My 5-year-old son, Cedar, likes to go through my large record collection. (His 2-year-old sister Cora helps.) Here are our impromptu record reviews.

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Jun 7, 2012
@ 11:43 am
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Cedar: Can we play a little record? Dad: Sure. (Cedar gets out a yellow and black plastic 45rpm singles carrying case that I believe was my father’s in high school. It was my introduction to music as a small child, as I got to choose my own records to play on my Fisher Price record player when I was 4 or 5.) Cedar: How about this one? (picking the record on top of the stack) Dad: Sure, let’s see, Matchstalk Men and Matchstalk Cats And Dogs by The Rovers. Hm. Okay. (I help him insert the 45rpm adapter.) Dad: I have no idea where this came from. 1980? Must have picked this up at a thrift store. (Cedar takes multiple attempts to get the needle on the smaller record size. When it’s on he plays a bit at changing the speeds from 45 to 33rpm and laughing. Then he sits on the bed and listens to the song. He gets very still and listens to the entire song without moving.) Dad: (when it’s over) did you like that? (expecting that he probably didn’t) Cedar: Yes. Dad: Really? What did you like? Cedar: I don’t know! Dad: Did you understand what they were singing about? Cedar: No! I just liked the music…and the way they sang. Dad: Oh. Cool.  (Well at least it was something other then early 90’s Bay-area punk pop. I was starting to think that was about all he’d like.)

Cedar: Can we play a little record?

Dad: Sure.

(Cedar gets out a yellow and black plastic 45rpm singles carrying case that I believe was my father’s in high school. It was my introduction to music as a small child, as I got to choose my own records to play on my Fisher Price record player when I was 4 or 5.)

Cedar: How about this one? (picking the record on top of the stack)

Dad: Sure, let’s see, Matchstalk Men and Matchstalk Cats And Dogs by The Rovers. Hm. Okay.

(I help him insert the 45rpm adapter.)

Dad: I have no idea where this came from. 1980? Must have picked this up at a thrift store.

(Cedar takes multiple attempts to get the needle on the smaller record size. When it’s on he plays a bit at changing the speeds from 45 to 33rpm and laughing. Then he sits on the bed and listens to the song. He gets very still and listens to the entire song without moving.)

Dad: (when it’s over) did you like that? (expecting that he probably didn’t)

Cedar: Yes.

Dad: Really? What did you like?

Cedar: I don’t know!

Dad: Did you understand what they were singing about?

Cedar: No! I just liked the music…and the way they sang.

Dad: Oh. Cool. 

(Well at least it was something other then early 90’s Bay-area punk pop. I was starting to think that was about all he’d like.)