Listening to XM Satellite Radio while tooling around southern Nevada the past couple of weeks, I've had the channel set at "5," for "The Music of the '50s." It's a big relief from all the politically polarized bloviators on the AM stations. And it gets me in the mood for the reunion, which is coming up fast! (All-'60s: July 8-11, 2010, with our Class of '61 get-together on Friday, July 9th, 6:00 P.M., with the Class Photo being taken at 5:30 P.M.)
This morning, I heard a very appropriate lyric for a visit back home, written and recorded by Paul Anka, from the early '60's (remember the melody?):
I took a little trip to my home town
I only stopped to look around
And as I walked along the thorough-fare
There was music playing ev'rywhere
The music came from within my heart
How did it happen how did it start
I only know that I fell in love
I guess the answer lies up above
Oh what a feeling
My heart was reeling
The bells were ringing
The birds were singing
The first 45 RPM record I remember being played on those new-fangled record players with the big fat spindle was 26 Miles (to Santa Catalina) by the Four Preps. I caught that one yesterday while driving down Tropicana Avenue headed for Flamingo Road. Found myself singing along (loudly); fortunately, only the dog was in the car. He howled. The cute blond in the car next to me winked. Just kidding! This isn't a Chevy Chase movie and I'm not him.
This morning, heading out for breakfast, I started singing along to Margie Rayburn. Remember her? What was the song? It was that "dooey-doo-ah-dooey-doo" number called I'm Available. I hadn't heard that one for decades. But I remember it. What was YOUR favorite song from "our era?" Bobby Vee said in his interview on this blog that he loved all that music--still his favorite genre--and mine too! They don't sing 'em like that anymore. - der Blogmeister
5 comments:
The music from the 50's and 60's is my favorite, as well. We have XM Radio in our Yukon, which we drive back and forth to Colorado, and to California to visit Art's mom. MANY HOURS of listening to those old tunes - or else we are listening to books on CD's.
When I hear the old songs (Pat Boone: A White Sport Coat and a Pink Carnation) I am transported right back to my school days. In my mind I am a kid growing up in Valley City, all over again. Do you remember ice skating at Pioneer Park? My greatest thrill was when Robert Anderson would ask me to skate "doubles" to Elvis Presley tunes! I bet that was about 1957.
Yo, Barb and gang...maybe you know this but Bobby Vee hosts a show on XM/Sirius Satellite Radio every Sunday evening, around 9:00 PM. It's built around the history of doo-whop music.
Actually, it was the late Marty Robbins who made "A White Sport Coat" a hit, although I can easily remember Pat Boone wearing that costume in many of his appearances on TV back in the late 50s.
Lots of teenage romances were built around those Elvis songs, Barb, like the doubles-skating with Bob. These are memories and a time of such innocence this music brings back. It was the soundtrack of lives.
Larry,
You know all the lyrics and I noticed you mouthing some of them at our reunion! I had so many favorites back then that I used to sing with my friends. And dancing made it even more fun. A few favorites that jump out were "Blueberry Hill" and one that topped the carts for a long time, "The Wayward Wind."
Correction: If you don't recognize the old popular song I named earlier, I believe it was "The Westward Wind." Must have been a senior moment!
Beth: I REMEMBER "The Wayard Wind" sung by Gogi Grant. It was the first pop record I bought and I had such an old record player at the time I had to buy the 78 RPM version! "Oh, the Wayward Wind, is a restless wind..." Great song! It was popular before I was a DJ so you can see how "ancient" it is. Fun that you brought it up!
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