What was your first exposure to Daniel's Music?

[Sonic Elderly]

My first exposure to Daniel's music was through the soundtrack to the movie KIDS, which I found in a secondhand record shop ten years ago. My first impression was that 'Daniel Johnston' was a pseudonym that Lou Barlow was using to create ultra lo-fi songs (Lou Barlow featured predominantly on the soundtrack; Deluxx Folk Implosion, Folk Implosion, Sebadoh, Slint). In the years since, I began to see references to Daniel (like Kurt Cobain wearing the "Hi, How Are You" T shirt) and hearing his music in films (like Slacker) without consciously realising it. It wasn't untill I saw Richard Linklater's first film, It's Impossible to Learn to Plow by Reading Books, along with his short film about Woodshock on the Slacker DVD, That I realised that Daniel was a real person. I saw the film The Devil and Daniel Johnston and found that I could relate to Daniel's life. 
         

[silver]

Marquis of Sadness, what is your picture of anyway? It looks like you are sucking a horse cock and massaging his ball's with a keyboard?

[Henry Long]

Sonic E- Funny story! Lou Barlow's "innocent" side! I totally see how you could've made that assumption based on all the other GREAT songs from KIDS.

By the way, if you haven't already, check out the film "Gummo." (The official site of Gummo, the movie Chloe Sevigny did with writer/director Harmony Korine (who also makes an apppearance in large glasses at the houseparty near the end of KIDS)         

www.finelinefeatures.com/gummo/     

"It's Impossible to Learn to Plow by Reading Books" is something I've never seen, but now I will have to. Thanks!

[The Dentist]

What a wonderful read this thread has been!! It's weird but I've been turned on to many of the groups listed by Danny. Some were only just connected through not his songs, but his association. Kramer for one. Danny turned me on to "Bongwater" when he received a load of records from Shimmy Disc. It was the "Double Bummer" album, yes, vinyl, and I was hooked ever since. I've also really enjoyed Jad Fair from the Jad Fair/Daniel Johnston album. But that's a story for later.

[Troubled Joe]

For me it was the pastel's cover of speeding motorcycle which i love...when i found out it was by daniel johnston i didnt really think anything of it until i saw fun and rejected unknown dirt cheap in a record shop...i bought them...liked them, but then didnt think anymore of it until i heard about the devil and daniel johnston.....when i saw this film the songs on there complely blew my mind...i think i really much prefer the songs on the cassettes...i like fun etc aswell but the cassette songs are what really hooked me in when i heard them...i cant wait to recieve the ones iv orderded off jeff at stress...

[silver]

My first exposure was in 1995. I had just graduated from college. I moved to Tampa, FL and got a job as a third shift tech support person for IBM. I was broke as hell and didn't know many people. A buddy of mine told me about Daniel Johnston so I picked up "Jump/Yip Music". It was one of those albums like "The Electric Eels" album "God says **** you" that I had to listen to twice because the first time I couldn't hear everything. I was totally hooked. I listened to the album every night for a year on my bike ride to and from work. I started at midnight so usually the streets were empty and I would sing along with Daniel at the top of my lungs the whole way to work.

[ondafritz]

I guess I'm lucky. I got to hear Daniels first songs as they were being written.

[Henry Long]

Chord Organ: $75.00
Sanyo Cassette Recorder: $69.00
Cheap Cassette Tapes: $3.00 each in packs of 10
Hearing Daniel's first songs as they were being written: PRICELESS!

[ondafritz]

Yeah. That's true Henry. And I have to be honest...at first I didn't like them!
But they grew on me.