--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I didn't own a record player when I was…" description: "\"I didn't own a record player when I was younger. I just played every day after school and then started gigging around town. I heard bands and songs thr..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/374/michael-mcdonald-6275_college_i-didn-t-own-a-record-player-when-i-was_1325741.jpg" --- # I didn't own a record player when I was younger. I just… ![“I didn't own a record player when I was younger. I just played every day after school and then started gigging around town. I heard bands and songs through friends of mine, but a lot of what I picked up on was learned by traveling through college towns.” quote by Michael McDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/374/michael-mcdonald-6275_college_i-didn-t-own-a-record-player-when-i-was_1325741.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/374/michael-mcdonald-6275_college_i-didn-t-own-a-record-player-when-i-was_1325741.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/374/michael-mcdonald-6275_college_i-didn-t-own-a-record-player-when-i-was_1325741.jpg) > “I didn't own a record player when I was younger. I just played every day after school and then started gigging around town. I heard bands and songs through friends of mine, but a lot of what I picked up on was learned by traveling through college towns.” [Michael McDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-mcdonald/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He learned music informally by playing daily, gigging, and absorbing influences while traveling. **In simple terms:** Learning music by doing and traveling. Key Takeaway Practice daily and seek diverse experiences. Themes self‑education travel musical growth Mood reflective inspirational Type personal educational When to use this quote - college towns - local gigs - jam sessions Key Concepts informal learning cultural exchange Questions to Reflect On - What role does travel play in creative growth? - How can informal learning be balanced with formal training? A Different Perspective Self‑teaching may miss structured theory. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [College](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/college/) [Day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/day/) [Friends](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friends/) [Music making](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music-making/) [School](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/school/) ## Related quotes > [I didn't have a record player.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harrison-birtwistle/i-didn-t-have-a-record-player/) [Harrison Birtwistle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harrison-birtwistle/) > [I didn't even have a record player as a kid, so everything was down to radio.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rory-gallagher/i-didn-t-even-have-a-record-player-as-a-kid-so-everything-was-down-to/) [Rory Gallagher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rory-gallagher/) > [I started gigging when I was about 16, and I was way too young to be in the clubs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/imelda-may/i-started-gigging-when-i-was-about-16-and-i-was-way-too-young-to-be/) [Imelda May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/imelda-may/) > [I dropped out of college and started gigging around Brighton.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/passenger/i-dropped-out-of-college-and-started-gigging-around-brighton/) [Passenger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/passenger/) > [I started gigging when I was around 13, my family helped me get small pub gigs and I have always loved performing since.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lola-young/i-started-gigging-when-i-was-around-13-my-family-helped-me-get-small/) [Lola Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lola-young/) > [I'm really happy about American Woman, it brought the Guess Who back. They started gigging again and got their song out on commercials.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lenny-kravitz/i-m-really-happy-about-american-woman-it-brought-the-guess-who-back/) [Lenny Kravitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lenny-kravitz/) > [I didn't sign a record deal; I didn't do any of that. I made my record independently, and I went out and hit the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aubrie-sellers/i-didn-t-sign-a-record-deal-i-didn-t-do-any-of-that-i-made-my-record/) [Aubrie Sellers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aubrie-sellers/) > [If we didn't get the record, we didn't exist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-mann/if-we-didn-t-get-the-record-we-didn-t-exist/) [Barry Mann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-mann/) > [“She couldn’t shake the feeling that if she didn’t record this moment on her phone then it wasn’t really happening, it didn’t count, it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liane-moriarty/she-couldn-t-shake-the-feeling-that-if-she-didn-t-record-this-moment/) [Liane Moriarty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liane-moriarty/) > [What was the point of living through history if you didn't record it?