1973

Just a toddler, barely walking, but would spend hours sprawled on the floor in front of parents’ Magnavox solid state shelf AM/FM stereo radio model 1FM034 Walnut with one built-in speaker and one detachable speaker from main unit, just diggin’ the tunes.

It wasn’t much, but I sure loved it

Bought my SAE Mark VI tuner, which I still have and use!

Graduated college in 1973. Got great job, bought a red Datsun 260Z! 
Upgraded my speakers from Corals to Bozaks, got a Citation II  preamp and an HK amp, AKai reel to reel, Linn Sondek TT. Yep Life was good!  And girls galore!

I was serving in the military in Northern Ireland in 1973 during the "Troubles".  Crazy time, checkpoints and body searches everywhere, bombs going off every night.

My first decent system was my refuge, along with some Guinness and the occasional bit of hashish.  Sansui SP-100 speakers, Dual 1229 turntable, Sansui AU-555 and TU-555 amp and tuner.  

Loved that system, lost it the divorce from my first wife.

I still remember finding out that Duane Allman was a sideman at Muscle Shoals and had a ton of music in additon to the Allman Brother Band.  This was before the Anthology release of his studio work.  Heard him on Push Push by Herbie Mann and the search was on after that.

Winter 73.  In my room, in a smoky haze with a couple of friends.  Playing Cheech and Chong’s “Sister Mary Elephant” and trying to figure out the highest volume we could play it before amp went into protection.  

We heard her say “SHUTUP!” quite a few times before amp stopped for good.

It it was fun while it lasted.