January 26, 2024 By Andy Ayer
Hello! I wanted to introduce myself for those who don’t know me around town. I’m Andy. Throughout my life, I have had many passions. I’ve fallen in love with photography, art, dance, baseball, being a husband, and a father, but before all these came my love for music.
My earliest childhood memory is my mother singing “Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head” by BJ Thomas at night before bed. As I got older I began listening to the music from their record collection on the stereo console. It was quite the mix of genres that included singer/songwriters of the 60’s and 70’s (Bob Dylan, Jim Croce), the Motown sound(the Supremes), the Woodstock album (Jefferson Airplane) and various rock and roll artists (The Who, Pink Floyd, Kiss, Styx). It was the start of an excellent listening foundation.
When I started Junior High in Quincy, one of my cousins gave me his old radio receiver and turntable. I immediately started to create my own collection of albums, the first being the eponymous Asia album. It was during this time a new British Invasion that brought with it the sounds of punk, new wave and new romantics style on the radio. These sounds were also complimented by the competing sounds of Hair Metal and Hip Hop.
As my record collection grew, I started making playlists on cassette to tell the stories of my life. I began to share out the cassettes to my friends or anyone who wanted to hear what I was listening to. I have continued to do this as compact disc replaced vinyl and cassette. Which was short lived as mp3 made compact disc obsolete. Only for us to come full circle back to vinyl.
So why am I telling you all this? Everyday I am asked “Andy, What are you listening to today?” Whether it be at the coffee shop I spend my mornings, work, or just talking to someone on the street. My goal is to write about what music is currently the soundtrack of my life and share that playlist with you. It may be artists you’re hearing for the first time or ones you are familiar with. So I hope you visit from time to time and listen along at…. The Listening Cafe.
This week’s playlist is called: From the Queue. A collection of songs from my parents record collection. I hope you enjoy it. – Andy
Playlist: FROM THE QUEUE
Apple: https://music.apple.com/us/playlist/from-the-queue/pl.u-GgxAmS67631
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2UaXX6KVqyRhTnFJAtyzBe?si=1d5a791846b845c5
Andy currently runs a Facebook group with his buddy Tim called “What Are You Listening to?”
You can also follow Andy on the following music platforms:
Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/profile/aayer
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/user/dqii6f71pmw2knk2kx71usnsc?si=69b879d2dcb346d1
The Listening Cafe is a new music column provided by Andy Ayer, a local Hingham resident and passionate music lover.