the chef at our hotel, Teddy, kept playing a Ziggy Marley album when we were in for drinks or dinner. I asked him the name, and he says "You like it? Here you go." and gave me the CD. Thought I haven't bought much since, when you see the conditions those folks live in, and that they depend on such vital and upbeat music, it changes your whole mindset about it.
Coincidentally, when I read the subject line of this thread, my first thought was Iron Maiden. I was mid-20s when I finally got into them but, once I did, there was no turning back. Number of the Beast, Piece of Mind, Powerslave, Live After Death and Seventh Son of a Seventh Son are amazing albums with Somewhere in Time slightly below that group. These days, I find myself listening to the first two albums (the Paul Di'Anno albums) more than the Bruce Dickinson albums. Love that stuff. And just to keep it as eclectic as possible, just within the past year or so, I've begun devouring Waylon Jennings' 60s and 70s albums. Dolly Parton and Willie Nelson too. Never thought I'd find myself listening to country music. My high school self would doubtlessly hang my middle-aged self for it.
Dire Straits/Mark Knopfler Steely Dan Little Feat Traffic/Winwood/Mason I've always known these folks were there but I got so sick of the cuts radio played to death that I just didn't want to hear any more of them. Somehow I got to hear some deep tracks and the ran with them. Better to find them late than not at all!
If you haven't yet discovered Emmylou Harris, I'd encourage you to do so. Absolutely terrific voice, and her interpretations of others' works often reveal more to them. My dad raised me on Johnny Cash, Charlie Rich, and John Denver, so country came easily to me, but I'm still a metalhead at heart.
Discovered The Cardigans First Band On The Moon last week. Wonderful power pop! I'll be 54 in August.
I didn't really dig Miles Davis until I was around 50. I had heard Kind Of Blue and other albums, but hadn't really listened. Then I had a job which obliged me to drive a lot and in the gridlock I just listened to Miles (the Prestige albums, Round About Midnight, Tutu, Amandla, Live Around The World and more) and I just got it. This is rare. Normally I just like things and stick with them.
