Stephen Mejias

John Fahey cites Bill Monroe’s “Blue Yodel #7” as the song that changed/destroyed his life. After hearing that song, he knew he had to play guitar.

After reading Fahey’s book, How Bluegrass Music Destroyed My Life, I knew I had to have the record. I searched eBay for "Blue Yodel #7," and there it was! I bought it! A sweet Bluebird 78rpm disc (Bluebird B-8861, released in 1941, b/w "In The Pines") from the RCA Manufacturing Co., in Camden, NJ!

I kept it in my office, on top of my filing cabinet, neglecting to bring it home. Minutes ago, our publisher, Keith Pray, came into my office and accidentally leaned on it. Then, after hearing it crack, he picked it up and tried to bend it.

"Ah, ah, ah...Keith, 78s don't bend like vinyl records..."

"Oh, I'm so sorry. I gotta say, though, they really should be more flexible."

My sweet copy of Bill Monroe’s “Blue Yodel #7,” the song that changed/destroyed John Fahey’s life, ain’t sweet no more.

Oh well. Now it's art.
I'll hang it in my listening room.