tellhimfred.com

As many of you don’t care about, I grew up some years ago, and have at least a few clear memories of the 1970s.  My sister is a few years younger than me, and I’ll warrant she has at least a few herself.  Both of us, however, have long treasured the memory of listening, on 13″ vinyl, of course, to the story of Oblio and his faithful dog, Arrow, on Harry Nilsson’s seminal album, The Point. Now, our parents specifically chose this album to play for us, both because of its cool ’70s music interwoven with a storylike narrative, and for its positive message of anti-discrimination.

The album affected both of so deeply that when, in our adult years, we recovered a copy of it, we both instantly fell back in love with it.  I keep it on my Mp3 player, and pull it out on rainy days, long car trips, republican presidencies, pretty much any time I feel gloomy or down.  Just the first few bars of “Everything’s Got ‘Em (This Is The Town And These Are The People)” can instantly buoy my mood.

I had long decided that if I ever had kids, I was going to play this for them too.  After stumbling upon this gem from Schmilsson himself, I definitely am.

“I was on acid and I looked at the trees and I realized that they all came to points, and the little branches came to points, and the houses came to point. I thought, ‘Oh! Everything has a point, and if it doesn’t, then there’s a point to it.” (Harry Nilsson, on the inspiration behind “The Point)

If you haven’t ever heard the album, go download it now from your chosen portal.  I don’t need to post a link to it, because you’re all grownups who choose their own music portals. Find a nice quiet spot to spend about 45 minutes, and just listen, beginning to end.  I guarantee you’ll be entertained.

Best album of our childhood…totally based on fat trips.  Awesome.