Just Gimme That Rock and Roll Music ... Any Old Way You Choose It ...

Music is a sine qua non for me - a thing, without which, there is nothing.

It is a universal language that enhances the human condition by providing a common medium through which we are all connected. Music is something that goes to the very essence of our humanity. This is because it speaks to us at a subconscious level and alters our moods.

No matter the happening or event, I firmly believe that every occasion can be made better with the right music.

I remember as a little kid getting my first album. It was Summer, 1978 ... The Beach Boys - Greatest Hits. I listened to that album a lot over the coming months. This was the start of my love for rock and roll.

A few years later, I bought a stereo for my room. A Technics receiver, a Sherwood dual cassette deck and big, brown EQ Acoustics three way speakers. I loved the sound of that system and listened to music all the time.

Next came the Sony Walkman cassette player. I bought one of the original models - it was silver and the entire case was made of metal. Music changed for me again. I couldn't imagine the difference in sound quality - it was mind blowing.

Just when I had accumulated a big collection of cassettes, something called the Compact Disc hit the scene. I was just starting high school and was over at a friends house. He was in college and had just bought a CD player. I went with him to find some CDs. The first song he played was AC/DC's "You Shook Me All Night Long". It was the first time that I had ever heard that song and yes, I know it came out several years before that, but somehow I had not heard it. I was hooked immediately though. Music changed again for me at this point. Once I had heard music on CD nothing else could compare. And that song, which for me, melded the perfect guitar riff with the perfect beat, became my favorite song to this day.

Music has always had extremely strong associations with memories for me. For instance, for certain songs, I remember exactly what I was doing the first time I heard them. In other cases, hearing a particular song will bring back extremely vivid memories of particular events for me. I also associate certain time periods or phases of my life with a particular band or album - for instance 9th Grade for me was my Chicago 17 phase. Late in '85 I found Boston. Summer '86 was Van Halen 5150. Early '87 was Bon Jovi - Slippery When Wet. Later in '87 I really got into Steve Miller Band. I've been listening to all of them ever since.

Needless to say, music is very important to me. I think music says a lot about a person, so I love hearing other peoples' opinions, likes, dislikes and stories. Submit your comments and share your stories.