1972 (Anniversary Mix)

Who knew that 1972 was filled with such positive, poptastic energy? This mix is sending golden summer goodness through my veins like a tasty hefeweizen, causing me to throw on lps I haven't given a proper listen to since I first got my fingers grimy with record bin dust.

My parents got married in '72-- my mom's color choices were yellow, green, and orange-- and my fair-haired father donned a white tux (detailed in black) with a pink cummerbund. My mom's three brothers took my dad camping the night before...and he awoke to find himself very near the edge of a cliff. Those sneaky brother-in-laws. I hope my parents were filled with optimism as they took "the plunge" into commitment; it's wonderful to see that they still love each other after 39 years!

In putting together this mix for their anniversary, I could feel the love and hopefulness radiating from the artists. Many of these people faced life-diminishing challenges and yet chose to channel a generous energy into their fellow humans. It's hard to imagine a time when trying to love the world wasn't viewed as cheesy, naive, or far-fetched. Today's pop radio, with it's distinct lack of abstract thinking, stands in stark contrast.

I've decided to hop in my time machine (it looks like a phonograph and time travel is achieved in the same manner as Superman's in Superman I) and spend some time experiencing the pop music of the 1970s. Please consider tagging along! I've got an extra suitcase.

Mike & Sue 1972

1. "Let's Stay Together" - Al Green

2. "I Saw the Light" - Todd Rundgren

3. "Song Sung Blue" - Neil Diamond

4. "All This is That" - The Beach Boys

5. "Got to Be There" - The Jackson 5

6. "Crocodile Rock" - Elton John

7. "Top of the World" - The Carpenters

8. "Garden Party" - Ricky Nelson

9. "Mary Had a Little Lamb" - Wings

10. "I Believe (When I Fall in Love it Will Be Forever)" - Stevie Wonder

11. "Happy Xmas (War is Over)" - John Lennon & Yoko Ono

Paint a Vulgar Picture

Upon hearing news of the possibility of greedy folks trademarking Amy Winehouse's beehive hairdo, I was reminded of this apropos song. Let's let the expert sing it, shall we?

At the record company meeting
On their hands - a dead star
And oh, the plans they weave
And oh, the sickening greed

At the record company party
On their hands - a dead star
The sycophantic slags all say :
"I knew him first, and I knew him well"


Re-issue ! Re-package ! Re-package !
Re-evaluate the songs
Double-pack with a photograph
Extra Track (and a tacky badge)


A-list, playlist
"Please them , please them !"
"Please them !"
(sadly, THIS was your life)


But you could have said no
If you'd wanted to
You could have said no
If you'd wanted to


BPI, MTV, BBC
"Please them ! Please them !"
(sadly this was your life)


But you could have said no
If you'd wanted to
You could have walked away
...Couldn't you ?


I touched you at the soundcheck
You had no real way of knowing
In my heart I begged "Take me with you ...
I don't care where you're going..."


But to you I was faceless
I was fawning, I was boring
Just a child from those ugly new houses
Who could never begin to know


Who could never really know
Oh ...


Best of ! Most of !
Satiate the need
Slip them into different sleeves !
Buy both, and feel deceived


Climber - new entry, re-entry
World tour ! ("media whore")
"Please the Press in Belgium !"
(THIS was your life...)


And when it fails to recoup ?
Well, maybe :
You just haven't earned it yet, baby


I walked a pace behind you at the soundcheck
You're just the same as I am
What makes most people feel happy
Leads us headlong into harm


So, in my bedroom in those 'ugly new houses'
I danced my legs down to the knees
But me and my 'true love'
Will never meet again ...


At the record company meeting
On their hands - at last ! - a dead star !
But they can never taint you in my eyes
No, they can never touch you now


No, they cannot hurt you, my darling
They cannot touch you now
But me and my 'true love'
Will never meet again

Blog-a-thon

 


I enjoy writing this blog, in great part because it gets me pondering music in ways I wouldn't normally, but also because the act of writing makes me feel more human, more like myself. I am forced to think deeply, to make connections, to work my brain muscle.

Blogs can be tough because they require commitment and maintenance...like romantic relationships. Hah! While traveling I decided it would be better to let the blog sit sizzling on a back burner of my mind than to stress out because I wasn't writing every day.

I'm excited to get going again, to write about the ideas I've been jotting down. Let the summer blog-a-thon commence!