Sign-In
Cart
The First Time I Ever Heard...
Paperback
Publisher: Michael Pollick
Published: Sep 6 2024
Pages: 102
Weight: 0.31
Height: 0.24 Width: 5.50 Depth: 8.50
Language: English
Humorist Kevin Lawson is nothing if not nostalgic, and this time he's taking a look back at the albums that helped shape his life. From Led Zeppelin to Nirvana, Beatles to Prince, Lawson shares his first impressions of classic rock albums.
Led Zeppelin IV - Led Zeppelin
I remember the first time I heard Led Zeppelin IV like it was yesterday, and trust me, it was a moment that changed my life forever, or at least my taste in music. It was a rainy Saturday afternoon, the kind of day that begs you to curl up with a blanket and binge-watch a series you've seen three times already. But, of course, I decided to take a different route. I was 17, and my rebellious spirit was fueled by a mix of boredom and a desperate need to impress my friends. So, I dug through my dad's old vinyl collection, and there it was: Led Zeppelin IV, that iconic album cover with the old man carrying a bundle of sticks. I thought, What could be more rebellious than listening to an album that looks like it belongs in a museum?
I dropped the needle, and the moment Black Dog kicked in, I felt like I had been hit by a freight train. I mean, what was this? It was like someone had taken all the best parts of rock and roll, cranked them up to eleven, and tossed in a pinch of magic dust. I was instantly hooked. Robert Plant's voice soared higher than my expectations for my future, and I could practically feel Jimmy Page's guitar melting my face off. I was a goner. I had no idea what I was getting into, but I was ready to dive headfirst into the world of classic rock.
Then came Stairway to Heaven. Now, let me tell you, I had heard snippets of this song before, but hearing it in its entirety felt like being initiated into some secret society of music lovers. I sat there, wide-eyed, as I listened to the lyrics, pondering the meaning of life and the universe. Was I supposed to buy a stairway? Should I be looking for one? I pictured myself wandering through a hardware store, asking the clerk if they had any stairways in stock. Excuse me, sir, do you have a stairway to heaven? I'm looking for something that really elevates my soul.
By the time Rock and Roll started blasting through the speakers, I was bouncing off the walls like a pinball machine. I was convinced I could play air guitar like Page himself, even though my coordination was more akin to a baby giraffe learning to walk. I was a mess, but I was a happy mess. I felt alive, like I could conquer the world or at least the next round of karaoke.
That day, I didn't just discover an album; I discovered a part of myself that craved the wild, the loud, and the unapologetically rock and roll. I walked away from that experience with a new appreciation for music, a slightly bruised ego from my air guitar antics, and a lifelong love affair with Led Zeppelin that still has me searching for that mystical stairway.
Also from
Lawson, Kevin
Handbook for Supervisors of Doctoral Students in Evangelical Theological Institutions
Lawson, Kevin
Shaw, Ian J.
Paperback
Handbook for Supervisors of Doctoral Students in Evangelical Theological Institutions
Lawson, Kevin
Shaw, Ian J.
Hardcover
Also in
Humor
I Can't Believe I Did That: The Game That Gives You Points for Sharing Awkward, Awesome, and Unforgettable Memories: Card Games
Katcher, Neil
Nadelberg, David
Other
The Science Magpie: Fascinating Facts, Stories, Poems, Diagrams and Jokes Plucked from Science
Flynn, Simon
Paperback
Fixing Flamingos: And Other Solutions to the World's Least Pressing Problems
Rea, Brian
Brown, Lucienne
Paperback
How to Be a Cat: (Cat Books for Kids, Cat Gifts for Kids, Cat Picture Book)
Swerling, Lisa
Lazar, Ralph
Hardcover
Peculiar Questions and Practical Answers: A Little Book of Whimsy and Wisdom from the Files of the New York Public Library
New York Public Library
Hardcover
How to Be Okay When Nothing Is Okay: Tips and Tricks That Kept Me Alive, Happy, and Creative in Spite of Myself
Lawson, Jenny
Hardcover
Bake It Off: An Unofficial Taylor Swift-Inspired Cookbook for Every Era, from Breakfast to Midnights
Smith, Lindsey
Hardcover
Big Fan: Two Friends, 82,490 Miles, and the Wild, Wonderful Sports We Love
Posnanski, Joe
Schur, Michael
Hardcover
Pardon My Book: Ten Years of the Best (and Worst) in Sports from Pardon My Take
Big Cat
Commenter, Pft
Hardcover
We Are the World (Cup): A Personal History of the World's Greatest Sporting Event
Bennett, Roger
Hardcover
Black Out Loud: The Revolutionary History of Black Comedy from Vaudeville to '90s Sitcoms
Bennett, Geoff
Hardcover
How to Grow Up Without Becoming a Grown-Up: Big Lessons from Little Kids
Shapiro-Barnum, Julian
Hardcover
The Ultimate Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Five Novels in One Outrageous Volume
Adams, Douglas
Paperback
There Are Moms Way Worse Than You: Irrefutable Proof That You Are Indeed a Fantastic Parent
Boozan, Glenn
Hardcover
The New Worst-Case Scenario Survival Handbook: Expert Advice for Extreme Situations
Borgenicht, David
Piven, Joshua
Hardcover
Wtf America?!: The Way Out of This Hell and Back to Democracy
Meiselas, Jordy
Meiselas, Ben
Meiselas, Brett
Hardcover
How to Talk to Your Cat about Gun Safety: And Abstinence, Drugs, Satanism, and Other Dangers That Threaten Their Nine Lives
Auburn, Zachary
Paperback
Not Today, Fascists: The Lies That Got Us Here, and the Truths That Will Reunite Us
Welch, Jennifer
Hardcover
Nobody Wants Your Sh*t: The Art of Decluttering Before You Die (New York Times Bestseller)
Condo, Messie
Hardcover