Have you ever been totally overexposed to your favorite band, TV show, or movie, that you never want to see them again? I saw the movie
Pulp Fiction six times in the theater in 1994 and 1995, and in the 14 years since, I don't think I have seen it once. The same thing has happened to me with classic rock. There was a time about ten years ago when I was tired of classic rock. I had been listening to classic rock as a fan and as a DJ since I was a teenager. Ten years later, I was oversaturated. In 1999, creaky old bands from the 1970s were at the low ebb of coolness. Around that time, I sold a bunch of my CDs at a yard sale. Normally I never get rid of any CDs, but I was at a place in my life where I never thought I would want to listen to these bands again:
- JOURNEY: Greatest Hits
- CHICAGO's Greatest Hits
- The EAGLES Their Greatest Hits 1971-75
- The EAGLES Greatest Hits, Vol. 2
- RUSH: Chronicles
Fast-forward to the 21st century. I have spent most of the 2000s NOT listening to classic rock, both on the radio and around the house. I have started to miss these bands. I want to invite "25 or 6 to 4", "Already Gone", and "Limelight" back into my life. Thankfully, I can reclaim these hits collections without giving Don Henley any more of my money. My mother-in-law gave me access to her old records, where I found Chicago's
Greatest Hits, Volumes 1 AND 2; I have picked up copies of Journey's
Evolution (1979) and
Escape (1981); and I found The Eagles:
Their Greatest Hits 1971-1975 at a yard sale last weekend. That particular collection has sold
42,000,000 copies worldwide, so I was glad to find a used copy lying around!
I have been reunited with my classic rock roots. Perhaps in a few years I will be ready for Pulp Fiction again too?
