October in 33 RPM

Vinyl that defines this month.

I’m once again returning to this experimental series in lieu of a month in review, especially as September was a particularly hard month for me. These are records from my personal collection, which continues to grow and grow and grow

October has finally rolled in. Unfortunately, while the leaves are turning, the temperatures haven’t. We’re still in the 80s and 90s so my gorgeous gorgeous sweaters must wait a bit longer. Once winter hits us, it’ll hit like a brick and I’ll be delighted, but for now it seems like a far off dream.

October, for me, makes me forlorn for the East Coast. What could compare to the richness of walking through Old City when the leaves are changing to match the red bricks? My home is calling, but I’m still in the mountains.

Not to be melancholy, because October is also when my favorite holiday begins in everyone’s mind (I’ve been thinking of it since August). I’d been in a terrible mood all September due to work stress and once again entering singledom, but none of that matters now that it’s spooky season!

I’ve also moved my record player to my room while I start researching what model will be my second. I’m becoming friends with a local record store owner and now I feel like I’m cheating on my usual record store go-to. But the new record store reserved a record for me and complimented my tastes in jazz, so I’m afraid this shift is inevitable.

What are the sounds of October? I’m so glad you asked.

Twin Peaks Original Soundtrack - Angelo Badalamenti

She needs no introduction.

Bitches Brew - Miles Davis

Fair warning: Don’t listen to this while reading Clarice Lispector. I had hoped it would cast a spell leading to the ghost of Clarice appearing to chat with me, but I don’t know what I’d say. “Please don’t look at my bookshelf. Yes, yes, I haven’t finished all your books like I planned. I’m almost there. I finished the short stories and the nonfiction. And I’m obsessed with this one! Please don’t hate me.” But I’d have nothing interesting to say. I’m just living in the witchcraft.

Belladonna - Stevie Nicks

When I saw Stevie Nicks in concert recently she made one big political message: register to vote. She didn’t say who to vote for, but stressed the importance of voting. So this is your reminder to make sure you’re registered to vote, straight from the witches mouth.

Hadestown

You will listen to her again and again. You will listen and demand that this time, this time, Orpheus will do it. He’ll make it. He won’t turn back. You scream at the top of your lungs, “I’m coming wait for meeeee!” Because you want to believe. You want to try. You want, you want, you want. And he fails, he fails, he fails.

Lungs - Florence + the Machine

The full moon is shining, a howl dances in the wind. Your nails are painted black, and a grin crosses your lips. Ever since Practical Magic, Sabrina the Teenage Witch, and Hocus Pocus, you’ve always wanted to be a witch. Something about the witchy life calls to you, beckoning you closer. And with Florence playing, you fall into the dream. You are the witch of your dreams.

Double Platinum - KISS

When I was a child, I was sitting in a pizza shop that would one day close down and become a FiveGuys, one of the first in Philly. But at that time, it was just another ma and pa pizza shop, and I scooted into the seat and turned to my sister to talk. I was expressive, chatting, demanding of her attention. She wasn’t listening, a spaced out look in her face. Finally, I demanded to know why she wasn’t listening and she pointed behind me. Turning, I was face-to-face with a man dressed as a member of KISS. I screamed, jumped in my seat, and he laughed and ran off towards the Spirit Halloween that had just opened.

Goodbye Yellow Brick Road - Elton John

When are you gonna come down? When are you going to land? Somehow, my life has always been following the songs of Elton John. I once had a best friend who confessed to me she hated Elton John. I was baffled, genuinely baffled. “How?” I demanded. “How could anyone hate Elton John?” I had this sneaking and terrible suspicion she was homophobic, but she refused to answer. Annoyed, I played Goodbye Yellow Brick Road in the car and sang it extra loud.

And we’re not friends anymore.

Pieces of Eight - Styx

Some part of me alway thinks that Renegade is about O Father Where Art Thou even though that’s not possible. Some art of me always sees George Clooney running from Hades through a strange retelling of the Odyssey. Or I see myself on the stage, long curly hair flaying as I sing Renegade at the top of my lungs. No matter what, I am always seeing a story, always reliving something that cannot actually be.

Ultraviolence - Lana Del Rey

I’ve had this on my mind endlessly. I couldn’t get into Honeymoon properly because Ultraviolence hit me so hard. I’m afraid Lust for Life won’t be good enough for me. I wasn’t a Lana fan until last year because I was busy being obsessed with Marina & the Diamonds. But I need a good cry some days, and Lana’s the perfect one to cry with.

Venus Fly Trap - Marina & The Diamonds

Listen, it’s a bop. Just trust me.