This is by no means the oldest record in my collection — but it is definitely the one I love the most, and it relates to the things we celebrate on RSD. I was just coming out of the Glenferrie Station and on my way to work, one particularly gloomy morning, when I saw Gerry Mulligan’s smiling eyes looking at me from the rack of Alley Tunes. I knew Mulligan, of course, as one of the pioneers of ‘cool jazz’, but I had never even heard of this album of his, ‘The Age of Steam’ (from 1972 — this was an original copy), but ever since, it’s been my favourite jazz album. Everytime I need a little pick-me-up, I spin it and Gerry Mulligan is there for me, leading a big band of legends, playing cool-tempered, heartwarming jazz.