2021 Holiday Gift Ideas for the Music-Lover

Memories of the Phonograph

 

 

Gift ideas for the music-lover on your holiday shopping list

By Mark Kennedy*, AP Entertainment Writer, November 14, 2021 with an overview by Friend of the Phonograph Doug Boilesen

Although these holiday suggestions include other music related suggestions of books and merchandise, it starts with the suggestion of Billy Joel's 50th Anniversary Collection of vinyl records, features pictures of Joel's The Vinyl Collection Volume 1 on a turntable and a picture of what's inside the nine LPs box set.

For Friends of the Phonograph it's another reminder that although streaming music is currently dominant, the phonograph lives!

On December 6, 1877 Thomas Alva Edison completed his Phonograph. One hundred and forty-four years later phonograph records are still revolving and a holiday shopping list suggestion by an AP writer being read across the country starts with the picture of a phonograph and a vinyl record.

Here's how Mr. Kennedy starts his article that I read via the on-line edition of the Lincoln Journal:

Everyone likes music, right? Here are some outstanding record collections for lovers of rap, metal and pop, a pair of fascinating books and some clothes that help musicians in need.

Billy Joel is celebrating 50 years of making music this year and he's reminding us all how it started. “Billy Joel — The Vinyl Collection, Vol. 1” contains nine LPs: His first six solo studio albums ("Cold Spring Harbor," “Piano Man,” “Streetlife Serenade,” “Turnstiles,” “The Stranger,” “52nd Street”) with his first live album ("Songs in the Attic") and “Live at The Great American Music Hall — 1975,” a previously unreleased concert recording available for the first time in the box set as a double vinyl album. The box also includes a 50-page booklet highlighting Joel’s early career through archival photos, his insights on his songs, and tributes from fellow musicians, artists and celebrities. Price: $250.

Columbia Records via AP

 

 

 

The book “Music Is History” by Questlove is the next suggestion, said to be "both very personal and sweepingly grounded in the historical, one of the most fascinating music-based books of the year."

 

 

 

 

Next Suggestion: Metallica's seven-LP vinyl box set described as follows:

Metallica’s 1991 self-titled LP, generally known as the “Black Album,” is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year, and one way to join in is by listening to a whole lot of people who aren't in Metallica. “The Metallica Blacklist” is a four-hour, 53-track behemoth of covers by artists including Phoebe Bridgers, Miley Cyrus, St. Vincent, Weezer and Elton John. They tackle legendary tracks from the album, including “Enter Sandman,” “The Unforgiven,” “Nothing Else Matters,” “Wherever I May Roam” and “Sad But True.” The seven-LP vinyl box set retails for $150, a 4-CD version is $30 and the digital download costs $50. All profits go to the charities of each contributing artist’s choice along with Metallica’s own foundation, All Within My Hands.

Rhino/Blackened Recordings via AP

 

 

 

Other suggestions include Lil Wayne's vinyl box set “Tha Carter Singles Collection,” a book of photographs of Billie Eilish growing up titled “Billie Eilish” by Grand Central Publishing; music-themed merchandise, from totes, T-shirts, tank tops, caps, mugs, bags, sweatshirts and more supporting the nonprofit Sweet Relief Musicians Fund; and finally, a book of photographs by Graham Nash titled “A Life in Focus: The Photography of Graham Nash”.

Music is magic and the phonograph is an historic and living part of that magic. Enjoy!

 

 

 

Season's Greetings from Friends of the Phonograph