I was thinking about that summer

For me, the scent of that late summer of 1986, between late August and mid-September, will always be associated with Press to Play. I bought it on Saturday, 6 September, in a wonderful shop in the centre of Milan that disappeared many years ago. Today, the magnificent building houses a large Prada store. They packed it in a bag with the same design as the cover — a simple yet ingenious marketing gimmick! But then, when you're 16, you're always out with friends. In addition, I'd only had a new girlfriend for two days, so I left it at a friend's house. I don't even remember exactly when I went to pick it up — maybe even a week later!

In the meantime, on the following Sunday (14 September), my girlfriend decided to defy me, and of course I came home distraught that night. I tried to sleep, but I couldn't. When my dad passed by my room on his way to the bathroom, I called him over.

He came over and asked if he could help, and I told him through tears what had happened. It was the first time I had ever confided in my dad about a sentimental matter. As a kid, you feel a bit ashamed — at least I did. Let alone cry!

Yet that time, all barriers fell down. Dad used simple words — he only had those, and they are all you need — and basically told me not to worry, that it was normal and that everything would pass and I would find another girlfriend. In short, he made me realise, even if only a little, that what felt like a gigantic rock at that moment was just a pebble in the grand scheme of life.

Things continued in the maelstrom of adolescence and that record accompanied me through a beautiful and important season, where I really began to understand who I was.

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P.S. When I was a teenager, one of my favourite things to do was to sit in my Dad’s car and listen to Paul’s music with him. So, when he would sometimes ask, “When you’ve finished your homework, would you like to go with me?” THAT was pure joy! Usually, he was visiting a customer within the city of Milan, so it would not have been such a long trip (so I could have gone back to my homework, in case … most of the time I was not finished with it!), but enough to spend some time together in the company of some fresh homemade cassettes I had prepared. “Making” a 90-minute cassette was an art in itself: not only did I choose the songs, but the flow was very important, so I spent ages trying to decide which was the best opening, which was the best second track, and so on.

For some reason Press to Play wasn’t one of the albums I listened to the most with my Dad, but I do remember one thing: I had bought the 12” of “Pretty Little Head” and had put the song on a cassette (I even bought the cassette single, so it might have been that). One day, and it must have been early spring 1987, I was in the car listening to it with my Dad and he said something like “That’s a good one!” THAT was another pure joy; my Dad saying he loved a Paul McCartney song, and even more so if it was something different, as in this case. I can’t forget every single word you said, Dad.

Luca Perasi

Send us your memories of Press to Play to info@lily-publishing.com in a short piece. The best ones will be selected and will be published in the next blog post entitled “Happy at the good times coming: Press to Play through the eyes of fans”.