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tatjana-soli/what-was-the-point-of-living-through-history-if-you-didn-t-record-it/) [Tatjana Soli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tatjana-soli/) > [I didn't record 'Pumped Up Kicks' out of a sense of moral obligation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-foster/i-didn-t-record-pumped-up-kicks-out-of-a-sense-of-moral-obligation/) [Mark Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-foster/) > [This album, 'ununiform,' I didn't even have to record it if I didn't want to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tricky/this-album-ununiform-i-didn-t-even-have-to-record-it-if-i-didn-t-want/) [Tricky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tricky/) > [Well, I don't let anyone record with me that is not a fan of mine or believe in my music. Everybody that records for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-stanley/well-i-don-t-let-anyone-record-with-me-that-is-not-a-fan-of-mine-or/) [Ralph Stanley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-stanley/) > [My dad knew I was mad about music. While he worked as a barber he would hear songs on the radio and we'd have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mick-hucknall/my-dad-knew-i-was-mad-about-music-while-he-worked-as-a-barber-he/) [Mick Hucknall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mick-hucknall/) > [I thought my Beatles LPs sounded pretty good on a record player, but that was before I had heard a CD.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alastair-wood/i-thought-my-beatles-lps-sounded-pretty-good-on-a-record-player-but/) [Alastair Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alastair-wood/) ## More by Michael McDonald > [Beck is obviously a consummate musician. He plays instruments, many instruments. He can make his own record without having a fleet of computer operators…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-mcdonald/beck-is-obviously-a-consummate-musician-he-plays-instruments-many/) [Michael McDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-mcdonald/) > [I'd say that Ray Charles is definitely the biggest influence on my singing. Also Marvin Gaye and Stevie Wonder.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-mcdonald/i-d-say-that-ray-charles-is-definitely-the-biggest-influence-on-my/) [Michael McDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-mcdonald/) > [Since the '60s, we've lived so much in an age of quick fixes that the culture itself has become a quick fix.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-mcdonald/since-the-60s-we-ve-lived-so-much-in-an-age-of-quick-fixes-that-the/) [Michael McDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-mcdonald/) > [Hey, I'd love to have a hit single, but if that doesn't happen, I'm not going to complain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-mcdonald/hey-i-d-love-to-have-a-hit-single-but-if-that-doesn-t-happen-i-m-not/) [Michael McDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-mcdonald/) > [I truly cherish the time and experience with friends that I have been making music with for so many years, even decades now.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-mcdonald/i-truly-cherish-the-time-and-experience-with-friends-that-i-have-been/) [Michael McDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-mcdonald/) > [While making any record, you look for the opportunity to bring someone who will help generate something special in the music environments you create.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-mcdonald/while-making-any-record-you-look-for-the-opportunity-to-bring-someone/) [Michael McDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-mcdonald/) > [I do love the Nat King Cole stuff, the classic Christmas records. There's something about putting those records on and hearing his voice at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-mcdonald/i-do-love-the-nat-king-cole-stuff-the-classic-christmas-records-there/) [Michael McDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-mcdonald/) > [I've always written short stories.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-mcdonald/i-ve-always-written-short-stories/) [Michael McDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-mcdonald/) > [I've always felt like the Forrest Gump of the music business. I've been fortunate to work with a lot of great people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-mcdonald/i-ve-always-felt-like-the-forrest-gump-of-the-music-business-i-ve/) [Michael McDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-mcdonald/) > [Rap is like any other genre: There are the people who are very creative with it and do remarkable things... and then there's that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-mcdonald/rap-is-like-any-other-genre-there-are-the-people-who-are-very/) [Michael McDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-mcdonald/) > [I wish I wrote songs like Donald Fagen, Walter Becker, Don Henley, Marvin Gaye, Michael Jackson, so many of the songwriters I admire. They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-mcdonald/i-wish-i-wrote-songs-like-donald-fagen-walter-becker-don-henley/) [Michael McDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-mcdonald/) > [Most of my life is taken up with family. It takes me awhile to get a record together that I feel is worthy of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-mcdonald/most-of-my-life-is-taken-up-with-family-it-takes-me-awhile-to-get-a/) [Michael McDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-mcdonald/) > ['Livin' on the Fault Line' was kind of a commercial disappointment for us, although it seemed to have a certain buzz with the smaller…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-mcdonald/livin-on-the-fault-line-was-kind-of-a-commercial-disappointment-for/) [Michael McDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-mcdonald/) > [We try to promote the Christmas season and remind people that it is a season of peace. That's what the season's real meaning is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-mcdonald/we-try-to-promote-the-christmas-season-and-remind-people-that-it-is-a/) [Michael McDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-mcdonald/) > [My wife is, by and large, the best thing that ever happened to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-mcdonald/my-wife-is-by-and-large-the-best-thing-that-ever-happened-to-me/) [Michael McDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-mcdonald/) [Explore all 99 Michael McDonald quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-mcdonald/) ## More College quotes > [I made, like, five movies while I was in college. I think they just weren't memorable movies. I've taken breaks as the years have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodie-foster/i-made-like-five-movies-while-i-was-in-college-i-think-they-just/) [Jodie Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodie-foster/) > [My first ever job after college was as a flight attendant. I wanted to travel and could not afford it, so I decided to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacqueline-winspear/my-first-ever-job-after-college-was-as-a-flight-attendant-i-wanted-to/) [Jacqueline Winspear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacqueline-winspear/) > [There's no authoritarian structure at Reed College, but the education is conservative. So what you have is a lot of students who are very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-miller/there-s-no-authoritarian-structure-at-reed-college-but-the-education/) [Donald Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-miller/) > [“What's the best thing about being in college? Good teachers. They inspire you, they entertain you, and you end up learning a ton even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-sparks/what-s-the-best-thing-about-being-in-college-good-teachers-they/) [Nicholas Sparks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-sparks/) > [It was only when I started making short films in college and I was looking for girls to play the me-ish parts that I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lena-dunham/it-was-only-when-i-started-making-short-films-in-college-and-i-was/) [Lena Dunham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lena-dunham/) > [I do not believe in public shaming. I do believe that young adults go to college to learn things, and that this process will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-weingarten/i-do-not-believe-in-public-shaming-i-do-believe-that-young-adults-go/) [Gene Weingarten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-weingarten/) > [Some people, you know, should just go to college and do what they do and have a great job and not worry about trying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-legend/some-people-you-know-should-just-go-to-college-and-do-what-they-do/) [John Legend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-legend/) > [Children should finish school and even go to college if they can.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-fuller/children-should-finish-school-and-even-go-to-college-if-they-can/) [Robert Fuller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-fuller/) > [I was totally sober in college and really, really focused. I just took the time when other people might be partying and just made…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/k-flay/i-was-totally-sober-in-college-and-really-really-focused-i-just-took/) [K. Flay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/k-flay/) > [In college we didn't pass block the way they do in the pros - they played the I-formation at Wisconsin.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-webster/in-college-we-didn-t-pass-block-the-way-they-do-in-the-pros-they/) [Mike Webster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-webster/) > [Plant flowers in others' gardens and your life becomes a bouquet! Submitted by Lisa Letto, Coordinator, Nutrition Resource and Volunteer Centre, College of Pharmacy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rabindranath-tagore/plant-flowers-in-others-gardens-and-your-life-becomes-a-bouquet/) [Rabindranath Tagore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rabindranath-tagore/) > [The number of poor, and poorly prepared, students who succeed in college and beyond undercuts the simplistic notion that economic or educational disadvantage is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roland-merullo/the-number-of-poor-and-poorly-prepared-students-who-succeed-in/) [Roland Merullo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roland-merullo/) > [Doing away with separate black colleges meets resistance from alumni and other blacks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/constance-baker-motley/doing-away-with-separate-black-colleges-meets-resistance-from-alumni/) [Constance Baker Motley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/constance-baker-motley/) > [My son going to college is a big milestone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-gore/my-son-going-to-college-is-a-big-milestone/) [Frank Gore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-gore/) > [The reason I got into acting was not to explore myself. I was a reader, I didn't care about acting. I got into it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/campbell-scott/the-reason-i-got-into-acting-was-not-to-explore-myself-i-was-a-reader/) [Campbell Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/campbell-scott/) [Browse all 7,391 College quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/college/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I didn't own a record player when I was younger. I just played every day after school and then started gigging around town. 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