January 27th, 2009 at 3:03 PM

Barack Obama, Record Collector?

You know that friend who seems to have every great album ever made—on vinyl? Well, President Barack Obama has just become that guy. According to a recent Rolling Stone piece, a secret treasure trove of classic records is just sitting around collecting dust in the White House mansion. It seems that past presidents rocked out to a donated collection of LPs that includes not only stalwarts like the Rolling Stones, Neil Young and Led Zeppelin but also seminal punk rock from the likes of the Sex Pistols and the Ramones and a selection of effing weird shit—including Captain Beefheart and the Flying Burrito Brothers!

The collection began to take shape in 1973, when the RIAA donated a safe, bland collection of 2,000 LPs. But Obama can thank the Carter administration for making the music library relevant: In 1979, the producer John Hammond led a committee that hand-picked a brand new selection of albums.

At the beginning of 1981, the committee presented its collection to Jimmy Carter, who put it in a place of honor near the White House’s third-floor listening room. But when good, ol’ Ronald Reagan took office a week later, he banished the LPs to the basement, probably mumbling something about devil music and evil empires and such, where it’s remained ever since. 

Now, I’m excited about the end of Guantanamo and the global gag rule and all, but I won’t truly know that Obama is my president until he brings those goddamn records upstairs.

By Judy Berman

Filed under News

6

Comments

6

  1. January 27th, 2009 at 3:00 PM { # }

    kim said:

    i don’t know that obama smoke.

  2. January 27th, 2009 at 3:00 PM { # }

    Road cat said:

    NOW AVAILABLE WORLDWIDE the NEW UPDATED EDITION of “On The Road With The Ramones.”
    With new pages, photos and info on what’s been happening to the legacy of the Ramones since 2003.
    This is a MUST-HAVE book for all Ramones fans. Based around the story of Monte A. Melnick who was the Ramones tour manager (and much more) throughout their entire career (1974-1996, and 2,263 live shows). It’s an inside look from the people who were actually there witnessing and experiencing all the extreme highs and lows of one of rock’s greatest bands. The book is packed with interviews from the Ramones and many many more people who where very close to the band. There is over 250 photographs and pictures of memorabilia Monte collected along the way. Buy it, read it and then revisit their albums. You’ll never look at the Ramones in the same light.

  3. January 27th, 2009 at 3:00 PM { # }

    Kay said:

    Barack Obama doesn’t smoke for one reason he is a christian and he would know better plus he is a good example for everyone and whoever did this picture you should be a Damn shame of yourself about this pic. we all know that u can a things to pic to make them look real.

  4. January 27th, 2009 at 3:00 PM { # }

    gail said:

    of course he’s smoked …
    But “yes , he can” stop !!!

  5. January 27th, 2009 at 3:00 PM { # }

    Tara said:

    hi how are you

  6. January 27th, 2009 at 3:00 PM { # }

    RAYNALD said:

    acdc

February 9th, 2010 at 3:42 PM