This post really has nothing to do with the fact that my wife Amy made corn with dinner last night. See, I’m a corny guy, I’ll admit it — in fact, I embrace it. As I was lying in bed this morning, for some reason the thoughts of when I used to lie in bed alone as a teenager and listen to music before I fell asleep (and sometimes before I’d start a day of school… I miss PFR) popped into my head. iPods were a thing of the future so back then, I had graduated from my Walkman cassette player to a delightful Sony Discman (that was a good Christmas!), and I’d keep a couple CD’s under my bed when it came time to turn in, for if I was in the mood for a couple different records… but I don’t know if it was just the season in my life or what, but I feel like I had a few more albums that I just really loved to lay in bed and soak in back in the mid-to-late-90’s.
Now, whether that means albums were more thematically, as a whole, applicable to how I felt at the time of listening than today, I don’t know, but I do remember certain CD’s that really hit home. Between Thieves‘ self-titled instantly comes to mind – particularly songs like “Despite The Rain,” the prayerful “Kindle,” or my (seemingly) life’s anthem, “Privately.” I remember in my post-college years, Audio Adrenaline‘s “Lift” had its moments for sure. “Tremble” was always an incredible moment. But there were always records from Bride, Grammatrain, Bleach, Dakoda Motor Co‘s “Into The Son” (huuuge in my teen years for me), Eric Champion‘s “Vertical Reality” and later “Transformation” records, Guardian‘s “Buzz,” Church Of Rhythm’s “Not Perfect,” Code Of Ethics‘ “Arms Around The World” and “Soulbait”… Man…… Jars of Clay‘s debut. That was a big, big, big one for me in my freshman-into-sophomore Summer… Ha, I’m totally getting flashbacks while mulling this over.
So my question to you guys — do any of you find yourselves listening to a specific record in those quiet moments in bed? Or is it more of a playlist these days? For me, when I do plug into a record in bed nowadays, it’s probably just a playlist on my iPod – either slow for a lulling-to-sleep, or geared towards a mood I’m in. In some ways, for the purpose that a full album served for me when lying in bed – connecting with Jesus on a more intimate level, or just providing a soundtrack for my thoughts – it feels like CD’s were better for that. *Shrug* Perhaps it’s just my age.
Thoughts? Any other nighttime listeners out there? If so, which records do it for you?