I've always enjoyed listening to music, whether it's rock 'n' roll, country or what is now called classic rock. So I thought it would be fun to note some of the songs that hold a particular place in my heart, and why they are memorable to me. To prevent the list from getting too long, I limited it to songs from my youth, i.e. before I married Wally in 1982. Here they are:
"El Paso" sung by Marty Robbins - Heard circa 1960 on the AM radio in our family car. Memorable because it was one of my Dad's favorite songs.
"Please, Please Me" sung by The Beatles - Heard circa 1964 on the second-hand juke box in the basement of my childhood home. Memorable because my best friend and I replayed it endlessly just to listen to (and swoon over) Paul's background vocals
"Tell Her No" sung by The Zombies - Heard circa 1965 on a record player with drop-down turntable and detachable speakers, in the bedroom I shared with my two sisters. Memorable because it was the first 45 RPM record I ever bought.
"Build Me Up Buttercup" sung by The Foundations - Heard circa 1968 on the hand-held transistor radio, with "real" leather case, I had received as a present. Memorable because I spent many hours during the summer sitting under a fruit tree in our back yard listening to that radio.
"Wedding Bell Blues" sung by The Fifth Dimension - Heard circa 1970 during high school girls' tennis practice. Memorable because the coach let us listen to the radio during practice!
"I'm Your Captain (Closer to Home)" sung by Grand Funk Railroad - Heard circa 1972 on a state-of-the-art 8-track player in a friend's car. Memorable for the big clunk about 3/4 of the way through the song as the track changed.
"Stairway To Heaven" sung by Led Zeppelin - First heard circa 1973 on any radio or stereo as long as it could be played extremely loud. Memorable because it's one of the greatest rock songs of all time. Still love the song and have been known to crank it up.
"Runaway" sung by Bonnie Raitt - Heard in 1978 on an LP record. Memorable because it was played on the first component stereo I owned. Stereo consisted of a Pioneer tuner, Kenwood turntable and Infinity Qa speakers. I still have all the components, but only the tuner is still used (in the garage).
"Sweet Emotion" sung by Aerosmith - Heard in 1981 on the radio of Wally's green Ford Granada that had a white landau roof. Memorable because my future husband had just picked me up on our first date.
"Video Killed the Radio Star" sung by The Buggles. Seen and heard circa 1981 on my huge Sears console TV. Memorable because of all the hype leading up to the debut of a brand new music channel on TV. This was the first video played on MTV.
Do you have any songs that hold a particular place in your heart? What songs and why?
Wow, you're so old! :) Kidding. I will always and forever think of you when I hear "Dedicated to the One I Love" by the Mamas and the Papas. <3 Love you mama!
ReplyDeleteThe Zombies -- I remember you trying to decide whether to buy "Tell Her No" or their other big hit at the time, "Time of the Season". The "stereo" with the detachable speakers (all in beige plastic) was a Christmas present from our oldest brother to you and me -- a total surprise and one of the best presents I ever received.
ReplyDeleteThere is a mysterious absence of christmas songs from this list... "and he was born... Born... Born in bethlehem..." ok but seriously I'd say "Hurt" by Nine Inch Nails (later covered by Johnny Cash). I remember hearing it and then playing it over and over and over cause I loved it.
ReplyDeleteHey, anonymous! Would love it if you signed your name to your comment. Please, please, please!
DeleteOnly so many people could know about that song... It's Scott!
ReplyDelete