In Illinois we found albums in the townhouse dumpster left by students at semester’s end. Moody Blues stands out in memory, probably as much for album art. And we ran circles around the record player to Ray Stevens’ “The Streak.” He didn’t develop his own signature discernment until Maryland. Live at the Cellar Door: The Seldom Scene feels emblematic of it, not that he had a copy (recorded before we relocated; venue closed while still a teen). It feels emblematic of a young person waking up to his love of music, of owning his own informed opinions, of being aware of regional arts and culture, and maybe also of a respectful contrariness: a nod to high school culture inclined toward Southern rock, and saying, yes, but check out this: local and homegrown.
Wednesday, May 5, 1965, Long Beach, CA, 00:00:
Vesta 12° 44′, Sun 14° 34′, Venus 20° 36′ Taurus
Jupiter 2° 51′ Gemini
Mercury 18° 11′ Aries
Moon in Cancer